I heard a rumor that there's some high schools that send a ridiculous number of students to Harvard in a single year. Anyone else heard about this or know if there's any truth to it?
It is true that some high schools, particularly private ones or those in wealthy neighborhoods, have been known to send a notable number of students to Harvard and other Ivy League schools in a given year. These schools often have rigorous academic programs, ample resources to support student success, and strong connections to top-tier universities or powerful alumni.
However, it is essential to keep in mind that these situations are dwarfed by the number of schools that send zero to one student to Harvard each year, and the majority of Harvard students do not come from these 'feeder' schools.
Additionally, Harvard and similar institutions work hard to admit a diverse freshman class from all types of high schools, including rural and struggling urban schools, in addition to the 'feeder' schools. They often have programs focused on recruiting from underrepresented regions or backgrounds.
Ultimately, while going to a particular high school may provide opportunities, individual applicant factors like grades, extracurriculars, essays, recommendation letters, and interviews are paramount in Harvard's admissions decisions.
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