Chaaaaances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I'm a Canadian, at a private boarding school in Grade 12.</p>

<p>Academics:
96% average
Ranked 1st in my grade
800 math
800 reading
730 writing (only 7 on essay, I don't know how)
790 Math I
800 Math II
Taking fairly rigorous courseload, but my school doesn't allow more than 2 APs at a time.</p>

<p>ECs:
Went on exchange to South Africa for 3 months, taught kids English once a week while I was there
Volunteered at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto doing research work for 3 weeks last summer
Captain of Varsity Rowing, stroke seat of the Sr. Men's 4 (decent boat, but not medal-contention level or anything)
Member of the Varsity Squash team
Voted Peer Counselor by fellow students
Co-Head of the admissions program at my school
Tutor for elementary-school kids since grade 9</p>

<p>Essays:
Common app - on leaps of faith, integrated skydiving and getting through my mother's death (she passed away when I was 7)
Supplement - on teaching kids in South Africa and what it taught me</p>

<p>References are really good I think, I'd like to have 3 though (two from teachers, one from my academic advisor/rowing coach), do you think that will hurt if I have an extra one?</p>

<p>Whaddaya think, do I have a shot? Btw, if you got this far, thanks for reading :)</p>

2

<p>Everyone else will tell you the same thing, but you've got just as good a chance as any of the other Harvard applicants. :)</p>

3

<p>^^^^^^ I'm really tired of hearing people say that Harvard admissions is such a crapshoot that everyone has similar, next-to-zero chances. Even for students who are NOT URM, developmental admits, recruited athletes, legacies, or otherwise hooked, some are certainly much more likely to get into Harvard than others. As to the OP, your scores are fine but you simply don't seem to be a standout Ivy applicant, so I think your chances at Harvard are really quite slim (not 'as good as any other Harvard applicant', per se).</p>

4

<p>Harvard requires 3 SAT IIs. Also, it's generally not recommended to do Math I - it's now just the same as SAT I Math (don't know why it hasn't been abolished yet) and is pretty basic math, so it's not a strong SAT II to take. Also, since youve taken math II, you would want to show them your command of some other subjects.</p>

<p>As for any applicant, if you are recruited, you have much better odds, so I assume you have contacted their crew coach?</p>

5

<p>amb3r, I don't think that the OP's chances are slim compared to those of others. The OP has decent test scores, and traveled to another country to teacher kids English. How does that NOT put him/her on par with other applicants?</p>

6

<p>Your posted profile is strong and varsity squash team may get you some positive attention. Harvard, however, is somewhat difficult regardless of having stellar credentials such as yours. My guess is that you have a much better than average (>9%) chance.</p>

7

<p>Sorry, I phrased my thoughts incorrectly. I meant that OP's chances are probably in line with an "average" Hvard applicant's chances, which are indeed very slim at ~10%. Chocolate, the scores and rank are great, yes, but I don't think teaching English at another country is really a standout EC in this applicant pool. It has the <em>potential</em> to be inspiration for a strong essay, however. Additionally, I am not seeing any AP scores, and is it really a good idea to take BOTH math sat ii's to fulfill the requirements?</p>

8

<p>^ I see where you're coming from :)</p>

9

<p>I'm taking Chem next week, if I do well in that should that be enough? Also, if I got my 800 in reading without studying, should I be taking Lit or is Lit substantially harder?</p>

10

<p>submitting math I and math II and chem is not a strong showing - add a real third one, would be my advice. I have never seen an applicant submit both Math I and II for their SATs - it's just not a good combination if you want to show your academic capabilities, which is important in this app pool. Math I is also, as I said, a SAT II Ultra-Lite - for a math II person to submit it is just weird.</p>

<p>since admissions offices don't give extra credit for not studying for a test, your best bet if you are considering the sat II lit is to do a practice test to help you decide.</p>

11

<p>I would definitely take Lit, you will probably do well. It's exaggerated to say you have a 10% chance. You probably have a 33% chance.</p>

12

<p>besides your varsity sports, there's not a lot that stands out. Do you have any impressive awards?</p>

13

<p>We also don't know how exclusive of a private boarding school this is. Do they often send kids to Harvard? How competitive is admission?</p>

14

<p>You have a good chance. I had almost identical stats when applying three years ago, and I'm from a public school outside of Halifax, NS. I wish you the best of luck!</p>

15

<p>No, we're not really exclusive. We don't really have the US equivalent of a prep school except UCC.</p>