Chance me Hard for Harv

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Here's the thing, I never ever thought of myself as a good enough student for an Ivy league and definitely not Harvard. However I have overcome the fear and the premonition, and am going head long into the hub. I, like many students hear, have a tremendous amount of respect for anything Harvard related, and for me, to get in there would make my life. However, I will not end my life because I don't get in, :). </p>

<p>Asian American- Kenya (family has been in Africa for over 100 years)
SAT: 710 CR, 780 M, 750W w/ 12 essay
SAT II: 780 Math 2, 680 Chemistry</p>

<p>High School GPA, 3.4/4.0
Class rank, around 20/288 top 7%</p>

<p>My Courses
8 years of Science (I want to be premed)
-Earth Science
-Biology
-Honors Chemistry
-AP Chemistry (test to be taken)
-Physics
-Honors Physics II (AP to be taken)
-Anatomy/Physiology
-Biotechnology</p>

<p>4 years of Honors math, last year is AP Clac BC</p>

<p>Everything else was Honors when possible</p>

<p>ECs
National Honors Society (230 hours to date)
Math Club 3 years
Model UN 4 years
Orchestra-Violin 6 years total
Vice Prez Junior Year
Kent County Hospital Intern for a summer
Naval Undersea Warfare Center Intern for a summer
Active member in my Islamic Community
Tutor for the SAT
Invisible Children, providing aid to Ugandan Children
Capitol Forum- US Foreign Policy, Rhode Island Statehouse
Hybrigene- Biotechnology Intern for a summer</p>

<p>Awards
Various Excellence Recognition Awards in my subjects (6 total)
Best Delegate Award for MUN, Saudi Arabia</p>

<p>I have 2 great recs coming from teachers</p>

<p>My essay is great- about going to Africa, seeing poverty first-hand, how it changed my perspective, and how The Heart of Darkness relates.</p>

<p>Again, I'm just applying so I know i tried.</p>

<p>I know many will say I barley have a chance, so can you recommend a really good college I have reasonable chances at.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>my prediction: accepted</p>

3

<p>Is the GPA a 3.4 UW? GPA worries me a bit.</p>

4

<p>Token89: are you serious? I thought I would be laughed at.</p>

<p>Yeah, I feel weak as far as GPA goes, didn't have as good a freshman year as other years. But I know from what I have read here, a 3.7+ is not as important as character. I do expect it to go to a 3.5 though.</p>

<p>Any other evaluations?</p>

5

<p>i don't know why. just got a good feeling. remember i said this in april.</p>

6

<p>International students are assessed differently from US, so probably no one here would have too many insights ...
For a list of colleges that are good, try the collegeboard website college finder thing (it lets you enter various parameters for yourself and does some filtering and makes suggestions). There are so many colleges in the US, you need to start with some ideas about the parameters and what you like and don't or it's hard to come up with a list.</p>

7

<p>^ I did, and the results were Harvard and Berkeley</p>

8

<p>Please evaluate Harvard 'acceptees'</p>

<p>Is it worth it or no.</p>

9

<p>You said you want to be a premed....I don't mean to be discouraging, but if you really want to go into medicine I would NOT advise that you go to the US for higher education....You have a good chance of getting into college, but the acceptance rate of intl students at US medical schools is pitifully low...I believe if you go to the Harvard website, they have a link about this; according to their website, (which I read a while ago, so some of my information may be out of date) something like 2-3 students in their medical schools and other comparable insitutions are international (non-US Citizens). So, if you are very sure that you want to be a doctor, even though you'll get a brilliant education at Harvard there may well not be very many opportunities for you to pursue medicine afterwards.</p>

<p>As for the college I'd say you have a very reasonable chance. Your grades may not be amazing, but they aren't by any account bad; also as an international student from africa, you would be addding that "diversity" in the student body, something which Harvard always seems to harp on....Just make sure your essays aren't trite becuase essays about poverty especially can be.</p>

10

<p>Wow, I am so sorry guys</p>

<p>I didn't mean I am in Africa, I just wrote that to show that I am more unique than the typical Asian America. I was born in the US.</p>

<p>You got me worried now. My essay is more on white subjugation of Africa as well as poverty. Is it really going to be a weak essay?</p>

11

<p>OMG I just found out Harvard requires three subject tests! I have already taken Math 2 and Chem, and Physics is the only other subject I could do good in in a short time period. Harvard requires SAT scores by Feb15 while the scores will come out on the web on the 14th! What should I do?!</p>

<p>Is it even worth applying at this point? Do I even have a chance to begin with?</p>

12

<p>Well if you want to apply to harvard do it. Harvard accepts scores from the January testing so in terms of meeting deadlines you'll be fine.</p>

13

<p>yes, no? anything between?</p>

14

<p>"Asian American- Kenya (family has been in Africa for over 100 years)"</p>

<p>"I didn't mean I am in Africa, I just wrote that to show that I am more unique than the typical Asian America. I was born in the US."</p>

<p>just wondering what you mean. Were you born in the US, lived in Africa and immigrated back?</p>

15

<p>No,</p>

<p>I was born in the US, but my parents were born in Africa, as well as their parents etc. But original ancestry is on India/pakistan. I explained it in my common app.</p>

16

<p>I don't think you qualify as African American in any way. You weren't born there, and you are ethnically Indian, not African. I don't believe your parents' birthplaces determines your own race. Unfortunately, you are an ORM.. somebody correct me if I am wrong.</p>

17

<p>amb3r, I agree with you completely. I never had the intention of applying AA, I only explained in my common app that I have experienced great diversity in culture, and how my family (way back) living in Africa that long makes me more different than the average Indian.</p>

18

<p>Bump</p>

<p>Ok, I don't have a 3.4 GPA, its a 3.57</p>

19

<p>Will the 3.57 instead of a 3.4 boost my chances for Harvard? Looking at my other stats?</p>

20

<p>Yes, a 3.5 is considered an A in GPA terms
But, still is a bit low for Harvard f you go to school in the US</p>