<p>well, I'm new in this board and to anything that has to do with american universities.
I have another year in senior high school, so I am trying to clear my ambitions about my future. So on day I thought, what does it take to go in Harvard?</p>
<p>I haven't taken any SATs yet since I am not sure if it is worth it.</p>
<p>In my Extracurriculars : Judo (national champion), electric guitarist, piano, choir, music composition in school (I am a student in a Music High School) football when younger. (are these enough?)
Job/Work Experience: Babysitting, helping my dad doing chores in garden (do I need more here?)
Volunteer/Community service: volunteered for the choir, cleaning the environment (streets etc in my village). Not much here, is it a very negative fact?
Summer Activities: Judo, playing guitar, going holiday with my parents, and generally exercising physically and mentally.
Essays: if I get prepared I will write an average, not special.
Teacher Recommendation: I think I can get one or two (good but not great)</p>
<p>In the objective list
GPA : I think I can get A in most of my courses but I have a difficulty in comprehending the whole system since I am greek and our school system might be different.
I don't know what AP means
Senior Year Course Load: what exactly is this?
Major Awards: distinction award every year in my school. (do athletics matter here?) Not many major awards :(
I think I can get good scores in SATs, let say I get not great ones but acceptable by harvard</p>
<p>income: very little, less than 30000$, I will apply for full financial aid (does it cover all costs like tuition and accommodation?)</p>
<p>So how does it look? Do I have any chances or no?</p>
<p>Oh, and by the way, I want to study economics/finance/banking. Does Harvard cover me?</p>
<p>You could’ve just gone through the decision threads on Harvard’s forum to get an idea of who gets accepted and who doesn’t.</p>
<p>I can’t really tell by the information you supplied. You need to give some sort of GPA and class rank. Also, as you only have one more year in high school, it’s getting a little late to take the SATs…</p>
<p>You have almost no chance because you haven’t posted your grades, or the greek SAT equivalent</p>
<p>@ Tennuggler
ok, my GPA is A in most of the courses. Why do you think it is late to take the SATs? I mean… next year is my graduation from senior high school, when should I have taken it? When I was 14? I am 16 years old now by the way.</p>
<p>@ Makalakahai
I’ll tell you my grades in greek system
algebra 19/20
geometry 19/20
maths (direction<em>) 16/20 … I had a bad day in my test
physics 20/20
physics (direction</em>) 18/20
chemistry 20/20
literature 16/20
Modern Greek language 17/20
Ancient greek language 17/20
English language 20/20
biology 18/20
introduction to law and political institutions (yeah, we have a course with that name) 17/20
communications technology 20/20
history 18/20
computer lessons (information class) 19/20</p>
<ul>
<li>the direction thing is something that has to do with our school system, just ignore it.
Anything above 17.5 is A in our school system.</li>
</ul>
<p>SAT equivalent…I have no clue here actually. But I was informed that I have to do the last year in senior high school in order to have the knowledge to answer all questions in SAT II. So what did Tennuggler mean by saying “as you only have one more year in high school, it’s getting a little late to take the SATs…”
If you know any site that I can do a sample SAT test, I could post my results here.</p>
<p>And don’t be offensive, I’m just looking for information :), but be realistic even if the truth is harsh, Harvard is not the place I try to get it, but I just want to know if I am “enough” for Harvard in case I change my mind about my studies.</p>
<p>if not Harvard then how about another Ivy league that contains economics department?
Edit: like Yale?</p>
<p>forget my previous post. I don’t have anough money to apply for many colleges. Only harvard. So? What do you think?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Unless you’re a Nobel Laureate, you can’t just rest on a Harvard acceptance. This year they only had a ~6% acceptance rating, that’s just crazy. I highly suggest you apply to some other Tier 1 schools and Tier 2 schools.
If you think apps are expensive, have you considered the costs of American Univ. tuition, board, food, recreation, and travel expenses?</p>
<p>Being international complicates the process, but I think you have a shot. National champion in judo is really good! And your grades seem pretty good too, if I’m interpreting your system right.
And I’ve heard from international students that the SATs are not that important for anyone outside the US. I think just doing well in your school and on IBs is fine, you do not need a 2400 or anything on your SATs.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies :)</p>
<p>@ HONORLIONS : My only consideration is Harvard because it has something special in its financial aid. Families with income under 60000$ do not have to pay for college costs. And mine is the half of that. Unless I did not understand the whole concept, I won’t have to pay tuitions, books, accommodation, traveling (maybe). Do other universities offer similar financial aid?</p>
<p>@ yelllowgirly: Judo is my hope. I also have around 15 medals in tournaments and national championships. Also I am going to improve my grades by next year. Do you know when is the best time to give those SATs?</p>
<p>there are tons of other schools that offer financial aid to international students. Just google some. At least, dont believe in Harvard’s chance.
Btw, you should take the SAT as soon as possible. Btw, where are you from?</p>
<p>i dont think you have that great of a chance. harvard is not need blind for international students only need based. this means that they are going to accept people that can pay fully before you.</p>
<p>@ babyboom
Greece
@ anxioussophomore
[Harvard</a> College Admissions § Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/financial_aid/index.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/financial_aid/index.html)
It clearly says “Admission to Harvard is need-blind…” :/</p>
<p>They are not need blind for international students though.</p>
<p>@ anxioussophomore</p>
<p>Is this the same for other universities like U. Chicago? No need-blind at all?</p>
<p>if not university then how about a liberal of arts college? Like Williams. It says it is need blind for both U.S an international applicants. Do I have a chance there?</p>
<p>You should apply to some State Universities.</p>
<p>I could be wrong but I think you definitely have a good chance at Williams–its not as hard to get into as Harvard. I would guess that Harvard is probably the hardest college to get into in the world.
As far as I know, even for international students every major American college has very good financial aid for students with a family income like yours.
Echoing everyone else, idk your chances at Harvard or anywhere precisely without knowing your SAT. Don’t underestimate Harvard’s SAT standards; there’s no such thing as Harvard SAT scores that aren’t great. If you’re going to take it, I would take it early in the school-year so you have the option of taking it again if your scores aren’t quite on par.</p>
<p>Don’t bother applying to Harvard, sorry. I’m sure you can get into many other schools though. I don’t want to come off as mean but you seem to be overestimating yourself and underestimating how difficult admissions are to Ivies. If I were you and wanted to attend a college/university in the USA, I’d look at public ones and maybe some private schools that aren’t less than 20% acceptance.</p>
<p>thanks for the replies.
@ Universityy
OK. Probably I won’t even apply to Harvard. Williams has a 20% acceptance. Will I have a chance there?</p>