Advice for next 3 years/Harvard/FullRide

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Dear College Confidential,</p>

<p>First of all I would like to that you for reading my post, I appreciate your time to help educate me on a concern of mine. I want to talk about certain things that are occupying me right now, and possible solutions to several problems. First of all, as I always like to get number 1, I have researched Harvard's curriculum and school, and I enjoy it well. It is my goal for high school to get accepted to this school, primarily for the free tuition that I will receive in the form of financial aid, and as well to claim the "I am first to go to Harvard from this school" title.</p>

<p>My grades so far (In year percentages)</p>

<p>World History CP: 87</p>

<p>English I CP: 79</p>

<p>Accounting I 73</p>

<p>Spanish II CP 83</p>

<p>Web Design (Half Year Course) 87</p>

<p>Financial Literacy 80</p>

<p>PE (GYM) 89</p>

<p>Health 84</p>

<p>Geo Science CP Lab 87</p>

<p>Algebra I CP 69</p>

<p>EC: Mock UN, Weightlifting, (Will be joining DECA next year)</p>

<p>Now I know what you are thinking OMG bro you are not going to get in, let me try to tip the scales abit. I am a URM (Argentinian, Hispanic), I am a hopefully recruited athlete, (Running back training for D1 football.) I am also the first generation to go to college ( Heard this is a hook). I also have 2 more years of grades ahead of me, and can play the I was overwhelmed by high school, sports etc. I made this post to ask more knowledgeable people than me for some advice for my goal, not to get steamrolled, (Get enough of that in school :D).</p>

<p>Questions:</p>

<p>Do I fight for recommendations, or stay in CP and inflate my grade?</p>

<p>Situation is with my scores, no teacher wants to recommend me for upper classes, I registered for Bio AP, Honors English, and US I Honors. (Also Accounting II CC which gives me college credit, fighting teacher to get in this class.) Now in the summer, the counselors boot kids they think won't do well in honors. So my question is, fight to get in and show Harvard that I want to challenge myself against the odds, or let the teachers keep me in CP, inflate my grade to 90's, and take Honor/AP Junior Year?</p>

<p>For football how high does my SAT I Score, GPA need to be to get in (with the Hispanic and First Gen Hooks)?</p>

<p>As I am a running back, according to several sites, I have a much better chance of getting in, because athletes can say that they practice a lot and train, thus hurting their grades. My GPA is around a 2.9 right now, and I am very confident that I can get a very high SAT score if I study for it. So will a 2.9 cut it, and if not what is the Minimum safe number for GPA and SAT scores? As well how good to I have to be, as I heard that D1 capable prospects can get in with horrendous grades and scores.</p>

<p>Last but not least, I am applying Harvard EA, and I saw that I am competing with around 100 other Hispanics in the EA pool, now does admissions compete me with Hispanics, or is my score competed with all the other Whites,Blacks,Asians, and other applicants? (No Racism Intended.) </p>

<p>And as well, don't be afraid to give me advice on any improvements that I can do to increase my chances. I also am willing to go to another college if Harvard does not work out, however I must get a Full Ride, as I am strongly against the ridiculous prices that is college nowadays. So feel free to give me advice on Full Rides as well.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time,</p>

<p>Paul</p>

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<p>Oh, and incase anyone is wondering, I am a Freshman right now in High school. Don’t think I added it in the original post.</p>

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<p>Over the next three years, take the most challenging classes (that you can handle) possible. Nearly every college (including Harvard) would much rather see B’s in AP/Honors courses than A’s in Standard classes. Also, if you want to go to Harvard, you’re going to have to work incredibly hard over the next 3 years, although others on here will say that you have no chance at Harvard, colleges love to see consistent improvement over all 4 years and also base the least importance on Freshman year grades. That being said, you will be at a disadvantage getting B’s and C’s your 1st year when other applicants have straight A’s. </p>

<p>GET YOUR TEACHERS TO RECOMMEND YOU FOR HIGHER LEVEL CLASSES. Whether this means organizing a meeting between with them and your parents or convincing them that you’re serious about your academics, DO NOT take standard classes to have a higher GPA. Yet, a 2.9 won’t cut it at most universities and definitely not at Harvard. Depending on how great of a football recruit you are, your SAT scores may only have to be around 2000-2100, however, remember that they’re are plenty of top recruits with even better scores and spectacular GPA’s. </p>

<p>Another thing I would recommend is to definitely get involved in more EC’s your Sophomore year (doesn’t have to be many, but need a few good ones) that you’re passionate about in areas like clubs, volunteering, or other sports. For Early Admission, you’re judged among all applicants not just Hispanics, but you’re First Generation hook will still help out.</p>

<p>Also, if you really want to go to Harvard as bad as you appear to, make sure to emphasize it when applying in your essays and interviews (even though they’re far away). Applying EA will also definitely help to maximize your chances.</p>

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<p>as long as you have an upward trend with grades… so get cracking on that since you’re only a freshman. Also, yeah, you have a TON of hooks
make your resume something that stands out from the other thousands who discovered a cure for HIV or published a whole collection of books by the age of 13.
but in all seriousness… here’s what will help:

  1. HUGE upward trend in grades (which will be hard since freshman year is supposedly your easiest)
  2. make a few clubs about things you enjoy
  3. become really established in something (like you said, you like sports)
  4. show passion and leadership</p>
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<p>Projected SAT? ACT?
Projected GPA by 12th grade?</p>

<p>If they are above 2200, 34, and 3.9 respectively by the time you apply, given your minority status you have a chance to get in. </p>

<p>No. A 2.9 will not cut it at all. Bring that up to 3.9</p>

<p>I talked to a guy from Yale, and he quoted one of the admissions officers there
“We want you to take AP Classes AND get A’s”</p>

<p>Right now, you are doing neither. You are on the path directly away from a 2200, 34, 3.9, a path directly away from Harvard.</p>

<p>I am an Asian, and I can tell you that even as a minority, you need to be an academically strong minority to get into Harvard.</p>

<p>As an Asian, I can also tell you that you need to step it up. You said " I made this post to ask more knowledgeable people than me for some advice for my goal, not to get steamrolled, (Get enough of that in school :D)"</p>

<p>Well. If you want to get into Harvard, you need to steamroll your self. I have narcolepsy, from not sleeping for days in a row to complete the homework assigned from taking 5 AP classes per Semester, upon self studying for 5 (thats 15 AP tests, mind you). I have steamrolled myself, and even then my chance of getting in to Harvard is very low. I have essentially killed myself, my personality, my body, my social relationships, and even then I may not get in. You need to do the same, if you want a chance.</p>

<p>Harvard sees students that are both the captains of their football teams, and have 3.9 GPA’s with many AP exams, and very high SAT scores (99th percentile overall). The excuse that you have too much to do will never work with them.</p>

<p>You are a freshman. You can still fix this.
You need to work harder. Make your teachers love you. Take ALL of the AP courses offered. ACE the ACT or the SAT. Upon that, get a position in Football (Captain). Show dedication. You have about 2 years. Falling short of any of these goals, is essentially falling short of Harvard.</p>

<p>It may seem harsh, but its reality.</p>

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<p>Get National Merit. Some colleges offer full rides for National Merit scholars. To get this award, you must score above the 99% on the PSAT.</p>

<p>Your chance at harvard is low (everyone’s chance at harvard is low).
Get some safeties, and get NMS.</p>

<p>Harvard does offer 100% financial aid, true, but you have a very low chance of getting in, so don’t place your bets on that.</p>

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<p>Sorry to be a ‘Debbie downer’, but its the reality of life.</p>

<p>You HAVE a chance to get into Harvard. But you need to work EXTREMELY hard for that chance.</p>

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<p>@UMTYMP2015
“I am an Asian, and I can tell you that even as a minority, you need to be an academically strong minority to get into Harvard.”</p>

<p>Well, only Asians need to, but since he’s Argentinian/Hispanic the stats are lowered waaaay down. But even though they are lowered you still have to strive for more.</p>

<p>(I’m Chinese-American so don’t take offense)</p>

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<p>Thank you to all of the repliers! UMT, your hard work and dedication is admirable, I have to give you props for all of the sacrifices that you accomplished. No matter where you go I am positive that you will get far. To Castle, I will print this post out and speak to my teachers/counselors, I imagined that taking a harder class will show greater weight in the admissions department, thank you for clarifying that for me. Thank you to JumpingStar for outlining the rough sketch on what needs to be accomplished. As well, thank you to all the other posters on outlining that I must really begin conquering the impossible in order to accomplish my goal, after all it’s not No. 1 for nothing.</p>

<p>I also would like to add that my afterschool EC is very limited, I forgot to add track to one of the sports that I do, and between Football, Mandatory Weightlifting, and Track, I generally have very limited time afterschool ( 5 days a week with weights in winter, and 6 days a week in sport practice.) DECA is a in school club, which makes it attractive, and possibly mock trial is another prospect, as I am interested in the entire debate kind of club, and they only meet rarely, which fits into my schedule. </p>

<p>I also was thinking of taking some summer courses at my local community college, to offset the GPA, to show that I love learning, and to familiarize myself with college classes.</p>

<p>I love the responses and the help so far, thank you to all who responded/will respond, and don’t be afraid to give me any advice that you think will be helpful to my goal.</p>

<p>Thank you,</p>

<p>Paul</p>

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<p>You probably won’t get into Harvard. I have a friend who is being recruited by them for athletics and he still needs a 2100 SAT and around a 3.7 GPA to get in.</p>

<p>It’s cool you are a URM and first generation, but you still probably won’t get in. Harvard gets plenty of those applicants who have perfect GPAs and test scores, and can still balance it with sports. Not only that, but they do much more outside of school EC wise.</p>

<p>If you went to Harvard, based on your current academic record, you would get eaten alive by the rigor and high ability of the student body.</p>

<p>I hate to be harsh, but set your sights lower. Like much lower.</p>

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<p>Well PickleChicken37, that’s why I need to improve my GPA :D. I had a feeling that a 2.9 won’t cut it, and it seems to be confirmed by the majority of the posters in this thread. I however want to thank you for responding, and if possible answer this question. Your friend requires a 2100 SAT and a 3.7 GPA to get in, so what if I got a 2200, 4.0 GPA weighted ( let’s go with a 3.5 Unweighted) and do the summer college and every AP test and EC that I can do. What do you think my chances will be then?</p>

<p>Thank you for the post and your time,</p>

<p>Paul</p>

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<p>Also I done some research, ( somewhere on this form, can’t find the post) Where a person said that ability and academics scale with each other, so if you get like a 4.0 Unweighted, you can do quite poorly in the sport and still get with, while the other end can do as low as 1800 SAT and 3.0 GPA, however you would need to be a real D1 prospect. Anyone have any experience with this? My goal is to balance the two nicely and get as high as possible with all 2, so I think if I can be just at the nick of D1 playability, with AP test, good SAT and 3.5-4.0 weighted GPA, I should be good.</p>

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<p>have*</p>

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<p>yo @jumpingstar</p>

<p>Lol good catch. now that i read that statement i made, it looks really poorly constructed.</p>

<p>What i meant was that since we are asian, we know the amount of work required to get in. Of course, i know that hispanics have a much greater chance of getting in, but i was trying to show that I know a lot about the subject at hand, and that what i was to say is legitimate. Or something like that lol</p>

<p>well anyways, yeah i should have reworded that.</p>

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<p>Wait @Paul13375‌
Did you just say that your afterschool ec list is very limited???</p>

<p>THERE
That is your hook
You can be the FOUNDER of a speech team or of a science olympiad in your school.</p>

<p>You’re in 9th grade. Your school, as you stated, your afterschools EC is extremely limited. This is a great opportunity to be a leader in your school - i recommend you form a science olympiad team with a science teacher as a mentor, or maybe form a robotics team for your school, or maybe a speech team.</p>

<p>(I may be completely wrong, and your school does have these teams (if so, join some academic clubs, those look good))</p>

<p>Even if you don’t win any awards, being the founder of a team shows a great amount of leadership - a key point that top colleges love in students. </p>

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<p>Of course, my previous comment is mostly speculation…</p>

<p>Oh, and definitely take courses in the summer. Most students shun that kind of stuff, but summer courses to accelerate yourself actually look great on college apps.</p>

<p>Upon that, you should aim to try to get into some prestigious summer camps. Think TASS for next year. Like actually. </p>

<p>Are you a good essay writer? Then apply to TASS and TASP. TASS and TASP have direct connections to Harvard, and the other Ivy League schools - check them up, and start writing your essays now. It is a huge deal to get into TASS and TASP.</p>

<p>Your status as a minority opens doors even before college admissions begins. Look into minority only summer camps, as many of them are very prestigious, and are actually taught by great professors that are willing to write Rec Letters (That’s what I did 9th and 10th grade summer)</p>

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<p>Like actually. If you truly want to get into Harvard, start writing for TASS and TASP. Those have direct lines into Harvard, given you are good at writing.</p>

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<p>All right I’ll check them out, thank you for your advice UMT.</p>

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<p>Sorry, but you’ll have to fight to get into just a upper-middle tier school right now. Don’t say that you want to be #1, that doesn’t mean anything unless you can actually show that you can do the work. It’s Harvard, perhaps the best school in the world, they won’t care that you’re a minority if you can’t get the grades. No A’s your freshman year is a huge disappointment, you’ll need to have a vast improvement with near perfect test scores to even be in the conversation. Not trying to be rude, trying to be realistic.</p>

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<p>Think about the UC’s and Stanford. They don’ consider freshman gpa giving you a much much better chance. Your chance at Harvard is very minimal with these grades .</p>