How many extracurriculars do you need to get into Harvard?
Okay. So. I may not be going to Harvard, but I would say that as a person who recently got into MIT, Brown, and other schools of the like, I will say this:
Extracurriculars are good, but only if you’re doing things you genuinely actually like. I legit only did 3 extracurriculars throughout my entire high school career (I will say that I also played a spring sport, but it’s required at my school to play sports, so it felt more like another credit to fulfill than an extracurricular, though it was very fun and something I enjoyed), but I was very invested in the things that I did. Admissions officers can tell the difference between students who are committed to their various activities and those who just have a lot of activities for the college app.
And even so, it’s not all about one thing (extracurriculars, grades, scores, etc.). Colleges are looking for individuals, so everything has importance for reasons on your application. Scores and grades may indicate how capable you would be at the school, while your essays and non-academic portions let them know who you are as a person and how you could fit into that community on campus.
The advice that I give to so many people is to truly be yourself and be honest with that. Don’t try to fit a mold or do things you think colleges want to see. Yes, have extracurriculars. A few, a lot — it only matters if you are actually committed to them and show genuine interests. Don’t let them take over your life, and on the flipside, don’t let academics take over your life. Find a healthy balance for you between everything — the more you know yourself and your interests and limits, the better off you will be for the application process when it comes up for you.
If you’re truly interested in Harvard, know that it will be hard — you need to be academically capable to even be considered. After that, present yourself in the most honest and representative light that you can. Be articulate and show them who you are. There are over 40,000 applicants every year— it’s the most applied-to private college in the US. Show them what makes you an intellectual individual.
P.S. — I personally was considering Harvard up until my sophomore year of high school. What drew me away was me actually examining the question “Is this a good fit for me?” What there was to offer and the environment and such — it just wasn’t for me. The only reason I ever did consider it was really just the name and parental pressure, so I didn’t apply because I knew I wouldn’t end up there even if I did get in. That’s not to take away from Harvard or anyone else’s consideration for the college, but I sat examining my college list for a while and made changes after doing research. MIT did not come up on my list until this past September, and even then I wasn’t getting my hopes up or dreaming of it. It was actually a pleasant surprise when I got in because I didn’t expect it. After doing research and going to *online* revisits (thanks corona T__T), I picked MIT and I’m actually really happy with the choice I made because it is a good all-around fit for me :)
P.S. — It was like 3 am when I wrote this (I was working on a physics pset and lost track of time), so sorry if there are any typos in here.
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✍️ Dm: @ton_adres
✔️ @fulltuition
Okay. So. I may not be going to Harvard, but I would say that as a person who recently got into MIT, Brown, and other schools of the like, I will say this:
Extracurriculars are good, but only if you’re doing things you genuinely actually like. I legit only did 3 extracurriculars throughout my entire high school career (I will say that I also played a spring sport, but it’s required at my school to play sports, so it felt more like another credit to fulfill than an extracurricular, though it was very fun and something I enjoyed), but I was very invested in the things that I did. Admissions officers can tell the difference between students who are committed to their various activities and those who just have a lot of activities for the college app.
And even so, it’s not all about one thing (extracurriculars, grades, scores, etc.). Colleges are looking for individuals, so everything has importance for reasons on your application. Scores and grades may indicate how capable you would be at the school, while your essays and non-academic portions let them know who you are as a person and how you could fit into that community on campus.
The advice that I give to so many people is to truly be yourself and be honest with that. Don’t try to fit a mold or do things you think colleges want to see. Yes, have extracurriculars. A few, a lot — it only matters if you are actually committed to them and show genuine interests. Don’t let them take over your life, and on the flipside, don’t let academics take over your life. Find a healthy balance for you between everything — the more you know yourself and your interests and limits, the better off you will be for the application process when it comes up for you.
If you’re truly interested in Harvard, know that it will be hard — you need to be academically capable to even be considered. After that, present yourself in the most honest and representative light that you can. Be articulate and show them who you are. There are over 40,000 applicants every year— it’s the most applied-to private college in the US. Show them what makes you an intellectual individual.
P.S. — I personally was considering Harvard up until my sophomore year of high school. What drew me away was me actually examining the question “Is this a good fit for me?” What there was to offer and the environment and such — it just wasn’t for me. The only reason I ever did consider it was really just the name and parental pressure, so I didn’t apply because I knew I wouldn’t end up there even if I did get in. That’s not to take away from Harvard or anyone else’s consideration for the college, but I sat examining my college list for a while and made changes after doing research. MIT did not come up on my list until this past September, and even then I wasn’t getting my hopes up or dreaming of it. It was actually a pleasant surprise when I got in because I didn’t expect it. After doing research and going to *online* revisits (thanks corona T__T), I picked MIT and I’m actually really happy with the choice I made because it is a good all-around fit for me :)
P.S. — It was like 3 am when I wrote this (I was working on a physics pset and lost track of time), so sorry if there are any typos in here.
©️ Quora
✍️ Dm: @ton_adres
✔️ @fulltuition