Harvard University Excerpt

Harvard is looking for confident self-starters who think critically, care deeply, and stand up to pressures. They value commitment to leadership and character.

12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay

An article in the Harvard student newspaper highlights admitted students essay process

According to Harvard admissions (via the website)

Harvard looks for students who embrace growth, have potential and impeccable character. Are you willing to stretch academic and personal potential? Are you innovative (self-starter) and willing to explore many things? What do you care deeply about? Can you show that you have learned something from your pursuit and that you have taken full advantage of opportunities for involvement and leadership? Are you open to new ideas and people? How can you show your maturity, sense of humor, energy, concern for others, grace under pressure? Can you handle academic rigors and freedom of college life?

In history, the types of students admitted consisted of: people who write with engaging language, effective flow, and a well-rounded personal story. They SHOW, instead of TELL to create visualization. They utilize clear transitions to create a clear timeline of events. The stories are well-developed, and they come full circle. The stories include a forceful and compelling message; all ideas connect to reflective learning. But emphasize positivity of character. Often, the personal qualities of the candidate are not directly stated, but are revealed through the story. They showed a strong dedication to amplifying diverse voices and stories.

Supplemental Essay Example:

Prompt: Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard? (200)

Every Tuesday, I sit around a Harkness table with the section editors and pose the same question: “How can we write about Hotchkiss from a unique angle?”

Serving as editor-in-chief of my school’s newspaper has given me the invaluable trait of being attentive to often overlooked details in the world around me. After reporting on the exemplary response of our golf team’s coach when we got into a car accident and interacting with the dining hall staff for a photojournalism project, I understand the true value of my position: to recognize and highlight the often silent contributions of the other souls in my community. Since then, I’ve established a permanent column, “Staff of the Issue,” to celebrate the behind-the-scenes work of non-student-facing faculty. The magical feeling I get upon seeing words of gratitude printed on 600 newspaper copies distributed across campus has become a defining feature of my high school experience.

Through influential publications like The Harvard Crimson, which once served as the only daily newspaper in Cambridge, I yearn to continue my endeavor of bringing every corner of my community, full of beautiful yet untold stories, under the spotlight it deserves. The Guard awaits a dedicated member.