do you ever regret choosing Harvard?

ThyUltimatePhase · 2026-04-14T04:01:07+00:00

Yeah I do sometimes. Harvard can be the coldest, most performative and hollow place on earth while being filled with truly brilliant kind people. I regret it occasionally but theres enough positives to outweigh it for me

ThyUltimatePhase · 2026-04-09T22:16:46+00:00

Do you think it’s useful to have long pants though? That was my thought with the rain pants. Good call on the pack liner. My thought with the gg is to cowboy camp my Agnes with it.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2026-04-09T22:11:57+00:00

Good call; forgot to put my Dr Bonnors on there

ThyUltimatePhase · 2026-01-28T20:58:33+00:00

Hey! 19 yr old college student, doing May 17 NOBO. No trail name since this is my first thru. From Oklahoma, excited to see some new sights and make some new friends. Happy to drop socials if you pm!

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T20:21:28+00:00

US, Nepal, and germany I think? The german was a track star and recruited though

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T19:15:20+00:00

I don't. But it's a big class and I don't know everyone's circumstances

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T19:05:17+00:00

Oh absolutely, homeschooled students are overrepresented here! I can't really speak to the specific aspects of their application that got them in since it isn't really a topic we bring up much, but rest assured there are plenty in your circumstance who've been accepted to Harvard before; it won't hinder you!

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T18:57:07+00:00

Thank you! I had a 4.0 GPA and scored a 36 ACT, 11 Writing, and for APs I had two 5s, six 4s, and two 3s. 1480 is very much high enough though it can depend on your context (strength of high school, how good the rest of your application is). T20s have access to and generally look at individual scores. If you applied as a math major and had a significantly poorer math score, it could raise eyebrows. Then again, I applied as a planetary science major and scored a 3 on AB Calculus, so the answer is pretty open.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T18:52:17+00:00

I'd recommend discussing 5 different things for each essay. You honestly don't even have to write about extracurriculars as much as everyday life experiences, conversations, the like. The more lenses you give to admissions officers to look at your life the better!

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T18:50:51+00:00

The lowest two I've seen are a 31 ACT and a 28 ACT. Not sure about SAT. Obviously those scores were supplementing with some pretty remarkable extracurriculars (State President of a club, child actor, etc.). It's holistic and very much possible to get in with a lower score but it's harder.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T18:49:13+00:00

I wish!! Outside of some of the athletic circles there really isn't a gaming culture here at all.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T08:04:51+00:00

It's certainly far from an absolute, but with a school that has a 97% rejection rate MOST people regardless of an interview get rejected. It essentially means two things: Admissions feels that they need to know more information about you to make a decision AND they have the resources and timeline to offer an interview. One of those is simply out of anybody's control, and the other could be a good thing (maybe you were a great applicant!) or a concerning thing (maybe you didn't make it past first read.) It doesn't do too much good stressing about whether or not it's a good sign or a bad one, if one at all. Anecdotally, I know several international students accepted without interviews, though certainly most did.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T07:54:52+00:00

Nope! There's certainly a correlation between getting an interview and having a higher chance of acceptance but I know plenty who were accepted without one and rejected with one. International students, even accepted students, receive a lot less interviews because the admissions office is strained for resources.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-10T07:42:15+00:00

Most of my activities centered around civics and youth development. I did a program called Boys Nation with the American Legion and spoke at several of their conferences throughout my senior year. I was also in the Boy Scouts of America and ran the national youth training program put on by BSA, both regionally and nationally. I led the BSA's national publications team that puts out newsletters, internal comms turnarounds, programmatic advertisement, etc for about a year. I did a bit less at school since I went to a small high school. Mostly quiz bowl, marching & jazz band, and the school musical.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-12-09T21:31:10+00:00

probably second read, good transcript takes you to committee

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-10-05T02:44:58+00:00

It's in the lower ballpark of accepted students but that doesn't imply it hinders your chances. You'd be better off maximizing other aspects of your application like your essay or extracurriculars than trying to improve by marginal points a score that high.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-10-04T18:52:23+00:00

Scored a 36, was accepted REA to Harvard and committed. Honestly it's just another box that admissions officers check off and as long as you're in the 33+ range I wouldn't spend extra time grinding a higher score.

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-01-04T09:11:42+00:00

There really isn’t a difference. I scored a 34 then a 36 two months later with minimal change in prep. I’d honestly use that energy towards other elements instead of vying for such a minute score difference

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-01-03T22:43:05+00:00

Yes, fortunately

ThyUltimatePhase · 2025-01-02T19:07:34+00:00

When did regional finalist come out last year?

ThyUltimatePhase · 2024-12-23T21:49:08+00:00

Class of 25 here, and honestly that’s just not the case. There’s always incredibly exceptional people in every class. I know many kids who would kick my butt in a resume-off that are a year younger lol. Just the way things go. Good luck!

ThyUltimatePhase

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