okay, so basicly someone told me that you have to be famous to get in. Well I'm not so does that make it harder for me to get accepted? Also they said that if your not rich or famous but still have the good grades maybe you could publish a book or something. Well I just wanted to know if any of you guys have an idea of wht I should do to get more chances, aside from publishing a book.
2007-03-24 09:11:00 · 9 answers · asked by !!! 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Harvard is the Mercedes Benz of Universities. Excellent institution, but not substantially better than any other top institution - you'll pay for the name, though.
What makes a top university at the undergrad level is the caliber of the student body - nothing else. You really don't need the most brilliant researcher to teach Into to Calculus or Freshman English. In terms of quality education, small institutions with low class size are probably better than any Ivy League. But because they are exclusive, you will be competing with highly motivated classmates, and if you can't keep up you'll get left like dying salmon.
Just do what you'd do for any other college - get good grades, do well on your tests, volunteer, lead, contribute, and be unique.
2007-03-24 09:28:47 · answer #1 · answered by ZenPenguin 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't know if things have changed since 1991, but I got accepted into Harvard as an undergrad, so I can tell you first hand that you don't have to be famous or rich or write a book or anything like that to get in. You do have to have good grades (I had almost all A's, with one B each semester, I graduated 5th in a class of 300) and take the hardest classes your school offers (honors and AP classes, if possible). You also have to have good SAT scores, and participate in extra-curricular activities (when I listed out all my activities, it was a page and a half long!).
To increase your chances, participate in stuff outside of school, and find ways to take a leadership role in at least some of your activities (be a soloist on an instrument, be the captain of math team or swim team, get elected to class office, etc). You also need to be able to brag about your strengths. That and good grades will get you into any school you want.
BTW - I turned down Harvard and went to MIT instead. I visited both schools after getting accepted, and I found that the students at Harvard were way too snobby!
2007-03-24 09:54:35 · answer #2 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man, based on your past questions, you really need to find new friends. Talk to different people. The people giving you college advice are freaking morons.
No, you don't have to be famous. You don't have to be rich.
You do need stellar grades, top test scores, glowing letters of rec, a great essay, and impressive extra currics.
Times have changed. College is getting harder to get into (for the top schools). Being president of some club or on some sports team doesn't cut it anymore. Now, everyone has that. You need to really stand out.
Writing a book while in high school is one way. Very impressive accomplishment for a high school kid. That's basically what you're trying to get Harvard's admissions committee to say. Do something that makes them go, "Wow! This kid is special. Very ambitious and talented. This is someone we want." Whether you do it by being nationally ranked in a sport, write a book, get published for your research, join a famous orchestra, whatever. You gotta do something that most people wouldn't think a high school kid could accomplish.
2007-03-24 10:02:49 · answer #3 · answered by Linkin 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, its just harder to get into because there standards are very high like: "Harvard's overall undergraduate acceptance rate for 2006 was 9.3%"[1], and "The median score on the SAT I was 1495 out of 1600 for the class of 2009"[2] I am going to be applying for Harvard after high school and thank god I have a person that can write me a letter of recommendation because I go to an advanced school!
2007-03-24 09:27:17 · answer #4 · answered by jstn_alford 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not what you know it's who you know.
Harvard is probably the top school in the world. That's arguable but the point is they are extremely exclusive.
If you wanna get into harvard you really had to have your act together in highschool.
Not just your gpa, you need top test scores, and plenty of extra curricular activities, student body government, started a group or club at your school. Just anything to show that you were a go getter an over acheiver and importantly a leader.
You don't have to be famous, but you need one hell of a letter of reccomendation. It helps to have a succesful or famous person write your letter of reccomendation for you.
Without someone of merit telling harvard that you're worth accepting, you'll pass right under the radar and they won't even notice you.
2007-03-24 09:20:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, you can get into Harvard as long as you have the grades and ambition. A friend of mine got accepted and even went to some sort of summer program they asked him to go to. He eventually decided that he would be paying for the name and not the education. You don't have to be rich either. Banks love to give out loans and there are plenty of scholarships that you can get if you look for them.
2007-03-24 09:19:38 · answer #6 · answered by lilbitt_637 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
properly, wealthy and wealthy are an identical element. as for widespread, they probable in basic terms get widespread in the event that they devise something and are shown on oprah or something. you shouldnt flow there purely to get wealthy and/or widespread in spite of the indisputable fact that.
2016-10-20 08:43:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, you do not have to be famous to get into harvard .
2007-03-24 09:15:29 · answer #8 · answered by livelykatie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you just have to be rich!
2007-03-24 09:19:10 · answer #9 · answered by Bernard W 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋