Harvard Students Answer Your TOP Questions

[peco]

Is it better to make a slow, smooth intro in the essay, or immediately get their attention at the start?

[jadbadawi]

1) extra curiculars or super curiculars. For international students
2) what grade on the french baccalaureate is good for harvard
3) what Toefl score is good for harvard.

[fatematuzzohoramoon]

"How are so stunningly handsome."
:3 .... Man how come he said this in such a straight face 🌚

[leoneldavidsantiago]

So I'll break it down in sections, it's a lot and I have a good amount of questions per each one. Some of them are fairly specific, but I have to take my shot:


1. (For students from other countries, specially those for whose english isn't their main language) do you think being from another country was a disadvantage (or even an advantage) when applying? How does it feel to suddenly be forced to take classes purely in english and move in an english speaking environment? The ivies consider that you're not a native speaker when trying to apply? If so, how do they measure your english capacity? If your country has no AP or similar optional stuff other than the obligatory for all system, can that be enough to manage to get accepted? Assuming you're not like a super genius or smth like that ofc

2. How did people react when they found out you had plans to apply? How did you do to make people support you on your journey (stuff like, per example, paying 55 dollars for the SAT, which is a considerable amount on underdeveloped countries)

3. For those which don't have amazing SAT scores (like, between 1350 and 1500) but got in anyway, what do you think helped you do that? How was your application form oriented?

4. Can you submit more than one essay? How much is too much? Will it increase my chances of getting in?

5. How much is the "normal" (or, enough) extracurricular participation? Per example, how many clubs have you been in? And what if your school has no clubs? If I created a new club or convinced my school to begin creating clubs (introducing the whole club concept in my school) will that be considered as an extra for personal criteria, or is that just assumed as normal?

6. How do ivies analyze leadership and personality factors? Only the leadership of formally accepted, long-held from before institutions is considered, or other forms of leadership are considered?

7. How will ivies consider the influence of the pandemic in the history and extracurriculars of students? Will they consider how hard it is to enter extracurriculars or even have the energy to do anything else than just survive in this two last years, or are we all just f'ed up?

8. Does coming from a bad high school that didn't prepare you with ss much knowledge as others affect your chances? Ivies focus on actual knowledge in the present, or on the potential of the student by itself in the long run? If they focus on the potential, how do they do to induce this potential based off your performance/current knowledge?

[simplyyang]

When writing an essay, is it better to say lots of general good personal traits and incidences about you or further delve into a single strength/weakness/event etc

[-ZubairAli]

How did you find your passion?
how did you decide on it?
How can I discover my passion?

[totudevelops]

Specially for tech majors -
1. how you rank big published projects as extracurriculars like some app you made and got 10k downloads

[moltronuspower]

Will bad grades as a freshman hold you back even though you did well the next 3 years?

[farahsalem]

What was the central theme of your essay?
How did your interview go/what’s some advice you would give for interviews?

[jackiehuang]

1. what would boost the chance of admission for international students?
2. how do i not be overwhelmingly “college-minded”? (i feel like i’m so overwhelmed that, before i do any ecs, i think abt their contributions to my college app)

[LaurenLobel]

How much free time do you have at Harvard?

[oliverfishman]

What activities were you prioritizing in high school that were very rewarding over time?

[yakshsoni]

My question is what was the most helpful AP class you’ve taken?

[m.mehdbhatti]

1. Is it necessary to get a 4.0 Gpa?
2. What's the best extracurriculars?
3. How did they discover passion?
4. How did they find out what they love doing?
5. Recommendations for students who are unaware of their passion

[lexil]

1.) Best advice for admissions essays? (aside from the trite “be yourself!”)
2.) Time management…
3.) What were their scores on each of the AP tests they took in high school?
4.) How did they decide the best teacher(s) for letters of recommendation?
5.) Do you regret picking such an intense environment?
6.) How are y’all doing? (Not just with course work, but with balance. I hope everyone is staying sane and happy while working so hard!)
We appreciate you, Mahad!!

[GrantGloy]

Wait, but how is he so stunningly handsome

[dinosauriaman]

What extracurriculars did you do, what's the best way to get college admission's officers attention in the essay, and what can we do to improve our chances of getting into any other Ivy Leagues?

[EastonW]

What should I do as a freshman to got into an Ivy League

[kamrunnahernipa]

What's one thing that makes a student stand out in ao's eye? Like any quality or activity that kind of makes a big difference except for leadership?

[kristyfay]

1. What extracurriculars and achievements helped you get in?
2. What is the best way to use summer break?
3. Will Harvard still considering test scores for admissions in the future?
4. Any tips for admission essays?
5. How important are leadership roles?
6. What were their AP and SAT/ACT scores?
7. What were the biggest reasons they got in?