Any advice heading into Senior year?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>I'm just looking to get a general idea of where I'm at right now, and to get more Harvard-specific feedback for my situation. First, a couple basic things:</p>

<p>UW GPA: 4.0. (Don't know how to calculate weighted, as I've never had to) This makes puts me at 1st out of 400 students in my class. </p>

<p>I've taken 4 AP classes, plan on finishing with 10 (1 sophomore year, 3 junior year, as well as 6 for senior year) With the AP scores, I've also earned "AP Scholar with Honor," although I'm not sure of the specifics of that award.</p>

<p>I took the ACT (I live in the Midwest) for the first time back when I was 13, and got a 29. I took it again last fall and got a 33. I plan on taking it one more time this fall (why not, right?). </p>

<p>My SAT, however, wasn't as great. I took it once cold turkey this past June and only got a 2070, with a 630 (yikes!) in writing. I'm sure this will be improved now that I have a better feel for the test. I have yet to take my SAT subject tests. </p>

<p>I have standard, run-of-the-mill extra-curriculars, such as president of student council, and I am very involved in and outside of my school. Mock Trial, Forensics, Golf, Powerlifting, German Club, GSA, Political Discussion Club, NHS, etc. </p>

<p>I think my main strength, though, is my passion for politics. </p>

<p>At the age of 14, I first started volunteering on a local congressional campaign (one that, unfortunately, came up a bit short in 2010). Since then, I have successfully campaigned with my town's current 24-year-old mayor and my assembly district's current candidate for state assembly. I am also currently in the middle of a fellowship with Organizing for America to reelect President Obama (I am, in fact, the youngest fellow in my state). This requires a minimum of 15 hours a week from me, unpaid, to be in charge of organizing my community for the President's campaign. At 16 years old, I know it is rather uncommon to be this passionate and involved in politics and therefore I think it would be cool to base my essays and such off of my experiences.</p>

<p>Finally, I started a small, local polling firm in my community. I'm still in the process of getting my first contract and making my first sale, but I'm very close on a couple of fronts. I think would be especially great because it directly ties in with my passion for politics, seeing as much of the polling we will be doing is for local political races that, otherwise, do not have the opportunity to be locally polled. </p>

<p>I guess I have a few main questions, and then I would welcome any additional commentary...</p>

<ol>
<li><p>With the ACT v.s. SAT, would special consideration be given if only the ACT + SAT subject tests were submitted because of the regional differences in the ACT and SAT? Since I'm from the Midwest, the SAT is not common around here at all. I only ask, because if I plan on applying early action, I will not have both the opportunity to retake the SAT I and get my needed SAT II's in. So... would submitted only a 33 ACT and no SAT I be a killer? Chances are decent that I can up my ACT a point or two this next time around, I think. If I were to apply regular decision, I would have time to retake the SAT I and take my SAT subject tests. Is early action worth it? </p></li>
<li><p>If my passion is for politics (and also economics), how will a couple SAT II's in completely unrelated subject areas affect my application? Obviously, Harvard requires these tests but I'm wondering if more/less weight would be given to, say, a Chemistry SAT II depending on my area of interest. </p></li>
<li><p>Any general thoughts concerning my application? I'm always worried that only kids who cure cancer or write a book get into Harvard. :) </p></li>
</ol>

<p>If there is anything I forgot to mention, just let me know and I'll add it. Thanks!</p>

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<p>As far as I know an ACT + SAT II combination is perfectly valid.</p>

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<p>You should try to take the SAT IIs that you will do best in. Don’t think in terms of conforming to some politics mold, because Harvard doesn’t put much stock in what 17-18 year olds think they will be doing for the rest of their life, since the game plan will probably change a dozen times.</p>

<p>If you think you can do equally well in all of your options, well-roundedness is always a plus. Meaning a hard science SAT II might help to show you’re not lopsided, even though your transcript should already do this on its own. But don’t opt for Chemistry if you can get a better score in something else. </p>

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<p>If you think you can get a higher ACT score, do it. Higher scores obviously improve your chances, but keep in mind that once you’re in Harvard’s range, and you already are, higher scores have diminishing returns. But some returns are better than nothing.</p>

<p>Otherwise you seem to be qualified for Harvard, which unfortunately doesn’t change the fact that it’s more likely than not you’ll be rejected. Work on presenting the best application you can, put a lot of time into your essays, make good recommendation choices, and don’t get your hopes up. That’s about the only advice to give a Harvard applicant who has done everything “right” so far, but is nevertheless facing a very tough acceptance rate.</p>

<p>Your campaign/polling experience can be an impressive EC to put forward, so consider working it into your essay somehow, or at least make sure it’s properly presented and emphasized elsewhere in your application.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the very detailed response! </p>

<p>Do you have any insight as far as early action goes? What range should I look for my SAT II scores to be in?</p>

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<p>I don’t really know anything about EA since that didn’t exist when I was applying four years ago, but as far as SAT IIs go, the “range” you should be aiming for is as close to 800 as you can get. I wouldn’t send anything less than 700, unless without doing so you can’t meet the minimum application requirements.</p>