Can I get Into Harvard? Please Comment.

Applying to College
1

<p>I applied this year. Please give me my chances</p>

<p>First of all, I am completing high school in 3 years and I am 17 years old.</p>

<p>SAT: 2370</p>

<p>SAT II: Math II(800), Physics(800)</p>

<p>GPA: Unweighted 3.99, Weighted 4.56</p>

<p>Class Rank: 1, Valedictorian</p>

<p>AP Classes: AP Calc BC 5, AP US History 5, AP World History 5, AP Lang 5, AP Literature 5, AP Biology 5, AP Physics C 5, AP Chemistry 5</p>

<p>Teacher Recs: Very Good, Mostly all Top 1%</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Asian (Pakistani)</p>

<p>Parent Status/Financial Situation: Dad is MD Doctor, Mom has a Master's, income: 180,000, I want as much financial aid as possible, because I also have 2 younger brothers</p>

<p>Summer Activities: 1st year: math camp, speech camp, 2nd year: volunteer in africa, math camp, 3rd year: will go to mop and maybe africa again</p>

<p>Extra Cirriculars:
Math: Blue MOP (math camp), Duke Math Meet, Harvard MIT, ARML
Speech and Debate: First Year, State Champion in Original Oratory, did well at nationals, last summer original oratory finalist in national speech tournament
Chess Club
Student Government
Student Council</p>

<p>School: BGA, small private school with 400 students</p>

<p>Oh, btw, I love math and inted to major in it and go to medical school, my other interest.</p>

<p>I think my interview went very well.</p>

<p>College Essay: I wrote it on my love for learning in particular math, and also forensics and an akward situation I encountered and mentioned many times about how i fell in love with harvard the minute i first visited it and how i chose it because of the cool dorms, awesome opportunities, enormous library, best math program, and good food. Also, I kind of mentioned how I am an Ahmadi Muslim- a minority of muslims who are peace-loving, our motto is "love for all, hatred for none", and we have been persecuted ever since our denomination was formed.</p>

2

<p>Your essay sounds a little lame, but your resume looks great. You certainly can get in, but worse applications have been accepted and better applications have been declined. You’ve got a chance. Your “Harvard MIT” EC, whatever that is, probably helps. Based on a 180k income, I’d roughly estimate you’ll be paying 20k/ year, and Harvard would cover the rest. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>You have the same chances that all the other high achieving kids with privileged backgrounds and without hooks have - very small but not impossible.</p>

4

<p>Well put by M’s mom. Chances for even the best unhooked candidates get more miniscule every year. Harvard will take about 5% this year I’m guessing. Half of them will be hooked, leaving the admit rate for the unhooked incredibly low.</p>

<p>Advantage goes to kids with unusual talents and from remote states. Their normal, well rounded kids come from among the hooked.</p>

<p>As for interviews, they’re performed by alumni volunteers and are mostly for you to ask questions, they have no impact in getting you admitted unfortunately. Not sure why all interviewers don’t tell kids this, I make a point to.</p>

5

<p>Stats look fine, but I’m not seeing a lot of leadership. M’s mom’s comment is spot on. </p>

<p>As for financial aid: </p>

<p>

</p>

6

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>Everyone, please tell me what a hook is, and list some amazing things. Is being in the Math Olympiad Program(top 20 in US in math) or even making the IMO team (top 6) not amazing? What amazing things can I do in leadership? I am working hard to place very high in the national speech tournament and even become a champion. Is this not enough. Pleases give examples of amazing things that got people into Harvard.</p>

7

<p>GrayPhantom, I think you have a 99% chance of getting in Harvard, i am already excited for you !!!</p>

8

<p>I was going to point out that MOP makes you a very attractive candidate (though may look better across the street). I did not see where you made the IMO team, but yes, that would look even better. </p>

<p>But many people do not know what MOP is. My son went to MOP twice and was HM twice (before your time, probably). He got into Caltech and MIT EA, and did not continue to apply, but I do know that is what got him in. </p>

<p>Still, Moppers do also get turned down. I do know someone who made IMO and was turned down by Harvard, but he did have some gaps in his apps. I think you have an excellent chance at getting into a great school. Good luck to you!</p>

9

<p>A hook means you have something the school is actively seeking: You are an under-represented minority. You are an athletic recruit. You are a development admit (which mean your parents are being cultivated for a sizable donation). You are a legacy or your parents are on the faculty. If you or your parents are famous, you have a hook.</p>

<p>I am by no means minimizing your achievements or saying you have no chance. But every year, students with your very impressive accomplishments get turned down. Harvard doesn’t care about demonstrated interest. You do yourself a disservice by getting so emotionally invested in being admitted to any one school, especially one as competitive as Harvard.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>I think they probably do, if that interest is genuine and for valid reasons. So many of their applicants want to be admitted to Harvard just because “it’s Harvard.” A reason for wanting to attend Harvard that stakes a legitimate claim to Harvard as the student’s ideal fit for a justifiable reason is likely going to be a strong asset.</p>

11

<p>You’re right - I probably overstated that they have ‘no’ interest. But most of the savvier applicants have gone to some trouble to research ‘why Harvard’ in more detail for purposes of the interview. But unlike most schools, Harvard doesn’t even bother to ask the question in their application.</p>

12

<p>It is distressing to me, as an alumni interviewer for an HYP school, how little genuine knowledge the vast majority of applicants have about the college. I now make a point of including in my write ups which candidates give well thought out reasons for wanting to attend.</p>

13

<p>What exactly is a well thought out reason to attend? I feel like most answers are good answers in context.</p>

14

<p>A good answer reflects the fact that the student did some research on how good a fit the school actually is given their specific interests and objectives. Did they look at any special programs, check the course catalog, note any professors doing work in their areas of interest? It should be something that shows they have given the decision to apply here some thought.</p>