Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid Harvard material? will take 20 AP tests and get 5 on all, plays music at Carnegie Hall, is captain of school basketball, soccer, football, and/or volleyball team, nationally ranked in tennis, golf, swimming, and/or gymnastics, singing opera, volunteered in Africa and South America, tutoring low income kids for 7 years, etc. Harvard will knock on your door no matter what high school the prince/princess goes.
If cannot do all, do you have a diploma from Harvard?

Really? That is the formula to get into Harvard? I don't think so. Yes - very high achievers have got into Harvard but I also know of good students who have got into Harvard without doing all these things.

They will take you if your life experience is different from others. How are you different from the Piano Maestro and the Sports Star?

Anyways - for some reason, Harvard does not impress me, because I have seen many jerks from Harvard who are mediocre. I also know kids who are Harvard material go to other schools because they felt that they would be happier in other schools.

THIS. A childhood friend went to Harvard for undergrad. Hated every minute of it. Full of snobs and unkind human beings (I'm sure there are those that are not, but this was his experience in pre-law). Friend went on to Berkley School of Law for graduate. Much happier there.