<p>heyy everyone l.was just hoping people could give me some ideas as to if I could realistically get into Harvard i used to think so...then i saw this forum and the amazingly qualified people that post here...and then i got my SAT IIs back...and its just all so messed up and AAAH I dont know where I stand anymore pls pls pls help!</p>
<p>Here are my stats .if anyone could give me any feedback Id be so grateful!!</p>
<p>School: considered one of the top 2-3 girls schools in canada</p>
<p>Did my GCSEs and got 6A*s and 3 As
SAT IIs: US History - 680, Literature - 750
Currently in grade 11 all Grade 12 courses or APs
Average 90%
Taking the hardest courseload available next year will have 8 APs by the time I graduate
- I heard that Canadian schools are considered more rigorous than US is this true?</p>
<p>ExtraCurriculars:
- Piano 9 years UK system Grade 7
- Kung fu 8 years purple belt
- Tennis and badminton 8 years
- Duke of Ed Gold Award
- Model UN 4 years
- School newspaper Editor 5 years
- School literary magazine - 5 years - Editor in Chief Senior Year
- Debating team 3 years
- School yearbook Journalistic head 3 years
- Choir 8 years
- Acted in, written, directed and was stage manager for school productions
- School band 5 years
- Flute player 2 years
- School prefect
- Student council
- Over 500 hours of community service</p>
<p>If someone could just give me any advice on where to apply and how realistic my chances at a top school are, Id really reallllly appreciate it thanks!!</p>
<p>right... your stats look familiar i think you've posted them before...
well here's my advice
i, too, have been confident at times about my competitiveness at top schools, and felt sub-par at others.
for you, it's honestly going to be very competitive if you'll be applying as an international student from canada, but i think it will be worth it to give it a shot</p>
<p>your list of ECs seems a bit scattered. in your essays, try to emphasize two or three that mean the most to you and that you have the most passion for.</p>
<p>It seems like your 90GPA is a bit under par, unless your guidance counselor can attest to the fact that there is major deflation in your school. Where does your 90GPA place you in? Let me tell you right now that Harvard, after a certain extent, does not look at your test scores. The majority of my scores are in the high 600s with one or two in the high 700s. I don't have a hook either. </p>
<p>You have a great rigorous schedule. As the person above me has stated, you MUST choose one or two activities and focus on those. Don't give them an impression that you're a person who believes a "laundry list" of activities is helpful. Show your colors, cross your fingers and wish for the best.</p>
<p>Again, find out about that 90GPA and where that places you in your class. It makes a world of a difference in terms of the academic portion of your application.</p>
<p>hey guys..thanks for the feedback...in terms of the 90 GPA it puts me in the top 5-10% of the class...its really really hard to get good grades at my school...very competitive and very harsh markers..so if i get my counsellor to explain that, does that help a lot?</p>
<p>also, xjayz - are you at harvard right now?</p>
<p>No, but I was deferred EA and was accepted in the regular round this year. I will be a freshman this fall. I'm scared yet excited (you know the feeling). Yes! By all means, have your counselor explain it! If you don't, the adcom will raise their eyebrows at your "seemingly low" GPA.</p>
<p>On the extracurricular paragraphs and the Harvard supplement (which is optional or else known as you should do), make sure the passion you have for your ECs are readily seen. Make sure that this comes across in your interview as well.</p>
<p>"Harvard, after a certain extent does not look at your test scores."</p>
<p>I don't know why you think that, xjayz. Test scores remain very important, I believe.</p>
<p>College-woot: If I were adcom, I'd feel like you were painting an incomplete picture. You need to pull everything together to make your application sparkle.</p>
<p>What I meant was after a certain point, Harvard considers factors other than your test scores. Test scores are not everything. They're important, but I honestly believe people make test scores to be the make or break of college admissions. It's okay if you get a 600 on a SAT II. It won't kill you.</p>
<p>I didn't read over your stats in detail, but the impression I got from the ECs was "How many hours are there in a day?" Putting too much down can make it seem like you don't care about anything, so streamline your ecs into two or three interests: music, sports, etc. That way when you write about things, you can find certain areas and strengths to emphasize, and you can choose your recs accordingly so they also demonstrate the areas you are showing. Appearing scattered is bad: you want to be diverse and quirky but focused.</p>