3.56 gpa to harvard impossible?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I know a lot of you guys are going to say that less than 4.0 is impossible so kiss your dream good bye, but one thing I want to say is that I wish people simply judge me because of the gpa. I indeed worked really hard, but I had to face family issue and depression while studying. I have dreamed of going to harvard since grade 8. I am definitely going to write about my background issue and how it affected me and also how I tried to overcome it on the essay. </p>

<p>My Freshman GPA: 3.27 </p>

<p>Sophomore: 3.69, but it is basically a 4.0 because the school had weird grading system where the B I got in this school is translated as A in normal school. I also got Honors Roll, which was only given to 10 people. </p>

<p>Junior year I moved to a different school with different system where I was mutually bullied and could not get any recognition from any teacher. So I received 3.71 uw 4.07 w I took two AP. </p>

<p>Senior year I am going to take 6 AP and strive to get a 4.0 and 4.8 max. </p>

<p>My SAT score is really good. Like I have the best score in my school: 2390 (800, 800, 790)</p>

<p>For SAT II: I took Math 2C and Biology and got 800 on both of them. </p>

<p>For EC, I held several leader position, founded some clubs and had summer program at UNC, Duke, United Nation and Brown. </p>

<p>Also I am really good at writing essay. I've never won award because my place does not have any essay contest or award, but my teacher recognised me to the point where she tried to make a award for me on purpose. </p>

<p>One thing I want to say before I end, I want to clarify that I did not slack off at all. I never did. I tried my best, but I was really both physically and mentally oppressed. I think that hindered my academics and I tried to overcome it. </p>

<p>I am definitely going to apply to other colleges, but with my current gpa I want to know whether the admission dean will just toss my application to trash without even reading. </p>

2

<p>My son got into an Ivy without a 4.0. I think it was his essays and recommendations that did it. Good luck. </p>

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<p>Unless you have a desired hook (you’re from an under-represented state or an under-represented minority), I think you may be wasting your time chasing the Ivy’s. My niece had a similar situation as you. Her parents were contemplating divorce and she took it hard. Her grades suffered, but she had very high test scores. She saw several of her friends get into prestigious east coast colleges, but she ended up attending a small state university her first year. She transferred to the flagship state university and graduate there. She worked a couple of years. Then on to law school at her “dream” Ivy. </p>

<p>Your lofty goals can still work out, but it may take a little luck and a lot of persistence.</p>

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<p>@MOMINWIS‌ I go to a private school with 100% college acceptance rate and top ten ranking. Since the there isn’t much student it is extremely competitive. Would this make a difference?</p>

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<p>Top ten ranking in my country.</p>

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<p>It definitely improves your chances. But getting into Harvard is a long shot for even someone with both perfect test scores and gpa, that if you are lacking in one area it’s not likely to happen. One of my daughter’s friends applied to Yale last year with what I thought was a perfect application and she didn’t get in.</p>

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<p>Harvard is tough for everyone. Your SAT score will help, but it is no guarantee. I don’t think you’re necessarily wasting your time applying to Ivies, as long as you have some back-ups. Your test scores will give you an excellent shot at Vanderbilt and Washington University, which are known for liking high-stat applicants. If finances are an issue, include schools that offer automatic scholarships to students with high scores. Go ahead and apply to Harvard, as long as you know that the odds are not good. If you think that Harvard is the only university offering a quality education, you need to get out more. </p>

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<p>

… and my son applied to Yale with a strong but imperfect application and got in. For all practical purposes, H and Y are equally selective. They get thousands of strong applications every year; my recommendation is the standard “apply to a range of schools and hope for the best.”</p>

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<p>I actually disagree with something stated here. Going to a top school may actually work against you. Colleges will have higher expectations and will expect to see more, so that may hurt you.</p>

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<p>@AnnieBeats‌ are you saying that I will face more works? Is that the problem?</p>

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<p>Calc BC in 10th grade…</p>

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<p>uh @eFlick‌ what are you trying to say? Sorry I don’t get it. </p>

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<p>@hopeimnotlate That’s 4-5 years ahead of a normal schedule (at my school), and a year ahead of me. :c</p>

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<p>Which country are you in? If you are not in the US then you don’t have to calculate your GPA. There is no point in
comparing your grades with students in America because the system is totally different, you only have to compare your grades to students in your school.</p>

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<p>Impossible, I hate to dismiss you like this but I have heard average GPA is A LOT HIGHER
You have to make it up with something VERY, VERY STRONG
Edit: It is just you would be surprised to see how many kids get 2300+ on SAT, and a stellar GPA but do not get in because of ECs and other things, you have no ECs, no hooks from what I see, I mean maybe a 3.56 GPA is considered “insane” for your school, but I do not know</p>

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<p>It depends on gpa relative to other peeps in your school if you’re ranked #1 in your class then you could still get in </p>

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<p>You should never give up. Keep in mind that the lowest gpa a student ever had and was admitted was a 3.0. Of course the odds are stacked against you but explain your passion for Harvard in your essays and always keep your ambition. </p>

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<p>Not everyone who got into Harvard is a kid with 2400 SAT and 4.0 GPA (though 90% are). Your experience is something that not every Harvard applicants experience, so that will give you an advantage, I think.</p>

<p>You should never give up on Harvard. I knew a kid that no one thought was going to get into Princeton, well, he did (but he also studied his back off). So you never know!</p>