Harvard, MIT and other famous American schools have trained countless outstanding talents for the world. After their appearance, they made outstanding contributions to mankind, and some even became epoch-making great men and models. Therefore, the first-class universities in the United States are very famous, and even some naive kindergarten children will firmly say, "When I grow up, I want to go to Harvard!" " However, when they really grow up, many of them will get lost in their misunderstanding of Harvard and hold back. No matter how you warn him that understanding is wrong, he still believes in it and is even willing to listen to and relay these misunderstandings, which not only mistakes himself, but also others. Take applying for Harvard University as an example. Ten misunderstandings are summarized as follows:
Myth 1: Harvard students are all gods and more talented than anyone else in the world.
This is a very common misunderstanding. Yes, most (I mean most but not all) Harvard students are very talented. But this doesn't mean that they have an innate advantage over any other non-Harvard people, nor does it mean that if you can't surpass every Harvard person or at least be like them, you can't belong to Harvard.
In the process of teaching in some universities in North America and Asia, I found that the main difference between Harvard students and other university students is not intellectual talent, but enterprise, great ambition, strong leadership and desire to make the world a better place.
Harvard people are obsessed with giving themselves this high-level personality and constantly strengthening it. In contrast, students from other universities are less inclined to this aspect. Therefore, arming yourself with the quality and spirit of this organ newspaper, seizing any opportunity to exercise yourself and make yourself mature and improve will play a key role in your final entry into Harvard. Don't be too obsessed with talent.
Myth 2: Test scores are above everything else.
This is what many parents often say, which is perhaps more frustrating than any other misunderstanding about applying to Harvard. Many China friends who said this even spent a whole year preparing for the TOEFL and SAT exams in exchange for good test results as the capital for application. When they got full marks or near full marks, they were surprised to find that they were rejected by Harvard and even some other top universities. Although their TOEFL score is very high, some universities will be happy to accept it, but after all, they are out of Harvard.
What needs to be emphasized here is that the admissions offices of top universities such as Harvard value the overall quality of applicants. They also attach importance to academic performance, extracurricular activities, various test scores, letters of recommendation and application articles. So you should regard test scores as a factor that may keep you out of Harvard, rather than a decisive condition for admission.
Myth 3: I am not rich, so I can never apply for an expensive school like Harvard.
Even in the United States, this is a common misunderstanding. Harvard donated $19 billion, making it one of the largest schools in the world. Harvard adopts the "NeedBlindAdmissions" enrollment procedure. It means that the application materials for admission and the application form for financial aid are sent separately. If Harvard admits you, then she will ensure that she will provide you with enough student funds to let you study at Harvard. This kind of student aid fund includes several types: giving you money directly and never needing to pay it back; Low-interest loans must be repaid; There is also a work-study program, which is similar to the teaching method. In any case, you should not give up applying to Harvard because you have no money. Of course, if you are admitted to Harvard and another school you also love, and that school can provide more generous grants, then you should make a more suitable choice according to your own conditions and future development direction. In short, don't think too much about money, your future and future are the most important.
Myth 4: It is better to concentrate on one activity than to participate in more extracurricular activities.
After knowing the importance of extracurricular activities, many students try to participate in various activities to make their resumes look fuller. This strategy is actually unsuccessful. The Admissions Committee is looking for people who are not only talented, but also professional and ambitious, and who have made achievements in the activities they participate in.
So don't take part in too many class activities. Your time is precious. Focusing on one or two activities that you are good at, having fun and getting exercise from them, will help to achieve the big goal of life, help to develop physical fitness and intelligence, and make yourself achieve excellent results. Music, sports, arts and crafts, literary creation, artistic performance, scientific and technological civilization, and even lectures and the establishment of school journals will be very beneficial.
Myth 5: If I can ask some celebrities to write letters of recommendation, I will definitely be admitted.
Many domestic high school students who apply for American universities will have the same question: "Who is better to write me a letter of recommendation? One is a famous senior government official and the other is the president of a famous big enterprise. " Then you have to think about it. Which of these two people has ever had contact with you at work, academically or otherwise, and learned about your work ability, learning potential, your talent, and your experience in one period or another? Maybe they will say: Nobody knows me very well. Then he will proudly say, "They are all friends of my parents. But they are all willing to write me a letter of recommendation. " This is a misunderstanding. In fact, you should find someone who really knows you to write a letter of recommendation. A letter of recommendation from a teacher or boss who knows you well is more convincing than a letter of recommendation from a celebrity you have only met several times or even met.
Whether Harvard is convinced of the recommendation letter does not depend on the reputation and status of the person who wrote it, but on how close he is to you and how much he knows. Harvard is not looking for applicants with important interpersonal relationships, but people who can make full use of the learning opportunities provided by Harvard.
Myth 6: I'm not the smartest in the world, so Harvard won't admit me.
Nothing is more untrue than saying that "you must be the smartest person in the world or the best person in school to get into Harvard". If you choose between two students, Harvard's principle is: instead of admitting the person who is top-notch in learning but never participates in any off-campus activities, doesn't like socializing and doesn't care about trusting others, it is better to admit the applicant who ranks 25th in the school, but is the monitor, enthusiastic about social activities and an excellent ice hockey player.
Myth 7: I'm not even the first in our school. How can a prestigious school like Harvard admit me? So I shouldn't bother to apply to Harvard at all.
You're not the first now. If you enter Harvard, you may go to the first place. It's in your past that you didn't win the first prize. Grasping the present and bravely fighting for the future is the most important thing for you at present. Give up the present, how can there be a satisfactory future?
In the future, who can say that you will not be the best among mankind? Never lose confidence in yourself at any time. Try hard, even if you fail, you will face life calmly. If you don't even have the courage to fight for it now, how can you bear more storms in the future? In the process of hard work, you will certainly mature and naturally find a development path that suits you. After all, there is only one first place on the podium. However, there are many students in famous universities.
Myth 8: I was rejected by another school, which realized that Harvard would never admit me.
Harvard is looking for students with different requirements from other universities (not only those in China, but also those in the United States). They must have the personal qualities and qualifications that Harvard needs. For example, MIT and Caltech are all looking for students with strong scientific and technological background and solid mathematical foundation, which is very different from Harvard's enrollment principle; If you want to apply to Columbia University, you must try your best to study and get the best grades, because Columbia University wants students with the best exam results. The reason why Columbia University pays attention to high scores is to make Columbia University leap forward in the university rankings. Harvard will always follow the principles and directions of its own training and enrollment. If you think you have the natural qualifications that a Harvard student should have, even though you may have been rejected by other universities, you should still try to apply for Harvard, because your chance has come.
Myth 9: As a foreigner, the chances of being admitted to Harvard are much smaller than those of being an American.
Many people will find it much easier to get into Harvard as an American than as a China. That's not right either. Harvard hopes that students from all over the world with different experiences and the same outlook on life will join the Harvard area-the diversified admission mechanism adopted by Harvard is an important factor to enliven the academic atmosphere. Therefore, if you are one of the three qualified China students who applied from China, your chances of being admitted to Harvard are much greater than your chances of being one of the thousands of American students who applied from California. As an applicant, you should cherish your uniqueness and try your best to show your different experiences from other applicants. Harvard pursues to attract top students from all over the world.
Myth 10: Harvard is the best university for everyone.
Everyone seems to think so, but this is a big misunderstanding. It is an indisputable fact that Harvard is the most famous in the world, and it is absolutely worthy of the title of "the best university". But it is not necessarily the best choice for every specific person, and she will not accept quite a few people to study here, because Harvard is not suitable for these people. So when you decide to apply for a university, you must analyze and measure the advantages and disadvantages of each university.
If you want to study in a busy city, Montreal McGill University and new york Columbia University are better choices. They are located in Montreal and new york respectively, not in the relatively quiet Cambridge (where Harvard is located). If you can't stand the cold winter and want to live in a place where the seasons are like spring, you'd better apply to the University of California at Berkeley or Stanford University, because it is sunny and warm all year round. WilliamsCollege or AmherstCollege will provide courses taught in small classes; If you are keen on attending parties rather than studying hard, then Harvard is definitely not a good place for you. In other words, although Harvard is the most famous institution in the world, with the best brain and the most extensive knowledge database, it is just a paradise institution for some people and a tourist attraction for others. After the visit, they will leave because things outside Harvard are more attractive to them; The people in the third part are very uncomfortable with each other. He doesn't adapt to Harvard's teaching mode, and Harvard naturally won't meet his learning needs. Therefore, Harvard is not the best university for everyone.