Asian Kid with the same stereotypical Harvard Dream...Please help/chance me!

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I'm a rising high school Senior (ASIAN) and was wondering if I stood any chance applying to Harvard, either EA or ED. I'm also torn over where to apply early.</p>

<p>I would appreciate honest feedback. I want to go into finance/economics and work on Wall Street; getting into a good grad school alter is also a top priority</p>

<p>MY STATS:</p>

<p>I'm in the top 1 percentile of a 800 member class in a competitive NJ public high school. I will have taken 9-11 aps by the end of senior year, and have taken 5 ap exams this year, and gotten 5's.</p>

<p>SATS-2340 single, 2360 superscored</p>

<p>SAT 2s: Literature: 750, Math 2: 770, US History: 780</p>

<p>ECS: I am very interested in politics, finance, and business.</p>

<p>President of Model United Nations: Junior Year
President of Model Congress: Junior Year
President of Ping Pong: 9-12
Founder and co-President of Finance Club: 11-12</p>

<p>Involved in FBLA (regional Top 10 in the district competition)</p>

<p>Won several prizes at numerous debating contests, such as Pennsylvania Model UN, Rutgers Model UN, Philadelphia Model UN, etc, all of which feature students from all over the nation (or at least from an entire region)</p>

<p>Intensely involved in Indian Classical Music and won awards at local competitions and the Cleveland Aradhana, a national-level contest with various singing categories.</p>

<p>I am passionate about finance and have the following jobs/internships:</p>

<p>Internship at the township Business Board</p>

<p>Internship with a non-profit trade organization (HMN)-Will have my finance research published in their international journal</p>

<p>Worked as a tutor at local KUMON</p>

<p>I am looking at U Penn (CAS or Wharton-which would be better?), Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, U Chicago, Duke, Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, NYU.</p>

<p>Rec's should be good/great. My essays will be unique and hopefully creative.</p>

<p>I don't know what it takes to get in nowadays for an Asian applicant-everyone is so damn impressive with national and international qualifications-but what are my chances and how could I improve them?</p>

<p>What can I do (if anything) at this point to accentuate my app? Where should I apply Early D/ Early Action?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for any help.</p>

2

<p>I personally think your stats are good. I hate how asians feel they have to work extra hard to be impressive when practically all of you on here are amazing. I mean look how high you guys set the bar. It’s great. But I don’t think your resume looks like a “typical asian’s.” I think it shows your interests in finance and business really well. but I have a question: Have you done any volunteer work?</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the comments Presidenttrip.</p>

<p>For volunteering: I have 300 hours of service at an Assisted Living Center and won their gold award for service twice. I also conducted a religious camp last summer and gained another 50 hours.</p>

<p>I’m not sure how to position myself or what to write for the essays. I want to avoid seeming stereotypical.</p>

4

<p>Are you male or female?</p>

<p>You will get into some of the schools listed (chicago, NYU, may be Georgetown and Cornell).</p>

<p>You will probably make the cut on some Ivies. Whether Harvard is one of them is anyone’s guess.</p>

<p>You may stand a better chance with an ED to Penn/Columbia since you are committing to one school early. SCEA does nt give the same chance since there is no commitment.</p>

5

<p>I’d say you have great chances, but what is your main theme for the essay?</p>

6

<p>I am writing about an Indian classical music competition that changed my life</p>

7

<p>That actually sounds somewhat interesting. Are you a good writer, as far as keeping the reader hooked on what you’re saying?</p>

8

<p>Here is hope for you. Another success story from a male Asian applicant.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/1117286-my-long-tiring-admissions-journey.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/1117286-my-long-tiring-admissions-journey.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;