Chance a Powerlifter who got deferred Harvard REA L

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Demographics:
U.S. Domestic
DFW area of Texas
~2400 Population Public School
White/Caucasian
Middle class (~90k)
First sibling to attend university, only other member of family to do so is father who went to UTA.

Intended Majors:
Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology

SAT:
1540 Total
780 Math
760 EBRW

ACT:
34 Composite
36 Reading
36 Science
34 Math
29 English

GPA/Rank:
3.9 UW
100.6 W
15/529 Weighted Rank

School uses system where weighted courses gain an extra 10 points, so an 80 in AP Physics is a 90 when calculating weighted GPA

Coursework:

9th: AP Human Geography(4), Hon Geometry, Hon English, Hon Biology (LOR 1 Teacher), Band, German 1 & 2 (finished language credit)
10th: AP World History(4), Hon Algebra 2, Hon English, Hon Chemistry, Band, 2 Medical Courses
11th: AP Chemistry(4), AP English Lang(4), AP U.S. History(5), Hon Pre-Cal, Band
12th: AP Calc BC, AP Bio, AP Psych, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP English Lit

Awards:
Texas State Push-Pull Deadlift & Bench Press Record (2 records, USAPL/Powerlifting)
Gold Medal at Texas State Championships
Advanced to TMEA Area Competition, competing against the best players in the state for a spot in the state band.
Bronze Award for Outstanding Performance in Band
Certificate of Academic Excellence AP Chemistry (teacher selected school level award)
(May switch out AP Chem award for AP Scholar with distinction, not sure which one fits better, any suggestions lmk)

Powerlifting:
Won Texas State Championships and broke 2 texas state records, currently undefeated with 4 golds, although unsure if I should put that anywhere in the application (9-12 and PG, 12 hours per week)

Marching Band/Wind Symphony:
Fitness and Hydration officer (executive position) gained by showing experience and expertise in health and fitness (position ties in with powerlifting and career goals) (9-12 and PG, 12 hours per week)

Science NHS:
Founding member of Chapter and Treasurer (12, 2 hours per week)

NHS:
Just a member (12, 2 hours per week)

Work(Paid):
Lifeguard and Swim Instructor (10-12 and PG, 10 hours a week), hoping Lifeguarding can tie in with medical dreams showing early interest.

On top of my main activities I also listed that I taught myself Python and C++, as well as that I’m currently self studying for the MCAT.

Essays/LORs:

1st LOR:

From Biology teacher who’s known me for 4 years, is the sponsor of Science NHS, and I spend probably an hour each week in her class for tutorials, definitely positive but hard to say if it’s “best student I’ve had” level. Talked to her about LOR, she said she made it very personal and talked a lot about how I ask high level questions in class and perform well on tests.

2nd LOR:

From AP Gov/APUSH teacher, known me for 2 years, was able to read it, very positive but not a 1 on Harvards scale by any means.

Essays:

Personal Statement was about my journey with a near career ending injury, and how during the process of sitting at home recovering I fell in love with medicine as I stayed up late nights researching potential treatments for my injury, reading medical articles, studies, etc. and how after I recovered I continued by taking medical courses (which are listed on transcript) and studying for the MCAT out of an old dingy book.

Main Supplement wrote about my family’s experience with debt and how it’s effected me as a student and as a child

EC Supplemental was about saying bye to Marching Band, and what that meant to me, very emotional and more so about the way those around me molded me, and as such will forever be a part of me.

Interview:

My interview went well, likely not a 1 in Harvard’s rating but it was great to talk to someone who’s gone, and to ask questions as well as give Harvard a better look at me as a student.

Obviously my family doesn’t make a TON of money, even to the point of limiting what I can do in my application (internships, research, etc). However, tuition shouldn’t be an issue, as many of the schools I’m applying to have generous financial aid, and my safety has in-state tuition.

My safety is UT Austin as I get automatic admissions going to a public Texas hs.

Was deferred Harvard REA, but that was without my application having, the area level contest and potential state player (if I do make state Jan. 8th I could just upload a document saying I had done so to any schools supplemental upload), and without the 2 texas state records, hoping these factors, a long with my well improved average which demonstrates the improvement I had written about, put me in a good spot during RD.

Regular decision I’m applying to Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Rice, UChicago, and Vanderbilt.

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For background, here is their earlier thread.

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yes thank you very much, not MUCH has changed, the big factors are state records, area/state audition, and class rank increase, a long with a couple other bits of info I could use help on

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First of all, I congratulate you on a highly successful and impressive academic high school career. Harvard has lifting only as a club sport. While the state awards are great, I don’t think that they’re going to tip the scales for you. You will now be competing against some 30K applicants for less than 1000 seats left. I think you have a very slim chance. You’re qualified, most definitely. But so are most of the applicants, and I don’t think that you bring something to the table that Harvard wants that will make them take you over someone else.

Are you happy about UT Austin? I don’t see why you would not be, but the reason that I ask that is that the other schools on your list are all highly selective, so you may very well wind up at UT Austin. Think long and hard about whether you’re happy with UT Austin. If not, you might want to consider adding some slightly less selective schools to your list.

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well nearly every top college has powerlifting as a club sport, yet this last collegiate nationals 2 athletes came from Cornell and represented Cornell with a gold and a bronze iirc (and it’s likely they did not just pick up powerlifting after admission, but rather we’re already strong competitors based on previous competitions and records), perhaps the other ivies will soon follow suit. even then, though, I’m not going to college for powerlifting, Im a strong competitor sure, but my end goal is medical research with a focus on sports medicine, which is how I’ve tried to tailor my whole application.

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Any of those schools are unlikely but not impossible. Rice or Chicago might be the best chance. UT is phenomenal so you have a nice safety valve. Good luck.

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yeah I think any ivy for just about any individual is “unlikely”, but in all fairness to me, I don’t know anyone else in my class, as well as the district who has a similarly competitive profile with a good spike, which I’m hoping helps me stand out just a bit more, although I’m not entirely sure if Harvard does admissions based on comparisons to school, district, region, etc.

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I assume you submitted your SAT and not ACT. The 29 hurts. Btw there are 1600s who get turned down at each of these schools.

You have tons of APs but the scores are less than Ivy level.

You are outstanding. If you weren’t, Harvard wouldn’t have deferred you.

Anyone they are taking at these schools is also outstanding.

Hopefully your essays show why you are the right fit for their schools to give you a better edge. Hopefully each shows that school specific to them why you belong there.

If it’s a question of getting into a top tier private, you can look at Tufts, Wake,Rochester, Case, Emory, etc but none of these will provide a better value/pkg than UT.

Did you apply to Honors at UT? Plan II

Ok. Last thing. Know who and what you are…phenomenal.

You are a top level power lifter and talented musician. You’ve done what you can. That’s all you can do. There are an insane amount of similarly impressive kids out there. It’s out of your control. Schools are looking for balance. So if they have too many Texans, they might choose a Wyoming instead. Too many musicians or computer programmers ? They might pick a cartographer. Or bird watcher.

Don’t panic over what’s out of your control. Your competition is global,not district wide. And you very well might be invited. It’s too hard to know !!

Ps one thing I would do differently (if you apply to others) and I don’t think it’s impacted your decision to Harvard or will to the others…but I never recommend a LOR from a 9th grade teacher.

You have UT….relax and it will all work out. Life is long and college is a part of you but there’s a lot more about you than the college you will attend that will impact your life.

Good luck.

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well the LOR is from a 9th grade teacher who I now have again for 12th grade AP Biology, who is also the teacher sponsor for Science NHS, which I helped found the chapter, so her teaching me in 9th grade is only barely connected to her other qualifications as a recommendation. Beyond that, my scores are all just box checkers for ivy leagues, mid to high 700s, 34+, 4+ on AP Exams, of which I’m ~50th percentile or more for my given background for accepted students to Harvard.

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Most Ivy just take 5 with some exceptions to 4.

Anyway you were deferred. Not rejected. Harvard turns down far more with their average stats than they accept. It’s likely you will be rejected as 96% of applicants will be.

You have UT and your other apps.

Don’t fall in love with any school.

You put your best foot forward. It will all work out.

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If they take at all.

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Why live with any doubt ? Just call the football coaches at each of your target schools and ask if you can volunteer as a strength training coach.

P.S. Great list of schools at which you appear to be a very strong candidate for admission. Consider adding Northwestern University to your list !

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I actually was going to add Northwestern and Northeastern, they’re both wonderful schools and I had the pleasure to see them with a (sadly) virtual tour

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The athletic facilities at Northwestern are gorgeous & outstanding. Overlook Lake Michigan. And I am serious about my suggestion that you contact the football coach or staff at each school.

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well, by target schools which group would you think possibly respond the best? out of my current list adding in Northwestern and Northeastern. That would definitely be a great opportunity even if it was as some low level assistant.

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You would be a student volunteer with a very highly valued skill.

Strength training & weight training is very serious business at Big Ten schools as well as at schools in the other Power Five football conferences.

I suspect that most, possibly all, schools would value your experience & knowledge regarding nutrition & strength training.

Contact the coaching staff and/or athletic training staff at any of your targeted schools & share your desire & willingness to become a student volunteer strength coach. You should disclose your background & accomplishments both with respect to athletics & with respect to academic qualifications (SAT score & GPA).

Stanford, Vanderbilt, Duke, and Northwestern are academic powerhouse schools in Power Five football conferences. Many of the football players will have equal or higher SAT scores than you–and your score is outstanding. Rice is also an interesting option as is Notre Dame. Not sure if still true, but in recent times, Northwestern had the highest graduation rate among major D-1 football programs.

(Some schools may offer paid positions, but your primary concern should be with respect to getting offers of admission.)

https://nusports.com/news/2020/11/17/academic-services-student-development-top-graduation-success-rate-among-fbs-schools-for-third-straight-year.aspx

Northwestern’s football program has ranked first or second with respect to graduation rates for ten straight years.

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Apply ED2 to one of the schools on our RD list (Vandy or Chicago). Run the net price before committing if financial aid could be an issue.

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I think you stand an excellent chance at getting into at least one of the schools on your list.

That said, they are all reaches for everyone. I don’t see the point in adding any more elite schools; you have those bases covered. Are you looking for another potential affordable safety?

If so, you might look at Washington State University in Pullman. The school automatically awards an $11,000 annual scholarship to non-resident students with your GPA, which should make it affordable, it added a medical school in nearby Spokane in 2015 and has strong health-related majors, and it shows up on lists of “best schools for student athletes.” You may not prefer it to UT-Austin, but I thought I would toss it out there in case you want to leave Texas and get a different sort of experience.

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Oops, previous post was intended to reply to OP, not Publisher.

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Plus. Washington State University is within a short drive to Couer d’Alene, Idaho which is a beautiful lake location for a short getaway.

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