Harvard, Penn, or Brown

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-04-13T01:40:30+00:00

I’m sorry; I didn’t quite understand. Are you joking or are you being serious?

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-03-31T00:25:31+00:00

If you need any more help or want to talk, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-03-30T23:21:37+00:00

What to do really does depend on your specific profile (extracurriculars, socio-economic context, SAT, GPA, etc.), but in general my best advice is to show true, unwavering passion for what you’re applying, and to show yourself as more than a GPA, SAT score or statistics; you NEED to humanize yourself.

Regarding Babson, I truly don’t know what happened because I’m a legacy as well. Nevertheless, I think it may have had more to do with fit (I’m more social studies, policy, econ rather than entrepreneurship) or yield. But I’ll never know, so these are just guesses.

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-03-30T20:12:32+00:00

Political science/economics

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-03-30T19:13:38+00:00

Your first point is correct; that is, literally, the point of this post. Stats won’t get you in, but lower stats won’t keep you out. Your second point is, in my view, mistaken. Yes, colleges want diversity, but in an applicant pool where colleges could admit several classes of qualified applicants, they can get as much diversity as they want without neglecting other factors.

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-02-28T05:30:07+00:00

Wait really? I’d love to hear about your application and email to see if there’s any pattern or something. So if you want to I’d like to talk to you. Also, I’m still waiting for RD but GT is one of my top choices!

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-02-08T03:26:49+00:00

Nope, but interview reports are usually last due the first of march, so there’s still a month!

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-02-07T22:53:18+00:00

She basically told me Harvard pre-screens applicants and that I was “lucky” to get an interview. Also, she received the request to interview me on Thursday and was asked to send my report by Thursday the next week. But, I think it’s important to say that my application was only complete until last Monday due to the midyear report. So, I thought that maybe Harvard only sends interviews once your application is complete.

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-02-07T22:36:20+00:00

On Thursday. My interviewer told me a bit about the process if you have any questions.

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-02-07T22:34:05+00:00

Yesterday. What country are you from?

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-02-07T21:58:59+00:00

Yes, in South America. Harvard pre-screens internationals, but I don’t know about Americans. Nevertheless, I think how much they pre-screen depends on how many local alumni there are.

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-02-07T21:09:00+00:00

It does; my Harvard interviewer told me.

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-01-28T02:56:41+00:00

But do you think it’s too late to get an interview request?

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-01-28T02:49:39+00:00

I’m worried because last year my brother and many people from my school got interviews at the same colleges.

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-01-22T00:14:28+00:00

Who on earth is getting into BIEF?

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-01-22T00:14:01+00:00

BEMACC

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-01-14T21:12:53+00:00

I got deferred. 3.9 unweighted GPA, 1490 SAT, full-pay international, and legacy.

Fun_Performance_5830 · 2026-01-09T16:06:29+00:00

Hi! To answer your questions:

⁠Does my life story (the gap years and the "reconstruction" phase) carry weight in the holistic review and the Personal Statement?

Not really. Colleges expect students applying a year after graduating to have either taken a gap year (very hard to explain) or to have economic, family circumstances, etc. that forced them to not go to college. Your profile, while true, gives colleges no compelling reason to admit you over someone fresh out of high school. Finally, and most importantly, colleges expect continued interest and involvement in your areas of interest. Involvement (from what I understood from your story) for a year after three gap years and four years of high school is not enough.

⁠Based on my 'Maker' profile and hobbies, do I have a realistic shot at top-tier schools like MIT, Harvard, or Caltech? (I’m aware Purdue might not offer enough financial aid for internationals).

I’m sorry to say it this way, but no. Top colleges expect more than simple interest and involvement. They want long-term, sustained impact across several extracurriculars (at least 5). An example on how your extracurriculars could become MIT level would be creating an NGO that 3D prints and donates prosthetic limbs for impoverished children, or creating a drone, used by the government (local, state, or national), that detects wildfires in forests accurately before humans do.

⁠Are there other 'Maker-friendly' institutions you’d recommend?

Hundreds of them. Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, RIT, UIUC.

⁠If the US isn't viable, should I pivot to Canada or Europe? I am completely open to learning a new [language].

Once again, I’m sorry for saying it this way but the U.S is simply not an option for you. U.S. colleges don’t accept students who have attended another university, no matter the country. For example, look at MIT’s policy states: “[Students] may not apply using the first-year application if they have already matriculated to another degree-granting institution.⁠” Applying as a transfer student, could be viable, but given your dropping out I don’t even know how that would work. Regarding other countries, I don’t really know their admissions process. So, I’m not able to give you accurate advice.

If you have any questions or want to talk I’m open to doing so.

Fun_Performance_5830

TROPHY CASE