Yesturday I got a letter from Harvard congratulating me on my academic achievement. It said that it looked into my collegeboard stuff and said it is in the range. But, I think it is a scam because I have 1670 on SAT and have taken SAT II History in May and haven’t gotten the result yet. I am doing poorly in school because of my moving to a new school with smaller grade point scale, different system and more competition- (4.0 Freshman, 4.0 Sophomore, 3.4 Junior in first semester but can bring it up to 3.5 at the end of year). So what’s up with this letter? Is it trying to recuit them so it can decrease its percentage of accepting applicants?
<p>I think Harvard sends out this type of letter based on PSAT scores (they did last year).</p>
<p>These letters are indeed recruiting letters based solely on test scores. Like other colleges, they purchase lists from the testing boards that contain the names of students with a scores above a certain level who have checked the box that allow colleges to do this. My child got one for high PSAT and again for high ACT scores. Please make sure you read the paragraphs about how no one is guaranteed admission and there are no magic formulae for getting in. High test scores, academic performance, EC's and community service are all considered as noted in this paragraph. Don't be lulled into thinking you are an automatic admit.</p>
<p>But, my academic performance is not specular. Maybe Harvard sent it to a wrong person?</p>
<p>How did you do on the PSAT?</p>
<p>Schools like Harvard perform the recruiting thing in hopes of getting massive amounts of people to apply, so they can reject even more people and appear to be more selective...</p>
<p>yes, and they get more money too. $65 per app</p>
<p>I got 161 on PSAT.</p>
<p>So, Harvard sent the letter to me to apply to it and expect a rejection?</p>
<p>Harvard sent the letter to you in case you are a person whom they would want to admit. Harvard wants to be able to choose from a wide field of good candidates including students who may be good admits, but who right now don't know enough about Harvard to consider it.</p>
<p>Harvard sends thousands of letters out. These are based on student's PSAT scores, zip codes (Harvard particularly is looking for applicants who are underrepresented minorities and/or low income and/or first generation college and/or in rural areas or underrepresented states (like Oregon, South Dakota, Mississippi) because it is very hard to find students in all of those categories who qualify for Harvard and are willing to apply).</p>
<p>Based on your 161 PSAT, your estimated SAT would be at the very low end of Harvard admits. Few students get admitted with SATs that low. However, if you study for the SAT, your SAT scores could be much higher. If you are in any of the categories I have mentioned -- particularly if you are low income and/or first generation college and have good grades and other things going for you, you could have a shot.</p>
<p>If you are white or are an underrepresented minority from a college educated background, an overrepresented state like NY, and have a 3.2 average, no remarkable ECs, Sat scores around 1250, you could choose to apply to Harvard, but your odds of admission would be even worse than the normal odds of admission, which is less than 1 in 10</p>
<p>If Harvard wants <em>Bill</em>, will Princeton or Yale automatically want him too?
* fake name</p>
<p>unfortunately not, confused. Not sure how much selectivity will indicate to you, but Harvard, Princeton and Yale are all very selective schools whose admissions can be quirky and unpredictable. A very clever math genius who excelled in everything (running singing instruments etcetc) in my class everyone expected to be widely accepted everywhere was rejected at Caltech and MIT (not as selective as HYP), but waitlisted at Harvard.</p>
<p>I got one too.</p>
<p>I also received a letter from Harvard, but unlike the original poster, I did well on the PSAT and live in an underserved area (or, I think I do...I don't hear of many people in Alabama packing up for Ivy League colleges)</p>
<p>I will explain more about myself: 3.83 overall UW, 4.1 W, minority, Virginia, good EC, financially comfortable, but poor SAT and junior year of most Bs (honors and APs)</p>