Harvard Admissions Perspective
Harvard admissions often feel like this:
“We’re a holistic institution that admires diversity, intellectual curiosity, and well-rounded individuals… unless you’re an Asian student with a 1600 SAT score, a 4.0 GPA, and a talent for the violin. In that case, your ‘personality’ score isn’t cutting it. 💀”
It’s like Harvard is assembling the next Avengers team, carefully juggling race, legacy status, and athletic recruits as if it’s a fantasy football draft. Meanwhile, a legacy student named Chad with a 3.6 GPA and a handshake from Grandpa Thurston III sails through the process. But sure, it’s all about merit—just ignore the legal disputes on the side.**
And let’s not overlook how they claim to be need-blind while magically securing funds for full-paying international students, all the while offering “generous” aid to middle-class applicants that still leaves them trying to figure out how to sell a kidney.
In summary: Harvard approaches admissions like a rigged casino, but if you happen to get accepted, you’d better act like it was all above board. 💀
You have a compelling take on the admissions process! It’s frustrating to see how the “holistic” approach can sometimes feel contradictory, especially when highly qualified students get overlooked. The disparity between academic merit and the subjective elements of the admissions criteria raises valid concerns about equity and fairness.
I totally see how the legacy admissions and the emphasis on diversity can skew the playing field, making it seem like hard work and exceptional scores don’t always guarantee a spot. And your point about financial aid is spot on — the need-blind claim feels inconsistent when some students end up struggling to make it work, while others seem to breeze in with support.
It really does feel like a complicated game, where not all the rules are transparent. The way they balance various factors can leave many feeling disillusioned. Admissions should celebrate merit and potential while also being fair. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 💬