Am I on track for Harvard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

I am currently a freshman in high school enrolled in -
Algebra 2 honors
AP human geography
Pre AP English
Chemistry honors
German 1
Tv production (for graduation requirements)
Culinary arts

I have completed my registration for sophomore year and I am taking -
AP world history
AP environmental science
AP art history
AP physics 1
German 2
Pre ap English 2
AP calculus AB (if I am able to take pre calculus over the summer at my local college)

I am also getting involved in my local Habitat for Humanity group for my volunteer work

For athletics I am a varsity weightlifter

I am also a first generation American, both parents are from Germany.

My GPA last semester was a 4.07, I have brought it up to 4.2 right now.

I was wondering if anyone could help and point me in the right direction in to what I can do and improve upon to heighten my chances of getting in to Harvard.

2

What is your unweighted GPA?

3

You’re a HS freshman. Don’t forget that. Follow your path; you don’t even know if Harvard will still be a goal years from now.

The one comment I’d make is that if German is spoken at home, you won’t impress H by taking German in HS.

4

I can’t speak it well I can only understand it, that’s why I take it at school. And I’m also studying mandarin on my own. My unweighted is 3.85

5

Unweighted is 3.85

6

Make sure the unweighted GPA is as high as possible. Getting the AP bump is great, but if you are getting a bunch of B’s, your unweighted gpa is really going to suffer

7

Have you read this blog? Although it’s about MIT, everything in it applies to Harvard, as well: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways

8

Let Harvard go. Instead of focusing your 4 years on trying to get in, get it in your head now that you won’t get in. It doesn’t matter what you do either. By the time you apply, the acceptance rate will probably be below 4%. Enjoy your 4 years. Do things that you love. Follow your passions. Keep your grades up. There are other schools out there.

EDIT: Oh, and read this too

http://www.roxandroll.com/2014/11/parents-let-harvard-go.html

9

I’d have to disagree with @CaliCash. There’s no harm in creating goals for yourself and striving to reach those goals. I was thinking about college as a freshman (not to the extent of posting on CC or anything), but I think you’re ahead of the game now if college is on your radar. At this point, don’t waste any time stressing about the college application process that is years away. What you can work on is raising your grades and joining extracurriculars you actually care about. I would have never been able to get leadership positions if I hadn’t joined my favorite activities as a freshman.

I don’t think it’s right to tell any kid “you won’t get in. It doesn’t matter what you do.” If you have a dream, work for it. You have more than enough time to make your dream a reality.

Advice: join extracurriculars that you actually care about, not ones that “look good” for colleges. There is no magic number. Show your passion for those activities.

Just make sure you relax and enjoy your time in high school, though. Good luck!