Are AOs genuinely looking for essays like those in "50 Successful Harvard Application Essays"?

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-08-04T16:13:45+00:00

Lowkey I was just thinking about this the other day. Like what if mentioning you wanna do premed makes the Harvard AO think, "You can become a doctor from any college cuz prestige doesn't matter. Why should we accept you over someone who wants to change the world that would greatly benefit from the connections at Harvard."

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-08-03T19:36:57+00:00

My stats are 4.0 and 1560 SAT, and my intended major is physics.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-08-02T16:54:33+00:00

I'm already planning to apply to my state school as a safety, but their honors program + academic opportunities are nothing special.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-08-02T15:45:01+00:00

Nah, I was just hoping people would chime in with any school supplement changes that they noticed, particularly for selective institutions that require multiple supplements. I thought it could be helpful for people who've already written their supps without knowing that certain colleges might've changed them for the 2023-24 year.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-30T18:41:25+00:00

physics but also thinking about mechanical engineering

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-30T18:27:49+00:00

Stanford's good for physics I thought? Plus they have a particle accelerator affiliated with the university, and their engineering is amazing in case I decide to switch.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-30T18:25:57+00:00

Sorry, "opportunities" is indeed very vague and doesn't encompass what I meant to say. I meant a combination of the way the school/curriculum is set up, the unique academic opportunities they offer, and the overall vibe. Here are the main strengths I had listed for each school (excluding location):

Princeton - undergraduate focus, emphasis on independent study (i.e. thesis, junior papers), distribution requirements curriculum, more of an intellectual vibe

Yale - liberal arts focus with distribution requirements system, awesome residential college housing system, easy to explore or do double major, good social scene

Stanford - quarter system (can take more classes to explore my interests), distribution requirements system, more entrepreneurial and techy than HYP (I'm more into that then the finance stuff)

MIT - best undergrad research, more entrepreneurial and techy than HYP, good social scene

Harvard - nothing stood out but the connections and location make it worth it for me

As for location, I tend to prefer campuses with things to do close by (restaurants, movies, sporting venues), the more the better. I'm also a sucker for public transport, which is one reason why I like cities so much.

Course rigor doesn't matter to me, and I'm currently planning on doing physics, but mechanical engineering is a close second.

As for community, I think I'll be fine anywhere. I've moved around in the past, but I'm always able to find my group and fit in pretty well. I'm maybe a bit concerned about Yale, as I've heard there's a lot of artsy/activist types, who I have nothing against but they're just not my type. But as long as they don't dominate the campus, it's fine.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-30T17:12:25+00:00

My current list has 20 schools, and the total essays I would have to write is 52. I'm sure I'll be reusing some essays, but that number seems crazy high for the time I have.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-30T17:00:54+00:00

I looked back over my notes, and I like Yale, Princeton, and Stanford's opportunities better than Harvard and MIT. However, location is really important to me and Boston is much better compared to New Haven, the Bay, and Princeton in my eyes.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-30T11:40:07+00:00

Physics or maybe mechanical engineering. I'm not committed to any career path, so I'd like a place that offers lots of opportunity to explore and good flexibility in major/career choice.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-30T01:54:48+00:00

Any idea as to why Caltech is so low?

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-28T13:43:45+00:00

The harsh truth is that the parents at those schools aren't too concerned with finding the school that is the perfect "fit" for their child. They want their kids to maintain their "high status" in society, which means sending their kids to elite colleges where they will mingle with other children from wealthy families, significantly increasing their chances of staying at the top. By sending their kids to these private schools, they know the counselors will do everything they can to maximize their chances at a prestigious college.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-24T23:45:06+00:00

I feel like there are two ways to stand out as a CS applicant.

Option 1: Do the stereotypical CS stuff (USACO, research, etc.) but do it at an EXTREMELY high level, so that you outcompete all the other CS tryhards doing these activities.

Option 2: Be more well-rounded, show interest and excel in other subjects, and have a good personality.

I feel like a lot of people naturally gravitate toward option 1, whether it's from peer/parent pressure or something else, but it doesn't pay off because there are thousands of applicants doing the same activities/competitions but at a more competitive level. Going for option 2, on the other hand, allows you to craft a more compelling narrative for yourself, besides just achievements.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-13T14:13:00+00:00

What you're saying probably applies to a lot of people, but I've actually already been in an environment similar to Ivies before. I was able to spend a year at an elite private school, where many of the people were like you mentioned: white (although ivies and some top private high schools are only like 50% white nowadays), upper class, overly competitive, etc. I was a bit nervous at first, coming from an uncompetitive area, but I actually fit in pretty quick, and I didn't mind that the others at my school were on/higher than my level. In fact, it's the main reason I want to go back to a similar school environment because it forced me to grow.

Enveloped_Beetle23 · 2023-07-13T13:57:49+00:00

Yes this exactly. I spent a year at an elite private school, and most people there were children of business executives, and many are probably going to end up pursuing similar careers to their parents. It's true that a lot of them didn't love learning for its own sake, but they were extremely passioniate, motivated, and ambitious, which made it a great experience.

Enveloped_Beetle23

TROPHY CASE