<p>Before I get into my main point, I would like to say the following: I did not slack off but did my best in my situation. Most of the people say that your gpa is mediocre because you slack off or did not do your best, but to be honest I really did my best under the circumstances. The only reason why I achieved the following grade was due to major depression. Since 5th grade my family started to have problem: not money but just fight. Back then it was just ok but starting 7th grade, my father started to become extremely negative and strict. He did a lot of bad thing to us and as a result, I was diagnosed with major depression. I wished it ended but it still affects me until today. Throughout my high school year, I was dominated by my fathers fear. I was extremely depressed, but whenever it seemed depressing I get up and told myself to just do it and I did what I can in the situation. As a result I got 3.7 gpa. I am going to explain this on the additional info section but with just 3.7 gpa (an international student) will the admission officer simply consider my application as crap and put to trash right away?</p>
<p>PS: By the way, my SAT score is 2360 and I got 800 for both of my sat 2. </p>
<p>First of all, SAT scores are great and second, do remember that your grades are not the only factor that determine your admission…do well in whatever ECs you are into, write good essays and leave the rest up to adcom.</p>
<p>Oh sorry I forgot to mention about my ECs. I am the founder and leader of computer science club, math and science, comics and student politics. </p>
<p>Eben with a 4.0 it is a long shot. Harvard get many more high achieving applicants internationally than they can take. They need to see something exceptional about you in addition to excellent level at the gpa and sat and you don’t mention anything. An explanation on ongoing persistent depression isn’t going to be a positive for you. Sure it is a personal accomplishment for you to carry on, but colleges don’t want to take a risk on someone who isn’t stable and mentally healthy.</p>
<p>It is very tiresome that everyone thinks they have to go to Harvard. Develop a more sensible list, I’d say.</p>
<p>@BrownParent
There is a personal reason why I want to get into harvard. Its not just because it is the best school in the world those kind of ambition. If I were to chose harvard because of its reputation then I would not even looked for it. Also Indeed I know that hearing a student having mental depression may seem to a risk. However, to tell about my self, when I am not depressed I am extremely positive. Too positive to the point where I just simply get along with random people. I am doing a lot of things to overcome the depression, but the situation makes me negative. </p>
<p>ok well do what you want but I’m just saying that maybe 200 internationals a year get an offer I think? and from a great variety of countries like 85, so the odds are not good. I do feel that more is expected of international students. There are less slots and more applicants for those slots. They must have room for the chess champion, the opera singer, the fastest mile, the math prodigy, the top national scorer in Bulgaria who speaks 5 languages etc</p>
<p>The best school is a matter of opinion, there is no objective measure of that. Many students cannot tell the difference between the undergraduate college and the reputation of the grad school. For some people, it may be the best, but for others there are environments for learning that suit them better.</p>
<p>Very tough road to hoe. Unless you have some really compelling story to grab their attention, focus yourself on other schools.</p>
<p>@Torveaux what do you mean by compelling story?</p>
<p>I mean hook like a tough upbringing or something else that makes you stand out as a person versus other candidates.</p>