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Hi,
I am a Asian Indian, moved here 9th grade.
I'm applying EA to Harvard and need some help with the essay.
Compared to a lot of other foreign students i think i might be a little better, my stats are

Rank- 2 of 140
SAT II Math IIC - 800
SAT II Chem - 790
SAT II Bio - 740
SAT II Writing - 710
SAT I (March) - M 670 V 580 (Retaking october hoping for around 650-700 V and 730-800 M)
Taking ACT in october

AP Bio - 4
AP chem - 5
AP US - 4
AP Comp Sci - 1
AP Euro, AP Physics, AP Calc BC currently taking

President of Chess club and Youth Group - 12grade
Treasurer of Chess, environmental, and class - 10th grade
Treasurer of class - 12th grade
Soccer 4 years - Captain of the JV 11th grade
Volunteer at hospital 9-12 grades, and a internship during the school year 12th grade

Columbia Science Honors Program, 12 grade
RPI Gold medal winner
Summer camp at marist college and biotechnology camp at SUNY Potsdam
Ebay Business owner

So now my question is, what do you guys think is a good essay topic to write about?
Should i write about my immigration experience or is it too harangue?
Can someone pleaseeee help me, i'm applying early to Harvard and desperately looking to write about something.
Thanks

By Destinypath (Destinypath) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:47 pm: Edit

Two things I like in essays that are unique to each person -- to make an essay no one else could write about.

1. Vignettes: a "slice of life" story dthat pegs you or a strong aspect of your personality/character.

2. Surprises: A hidden interest, habit, or passion that adds depth and a "quirky factor" to you/your app. I do NOT mean your soft porn habit or how you like to pick your nose. Hopefully you are tasteful and unique enough to pick your own subject.

By Chasgoose (Chasgoose) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 01:11 am: Edit

I wrote about my obsession and love/hate relationship with the lesbian Modernist author Gertrude Stein and I got in. Write about something that you find interesting about yourself and it should be interesting to the adcom.

By Bhaiyu87 (Bhaiyu87) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 06:01 am: Edit

But do you guys think that i should include my immigration experience in it somehow, because unless i mention that i think my chances are very slim.
My specs are good but not as great as a typical harvard students, but i was also not born here so i had a hard time. So i'm looking to write about something that includes that with something else.
GRR why does this mind stop working when it needs to!
thanks

By Wombatje (Wombatje) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 06:17 am: Edit

Are more common subjects always bad?

I have written a 500 word essay on my views of how a scientist should be, related to leonardo davinci, and then a 150 words essay on my ethnical diversity related to the concept of homo universalis i discussed in the first essay

By Bhaiyu87 (Bhaiyu87) on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 08:52 am: Edit

Help please

By Coureur (Coureur) on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 10:50 am: Edit

With a 1250 on the SAT, I would question whether you can yet call yourself "a little bit better" than a lot of the other foreign students who will be applying to Harvard.

By all means work hard on that essay. It's going to be important. But I also suggest you also put a LOT of effort into the ACT or that SAT retake as well.

By Bhaiyu87 (Bhaiyu87) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 04:21 pm: Edit

True... thanks for pointing out.. i never thought about it like that.
I guess trying is my only choice now whatever the consequences.
any help with essay will be appreciated though.