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50 Successful Harvard Essays

Fifty all-new essays that got their authors into Harvard - with updated statistics, analysis, and complete student profiles - showing what worked, what didn’t, and how you can do it, too.

With talented applicants coming from top high schools as well as the pressure to succeed from family and friends, it’s no wonder that writing college application essays is one of the most stressful tasks high schoolers face. To help, this edition of 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays, edited by the staff of the Harvard Crimson, gives readers the most inspiring approaches, both conventional and creative, that won over admissions officers at Harvard University, the nation’s top-ranked college.

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The Harvard Crimson College Essay Advising program is an exceptional college essay consulting and editing service offered exclusively by the distinguished writers of The Harvard Crimson, the nation's oldest continuously published daily college newspaper. Tailored to high school seniors, this program provides a unique opportunity to connect with some of the nation's finest collegiate writers, gaining direct feedback through personalized 1-on-1 advising and essay editing sessions.

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The Harvard Crimson College Essay Advising program is your gateway to top-notch college essay consulting and editing. Led exclusively by writers from The Harvard Crimson, the oldest continuously published daily college newspaper in the nation, our program provides high school seniors with inva luable 1-on-1 advising and essay editing sessions.

Whether you're just starting or already on your fifth draft, our program caters to students at any stage of the college essay writing process. Our experienced coaches will guide you through brainstorming sessions to develop a strong foundation for your essay. If you're furt her along, our team leverages their journalism expertise to offer targeted editing sessions, refining your work to perfection. 

We prioritize personalized support by pairing you with a mentor who aligns with your academic interests, extracurricular activities, and target colleges. With flexible scheduling, you can easily coordinate session times directly with your mentor, ensuring a convenient and tailored experience.

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Upon signing up, you gain access to our exclusive Personal Narrative Essay Module. This comprehensive guide serves as you r roadmap to crafting an exceptional college essay. From finding the perfect topic to employing effective writing techniques, our module covers it all. W e strongly recommend reviewing this invaluable resource before diving into 1-on-1 brainstorming sessions. Subsequently, our mentors will provide expert guidance through several 1-on-1 editing sessions until your essay is college-ready.  Don't miss this unparalleled opportunity to elevate your college essay and captivate admissions officers.

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Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition 2024

Types: Submission, Tournament

Scope: International

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Entry Fee: $15

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Participate

This competition encourages students to challenge themselves and explore different writing styles to ultimately strengthen their writing skills. Hone written communication skills and challenge yourself with university-style guidelines, while in high school.

The registration fee is US$15 per student and must be paid upon registration but can get 33% off with code: AMB336

Each participant is invited to attend best-in-class bootcamps, explore careers in writing, and compete for exclusive opportunities and global recognition!

• APAC (East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania)
• Europe, Russia, and Central Asia
• Middle East, North Africa, Central and South Africa
• LATAM (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the islands of the Caribbean)
• North America

Website: https://www.essaycomp.org/

Managing Organization: Harvard Crimson

Contact: [email protected]

Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13-18, in the 8th - 12th grade

Registration Opens: December 1, 2023

Registration Closes: February 7, 2024

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THE HARVARD CRIMSON GLOBAL ESSAY COMPETITION

THE HARVARD CRIMSON AND CRIMSON EDUCATION

Sponsoring Institution:  The Harvard Crimson and Crimson Education

Type: Essay Contest

Eligibility: 13 -18 year olds (from anywhere) enrolled in a secondary institution

Application Deadline:  Mid February

Highlight:  Are you a current high school student who’s passionate about writing and wants to get their work evaluated by The Harvard Crimson? Then try your hand at participating in The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Contest ! This essay contest encourages high school students (13-18) from all around the globe to compete for various opportunities and prizes that could change their writing career forever. Since this essay contest is completely virtual , there are practically zero barriers stopping you from entering this essay contest. You might be wondering what type of prompts you need to write about in The Harvard Crimson’s essay contest. Well, every year, there are two different prompt tracks following either a creative or persuasive theme. There are typically 10 different prompts for the contestants to write about. The prizes for this essay contest are the same for both creative and persuasive tracks. The first, second, and third place winners receive an internship with The Harvard Crimson, a recommendation letter, and Harvard merchandise. In addition they will receive $1000, $750, and $500 in cash and Crimson Mentorship credit. To qualify for The English Learner prize of $100 and Harvard “merch”, you cannot come from an English speaking family, or have social interactions that are primarily in English, or have completed any period of schooling where English is the primary language. Additional awards include the 50 regional awards distributed across 5 global regions which feature a $25 Amazon gift card and a Regional Finalist Certificate. Just and fyi: you are able to submit previously written essays to this essay contest given that they’re under 500 words long and were written by you. There are multiple webinars and exclusive workshops presented by The Harvard Crimson to help you get started…so, perks galore!!! With all that this global essay contest offers… for free…it’s hard to resist applying to Harvard!

It is our anual free funding event for high schoolers from all over the world

Michael's Essay

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Successful Harvard Essay

I’ve been alone for three years now.

My freshman year, my mother had to take a job as a live-in caregiver to make enough money to pay rent and other bills after my uncle got married and moved out. I was ecstatic. I could finally have the entire house to myself. I had imagined the countless hours on the PS4, nobody telling me to go to sleep or to go do my homework. I felt free. Unexpectedly, though, this freedom came at the expense of my childhood.

To compensate for never being home, my mother called me three times a day. The first call would always be at 6:00 a.m, like clockwork. That was the call to wake me up so that I wouldn’t miss the bus and be late for school. Then there was the 4:00 p.m call where we went over anything and everything that happened in school that day. Lastly, there was the 7:00 p.m call which always seemed to last over an hour. This was the call that made me miss my mother the most. We labeled this call the “multi-purpose” call. Sometimes we would just talk about how we were both doing. Other times she would teach me things I needed to know, like how to do laundry, how to go grocery shopping, or how to cook. But one thing that she always seemed to bring up was how she wished things were different and how much she ached with the desire to be home with her son.

She would always say how I was her pride and joy, but I've always thought of myself to be her hope, her hope for a better life.

That last call always weighed heavily on my heart. When around friends and their families, I would often put my head down and smile because their interactions would remind me so much of when my mother was with me every day. It made me miss her insurmountably, to the point where I began to despise every aspect of this “independence.” To me, it was loneliness, isolation, and nights laying in bed wishing I had a loved one in the house that I could talk to or hug. I was forced to become a man instead of living out my days as a kid. What hurt me the most, though, was knowing that my mother hated our situation even more than I did. She hated knowing her only child was growing up without her and it hurt her more than words could explain. She would always say how I was her pride and joy, but I’ve always thought of myself to be her hope, her hope for a better life.

That is why I have worked so hard in school. My mother has dedicated and sacrificed years of her life to make sure that her son could live a great one, and all she has ever asked from me in return was to do well in school. There were numerous times when I felt discouraged and unmotivated, but the thought of letting down the woman that has broken her back for me was far stronger than any fatigue I may have felt.

For three long years now, I have entered my house after school expecting nothing but silence and darkness. I lay in bed at night yearning to hear any sound at all that would signal that there was life in the house beside me. Then I wake up the next morning, get ready for school, and start the cycle all over again. I have almost gotten used to being alone. But I won’t let my story end here. The reason why I have worked myself so hard is so that things can be different for me and my mother. She always says that everything she’s doing now is for me and that when she gets old it’ll be my turn. Except when my turn comes, she will never have to be alone.

Professional Review by Quad Education

Michael’s essay begins with a gripping hook, leaving the reader wondering why he is alone. He reveals his mother's sacrifices and his initial excitement at newfound freedom, which quickly turns into the burden of a lost childhood. The essay effectively uses the routine of their daily phone calls to highlight his deep connection with his mother and the pain of their separation.

Michael's forced independence, unlike the typical chosen independence of college freshmen, emphasizes his resilience and maturity.

Michael’s forced independence, unlike the typical chosen independence of college freshmen, emphasizes his resilience and maturity. Despite the emotional toll, he channels his determination into academic excellence, driven by his mother’s sacrifices and his desire to ensure a better future for both of them.

This essay excels in presenting a clear and compelling narrative of personal growth under challenging circumstances beyond one’s control. Michael’s story demonstrates his maturity, resilience, and commitment, qualities that suggest he would thrive in a rigorous academic environment. His motivation and determination show he is not only ready for college but also has the potential to effect positive change in society. These are hallmarks of what Harvard seeks in potential students.

The Crimson's news and opinion teams—including writers, editors, photographers, and designers—were not involved in the production of this article.

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Writing competition

Harvard Crimson - the U.S.’s oldest continuously published daily college newspaper - is pleased to invite you to the Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) 2024!

Registration is open to all students aged 13-18. Competitors will have to write a 500-word essay after choosing a prompt from the creative, argumentative, or journalistic category.

Sounds easy? Sign-up here and use the promo code AMB194 for a USD $5 discount off your registration fee!

Registered participants get:

✍️ Exclusive workshops by The Harvard Crimson to level-up your writing skills.

🏅 The opportunity to be recognized as a regional finalist or global winner.

💼 The chance to win exclusive internships with The Harvard Crimson!

Check out our website at https://www.essaycomp.org for more details!

We hope to see your community represented on our global stage, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!

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Harvard dean's essay arguing for limiting faculty speech causes uproar

After a chaotic year at Harvard University, a dean drew the ire of many with a recent essay arguing that the free speech of faculty should be limited. Dean of Social Science Lawrence Bobo made the case in an op-ed that appeared in The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, last week. “Is it outside the bounds of acceptable professional conduct for a faculty member to excoriate University leadership, faculty, staff, or students with the intent to arouse external intervention into University business? And does the broad publication of such views...

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Dissent: Does Length (of Writing) Really Matter?

In response to the Supreme Court’s curtailment of how race can be considered in college admissions, Harvard rolled out new prompts for its application essays. The format of the five new required short-essay prompts, in our opinion, is a welcome deviation from the previous format with three optional prompts about extracurriculars, “intellectual experiences,” and an open-ended supplemental essay. The Board, however, does not believe this to be the case , and on that point we disagree.

The Board’s opinion posits that longer essays give applicants from less privileged backgrounds more room to express themselves in a way that a short essay cannot. Implicit in this statement is the assertion that longer essays are somewhat “easier” to write and require less experience.

Suffice it to say, writing is an idiosyncratic process that, dependent on a myriad of factors, will require different skills from different people. For some, brevity may be necessary to get the point across, while for others, a little elaboration may drive the point home. Ergo, it is likely that applicants with similar experiences exhibit different levels of comfort writing longer versus shorter essays.

Furthermore, the Board’s discussion of whether longer forms give prospective students more agency in their applications misconstrues what lies at the heart of the issue. A comprehensive discussion of the prompts themselves is a much better approach than fixating on word limits.

The new five prompts ask applicants to talk about different aspects of themselves, from their intellectual interests, extracurriculars, and family responsibilities to their life experiences. These prompts give clear guidance on what Harvard wants to know about its applicants. For a student with limited experience in writing an application, the prompts assuage the burden of trying to determine the aspects of their life that are of interest to Harvard.

Given that the application is assessed holistically — a candidate’s academic performance, personal essay, interview, letters of recommendation, and supplemental materials are all considered — the five targeted prompts, collectively, tell with clarity the applicant's background story as one may have envisioned the open-ended long essay would. Additionally, applicants can elaborate on their experiences through the Common App optional essay should they find the word limits constricting.

At the core of the application debate lies a concern with diversity in a post-affirmative action world of higher education. To this end, the collective Board — ourselves included — share the same priorities in improving the representation of students from underprivileged backgrounds.

Unfortunately, the Board’s concerns with the length of the essays, albeit well-intentioned, are ultimately misguided. As such, we dissent. Neither the Board nor us can speak judgment to what length of essays are easy to write. That determination lies solely with the applicants.

Ruby J.J. Huang ’24, an Editorial Comp Director, is a History concentrator in Leverett House. Joshua Ochieng ’24, an Associate Editorial Editor, is an Economics concentrator in Quincy House

Dissenting Opinions: Occasionally, The Crimson Editorial Board is divided about the opinion we express in a staff editorial. In these cases, dissenting board members have the opportunity to express their opposition to staff opinion.

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