Beyond the Books · Elite Careers Strategy Gateway

Beyond the Books

My Alpha Kappa Psi colleagues and I are organising an insight day at Deutsche Bank this Friday, and it has got me thinking about the importance of extracurriculars (ECs)...

When I was making my application to Harvard, I was reading up on what actually makes the place so good. I stumbled on an article in the Crimson, and, like its author, I questioned whether “the people” was really a sufficient answer. I’m confident every university shouts loud and proud about its “on-campus community”, and I’m sure everyone has seen the idyllic pictures of students sat on a lush green campus in prospectuses. Taking a deeper dive, however, I began to learn why the people is truly why Harvard stands out.

As an A Level student and university applicant it seemed I was doing everything but studying. I was chair of the Environmental Council, a fledgling young writer, working weekends at my local golf club, and trying to nail down internships in Westminster. Why? Because I had been inspired. I’m fortunate enough that I take inspiration from a great many friends, peers, and mentors in my life, and it is because of them that I create opportunities and pursue my ambitions with the energy I do.

Manuel (Class of ’24), writing in the Crimson, says:

"The real value of Harvard is being surrounded by people who push you to your limits, who help you realize how much you don’t know, and who inspire you to see how much potential there is in the world for you. It sounds cheesy, but you realize how important Harvard’s environment is once you find yourself exploring the law libraries, starting podcasts, and writing books, all because of the motivation given to you by your peers."

Being surrounded by highly motivated, intellectually curious individuals is what made Harvard the place to be for 56,000+ applicants to the Class of 2027 – myself included – and it is clearly what motivates students like Manuel.

Surely there is nowhere where the importance of extracurriculars is more important. This is what makes Harvard students stand out. Sure, they’ve got excellent academic ability, as is expected when making Ivy League applications, but it is what they do beyond the books that makes them considered worthy of enriching the Harvard community in Cambridge, MA. I’ve championed a lot of creators here at City Careers Coach, but limmytalks, who has made an incredible platform reading stories about college apps, shows just how amazing some of these Ivy League applicants credentials really are, from founding non-profits to representing their country on the global stage.

It is because of these amazing individuals that I believe Harvard and other Ivy League colleges across the pond have got it right. Holistic admissions, as I have argued before, appreciate the sheer diversity of an applicant’s skills and talent, beyond GPAs and test scores. Back in 2013, the Dean of Admissions at Harvard shared my sentiment: "Every country must do everything in its power to make the most of the talents of all its young people". In one of the op-eds that helped kickstart my career as a writer I wrote: "Holistic admissions takes an interest in your really riveting experience as chair of your school's knitting society, that you have an investment portfolio that outperforms billion-dollar hedge funds, or that you write for this really amazing publication…"

This is why, if I am so arrogant to think that I can give advice to my fellow young people, I always shout about extracurriculars and the things you do outside of the lab, lecture hall, and classroom. This is what makes us tick, and what makes us even more interesting as change-makers and citizen leaders, and young people with a future in this world.

Whilst I ultimately failed to gain admission to Harvard’s Class of ’27, I learnt a great deal on how to be a better student, and how important it is to pursue my passions beyond the classroom. How important it is to go beyond the books - something that all attendees at the upcoming insight day have in common.

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