3.8 GPA uw with dreams of becoming President -- can I still get into Harvard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Hi guys, I'm an international and currently a Junior at the end of my first semester taking the grueling IB Diploma... and I've grown incredibly anxious about my grades.</p>

<p>It looks like I'll be applying to Harvard a year from now with an unweighted GPA of 3.8 (4.1 weighted?) with a significant upward trend in my four years of high school. Also, my school submits decile ranking, in which case I'd be in the top 10% (though not in the top 5% probably, that would not be indicated).</p>

<p>While also considering that I go to a highly competitive international school that churns out an average of one Harvard acceptee a year, I'm hoping that the rest of my application can make up for my grades. As the thread's title suggests, I hope that my application allows me to come across as a coherent individual focused on political issues, an aspiring lawyer, and one day, national leader (a career choice that I've arrived at--I'd like to think--both due to my background coming from a political family as well as my own independent decision). Pleeeeaaase tell me frankly if Harvard seems out of the picture :/ and what I can do from here?</p>

<p>ECs out of school -
- Weekly columnist for the youth section of the country's leading newspaper
- Working in the political office/national campaign of one of my parents who is a national public figure (apologies, can't be more specific). Other related work experience/internships.
- Youth leader for national environmental NGO in charge of coordinating urban reforestation
- Several fundraisers and related projects along the way</p>

<p>ECs in school -
- President of Student Council (very active, most time consuming activity)
- Co-Secretary General of Model United Nations (awards include Best Speaker at large overseas conferences)
- Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking for four years (awards include placing 1st at large overseas competitions)
- Captain of Quiz Bowl (placed 1st in all four times we've participated in local competitions among other high schools)</p>

<p>SATs -
SAT I - took it in October Junior year with a 2150. Expecting to raise it to 2250-2300.
SAT IIs - have already taken SAT II World with an 800, planning to take Lit and Math (or Physics), hoping for 700+ for both</p>

<p>I'm planning to complement my ECs with an essay discussing my background, my inclination towards public service and, I guess in the process, revealing my naive, youthful idealism :P Hopefully something Harvard would appreciate!</p>

<p>Back to the question of the day then... with the ultra-competitive nature of Harvard admissions nowadays, will my GPA kill my app? And what should I do? :(
Extremely appreciative of any comments whatsoever. Really, thank you so much!</p>

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<p>Harvard rejects 90% of all applicants, ~70% of all valedictorians, and ~85% of all applicants with SATs 2300 and higher.</p>

<p>Translation: Harvard is a reach for practcially everyone . . . so GO for it; your ECs may carry the day.</p>

<p>What ELSE should you do?</p>

<p>Love thy safety schools.</p>

<p>Kei</p>

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What is your source? Just curious.</p>

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<p>Seconded. What are your sources? (And how do you quote a message?)</p>

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<p>

Harvard’s acceptance rate is not 10% (it is lower)</p>

<p>PS Grouptheory some formatting pointers <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/misc.php?do=bbcode[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/misc.php?do=bbcode&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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</p>

<p>Oh, thanks! I was always curious about quoting.</p>

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<p>I think it was a year before I found the info on formating.</p>

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<p>bump anyone? :D</p>

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<p>any thoughts guys? :(</p>

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<p>My reaction: Everything you have done as a student is good enough to get you into Harvard, but that’s also true of lots of people who get rejected. If your parent is really a significant national political figure in a nation anyone outside its borders cares about, that will be a huge factor, and your GPA will not keep you out.</p>

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<p>I’m not quite sure if this is a trivial consideration… but how low could my GPA go for it not to keep me out? A cumulative GPA of 3.8 is actually on the optimistic side… how would 3.75 go? 3.7? :|</p>

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<p>Dreams of becoming president… of america? If you weren’t born in america, you can’t be president, even if you later become a citizen. I’m assuming you weren’t born here if you’re an international. Even though Obama is an american citizen, everyone was freaking out over finding his birth certificate because it could have revealed that he was born outside of the US.</p>

<p>But good luck on getting into harvard! IB diplomas are preferred, and so are internationals.</p>

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<p>^^I was wondering about that too. An international cannot become president or vice president of the US. Maybe the OP dreams of becoming president of his/her home country. In many countries a Harvard degree would definitely be a boost in a political career.</p>

<p>Harvard has produced:
8 presidents of the US
2 presidents of Mexico
1 president of Bolivia
1 president of Costa Rica
1 president of South Korea
1 president of Liberia
1 president of Equador
1 president of Mongolia
1 president of Taiwan
2 prime ministers of Canada
1 prime minister of Pakistan
1 prime minister of Singapore
1 prime minister of Albania
1 prime minister of Greece
1 prime minister of Jamaica
1 prime minister of Tanzania
1 crown princess of Japan
and 1 Queen of Naboo</p>

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<p>that’s very interesting. thanks coureur!</p>

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<p>Hey coureur does that list include Graduate Students, too, or just undergrads?</p>

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<p>Thanks for the info coureur! Has always been a dream of mine to follow in the foot steps of the Natalie Portman, oh great Queen of Naboo.</p>

<p>And yes, my apologies for not specifiying it, I am not American. :-0</p>

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<p>Haha… queen of naboo…</p>

<p>padme!</p>

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<p>And Wentworth Miller went to Princeton. </p>

<p>That Queen of Naboo went into acting after she got her bachelor’s from Harvard College so, you see, Harvard probably did not have anything to do with how successful she became.</p>

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<p>It includes grad students. If it included only undergrads who went to Harvard then the US presidents would be 5 instead of 8 for example.</p>