| Take care of your GPA from freshman year | | | | Diversify within reason |
| This is a no-brainer but should be said anyway. Some | | | | I typically say it's more about your admissions stories |
| students like to slack-off after middle school - it's a | | | | than it is about diversification. After all, college |
| new environment, you may not have a solid group of | | | | admissions offices want diversified student bodies |
| friends, you're still getting use to everything. But a | | | | but don't need everyone to be completely |
| poor freshman year GPA can kill you. | | | | well-rounded. |
| You may think that one or two C's can be made up | | | | However, you won't get into Harvard as a one-trick |
| later by plenty of AP and Honors classes, but | | | | pony. Diversification does help to an extent. Play at |
| colleges pay attention to your FULL TRANSCRIPT. A | | | | least one sport, involve yourself consistently in at |
| few C's in relatively easy courses like American | | | | least one nonprofit activity. |
| History or World Geography will make Harvard think | | | | Build a core passion |
| that you can't handle even basic academic material. It | | | | Related to my point above, it's really about your one |
| doesn't matter if you're 15 or 50. Your high school | | | | or two passions. Admissions offices want to have a |
| GPA matters - all four years. | | | | clear picture of WHO YOU ARE - and that comes |
| Prepare for and take the SAT early | | | | loudest in your commitments, your hobbies, and how |
| In an earlier post on SAT for college admissions, I | | | | you spend your time. |
| discuss the "minimum" score necessary for Ivy | | | | By having a unified theme - for instance, a passion |
| League admissions. | | | | for social welfare issues or a love of music (as |
| My general advice is that you should shoot for a | | | | expressed through your participation in the String |
| perfect score (why not??) but be happy with a | | | | Orchestra and involvement in music-related nonprofit |
| "good score" (anything above 2100). Don't take the | | | | charities and the like) is a great way to build a CLEAR |
| SAT or ACT too many times - anything more than | | | | IDENTITY that, if strong enough, is your best shot |
| 2x without huge 100+ strides each time just makes | | | | at getting into Harvard. |
| you look desperate and incapable. | | | | Visit campus |
| You should also start taking it early - take the Duke | | | | I discuss this in detail in my guide to Ivy League |
| University TIP in middle school, take the PSAT in | | | | admissions. Basically, demonstrated interest matters a |
| freshman or sophomore year at least once. Don't | | | | lot - particularly in tough times like today when there |
| worry, it won't go on your permanent record and | | | | are 20,000 applications for every Ivy League school's |
| Harvard won't be mad that you got a 1800 as a | | | | freshman class. |
| freshman high school student. | | | | By visiting campus, you show a clear interest in that |
| It's a great chance for early practice that is risk-free. | | | | school. Plus, you'll meet people along the way that will |
| Why wouldn't you?? | | | | help you understand whether you're a better fit for |
| Get involved in clubs early | | | | Harvard or Stanford, Penn or Brown. |
| Notice the theme here - an early start is great for | | | | Prepare for interviews |
| Ivy League admissions. By joining different clubs your | | | | IMPORTANT - don't forget to start doing this early. |
| freshman year, you demonstrate to Harvard that | | | | If you're a strong candidate, this isn't something that |
| you are committed to specific interests/passions. | | | | you wait until the last minute to get ready for. |
| Ideally, you'd stay involved in those same clubs over | | | | The best way to prepare for alumni interviews is to |
| at least a few years. However, if you find that the | | | | practice interviews with family and older people - not |
| Spanish Club is really not where you'd prefer spending | | | | your brother or your best friend. Have them ask you |
| Wednesday afternoon, that's ok too - just make | | | | questions about your accomplishments, your life |
| sure you're not going home to watch reruns of the | | | | story, your reasons for wanting to attend Harvard. |
| Simpsons. | | | | |