admission chances without 700 and above SAT IIs

<p>so i suck at SAT IIs and I heard Harvard really looks at these </p>

<p>i have 700 lit, 680 math ii, 660 us history (lol after taking the SAT IIs three times)</p>

<p>I read the decisions forum last year and it seemed like everyone had a 700 and above for the SAT IIs...honestly does this greatly diminish my chances?</p>

<p>and also i took SAT II three times (3 tests at each sitting)...will they look negatively upon this? </p>

<p>I am a first gen college student and a recruited athlete...but I am not URM..</p>

<p>I've heard stories of non URMs getting in with sub-2000 SATs. Its possible.</p>

<p>My SATs are fine...I have a 2200, and a 35 on the ACTs</p>

<p>just my SAT IIs....gahhh..lol </p>

<p>everything else (grades, resume, etc) is good</p>

<p>your SAT IIs aren't bad; they just won't help you get into harvard.
the fact that you're a first gen college student and a recruited athlete will definitely help out, IMO</p>

<p>i think you'll have as good a shot as any other person</p>

<p>thanks so much</p>

<p>anyone else have opinion on how much my SAT II scores could affect my admission decisions</p>

<p>It's possible.</p>

<p>The probability is something we can't tell you with what you've given us. Harvard does value performance on the SAT IIs (which is why they still require 3), and yes, not being an URM means you don't get that URM boost. </p>

<p>However, your teacher recs/essay/GPA/ECs/(((((interview))))) also contribute.</p>

<p>((((((( is supposed to show how unimportant the interview is )))))))</p>

<p>Peytoncline is wise, and speaks the truth about your firstgen/recruited athlete status.</p>

<p>i always heard harvard intervews are very important, this is not true?
heheh my strongest strengths are probably communication and networking...very good at making people comfortable, laugh, and expressing what I want to say.lol so I was hoping the interview would help me a lot </p>

<p>i am top 10% of class, hardest courses possible, school doesn't do GPA or rank
my resume is another strong point, lol IMO i guess, it shows i have clearly excelled in international relations, my sport, and acting (I have an agent, traveled a lot in middle school to different countries for projects and still doing professional work). I also did a huge community service project related to acting for the past two summers, and have a rec and supplement materials sent for that</p>

<p>I am QuestBridge finalist and currently on full ride scholarship at a good NE prep school
my family has always been stuck in this tough financial situation</p>

<p>but Harvard coach wrote me a very very nice rec</p>

<p>appreciate any comments...thanks</p>

<p>^ don't you get paid for your acting gigs? even if you're not famous or anything, just being in commercials or having small film roles is supposed to net a lot</p>

<p>Duh Harvard interviews are extremely important. By saying they aren't, people with average interviews feel more secure. And those that DO know they are can always deny the fact that their interview was merely average.</p>

<p>The thing is- everyone looks great on paper. Everyone had great stats- so your interview is another place where you can distinguish yourself- from an objective viewpoint. You can't "prepare" for it, and it's not done by biased teachers who proclaim you're gods gift on earth.</p>

<p>If you can convince your interviewer you are going places- you might just be going to Harvard.</p>

<p>Most people just have average interviews, with average interviewers. That's why the misconception that they aren't really important at all spawns.</p>

<p>My interviewer specifically told me that the interview was one of 16 parts you are reviewed on- but it can weigh heavily.</p>

<p>that's really good to know...i think no matter how important the interview really is, I am just going to try my best :) </p>

<p>I did get paid for various commercials and films...that happened a lot during middle school but in high school, I had to focus more on school so I couldn't be constantly traveling </p>

<p>therefore, I didn't really elaborate on the professional work since it happened mostly in middle school..yet I did write one of my essays on it on how that lead to my interest in international relations</p>

<p>hehe I have another question....all tier 1 colleges just look at your highest scores sent on your SAT score report right?...do they care that you took it multiple times?</p>

<p>All my colleges have a copy of my score report....but now I have two new SAT II tests that was better than the previous but I now took SAT and SAT IIs a total of six times...should I send it?</p>

<p>Interviews cant hurt you , could help u but thats not likely. And unless I've been lied to by both my interviewer and an admissions officer im right.</p>

<p>As long as you take it just 2-3, maybe 4 times at MOST.</p>

<p>If you take it 5+ times its a little ridiculous.</p>

<p>Now if you get 4 2400's? Keep taking it :)</p>

<p>Of course it's not LIKELY it helps you.</p>

<p>If a 60 year old senior partner at a major law firm alumni interviews you, and writes you an exceptional review? Of course it will help you.</p>

<p>katie: I think you are in fine shape if you are a recruited athlete. having gone through recruitment process with d (who decided New Haven was more to her liking) your scores certainly qualify you to be admitted from my info. But by "recruited athlete", that means a coach has confirmed with you that he or she is using one of his or her spots with admissions on you.While a coach can never guarantee admissions , he or she would not be using a recruiting spot if he or she was not pretty confident of a good outcome. All five recruits for my d's sport were admitted in EA last December.</p>

<p>I have similar SAT II scores; I'm an unlikely candidate for Harv, but hey, no problem with trying, right? ;)</p>

<p>nightsky thank you so much for your response </p>

<p>yes the coach has repeatedly told my counselor that I am on their list, he emphasized that he will do everything he can</p>

<p>however...here's the thing, for my category....I am their top choice...but the sports deparment doesn't that much sway for my division in admissions...like I can't get a likely letter...</p>

<p>so I am just trying to max my chances...as long as they won't automatically reject me over my SAT II scores..</p>

<p>@Mal: I had a pretty awesome interview (and a pretty interviewer), but she flat out said "This interview is the LEAST important part of your app, so don't worry"</p>

<p>@ Katie: Harvard doesn't have score cutoffs, they won't reject you because of your scores (which,really, aren't GODAWFUL or something.)</p>

<p>No chance at all</p>

<p>yes chance at all</p>