Rating: 
Summary: Save your time...
Review: Although I did not apply to Harvard, as a student at a similarly competitive institution I can tell you that the best way to gain admission is to allow your own ideas to emerge from your application. Pre-packaged substitutes, particularly those written by arrogant Harvard students, will not suffice.
Rating:
Summary: Who are they to give advice?
Review: Although it's very impressive that The Harvard Crimson is trying to convert their name into another profit stream, I am surprised that these kids are arrogant enough to think that their advice will help most students. Not only is Harvard just one good school out of thousands in the country, but these newspaper editors have absoultely no qualifications to be dispensing advice. Trust me -- I know them. The essays in this book are shiny, cute, and were completely worthless to my little brother when he was applying.Instead, I recommend 100 Successful College Application essays, which has -- you guessed it -- twice as many essays as the Crimson book and commentary written by professional college counselors and admissions officers from around the country. An updated edition just came out. Cheaper, too!
Rating:
Summary: Use you're own intelligence, not some formulaic guidebook
Review: As a Harvard student currently entering my senior year, I have to respond that this book is of little value. The essay portion of the application is a place for the admissions staff to gain insight into the personality and experiences of the applicant. Therefore, simply appropriating others' ideas not only shows a lack of imagination, but eliminates the individuality of the essay as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Clear Misuse of Communication
Review: As a Harvard undergraduate student I think that this collection of "successful" essays reflects poorly upon the principles behind the Harvard admissions process. A good essay represents the qualities of sincerity and ability that are unique to each individual applicant. This book tempts students to depart from their individual qualities and reason words by someone else. Indeed, this is a clear misuse of communication for prospective college students. What a shame.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating!
Review: As a prospective student for the class of 2004, I read this book as soon as I could get my hands on it. I found the advice to be practical, amusing, and certaintly accurate. I wholeheartedly reccommend this book to anyone applying to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, or even Brown. This book is one of a kind!
Rating:
Summary: More nonsense from the Harvard Crimson
Review: Contrary to popular opinion, the Harvard Crimson writers really do not know any more about writing a good essay than most intelligent students. The essays mostly follow standard formulae - combining them will certainly not produce a successful essay.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful to the College Applicant
Review: Forget the Harvard label; this book will help the college applicant understand what kinds of essays catch the attention of the admissions people at any selective university. A really great feature are the comments and critiques after each essay. Some of the essays seemed odd to me, but after reading the Crimson staff comments, I realized that a certain type of essay succeeds in these circumstances. Frank, useful critiques. A good read for that college applicant. Oh, and after using this, my kid got into a different Ivy League school.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic resource for high schoolers
Review: Getting into Harvard is tough, but The Crimson lends a helping hand right where you need it most: your personal essays. By senior year the applicant can't really change his/her transcript much and teachers have already formed impressions for recommendations. The essay is the only aspect of the application that really remains in your hands. The advice provided by this book is insightful, at times inspiring, and will help any high school senior get into the school they want. My son's confidence has skyrocketed since he picked up a copy.
Rating:
Summary: Don't believe the other reviews...
Review: How many of these other reviews do you think have actually been written by Harvard Crimson Editors trying to make a quick buck by generating referal fees? Getting into college is about more than copying a good essay.
Rating:
Summary: waste of money
Review: I am a recent graduate of Harvard College. For those of you interested in getting into Harvard, I would suggest that: 1. You not read this book. Instead, I would urge you to think hard about who you are; and where you have been/where you want to go in life.
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