Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I win the State Geographic Olympiad (1 rank) and a lot of other state and regional olympiad victories in chemistry, physics, history, english and ohers. Can it have some role in the admission decision?

By Tokenadult (Tokenadult) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 12:41 am: Edit

Participating in state and regional contests does have a role in the admissions decision. How much of a role that has depends on what else is in your application, and on how many other state and regional winners in the same or similar contests are in the applicant pool.

Are you a senior applying for college this year?

By Lavka (Lavka) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 01:21 am: Edit

Yes, I'm a senior. Thank you very much for your statement. I'm international, and I'd like to know is there a seperate subject "Geography" or only "sciense" in America?
In this year I have a good chanse to participate in national english and geographic olympiads, but it's pity they will be after admission decision.
Thnx.

By Tokenadult (Tokenadult) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 10:07 am: Edit

You wrote, "I'm international," and I wonder if that means that the contests you have done are in your home country. That might be more impressive than winning a state contest in the United States, if the country in which you live has very competitive contests at that level. Books I have read about the selective college admission process point out that many American applicants to Harvard have won an award at the NATIONAL level here, but not all applicants. The only way to get in is to apply, so you might as well apply and see what happens to your application. Of course you will want to describe your life in your country in the parts of the application (the essays) that give you a chance to describe who you are. Harvard has an announced intention of making sure its students gain international perspective, which will come about partly by Americans participating in study-abroad programs and partly by Harvard admitting a certain number of foreign students each year.

Good luck on your application.

By Lavka (Lavka) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 01:10 am: Edit

I'm from Russia, and the Olympiads are taken seriously here. For example, the medalist (1-3 ranks)of state olympiad can be admitted in any university of this state without any examinations.
Participant(!) of the national olympiad - in any university of the country, including most famous-MSU without exams, that's why a lot of students participate in this competition. In Russia, I am considered as first from several thousands. But, looking at the application, I begin to think, that Harvard absolutly is not famous with foreign educational systems, and it can hurt my chances. The same thing in the USA and in Russia are very different.

By Tokenadult (Tokenadult) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 02:31 am: Edit

"But, looking at the application, I begin to think, that Harvard absolutly is not famous with foreign educational systems, and it can hurt my chances."

I would trust Harvard to be familiar with foreign educational systems and able to evaluate the competitiveness of Russian academic olympiads. Harvard has applicants from all over the world, and one way it has to distinguish international applicants is standing in academic competitions in each foreign country. Certainly Harvard has current students and faculty members who were educated outside the United States, so I would suggest that you not be too discouraged. Apply, and see what happens. It may be that this year's successful applicants from Russia are other persons who have even more medals than you have, but you should be able to indicate what competitions you have participated in, and that will be useful information for the Harvard admissions office.

The application form is designed with United States applicants in mind, but you can indicate on it what additional information you have about yourself. The common application (used by Harvard) has a section for listing academic honors, and you can list your olympiad awards there--that's where United States applicants would indicate olympiad awards too.

Again, good luck in your application.

By Lavka (Lavka) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 05:13 am: Edit

Thanks for your information. I hope you're right. But I think, every applicant to Harvard has such distinctions and even more impressive. Should Harvad take in accoubt not only distinctions, but also opportunities available to applicants? In Russia, there are not so many options and horizons for developing leadership, volunteer work and so on, that is so usual in USA. I swear, I try every option.
Are any age limits in admission?