<p>I am not asking you to evaluate my chances as that is narly impossible, and getting feedback from a bunch of Harvard-obsessed high school kids would probably not be very beneficial. I just want to know if, based on my SAT II scores alone, would I be automatically rejected or is Harvard worth a shot?
My scores are/will be as follows:</p>
<p>Math IC: 660
Math IIC: 730ish
Chemistry: 750
Biology: 800(hopefully; haven't actually taken it yet but bio is usually a strong subject for me)
Lit: 670
French: 680 </p>
<p>These scores are pretty solid, but I know they are not competative at Harvard. Becuase of its amazing applicant pool, Harvard probably looks for any reason to reject someone. Are these scores high enough to make me a somewhat reasonable applicant (given other stronger parts of my application) or would I be better off increasing my chances and applying ED somewhere else?</p>
<p>First of all, don't apply ED in order to increase your chances (only if it's your dream school)</p>
<p>Second of all, there are only three subject tests required and while they'll consider the other scores it's of utmost importance to have THREE solid scores.... Chem, MIIC, and Biology are very good so you're fine.</p>
<p>Oh, and I think they really mean it if they say that they evaluate test scores (and everything else) considering the applicant's context!!
In addition Harvard and the other top colleges don't look "for any reason to reject someone" but for reasons to accept someone!</p>
<p>No ED people, no ED.
:D :D
I think it is important for you to know that. And since Princeton also did away with early, for the top ivies your next one is Yale. And there have been many conjectures about Yale's EA (from CCers of course ! :D) and the main point was that the applicant pool of EA will probably rise, so the admission rate for EA will fall. </p>
<p>Bear these into mind when you make your decision, and remember that you can always retake!</p>
<p>I know Harvard and Princeton don't have ED policies anymore; sorry if I wasn't clear. What I meant was, is it worth holding out for Harvard, or should I apply ED somewhere else (and increase my chances at "somewhere else," which would probably be Penn)? </p>
<p>Basically is Harvard worth the risk of reducing my chances at Penn, or do I not have a shot at Harvard at all?</p>
<p>^^ Doooooooooonn't retake Math 2C. That would be a complete waste of time... if you were to bump your score up to an 800, it would probably raise your chance of admittance by about .001%. People on CC will tell you that a 730 is too low, but that's bull. Spend that time doing something else, like improving your essay, participating in extracurriculars, or (this is a foreign concept for some) DOING SOMETHING YOU ENJOY.</p>
<p>OP - to answer your question: your scores are high enough to make you a "somewhat reasonable applicant." You will not be automatically rejected based on SAT II scores alone. Good luck.</p>
<p>IGNORE percentiles on subj tests! esp Math!! NOT comparable to reg SAT or any others. Consider the skewed population that even bothers to take Math I , much less Math II!!! 730, 760, 780 all major brainiacs, doesnt matter.</p>
<p>Hah I'm not retaking ANY of these..... waste of time.<br>
If these scores aren't good enough for Harvard, then Harvard isn't good enough for me. I have better things to do than hand over more money to kaplan/princeton review/barrons/collegeboard for tests that I don't want to take anyway. </p>
<p>If Harvard only accepts perfect 800 kids, then either a) I'm just not smart enough and I will struggle or b) its full of insane test-taking psycopaths that have no personality and whom I don't want to be around. </p>
<p>I actually haven't taken Math IIC yet; the score I posted was predicted based on practice tests and preparation.</p>
<p>Harvard won't accept you by the passive way you think. If you have such stereotype about Harvard kids and other academically strong students in general, maybe the Ivies aren't for you. The way you said it sounds like people who work hard are all abnormal freaks. If you think thinking this way can get you into any of the Ivies, check whether you're normal. Your post shows a lot of ego and lackluster test scores. Going to your state school is your best choice. You will meet soooo many sane kids who sit around all day doing "cooooooooool" stuff. I'm sure you'll only attract those people also. :D</p>
<p>I haven't been here in a while, but if you go back and read some of my previous posts, you'll see that those scores aren't going to to be the reason for a rejection. My subject scores were lower than those. I got in. My only 700+ score was Bio which I got a 720 in.</p>
<p>I think that you have made too many generalizations FordPrefect08, colleges and college applications are not that simple. Even if your SAT scores are low, that does not mean Harvard is full of geniuses, nor does it mean that you cannot succeed there.
Anyway what is wrong with a bit of struggling? I'm sure you can find classes that are challenging but not impossible.</p>