Harrogate Grammar School student receives unconditional offer from Harvard

Achele Agada is a keen rugby player and academic, who has attended Harrogate Grammar School since Year 7. She is currently a Head Student in Year 13, on the England Rugby Pathway, and is passionate about making the most of every opportunity she is given. She is fortunate enough to have been accepted into Harvard College Class of 2023.

Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Achele was initially drawn to Harvard due to their reputation of world-class teaching and facilities, and excellent provision for students. After her success at GCSE’s gaining 10 A*’s, Achele is currently working towards top grades in her Maths, Physical Education, Chemistry and Biology A Levels, which has made her a competitive applicant. She was invited to Massachusetts to visit and interview at Harvard in September 2018, where she realised she had found a university that offered everything she wanted, both academically, athletically and culturally. Harvard offers a ‘deeply transformative liberal arts and science education’, with a focus on ‘individual achievement and meaningful collaboration’.

Achele Agada said:

I realised that attending Harvard was the perfect opportunity for me. When I visited I was immediately welcomed into a warm and friendly, diverse community where people where committed to learning and working hard to get the best out of themselves, but also the best out of others.

Achele completed the long application process, including sitting the SAT and SAT Subject exams, registering for the NCAA and filling in the Common Application form. She had lots of support from her teachers who wrote glowing recommendations and helped her throughout the whole process. Despite the usual 4-5% acceptance rate, Achele’s application was accepted in Harvard Early Action Program, and she was highlighted as an exceptional candidate. The acceptance comes without A Level conditions, so Achele will attend Harvard on the US equivalent of an unconditional offer.

Her acceptance means she will study at Harvard for the next four years. Their liberal arts program means Achele will have the opportunity to select her courses from a wide range of options before finally choosing what she will concentrate in. Whilst studying at Harvard, Achele will continue to progress in rugby, playing on their D1 Women’s Rugby Team, who came second in the National Championships this year.

If Achele accepts her Harvard offer, she plans to concentrate in Biochemistry, take a wide breadth of courses and make the most of her once in a lifetime opportunity, before going on to study medicine at postgraduate level.