<p>By no means is Harvard my top choice. I'd just like to see if I'd have any chance of getting in because I know they've got great programs and that I'd be going to school with some of the brightest students from around the world.</p>
<p>UW GPA: Something around 3.7
W GPA: 3.8ish (I've got a bit of an upward curve, though)
Rank: School doesn't rank (probably 25% Percentile)
ACT Composite: 30
ACT English: 34
ACT Math: 30
ACT Reading: 28
ACT Science: 28
ACT Writing: 10
SAT CR: 650
SAT M: 630
SAT W: 700
(I'll probably take both one more time before I submit Common App)</p>
<p>Freshman Year
Pre-AP English 9
Pre-AP Physical Science
Pre-APUSH
Spanish I
Honors Geometry
Cheerleading
Oral Comm/Drama </p>
<p>Sophomore:
APUSH/Pre-AP English 10 Block
Pre-AP Bio
Algebra II
Women's Select Choir
Spanish II
Film I</p>
<p>Junior:
AP World
AP Language/Comp
AP Psych
Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry
Spanish III
A Cappella Choir
Honors Chemistry</p>
<p>Senior:
AP Gov
AP Bio
AP Spanish
AP Music Theory
A Cappella Choir
College Algebra
AP Lit</p>
<p>Main Awards/ECs/Clubs/Etc
All-Region '09 (chair 35) '10 (chair 5), probably '11 as well
All-State '10 (chair 35)
Gay-Straight Alliance (10, 11, 12)
Thespian Troupe #717 (12)
Lead in production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (10)
Lead in production of Thoroughly Modern Millie (11)
Went to Governor's School this summer for Drama (4-week prestigious educational program)
National Spanish Honor Society
National Honor Society
Honor Roll
AP Scholar with Honor (5 on AP Psych, 5 on AP Lang, 3 on APWH, 3 on APUSH)
Might join the Science Club this year, too.
100 + volunteer hours with Teen Court (Juror/Attorney - usually just attorney)
Have attended 2 Leadership Conferences with my state's Department of Youth Services
Collected Care Packages for the Troops 9th grade
20 + hours Phone Banking for Democratic Primaries/Election in 2010</p>
<p>Everything that I've done, I've been interested in. I don't do anything just for the sake of having more ECs.</p>
<p>White Female from a southern state</p>
<p>Plan on majoring in a science of some sort, but I haven't decided which one yet.</p>
<p>Your scores are low for the Ivys, but you can retake those, so there’s still hope. :)</p>
<p>Looking at your ECs, you seem pretty dedicated to the performing arts; however, you say you want to major in the sciences, but you haven’t done anything to demonstrate that interested through your extracurricular involvement. That could be a potential weakness in your application.</p>
<p>The fact that you’re from a southern state may help(depends on which state). Google the demographics for Harvard and see if your state is one of the under-represented ones. </p>
<p>I’m in no position to accurately assess your chances(I’m also applying this year), but I hope my analysis was helpful.</p>
<p>You probably should have a major (or at least a general interest) in mind when you apply. Clearly advocating what you can contribute to the college (Harvard) and how the college would benefit you will greatly improve your chances.</p>
<p>If Harvard’s “by no means” your top choice, what is? There are a ton of other schools that also have some of the best students from around the world, and if you want to pick an insanely high reach (given your numbers: they’re not disqualifying, but most people who get in with similar ones are incredibly exceptional in some other way, while your ECs etc. are completely solid but not blowing me away), why not pick one that would, in fact, be your first choice? Women’s colleges: Wellesley, Smith (which tend to be even more liberal and possibly artsier than we are). Smaller, more rural schools: Dartmouth, Williams. More urban, less ivory-tower schools: Columbia, NYU. Etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>What I mean by that is I’m more interested in a liberal arts education at the moment, so it’s not necessarily where I’d like to go. It just depends on where my interests lie after the next year.</p>
<p>I think you have a chance. I think your best bet lies within your essays. Your scores and grades aren’t per se indicative of any academic hardship, but that’s only one type of student Harvard seeks. If you write a colorful, insightful essay, nothing will hold you back from being admitted as that spunky cheerleader that’s also intelligent.</p>