<p>I know some CCers go to awesome compeitive High schools but what about us less lucky students that go to less advantaged schools. My school is a rural school with SAT averages of 989 and ACT averages of 21. My school offers 12 AP and I have taken 13 because I have enriched my curriculum with online classes at florida Virtual school. I have in depth devotion to ALL of my schools service and honors clubs. Also, I will be my school's first hispanic valedictorian. Does Harvard really put you against your own school to determine how hard you have worked with your opportunities? Is it an advantage to come from a school like mine? Would a rather mediocre 30 ACT really stand out because not merely URM status but because of such low ACT averages?</p>
<p>Also, my family income is roughly 60,000...will this help at all since harvard reduces tuition at this level from $40,000 to about $2500?</p>
<p>There are plenty of people here who are the first ones to attend Harvard from their high school, or their town, or their semi-independent island chain. I think it does help a lot to do very well in a bad school, as long as you have the scores and essays to show that you would be capable of doing the work at Harvard.</p>
<p>It's unlikely that a family income of 60k will affect your chances of admission.</p>
<p>A 30 on the ACT is rather enh, but ya gotta work with what ya got. It's not bad enough to put you out of the running entirely, but it is the bottom quartile (on the other hand, 400 people in each freshman class are in the bottom quartile stats-wise, and they managed to get in.)</p>
<p>As far as the income problems...years ago my and my mom had a bad struggle with money in NYC (separated parents) and it affected my grades...I will in an essay constrast this with todat how my grades are sound and how my mon pulled me from the depths of chaos in NYC to FL through her inspiration in school. BOTTOMLINE it'll be nice.</p>
<p>All of the things that you mention would make you stand out in pools such as Ivies and top LACs. Clearly, you are very intelligent and highly motivated to have done so well in an environment that offers relatively little. </p>
<p>Although your ACT is at the low end for the schools that I mention, the fact that you achieved it without an enriched environment indicates that you're probably more intelligent and more motivated than many students who get better scores, but come from much better schools.</p>
<p>I hope you'll apply to Harvard and to other top colleges, and that you'll give your applications your best shot. Don't hurt yourself by throwing apps together as if getting in is a matter of luck. Take the time to research the schools and to revise your essays.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>As always, it will be important to make sure that you have solid match and safety schools as no one has a lock on schools like Harvard.</p>
<p>Oh I WILL apply :)! Yeah I have sucked out EVERYTHING my school has to offer and even supplementing that with online course :)! Oh I have researched the school and being a hispanic leader much to the discredit of the many hispanic stereotypes at my school...I think I would make a great addtion to Harvard's Fueraza Latina organization. I spoke to an addmissions officer Erin Fehn and she was really happy and surprised that I knew about that and asked INSIGHTFUL questions rather than the questions like "What is the minimum SAT score to get in?" ...clearly they have not researched the school up! :)....yep...I've done my research and it will show not merely in the interview but in my teacher AND counselors letter of recs. YES!</p>
<p>"offers 12 AP " </p>
<p>wow... mine only has 4... and we don't even have clubs....</p>
<p>what if you go to a crappy school in a REALLY competitive region</p>
<p>How do they determine the quality of your school by average SAT/ ACT scores or number of AP classes because I think the SAT things will be more fair!</p>
<p>Anyone buy the book "Hard Rock APPS" by Katherine Cohen? Funny title eh?</p>
<p>It might be less of an accomplishment to be valedictorian from said school. If you go to a school with average SAT score of 1300, the adcoms are gonna assume it was an intense fight to become the top student. Who knows, maybe there were five smart kids like you that you beat out for the top spot, but in general its viewed as less of an accomplishment. Almost every school in America has a valedictorian.</p>
<p>I think they look at three major components when determining the quality of the school:</p>
<ol>
<li>avg SAT/ACT score</li>
<li>percentage of students who go on to 4-year/2-year institutions.</li>
<li>Whether or not that school has been known to send students to Harvard and other top institutions.</li>
</ol>
<p>One thing to add to all the 'good school' bashing...</p>
<p>EDIT:
My school's performance according to the three points given:
1. 1500+ for the old SAT, 2250+ for the new one, 750ish for each of the SAT II's
2. 99.9% There are a lot more people who go to University early than there are people who fail to get into a University. Plus a good percentage of the graduates get into some Ivy or another.
3. Yes. Really, really, REALLY amazing people.</p>
<p>But you know what? Going to a worse school is much better for your recommendations too!</p>
<p>I'm not a terrible student, but no matter how good I am there's no way I can compete with the International Chemistry/Physics/Biology/Mathematics Gold Medallists and International Debating Champions my teachers have taught in the past. I am not going to get a 'best in my career' recommendation from anybody. In fact, I think the best recommendation I could hope for is a "I'm glad I had a student like Charley in my last year teaching" from my retired Chemistry professor. </p>
<p>Plus, you know, my SAT scores will be compared to the hundred+ graduates from the past 5 years who've gotten perfect scores across the board. </p>
<p>In short, don't worry about it guys!! If anything, it's an advantage to come from a less prestigious school...</p>
<p>This is my school:</p>
<p>SAT/ACT average: 989/21</p>
<p>4 years sent/ 2 years: 40/26</p>
<p>students applying EVER to Harvard: only me :)</p>
<p>Will this be good then?
All my recs had mostly top in career but my counselor had a stellar letter but slightly lower checks (even though mostly top in career). Will that give her letter of rec confidence that she does not sugar coat in letters of rec? She has also been teaching for 34+ years.</p>
<p>How will my school help me? Most of the things that I have done in my school are "only student in history of school" praises. Like</p>
<p>fervent hispanic leader
President of BETA club
First hispanic valedictorian
Setting up tutoring programs amid community. </p>
<p>ALL these things and some more were attributed to me as "only student in the schools history to" type awards.</p>
<p>Will this help?</p>
<p>Yes, it will. </p>
<p>BTW, what's your ACT score now? Has it improved?</p>
<p>Of course it will, AP! </p>
<p>You're lucky, too...
What could I do first at my school...
Student Ambassador (to a foreign country)? Done.
Debating Champion? Several.
Run a provincial Model UN assembly? Done many times.
Olympian? Lots.
Run a charity? A big, big charity? Done!!
Big scholarship winners? Too many to count.
Ivy Leaguers? Ditto.
Swimming champion? Yep.
Chess champion? Yep.
Super geniuses? Oh yeah.
Super athletes? Not so many, but yeah.
Start a club? Maybe... but not so big a deal.
First Asian to - No. Definitely not.
Organize major, major school events? Booooooring.
Doctors? Lawyers? Prominent politicians? Poet Laureates? Nobel Prize Winners? Check!!!
And... lots of people who've done several of the above.</p>
<p>I mean... I love my school and my peers and my teachers, but I'm not going to shine compared to my peers. I'm proud of my school, but not so proud of myself. So don't feel bad about going to a less renowned school! It doesn't help as much as you think.</p>
<p>Count your blessings :)</p>
<p>dunno what my new ACT is. I think I did really well on the reading and english but not the math and science. Stellar as usual on the writing i think. I know they mix and match scores for the ACT as well so hopefully I can make a 30 with mix and match. My other app parts are really good so id say I have a decent shot with a mix and match 30</p>
<p>Wait. Where are you guys getting these stats on your schools? I want to look up mine!</p>