<p>Hi, I'm an international student with a citizenship who's hoping to get into Harvard this year.
It'd be really nice if you could chance me :)</p>
<p><scores>
GPA: 4.99/5.00 (unweighted, school doesn't weigh - may become 5.00)
SAT: 2400 (1st take)
SAT II: Math II C 800, Chemistry 800, U.S. History 800
AP: Micro, Macro, Chem, Cal BC, Physics B, Eng. Lang, U.S. History - 5
Eng. Lit, Physics C: Mechanics, Physics C: E&M, Biology - all predicted 5</scores></p>
<p><extracurriculars>
President of school literary magazine
English essay competition - grand prize
International Philosophy Olympiad - domestic: grand prize, international: gold medal</extracurriculars></p>
<p><internships>
I did a few in companies that produce medical equipment.</internships></p>
<p><volunteer>
Tutoring underprivileged kids in economics - around 40 hours
Going to go to Mongol habitat this summer</volunteer></p>
<p>I'm confident that I'll be fine with the essays, and although I'm not really close with any of the teachers, I still think I could get at least an okay recommendation. My homeroom teacher this year is particularly nice to me.</p>
<p>Overall, I know that my volunteer work is pretty weak, but do you think my scores could cover them up? I've been hearing about how a 2400 can make a bigger impression than 2390 and how my gold medal in IPO is a really big extracurricular, but the problem is I'm pre-med and I'm not sure how this will make my overall image look like. Will my scores really be enough to cover up my other weaker areas? Thanks :D</p>
<p>First, a 2400 does not really matter more than a 2390. Heck, probably not more than a 2250, if that’s evenly spread among the subjects. (800 650 800 could be a problem.)</p>
<p>Good recommendations tell stories. Do you want to be “this student is outstanding, responsible, and nice. It has been nice to know her for a year. She did well in my class” in a sea of 30,000+ other such students? One of my recommendations–that I didn’t end up sending to all my schools but is the only one I can accurately summarize–was from my physics teacher. It wasn’t “Well, exul is not the best at physics but she is pretty good and tries hard.” It was “well, exul is not the best at physics but she is pretty good and deeply curious. She reads a lot of science journalism and asks me questions when she doesn’t understand a physics concept integral to some new piece of technology or other science news. I know that when she comes up to me after class, it’s not going to be about points; it’ll be a question going deeper into the material, or trying to understand physics’ application to astronomy, say. Sometimes I don’t even know the answers right away! She asked me how space, as a vacuum, could have temperature; I had to think about it, and then we figured out the answer together. So while exul is not the best at physics, I think her enthusiasm would be an asset to all her college classes.” Now you can visualize something about me, rather than just hearing that I’m “curious.” If none of your rec letters help do that, you will be a tough sell in a very competitive applicant pool.</p>
<p>Here are my 2 cents: A gold medal at IPhO really sets you apart from the other applicants. Depending on whether you come from an under or over-represented overseas country this feat alone really lets you shine. I would say, write convincing essays, at least one of which explains your intellectual curiosity and how you plan to apply physics knowledge into the medical field. Or, you can write about your volunteer work in Mongolia. Remember, small, even simple anecdotes can go a long way if you are able to extract valuable life lessons from it or show how the experience changed who you are. I think there is a tendency for many high achieving students like yourself to look like a bunch of perfect statistics and nothing else; that is certainly not true, so be sure to make yourself seem like an interesting, passionate individual in your application and interview.</p>
<p>exultationsy, Thanks for your advice. As I said, I’m pretty sure that my homeroom teacher at least will be able to write a pretty good recommendation for me, but I guess I should work on them a lot more.</p>
<p>Icedcoffee, I’m sorry if there was any confusion - I meant the Philosophy Olympiad, not the physics. I’m kind of worried that this will make my resume seem a bit too unrelated to pre-med. Any ideas?? :(</p>
<p>I live in East Asia, and have been doing so for my entire life.
Yes, I’m a US citizen.
I’m Asian and female.
Although I don’t really see how this matters that much…</p>
<p>Your US citizenship is extremely meaningful in that you won’t be pooled with the more competitive international pool (i.e non-US citizens). </p>
<p>Your 2400 will catch people’s attention – so that’s a good thing. You’re certainly viable but also know that H rejects more 2400s than it accepts. Those are just the hard facts. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Your profile matters - includes where you live, what citizenship, what race and gender, what is unique about you that Harvard needs.</p>
<p>It also matters what you are applying for. If you submit an application wanting to be in STEM and 80% or more Asians are applying for the same, Harvard can only take so many and they don’t want the engineering school or sciences to be 80% Asian. </p>
<p>If you apply for a liberal arts major and have activities to back that up, you may be able to get into Harvard (may be is not a yes). </p>
<p>OTOH, your profile fits perfectly for MIT or Caltech.</p>
<p>During the past month, some things changed, I think.</p>
<p>For one, my parents decided to let me choose what I want to do for myself, so I may not apply as pre-med anymore. Probably something along the lines of undecided, philosophy, or literature. Not sure at this point.</p>
<p>I just don’t know what to do anymore. I’m definitely done with my scores, I have some extracurriculars - but I don’t think they are enough. Rationally, what chance do I have? Below average, average or above average? Is it even possible to measure it? Thanks.</p>
<p>Go back and read the MIT link that exultationsy posted. Harvard is looking for the same thing as MIT. You want a teacher recommendation from someone who knows how you perform as a student and scholar in the classroom. Someone who will be able to write not just a ‘good’ recommendation (all teachers do that), but one who writes a ‘stellar’ recommendation, telling the admissions committee that you are one of the most talented students they have had in all their years of teaching. Your home room teacher will not be able to address the issues that Harvard, and other selective colleges, are interested in hearing about.</p>
<p>You seem like an extraordinary person. You have a stellar resume and should have no problems. Good luck, and congrats on your test scores- that shows some hard work!</p>