Chance Me for Harvard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I was ranked 1st in my class out of 180 this year as a freshman. I know that if I keep it up, I could be valedictorian. The 1st black one at my school.</p>

<p>However I know with 37,000 high schools there are 37,000 other students in the country just like me.</p>

<p>I really want to go to Harvard University. Would being valedictorian improve my chances? Would it help me get scholarships?</p>

<p>Extra Information:
Besides being valedictorian, I will also be the first one ever in the history of my high school to take an AP Biology course that I designed, and take the exam. My school didn't have AP Biology, only advanced biology, so no one ever took the AP Exam. So, we designed an Independent Study Course around that had the same curriculumn as an AP class. I want to study medicine (be a medical writer), so I'm also taking chemistry (honors and AP next year. ) And almost all accelerated/ AP classes except for gym/health (mandatory.)</p>

<p>I'm doing a robotics camp in Vermont this summer, and a political science camp in Princeton.</p>

<p>I'm class president, president of FFA (I do public speaking), student council, soccer, basketball, track, science olympiad medalist, peer tutor, and in young writer's club.</p>

<p>I also am starting a Newspaper Club at my school, since I was editor in middle school, but was shocked when I came to high school and we didn't have one.</p>

<p>I am also won a writing competition and got published in a newspaper article.</p>

<p>I also took the PSAT and ACT this year, and besides the math section I scored in the 90th percentile or better.</p>

<p>I have about 20 hours of community service, mainly from peer tutoring.</p>

<p>Both my parents are also from Africa, so I am an underrepresented minority.</p>

<p>Could I get into Harvard? What else could I do/ What should I continue to do throughout my years? What are your honest opinions? What chance do you say I have of getting in? What other schools could I get into?</p>

2

<p>Are you a rising sophomore now? I’m assuming you are but even if you’re older than that you still have a shot. Like most people who answer chance me threads would say, everyone has a shot. Some people apply to the top Ivys just for the heck of it, others do it because they think they are good enough to compete in the rigorous competition of the application process for HYPS and many of the other top colleges in the nation. I would say you’re in the latter group. But even then, people who are at the top of their schools and nationally and even internationally recognized in some award or competitions can and do get rejected from the top colleges. The college admissions process for such schools is so erratic that all these books that are written to help people get accepted can go off on a basic trend but not a set of requirements that will guarantee you a spot. All they can give you is if you are more likely than not to get accepted. I would say so far you are more likely than not. </p>

<p>If you are a rising sophomore, I would say you should develop your passion. You’ve got leadership down, but colleges are also looking for passion. The famous saying is “depth not breadth.” It seems as if you have an inclination to writing. I say inclination because it is something that you are obviously involved with it (newspaper, club, and writing competition) but it doesn’t stand out to say I LOVE WRITING! You know?</p>

<p>Besides that keep doing what you’re doing. You are ahead of most high school freshmen and sophomores in the nation who don’t do and can’t do a lot of stuff because of school restrictions.</p>

3

<p>As so much of the college application process depends on subjective factors, such as how an Admissions Director “feels” after reading your essays, teacher recommendations, and guidance counselor’s report, no one here can really chance you or predict how you will do. Suffice it to say that if you continue to do as well in high school as you have your freshman year, you will have a competitive chance; beyond that is anyone’s guess.</p>