admissions help for a current junior

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hi, I was just wondering if I could get a general opinion on whether or not I should apply to Harvard and other similar top schools- I don't have any major awards or extracurriculars or fantastic scores....
here goes:</p>

<p>SAT- 2240- CR 750, W 690, M 800- I'm almost positive I'm going to retake beginning of my senior year to bring up the writing section, but I'm not sure how much it will help
PSAT- 226
GPA- 3.91 UW, I've gotten 2 Bs in AP French and 1 B first semester AB Calc
I've taken 2 400 level courses at the U of A (A for ODE, not sure about complex analysis yet)
APs- AB Calc Frosh year, Euro and BC soph, 5s on all. Taking 3 more APs, and 3 Subject tests in a few weeks
USABO semifinalist- I don't know if that means much...
Will be NHS VP next year (nhs is only seniors at my school)</p>

<p>Frosh and Soph year wrote for the Tucson Citizen newspaper as a teen columnist (the newspaper closed, though)- summer of 8th grade I wrote for them as a movie reviewer
Volunteer at a children's musuem for 3-4 ish years, VP for their Youth Board, and Youth Board representative for the Board of Director's
Hospital Volunteer for 1 year
Doing a biology internship at U of A this summer</p>

<p>Piano for 9-10 years, Flute for 7 years (did regionals only once soph year, got 3rd chair, so not sure if its worth mentioning)</p>

<p>I'll take any criticism or whatever I just need help! Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>You have a shot, but the sheer number of applicants makes it impossible to say yay or nay. You are really competitive, probably more so than I have seen recently. Props on taking calculus in frosh and soph year. Go ahead and apply, and you never know… maybe you’ll get lucky. Statistically about 7% of harvard’s applicants do. however, if you want to dramtically improve your application do something. What I mean to say is start something you are passionate about. A humanitarian project, a musical esemble with a specific purpose, etc. Remember, academics are only half the application.</p>

3

<p>So I should try to take my ECs a step further? I’ve tried to start a music group to give free lessons but I’m still waiting to here back from some random elementary schools… otherwise I’m not sure where to start…I really kind of just find something thats already been established and join it so I guess I have to brush up on my “leadership skills” :slight_smile:
Thanks though.</p>