Rating: 
Summary: Bought it for my brother
Review: I am a rising Harvard senior, and when I applied was not a very good writer - much more the math & science type. I had a great deal of trouble writing my essay until my parents bought me some guidebooks with samples. My brother is applying to college now and having looked at a lot of different books this one is far and away the best. I bought my brother a copy of this Crimson essay book last week and even he, who happens to be a good writer, found it immensely useful.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you, Harvard Crimson
Review: I am trying to get into Harvard right now, and it is very very stressful. My parents are putting a lot of pressure on me, but I am not sure if it will work out in the end. This book has helped boost my confidence. I have taken its advice to heart, and feel much better about my prospects of getting in.
Rating: 
Summary: Disgraceful
Review: I believe that this work serves no other purpose than forcing college applicants to conform to a writing style specific to that of Harvard students. Essays are meant to reflect the qualities of the applicant. My uncle, an admission officer at a distinguished university in New England, said that writing that models another style is obvious and damages the credibility of the applicant. I think that college admission officers admire and accept on the basis of honesty, which, as you know, "is always the best policy."
Rating:
Summary: Thank You Harvard Crimson
Review: I don't even want to go to Harvard, but I figured that if this book can help students get into America's top University, it could definitely help me get into the smaller private Universities to which I am applying. I was right! This book is great...even if you don't want to go to Harvard, the essays and tips definitely sparked my imagination and helped me to write an essay I feel confident about. After reading this book, I was able to write an essay that I know will get me into any college.
Rating: 
Summary: Top Essays, Good Critiques, A Bit Too Polished?
Review: I echo the advice of the others who recommend saving your money. If you're interested in good writing, buy E.B. White's Elements_of_Style. If you insist on buying a book like this one, buy the original which inspired this knock-off: Essays_that_Worked. It contains the selections of admissions officers (remember that they, not the distinguished staff of the Harvard Crimson, are the ones who read your essays). But if you want to donate your money to fifty shamelessly self-promoting Harvard students, yes, buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: more deserving books (and authors) exist
Review: I echo the advice of the others who recommend saving your money. If you're interested in good writing, buy E.B. White's Elements_of_Style. If you insist on buying a book like this one, buy the original which inspired this knock-off: Essays_that_Worked. It contains the selections of admissions officers (remember that they, not the distinguished staff of the Harvard Crimson, are the ones who read your essays). But if you want to donate your money to fifty shamelessly self-promoting Harvard students, yes, buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: just to balance the blatant self promotion
Review: I haven't read this book. I was considering buying it, until I noticed how almost all of the positive reviews listed here are in similar styles, mostly on consecutive days, and clearly posted just to fatten the "star value" of this book. So I though I should help balance it out. Harvard Lampoon does this on some of their books as well, but at least they try to be somewhat funny in their ballot stuffing.
Rating:
Summary: just to balance the blatant self promotion
Review: I haven't read this book. I was considering buying it, until I noticed how almost all of the positive reviews listed here are in similar styles, mostly on consecutive days, and clearly posted just to fatten the "star value" of this book. So I though I should help balance it out. Harvard Lampoon does this on some of their books as well, but at least they try to be somewhat funny in their ballot stuffing.
Rating:
Summary: This Book Really Helped Me
Review: I know when I was applying to the University of Michigan, this book really gave me a lot of help. There are pointers from the Harvard students and advice that really works! This book is definitely worth using to help you get into your dream school.
Rating:
Summary: Top Essays, Good Critiques, A Bit Too Polished?
Review: I purchased 3 College Essay books (100 Successful College Application Essays, 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays, and Essays That Worked), and have the following comments... I believe that the Harvard book has the best suggestions on how to write an essay, along with the best commentary/critique. However, the essays are a bit too polished. I think for 90% of prospective college students, their essays would be more like those in and patterned like those in Essays That Worked. For varied ideas on essays, the 100 Successful book gives some good ideas, but I believe many of the essays to be subpar. I did each book to have some interesting general reading, especially if one likes "short stories"... or if one is interested in 17 & 18 year olds, and what goes thru their minds.
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