Extracurricular Activities

The key is authenticity. In my case, I didn't decide to apply to US colleges until quite late - around 10th or 11th grade. This actually worked in my favor because it meant all my activities were genuine pursuits, not calculated moves to impress admissions officers.

The most important thing is to ensure your activities align with the values and goals you express in your essays. For example, if you write about your commitment to community service, your extracurriculars should reflect that. As a high school student, you might not be able to make massive changes, but you can show initiative in whatever opportunities are available to you.

In my case, I started an initiative with friends to support children with cancer and low-income families. We created videos to raise awareness and organized donations for medical treatments, food, clothing, and household necessities. I didn't do this for college applications; I did it because I genuinely wanted to help my community. But it aligned perfectly with the values I expressed in my essays.

The takeaway here is that your application should show coherence between your stated values and how you demonstrate those values through your activities. It's not about impressing admissions officers with grand gestures, but about showing consistent commitment to your principles.

How did you balance academics and extracurriculars during high school?

I should preface this by saying that my experience was somewhat unique due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was a junior and senior during lockdowns, which meant I was at home with more time to focus on preparations. However, I can still offer some general advice.

The key is to start early - ideally in 9th grade or even before. Many students make the mistake of trying to cram all their impressive activities into 11th and 12th grade, but this approach is often unsustainable and can seem inauthentic. When you start being active early on, impressive achievements tend to follow naturally. You might start with something small in 9th grade, which then grows into a significant project by the time you're applying to colleges.

Even if you can't include early high school activities in your extracurricular section, you can often find ways to mention them in your essays. More importantly, these early experiences often lead to more substantial activities later on.

The bottom line is to start early and trust the process. Engage in activities you're genuinely interested in, and don't worry too much about how they'll look on an application. If you're passionate and committed, impressive achievements will follow.

What's your experience been like at Harvard so far?

The academic demands at Harvard are significant, which doesn't leave a ton of free time. However, one of the great things about Harvard is the sheer number of opportunities available to explore your interests. There are clubs for almost everything, and if you can't find one that matches your interests, you can start your own. The university is quite supportive of student initiatives and it's relatively easy to get funding for new clubs.

Personally, I've always been interested in music. During my freshman year, I didn't have much time for extracurriculars as I was still adjusting to college life. But in my sophomore year, I joined the choir. This was a new experience for me as I had never sung professionally before - I had always been an instrumentalist.

One of the great things about college is that you can start new things from scratch, and there are people willing to teach you. The choir has been a fantastic experience, and it even led to another opportunity: subsidized voice lessons. For choir members, especially those on financial aid, the university offers subsidized voice lessons. This has been a dream come true for me, as I've always wanted to take voice lessons but couldn't afford them before.

So while the academic workload is heavy, there are still plenty of opportunities to explore new interests and develop new skills. It's never too late to start something new in college.

Advice for International Students

It's true that many international students who study abroad come from wealthy families or capital cities, simply because they have more resources to support the process. However, this doesn't mean it's impossible for others.

One of the great things about US college admissions is that they practice what's called "holistic review." This means they evaluate each applicant within the context of their own environment and opportunities. They're not directly comparing you to someone with vastly more resources; instead, they're looking at how you've made use of the opportunities available to you.

Admissions officers are interested in seeing how hard you work, how persistent you are, and how you've maximized the resources available to you in your specific environment. You don't need to be from the wealthiest family or the best school to be a qualified candidate. What matters is that you've been successful within your own context and have made the most of your opportunities.

That said, it does require more effort if you're coming from a less resourced background. You might not have as much information about the application process or access to college counselors. But with determination and thorough online research about the application process, it's definitely possible.

My own school didn't have a college counselor, which is common in many environments outside the US. But this doesn't necessarily work against you. In fact, it can demonstrate your initiative and resourcefulness if you successfully navigate the process on your own.

The key is to not let your circumstances demotivate you. US colleges are looking for diverse perspectives and experiences. They want to see how you've overcome challenges and made the most of your unique situation. So while it might require more effort, coming from a less represented background can actually be an advantage if you frame it correctly in your application.

Remember, colleges are interested in your potential and your ability to thrive in challenging environments. If you can demonstrate these qualities through your application, you have a good chance of success, regardless of your background.