Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 07:02     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Anonymous wrote:Just heard they accepted an “entrepreneur” - I’m guessing her family paid for software to be built because girl cannot code and has sports, student government, research etc as other ECs. Surprised it made it past the usually discerning AOs.

So if you can afford it, pay people to build something software and call your kid an “entrepreneur”! Harvard will accept you!

You sound sexist. Maybe this applicant could code and do everything her stats suggested
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 06:48     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Anonymous wrote:She’s a Freshmen and has had her heart set on Harvard since she was in 7th grade. She’s very bright. Straight A student, involved in band, student council and tennis. But her school isn’t the best and her father and I are geniuses.

Her guidance counselor says she has a chance if she works hard but can public school kids get into a school like that? She’s in a SAT prep class and a volunteer program to help prep for applying.


You're a genius. Figure it out.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 06:37     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Anonymous wrote:No. She doesn't really because she should already have a splinter skill that she can hoist to the national level (art, sports, whatever it is). Straight As in all her high school's hardest classes and a near perfect ACT or SAT is just buying the lottery ticket.

You should have nipped this "dream school business" in the bud as soon as it appeared, OP. Parenting fail.

I disagree. Shoot fir the moon and even if you miss, you will land among the stars, as the saying goes.

Yes, developing an intriguing skill/ direction would be good as are her high grades, prep for SATs, etc. Yes, she may need to cast a wider net than just Harvard but there are many great schools that will respect her hustle in the end. There are many good pathways at great schools that are not Ivys
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 06:32     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Pp here — Harvard will accept your kid, not you! Lol
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 06:31     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Just heard they accepted an “entrepreneur” - I’m guessing her family paid for software to be built because girl cannot code and has sports, student government, research etc as other ECs. Surprised it made it past the usually discerning AOs.

So if you can afford it, pay people to build something software and call your kid an “entrepreneur”! Harvard will accept you!
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 04:50     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Become a policy debater or a fencer.


Too late for fencing. Harvard actually recruits for Fencers (despite D3 status) so their team has internationally ranked ones.

You really don’t have to be international talent to get recruited for fencing. You don’t even have to be national talent.


At Harvard? If you are recruited, you absolutely will have a USFA ranking. Yale also had multiple Olympians on their team when I was fencing.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 04:28     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Become a policy debater or a fencer.


Too late for fencing. Harvard actually recruits for Fencers (despite D3 status) so their team has internationally ranked ones.

You really don’t have to be international talent to get recruited for fencing. You don’t even have to be national talent.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 04:03     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Anonymous wrote:Become a policy debater or a fencer.


Too late for fencing. Harvard actually recruits for Fencers (despite D3 status) so their team has internationally ranked ones.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 04:01     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
You gotta start piling up the awards. By the time I got into MIT, Cornell, etc I had a national award, many state and local awards, awards from a weird but interesting hobby, volunteered for multiple local and national organizations, started a club, was a leader in other clubs. I mean literally piled it on.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 03:42     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Become a policy debater or a fencer.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 03:10     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Anonymous wrote:She’s a Freshmen and has had her heart set on Harvard since she was in 7th grade. She’s very bright. Straight A student, involved in band, student council and tennis. But her school isn’t the best and her father and I are geniuses.

Her guidance counselor says she has a chance if she works hard but can public school kids get into a school like that? She’s in a SAT prep class and a volunteer program to help prep for applying.


No-one is guaranteed an admission to any T20, specially HYPSM are a crapshoot unless you are severely under or over privileged background, regardless of how exceptional they are. She should aim to get into any one of the T20 schools and be happy with it.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2024 01:36     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Of course she has a chance. Harvard takes from everywhere. It’s helpful to have done things where there is a passion
Anonymous
Post 12/20/2024 19:02     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
OP your daughter is going to be a mess if this is what she’s focusing on now. She’s years too early. No way can she even know what she’ll be looking for in a school in 5 years. In that meantime she’s going to miss out on a lot.
Anonymous
Post 12/20/2024 18:53     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Is she tall? If so have her try crew!
Anonymous
Post 12/20/2024 18:20     Subject: Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?
Anonymous wrote:You need an SAT or ACT score before this is even remotely a serious question, one worth answering.


And three years of high school grades.