Anyway, one thing I did was look at successful essays from real students online. You’ll notice a pattern – the best ones are personal, not just a brag sheet. Also, don’t forget the supplemental essays. Harvard’s “What would you teach a class on” one is where you can really shine.
Yesss the supplemental ones are where I got creative. My class idea was on horror movies and human psychology lol. That would never fly in JFK’s Harvard essay era but today it shows personality.LMAO, when I first read the JFK Harvard essay, I was like, “Wait, is that the whole thing??” Like how did that even count as a personal statement?? I guess daddy’s paycheck helped a lot.
But you gotta remember it was a whole different world back then. Connections meant everything. That said, for our apps now, personality is key. Show who you are in your personal statement – quirks, passion, all of it. Harvard wants you, not just another resume. And seriously, don’t stress over sounding perfect. Be real.
True! I tried writing this deep, intellectual essay at first, and it just felt fake. Once I loosened up and got real, my essay flowed way better. And yeah, I still think the JFK admissions essay is wild compared to the pressure we’re under now.Yeah, I saw the John F Kennedy Harvard essay a while ago, and I had the same reaction
But don’t let it psych you out. The thing I did that helped was making a timeline. I spaced everything out – essay drafts, recs, test prep – and actually stuck to it. It made the whole Harvard app feel less overwhelming. Also, have like 2-3 people read your essay. Friends catch stuff your brain skips over when you’re too close to the work.
100% agree on the timeline tip! I kept pushing stuff off and had a mini meltdown in February. Also, reading the JFK Harvard application letter made me realize how much things have changed but also how much they haven’t. Still gotta be impressive, just in new ways.It is actually crazy how short and vague the JFK college essay was. If any of us turned in something like that now, we’d be laughed out of the process
Like, “Dear Harvard, I’d like to be a Harvard man.” Boom, accepted. But fr, the essays now need more storytelling. Mine was about growing up in a bilingual household and translating for my grandma. It wasn’t about winning awards, but it showed responsibility and heart. Point is, your story doesn’t have to be flashy – just meaningful.
As for what to write about, If you’ve ever failed at something and bounced back, talk about that - Harvard loves seeing how you grow.