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15 Things That Are Harder To Get Into Than Harvard
Business Insider ^ | 09/20/2014 | CHRISTINA STERBENZ AND BEN WINSOR

Posted on 09/20/2014 6:28:53 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Harvard is one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts, school accepted just 5.9% of roughly 34,000 applications for its class of 2018. As Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust recently said, "We could fill our class twice over with valedictorians."

The school seeks out students who not only have high grades, but also have outstanding achievements under their belts — from overcoming homelessness to starting their own nonprofits. The students who manage to catch the attention of admissions officers overcome exceptional odds, but they should maintain some perspective.

Many things in life — like landing a job at some Wal-Mart locations — are harder to achieve than getting into that prestigious university.

1. A Job At Some Wal-Mart Locations

Met with both merriment and protest, Wal-Mart came to Washington, D.C., at the end of 2013.

The store received more than 23,000 applications but hired just 600 associates, NBC Washington reported. That's a 2.6% acceptance rate — almost twice as selective as Harvard's.

While many Harvard graduates can expect a six-figure income, Wal-Mart employees pocket an average of $11.83 an hour or nearly $25,000 annually, according to the company.

2. The Top 50 Posts On A Friend's Newsfeed

When Facebook compiles your Newsfeed, it chooses from roughly 1,500 different posts.

The company uses an algorithm based on the popularity and relevance of posts, along with other factors, to decide what goes where.

The chances of a certain post finding its way into the top 50 stories on someone's Newsfeed is about 3.3%.

If you want to boost your chances, posts with photos do far better than links or text-based posts.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education; Society
KEYWORDS: competition; harvard
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To: SeekAndFind

Paris Hilton.... Oh sorry I was thinking opposite lol


21 posted on 09/20/2014 7:15:09 PM PDT by Moleman
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To: lavaroise

ROTC is available at Harvard.

.


22 posted on 09/20/2014 7:15:59 PM PDT by Mears
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To: SeekAndFind
The school seeks out students who not only have high grades, but also have outstanding achievements under their belts — from overcoming homelessness to...

Overcoming homelessness is something that is so rare and exceptional that it requires genius to accomplish? Shouldn't the basic life skills of finding work and being able to take care of your own needs be something expected of everyone?

23 posted on 09/20/2014 7:20:19 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us one chance in three. More tea anyone?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Rich parents have figured out how to game the system to get into Harvard. They hire an “admission consultant” for their little darlings when they enter high school. The admission consultant not only coaches the kid on what classes to take, but helps the kid create an “I Saved the World” community service project, complete with sample project, other consultants to help implement it, and public relations and media contacts to make sure the kid and project get featured in the media.


24 posted on 09/20/2014 7:23:59 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: Focault's Pendulum
when I was a sophomore in High School back in the 70's

One thing that was harder than a Harvard biochemistry final?

25 posted on 09/20/2014 7:26:01 PM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: SeekAndFind
Harder to get into that Harvard?

Under the Dome. (I just don't get it.)

26 posted on 09/20/2014 7:46:56 PM PDT by acad1228
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To: Focault's Pendulum
Getting into Sally Murray's pants when I was a sophomore in High School back in the 70's.

Forget it. Sally's a grandma now.

27 posted on 09/20/2014 7:49:13 PM PDT by acad1228
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To: SeekAndFind

Ok, here’s trouble. The pretty blond at the end of the bar?


28 posted on 09/20/2014 8:14:36 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: SeekAndFind

My (now ex-)wife, after we were married.


29 posted on 09/20/2014 8:17:16 PM PDT by Flatus I. Maximus (First Third-World Despotism. Overthrow Obama.)
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To: re_nortex
Harvard. An Ivy Plague School®


30 posted on 09/20/2014 8:19:06 PM PDT by 867V309 (Crusade: the only solution.)
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To: Ramius
Overcoming homelessness is something that is so rare and exceptional that it requires genius to accomplish? Shouldn't the basic life skills of finding work and being able to take care of your own needs be something expected of everyone?

You're oversimplifying the many reasons behind homelessness, and the immense difficulty of getting out of it without an established financial infrastructure.

And by the way, the real slackers are not homeless at all - the real bums are on every possible kind of goverment handout, and never come anywhere near homelessness. They're the ones buying steak with their food stamps while they text on their Obamaphones back to their friends in their Section 8 houses.

31 posted on 09/20/2014 8:40:56 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: Perdogg

Heard about the richest man in Cambridge, Mass.?

He’s the guy with the Crayola franchise.


32 posted on 09/20/2014 9:26:56 PM PDT by Rockpile
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To: SeekAndFind
In a related story, Alan Dershowitz was on Red Eye last night and said he retired from Harvard because he couldn't even make a joke in the classroom anymore.The people on the show laughed but he said no, that was the truth. He was told what he could say— a top law professor at an ivy league school!
33 posted on 09/21/2014 1:13:54 AM PDT by MacMattico
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To: Perdogg

Depends on the class. There are a few well-known ‘guts’ but most classes are a b*tch.

Really a bitch.


34 posted on 09/21/2014 2:23:59 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: SeekAndFind

I can’t get into he American Academy of Black Lawyers.


35 posted on 09/21/2014 6:37:21 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Islamopobia:The Irrational Fear Of Being Beheaded)
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To: Mears
ROTC is available at Harvard.

Yes,for decades they wouldn't let ROTC anywhere near their hallowed halls.But didn't Harvard stipulate that one must now be a pervert to participate in their ROTC program?

36 posted on 09/21/2014 6:40:00 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Islamopobia:The Irrational Fear Of Being Beheaded)
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To: Gay State Conservative
I can’t get into he American Academy of Black Lawyers


37 posted on 09/21/2014 10:59:25 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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