How to get into top US universities, by a Harvard alum

Key points

• If you’re aiming for Harvard or another ultra-selective school, being well-rounded isn’t enough
• What makes you stand out is a Signature Strength — one area you’ve genuinely focused on and made meaningful progress in
• Harvard admits students who are on a clear upward path - your application should reflect momentum, purpose, and a story that sticks 

Part 1. Why well-rounded doesn't cut it for top US universities

Top colleges want more than just strong students — they want students who will go on to create impact, do interesting things, and represent the school well after graduation. The best predictor of that? Depth, not just breadth.

They’re looking for signs that you’ve used your time well, explored something deeply, and are excited to keep going.

The most compelling candidates are those who show depth of commitment and genuine interest in a particular area.

- William R. Fitzsimmons, Harvard Dean of Admissions

Well-rounded is a misread

Being well-rounded — juggling a sport, volunteering, student government, Model UN, etc. — might make you a strong high school student. But it doesn’t make you memorable in a pile of 10,000+ applications. It doesn’t spark a conversation in the admissions room.

It signals you’re competent, not exceptional.
It shows effort, not direction.
It’s rarely sticky. Admissions officers won’t remember “another well-rounded student” at the end of a long day.

Impact beats involvement.

You don’t need to have cured cancer — but you do need a story that makes an admissions officer sit up and say, “This kid is going somewhere.”

Think of yourself as an admissions officer. Imagine reading through piles and piles of perfect GPAs, SATs and ACT scores. Tons of students doing tons of things. Who are you going to remember at the end of the day? The jack of all trades who did a million different things or that one student who really poured their heart into something that they love. They don't need to have necessarily ground-breaking discoveries, but they're sure on their way to doing so.

What Harvard gets out of admitting you - and how that should inform your framing

Harvard isn’t just admitting you for who you are now — they’re investing in who you might become.

The school’s reputation is built by its alumni. When students go on to do big or meaningful things — research, business, art, public service — that strengthens Harvard’s brand.

So when they read your application, they’re asking themselves: “If we admit this person, are they likely to do something interesting or impactful later on?”

That doesn’t mean you need to have cured cancer or launched a company. But it does mean you need to show that you’re on a path - whatever that path may be. That you’ve already made the most of the opportunities you’ve had — and you’re serious about growing further.

Frame your application to show momentum: “Here’s what I’ve done so far, here’s what I’m working on, and here’s where I’m headed." That's a compelling story to an admissions officer and one that Harvard will want to be a part of.

Part 2. How to stand out: Build a Signature Strength

A Signature Strength is a clear, focused area where you’ve gone deeper than most. It’s not about being perfect or famous. It’s about effort, growth, and real interest. It shows you’ve found something you care about — and that you’ve taken real steps to build skill, impact, or both.

What is a Signature Strength?

A Signature Strength is a deep, developed talent, skill, or passion that reflects:

• Consistency: You’ve been at it for a while.
• Progress: You’re getting better, growing, evolving.
• Direction: You’re headed somewhere specific — and big.

Think of it as your personal brand. Something a teacher could summarize in one sentence: “She’s the one that is going to improve data access for healthcare providers in underserved communities.”

Why Harvard Cares

Harvard’s admissions incentives are clear:

They admit students who will go on to make waves — and whose stories will later justify the Harvard brand. They want alumni who:

• Win Rhodes Scholarships
• Launch world-changing startups
• Lead scientific breakthroughs
• Drive public policy

Your Signature Strength signals future impact — which is exactly what Harvard is betting on.

You don’t have to be done — just show you’re moving in a direction that makes sense for you.

Examples of Signature Strengths

These are real examples from my Harvard undergraduate class. Notice: none of these students cured cancer. But all of them used the resources available to them and started making a difference. 

Some other examples include:

• Doing research and getting it published in a small journal.
• Building a nonprofit tutoring program that helps younger students.
• Starting a podcast that explores a niche topic and builds a small audience.
• Writing a column, teaching yourself design, launching an app.
• Leading a community initiative or organizing events with real outcomes.

The common thread: you picked something, stuck with it, and made it better over time.

Part 3. Crafting your application around your signature strength

Okay, I'm conviced that I don't need to be "well-rounded" and I should emphasize my Signature Strenght, but how do I find mine?

This is Top Form Prep's bread and butter - it's what we're here to do. Here's your step by step guide. 

Step 1. Identify what you're drawn to

Step away from college applications for a minute. We'll come back to it, but step away to clear your mind.

Ask yourself, regardless of college applications:

• What topic, issue, or field makes you curious or excited?
• What do you spend time on even when nobody tells you to?
• What kinds of problems do you find yourself trying to solve?

Tip: Don’t worry about it sounding impressive yet. The key is energy — you’re more likely to commit to something you’re genuinely interested in.

Step 2. Focus and define a specific angle

Once you’ve got a broad interest (e.g., medicine, journalism, design), narrow it down. Admissions officers are drawn to specificity. Ask yourself: “What part of this field am I most excited to explore?”

Examples:

• Not just “journalism” → but “investigative journalism about youth mental health”
• Not just “tech” → but “AI tools to support visually impaired students”
• Not just “politics” → but “voter access for first-generation Americans”

Remember - you don't have to do this for the rest of your life. Just because it's something that you started doing while you were in high school doesn't mean you are signing a commitment to focus on this area for the rest of your life. Trying something and learning that it is not your calling is sometimes just as valuable. It's also still a compelling story to an admissions officer. It shows energy, drive, passion, and curiosity. It shows you're on an adventure to discover what drives you and who you want to be. The only mistake is choosing not to pursue anything. 

Step 3. Take initiative - Do something real

This is where most students stall. Your Signature Strength isn’t just what you’re interested in — it’s what you’ve started to build.

Start small, but start:

• Launch a project (newsletter, app, podcast, nonprofit, online archive)
• Start a club or competition at school
• Volunteer in a related organization and take on a leadership role
• Conduct independent research or self-publish your findings
• Create and share content (video essays, blogs, documentaries)

Many people focus on just activities offered at school. There's a whole world out there of things to do and areas to get involved in. Interested (and interesting) students think beyond the classroom.

Key principle: Don’t just think — Do. Create, join, or lead.

Step 4. Build a body of work

Over time, you want to stack proof of your growth. Admissions officers want to see evidence of progress and commitment. You want to have something to show.

Track:

• Projects you’ve launched or completed
• Competitions or scholarships you’ve applied to
• Collaborations you’ve built
• Recognition or measurable impact

"Failures" count so long as you focus on what you learned and how you've applied it to your future projects. 

Create a digital portfolio to keep track of what you’ve done. It's never too early to start. 

Step 5. Find mentors and plug into communities

Great trajectories rarely happen in isolation. Surround yourself with others in your interest area.

Where to look:

• Teachers or professors who specialize in the subject
  
• Local professionals or alumni
• Virtual mentorship programs or summer institutes

A mentor can help refine your focus, introduce opportunities, and validate your direction. Communities show that you're focused on collaboration, scalability, and growth - you're not developing a stand-alone project or career that doesn't engage with reality.

Step 6: Reflect and Shape the Narrative

Once you’ve got meaningful work under your belt, it’s time to tell the story.

Ask:

• What’s the connecting thread?
• How have I grown?
• What impact have I had — even if small?
• Where is this leading me?

Use this reflection to write your personal statement, supplemental essays, and even prep your recommenders. Colleges don’t just want to know what you did — they want to know who you are becoming.

Tactically, when crafting your application, don't show that you're doing a million and one things. Find 1 real signature strength that will stick with the admissions committee. Choose 2-3 real examples of work that you're doing towards that goal. Make that front and center - craft your application around this narrative and drive it home for the admissions officer.

Bonus - What makes a Signature Strength great?

It doesn't need to be a finished product. It doesn't need to be perfect.

But if you can show that you’ve already started working on something that matters to you — and that you’re serious about where you’re headed — that’s powerful.

A Signature Strength isn’t flashy. It’s real. And that’s what makes it memorable.

How Top Form Prep can help

If you’re aiming for a school like Harvard, it’s not just about listing achievements — it’s about telling a story that makes sense, resonates, and sticks with the reader. That’s where Top Form Prep comes in. We're Ivy League students who have gone through it and know exactly what it takes.

We work with a small cohort of ambitious students each year to help shape, refine, and elevate their applications — from identifying your Signature Strength to telling your story with clarity and power.

Top Form Prep works with high-performing students to:

• Discover your Signature Strength
• Design your project roadmap
• Refine your story for applications

If you’re serious about putting together a standout application — and doing it in a way that feels true to who you are — apply to join our next cohort - we’ll help you build something colleges will remember.