How to get into Harvard College? ?

Question

I am an international student who's dream for the last 4 years was to get into Harvard (Yale?). I know it is EXTREMELY competitive. I have heard so much contradicting advice on essays, extracurriculars, etc. I need advice from Harvard undegrads. I was working very, very hard and I don't know what else to do right now.

Answer 1

it is really hard to get into harvard.  my friend tried to get in . he had a 4.0 gpa and was extremely intelligent but didnt make it.  you should have alot of extracurricular activities.

Answer 2

you can set up an alumni dinner...or meeting! in the brochure they give you a list of people that have graduated from harvard and that are from your country. The list also contains the phone numbers and addresses of those people. They are happy to receive your call and answer you any questions you may have and you can even meet with them and have them look at your application and give you advice.

Good luck!

harvard is an amazing school...but so is yale, whichever one you choose you'll have the best time of your life there!

Answer 3

for now, you just concentrate on your study. and try to get a nice grade for your subjects. when you have the time. try to think what major are you going to take and see the requirement for that.

Set that as your goal. and continue to study hard.

i know it is common sense, but studying hard is the key to achieve that.

Good luck. and never give up!

Answer 4

Straight A's, lots of volutneering, trust me about the voluntering because this girl got into Harvard because she had gone to Guatemala to feed children, its basically a ticket in to Harvard.

Answer 5

Do realllly goods in school :)

Answer 6

Get the highest possible grades, letters of recommendation from teachers, and apply before the deathlines.  

Answer 7

you have to be the best in school and have a lot ALOT ALOT ALOT of extra curricular activities. You also have to have a lot ALOT ALOT ALOT of money.

so, really smart in school, really active in school and community, and lots of money.

Answer 8

I'm an entering freshman at Harvard. Harvard doesn't have any quotas for international students and they award financial aid to everyone, including internationals......

Academics: very good GPA, with challenging courses (AP IB)

SAT: the average is 680 for each section, so just try to get about a 700, but if u don't have a really high SAT make sure u have really good ECs, and I'm not talking about a laundry list. Do something that really shows u care about something. This can be community oriented activities, or artistic.

Essays: the Common Application gives you about 4-5 topics, if you don't like any of them, you can write about ANYTHING. If you have a challenge u have endured or live under hostile circumstances, talk about this, and how you can change it. Just really express yourself, and you don't have to sound all sophisticated. Don't write what u may think they want to hear, they've read it all, write something that again, shows who YOU are. They get  over 26, 000 appl., and 70% are academically qualified, what makes the diff. is the essay and other circumstances.

Answer 9

You need A's,good conduct and everything to be in harvard.They are really picky about their students good luck!

Answer 10

Actually, I'm not a harvard graduate but i'm at Upenn Wharton. (which is less competitive, but still good)

To get into harvard, you have to have something that can distinguishes you from many others. Having all As and near perfect SAT score are MANDATORY. For me, I was a bronze medalist in the International Math Olympiad 2 years ago and also a silver medalist in the International Chem. Olympiad.

Since you are an international student, it'd be good if you have international awards.

Answer 11

To get into Harvard you cant have a life for all of high school :D

Answer 12

500g

Answer 13

Use the search function as this question is posted at least twice a day. Or post your stats on college confidential.com.

Answer 14

If you are looking for some magic wand that will get you in, well, there isnt any. Every year many thousands more excellent candidates get rejected than get accepted. What do you want? They only have space for 1200 and 30,000 of the best students in the world apply. Harvard is a US university so nearly all the spaces are going to get taken by Americans.  Even if you are perfect in every way in your credentials the chances are not very good that you will be accepted.

Of course, you should do the best you can and you should apply - otherwise you will wonder all your life whether you might have made it. But you should be realistic and realize that you almost certainly are not going to be in Cambridge for school. There are seven other Ivys and other terrific schools such as Stanford, Duke, University of Chicago and others. Take a look around and see what the options are.

Good luck, but have the good sense to understand what is probably going to happen.  

Answer 15

BE CUTE