I’m currently in the 8th grade, and I want to get into Harvard. How can I ensure that I will get into Harvard?

By : Stuart White

Here is what my daughter did in high school and she didn’t get into Harvard

Never got a B. Got all As from middle school through her senior year in high school.

Took 9 AP courses, as well as multivariable calculus and differential equations at her local state university (As in both courses).

Completed four years of math and four years of high school English in two years at her local state university with A+ in both courses.

Taught herself calculus and tested out of AB Calculus before she was a junior in high school.

Got an 800 on the Math 2 Subject Test and the Biology Subject Test. Her standardized test scores placed her in the 98th percentile of test takers.

Had the lead in every school play her junior and senior year including Elle in Legally Blonde her junior year and was nominated for a state award.

Was a member of the National Honors Society, an officer in Student Congress and a writer for the school paper.

Founded a club, Students for Females in STEM, her junior year. Conducted community and school based coding programs for elementary and middle school kids. Arranged for local university computer science students to teach computer science at her high school since her high school didn’t offer computer science courses.

Went to the White House twice as a student member of a national coalition to lobby for computer science education funding. Also lobbied Senators on Capitol Hill as well as Governors their summer conference.

Gave a presentation to the State Board of Education on the importance of computer science education in K-12 schools.

Had glowing letters of recommendations from her teachers and her mentor who works for Microsoft.

Wrote an essay that was good enough to get her into another Ivy League school but not Harvard.

So if you can surpass all that my daughter did and other very outstanding students who also didn’t get into Harvard, go for it. But if you can’t, then slow down, smell the roses, and enjoy your childhood without obsessing at age 13 about what college you are going to. There is more than enough time for that.