In need of advice...Harvard?

Question

Harvard is my dream, my passion, yet some tell me that it is only a dream, a hope. I'm about to become a freshmen this year. I am willing to do anything to help me have a greater chance at attending this prestigious university. I would like to have a double major in Business and Law (again some people tell me it's impossible but I am determined to prove them wrong). In middle school, I was extremely successful, perhaps #1 all 3 years. However, now it's high school and I realize that competition is more intense, everything is so much more different. I am asking for anybody for advice to help me achieve my dream. What should I focus on? What can I do to help my chances? Basically, I'm trying to get as near 100 grades as possible in high school (it's going to be difficult I'm sure), volunteer at a hospital for 3 years, perhaps join a volunteer club, do debate and Spanish for 4 years, and just try to work as hard as possible. I would appreciate any advice, from anybody and everybody.

I plan on volunteering at a hospital right when I turn 15, that's when the hospital allows it, and I plan on doing it until I attend college. Should I volunteer at school, volunteer clubs? I really want to volunteer but I know very well that I am going to be extremely busy and occupied in high school, so I don't know if it's possible. Are there anything specific I should volunteer for? I want to do something bold, one of a kind, but I haven't thought of what yet. I want to support a child in a foreign nation, but I don't exactly have the financial resources. I don't know. I want to give back right now but I am limited in my abilities.

Answer 1

No matter how good you are, it is not in your power to guarantee admission to Harvard. At Harvard and other elite schools they receive many thousands of applications for admission from extremely well qualified students. In the end, only about 1200 kids are going to get that ticket to Cambridge, Mass .

All the advice that the other answerers have given is good, but the bottom line is that Harvard is going to look over a long list of totally qualified applicants, and most of those applicants are going to be turned down.

So, you should follow all that good advice, but you should also look around at other colleges that - after all - might be better suited to your personality. And by the time you finish HS you might have changed your mind about what you want. I know two kids who turned down Harvard this year - one chose Brown and one chose Dartmouth. So, Harvard is not the final ultimate school for everyone when it comes to the final decision.

No matter how hard the competition is, it is not impossible to get into Harvard -- 1200 kids do it every year! So, work hard, and you will perhaps be at Harvard, or certainly you will find a good place to be elsewhere. If you have really good marks, it doesnt guarantee anything, but it gives you a MUCH better chance of fulfilling your dreams.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I would probably recommend taking a lot of honors and AP classes to help boost your GPA and to show Harvard that you are a high achiever. Also you need to do really good on the SAT/ACT. You're also going to need a killer essay (get a bunch of people to check it) and a really great recommendation or several of them. you might also want to see if you can do dual enrollment at your school (where you take some actual college classes while your still in high school). Joining a volunteer club is really good because it shows you're active in the community. Last thing I could say is get REALLY great grades and possibly be valendictorian if you can. Good Luck :)

Answer 3

I'd volunteer http://www.cadip.org/volunteer-in-iceland.htm
but that is different than USA plus you have to be of age

choose a high profile language like chinese or norwegian or german

you could get high flying volunteer opportunities if you figure out Harvard University's volunteer structure You could write to nifty student organizations asking them about volunteer activities, that way you socialize with Harvard students during summer while doing good

among the ways to approach harvard are to read student webpages, correspond as community person, generate projects then correspond with professors to create those projects

Answer 4

Take as many advanced classes as possible, concentrate on those classes that will give you the most knowledge for college, such as writing and math. Concenterate on getting top ACT and SAT scores. Volunteer even more --but make it something significant. Save your money. Apply early. Visit the campus if possible. Identify those in you sphere of influence that also attened Harvard --ask around. Good luck!