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“What, like it’s difficult?”
That was “Legally blonde” heroine Elle Woods’ response to her ex-boyfriend when he expressed surprise at her entry to Harvard to study law.
In the real world, getting into Harvard is really tough – the college acceptance rate for 2019 was 4.7 percent. That means that more than 95 percent of the applicants were rejected. Oh.
For the Class of 2023, 43,330 students applied; 1,650 of them signed up. Of the 1,650, 13 percent are international students.
After seeing how many Filipinos were enjoying imagining a life at the prestigious university during the hijacking of Harvard’s Facebook page last month, we reached out to Harvard to ask what it would take for a Filipino student living in the Philippines to get into Harvard. Rachael Dane, the school’s director of media relations, led us to the university’s website (college.harvard.edu/admissions) which, she said, contains “what we look for in all applicants,” which means that their standards are the same for all students. , no matter where they are from.
According to the university, “Harvard accepts applications from all over the world. Our admission and financial aid processes are the same for all applicants, regardless of nationality or citizenship. “
Harvard seeks to “enroll students of all backgrounds and beliefs who will learn from each other. Integrity, maturity, strength of character, and concern for others play an important role in our evaluations. More importantly, they are an integral part of a successful Harvard education. “
In the past, all freshmen applicants were required to complete the Common Application, Universal College Application or Coalition Application, Harvard University Questions for the Common Application, Coalition Application, or the Harvard Supplement of the Universal College Application, ACT or SAT (with or without writing) and two SAT subject tests (recommended, except in the case of financial hardship) and submit your school report and high school transcript, two teacher reports, report mid-year school report and, for admitted students, a final school report. There is a $ 75 application fee, but students can apply for a waiver if this will cause financial hardship for their family.
Applications during the pandemic
Of course, the pandemic has affected everything, including the Harvard application process. So for the Class of 2025, first-year applicants can apply for admission without standardized test scores.
According to Harvard, “We understand that the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus disease) pandemic has created insurmountable test scheduling challenges for all students, particularly those with modest economic backgrounds, and we believe this temporary shift addresses these challenges.” .
Harvard expects to receive expected or actual national test results from international students who would not have the opportunity to take American standardized tests due to the pandemic. They also understand that students may be limited in the activities they can do due to the outbreak and this will not be to their disadvantage.
Academic achievement is important, of course, but the Harvard Admissions Committee also looks at a number of other factors including “strong personal qualities, special talents or excellencies of all kinds, perspectives shaped by unusual personal circumstances, and the ability to take advantage of available resources”. and opportunities. “There is no such thing as a” typical Harvard student, “says the university, adding that its admissions process provides” thoughtful and individual attention to each applicant. “
Well rounded
“Discussions about a single applicant can last up to an hour,” William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard College, told the New York Times. “While there are students at Harvard who may exhibit unusual excellence in a single academic or extracurricular area, the majority of admitted students are unusually strong across the board and, by any definition, they are comprehensive.”
According to Harvard, “We seek to identify students who will be the best educators for each other and their professors, individuals who will inspire those around them throughout their college years and beyond.”
They look at growth and potential (have you put in the effort? Do you have reserve power to do more? How have you used your time? Where will you be in one, five or 25 years? Will you contribute something to those around you? What What kind of human being will you be in the future?), Interests and activities (Do you care deeply about something? What have you learned from your interests? What is the quality of your activities? Do you seem to have a genuine commitment or leadership role? ), personal character (What decisions have you made for yourself? Have you been late? How open are you to new ideas and people?), and contribution to the Harvard community (Will you contribute anything to Harvard and your colleagues? Will you benefit from your Harvard experience? Would other students want to share a room with you, share a meal, be at a seminar together, be teammates, or collaborate in a close-knit extracurricular group?).
Financial help
If I had applied to Harvard as a student (not that I had a chance, given my disastrous performance in high school), my biggest concern would have been tuition money.
But, according to the Harvard website, “Our financial aid program makes Harvard affordable for all families around the world… Let’s get down to business: Harvard can afford. Our application process is completely blind to need, which means that applying for financial aid will have no impact on your admission decision. Our goal is to bring the most promising students to Harvard, period. “
Apparently 20 percent of Harvard families pay nothing for their students to attend. “We have created a financial aid program to help ensure that admitted students can pay for their Harvard education. Our financial aid officers will work closely with your family to understand your financial situation and then create a comprehensive financial aid package that covers the full cost of assistance. “
Fifty-five percent of the class of 2023 receives need-based scholarships.
There is a net price calculator on the website so students can see how much money they need for a year of study at Harvard.
If you are Filipino and you end up entering Harvard, there is a Filipino community waiting for you. There’s the Harvard Philippine Forum, an organization run by Filipino students, Filipino-Americans, and friends who are dedicated to sharing and celebrating Filipino culture with the Harvard community. The Harvard Philippine Forum is also part of the Pan-Harvard Filipino Club, a network that aims to connect Harvard Filipinos with one another.
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