How to Get Into Harvard

How to land an Ivy League acceptance letter at Harvard University. Okay, so it's not fool proof, but some helpful hints for people who are considering applying.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Extracurricular Actives
• College Application
• College Essay
• SAT Scores
• Interview
• Recommendations

1. Make sure you have several extracurricular activities in your routine. Being involved in athletics, music, art, and other activities is a must if you want to be considered well rounded. Do not overdo it, however, as this reflects a person that spreads themselves TOO thin and does not commit to a few activities in great depth.
2. Work hard on your college application. Use a computer or typewriter to fill out the paperwork so that it is neat. Spell check and have a teacher and or parent gloss over the application for mistakes. Check and double check your work making sure all the details and contact information is correct. You want to make life easy for the person reviewing your application.
3. Really think about your college essay. Do not write an essay that you think a potential admissions director reads time and time again. Do not try to impress by using big words and high literary techniques. The essay should be heartfelt, grammatically correct, free of spelling errors, and should have a point, or as we call it, a thesis. Consider that the reader of your essay will be reading thousands of essays. Make yours stand out-the best way to do this is to have it come from your heart and to spend time crafting it. Do not make it too long. Do not make up things. Consider infusing (a little) humor to lighten the face of the reader.
4. Take the SATS until you are satisfied with your score. If you take it twice and get a similar score, consider that this may be the score you will get when you take it a third time. Take a SAT course or have a teacher review SAT techniques with you before taking the test.
5. Prepare for your interview. Write down questions that you think you may be asked and practice answering these questions. Have a few questions that you'd like to ask your interviewer. Be engaging...remember that other people like talking about themselves too. Look sharp and try to avoid nervous habits during the interview such as nail bitting, twitching, or leg bouncing. Write a note thanking your interviewer after it is complete.
6. Think hard about who you'd like to ask to give you a recommendation. If there is a teacher that has a great reputation and that really enjoyed you as a student, then ask him or her. Make sure you have had a personal connection with the recommender, or if you have not, take time to meet with him or her so that they have something to recommend! If you know an Alum from the college it does not hurt to have them write a recommendation if it is relevant. DO NOT stack your application with ten recommendations from Harvard Grads. Only have RELEVANT recommendations in your file. 2 or 3 recommendations from teachers, 1 from a coach, and 1 from an Alum, a mentor, etc, is the most you want to include.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not assume that if you get a 1600 you are getting into the school of your choice. Colleges, including Ivy League Schools, look for a well rounded individual.
• Do not assume that if you stack your schedule with extracurriculars that you will get into the school of your choice. Grades and SATS do count.