Fully aware that even the strongest candidates cannot expect to have good chances. With that said, I want to know your opinions on if I have greater than, less than, or equal chances to the average Harvard applicant.
I am applying EA.
Qualifications are:
93/100 GPA, which is top 10% in my grade(school doesn’t rank)
I have taken more APs than my school offers by taking AP Psychology out of school.
5 on 3 APs
4 on 2 APs(one was AP Physics so I’m sending that)
36 ACT(36E, 36M, 35R, 36S) and 10 on Essay.
Extracurricular:
Captain of Mock Trial
Captain of Model Congress
Founder and Co-Captain of Investment team (compete in K@WHS contest)
Business Editor of school newspaper
Columns Editor of another school newspaper
Team member debate
Team member Model UN
I have interned at some prestigious places for the past couple of summers (I’m not going to disclose where though)
Recommendations are terrific. Both teachers called me one of the students they will remember most in their teaching careers (in a good way, I hope)
Essays are very good, and very unique
I am white/causcaian and middle class if that makes a difference.
Of course barring knowing the strength of your essays and interview, and the exact summer internships completed, I’d say you have about equal chance as the average applicant who gets “longlisted” for admission.
Stats: looks great, as mentioned by @hgrad2010 make sure to have the SAT II scores
ECs: fairly average unless you’ve received awards in MUN, Mock Trail, etc.
Summer stuff: I am assuming you interned at institutions that are prestigious → If that is the case, it really depends on the research you conducted and whether or not the professor will give you a good recommendations.
→ If these internships were through summer programs (RISE, RSI, HSHSP, SSP, etc.) then be sure to mention them on your application.
Just to clarify, what’s your major of interest? Based on your chance thread, I feel like you would be doing economics or poli sci. If you are going into STEM for Harvard, your chances are going to be really slim since your ECs don’t reflect any sort of experience with STEM stuff. I wish you the best of luck!
I would be going into Economics at Harvard if admitted.
I interned at a private equity firm one summer and a commercial real estate company for another two summers.
My SAT 2s aren’t great: 730 and 720 on Math and English.
Also @hgrad2010 , am I comparable to most admitted applicants is what I meant to write, not all applicants. Sorry
What might stand out at Penn’s Wharton School of Business is your internship & connection with a private equity firm. Have you considered applying to any business schools ?
Regrading the internships—I was assuming you were referring to more typical high school internship programs like RSI, HSHSP (if you were STEM-inclined) or say TASP.
I frankly don’t know how to think about the attractiveness to a college admissions officer of internships completed in financial services during high school summers. I think this kind of work experience is GREAT for getting an early lead on a Goldman or Blackstone internship/offer, but I suspect it doesn’t bolster your case for admission to Harvard in the way I initially interpreted.
@NOTanonymous regarding your point of clarification of your question about your chances, I really can’t be more precise than saying you’re on par with the average student who gets initially “longlisted”–since it’s a lot of the intangibles not presented here that would help get you on the definitive shortlist.
Your SAT II’s aren’t “bad.” I imagine they meet the benchmark. It is hard to say what your chances are since there is a lot we don’t know. The main thing is to have some options for schools that you like, including Harvard, but don’t get fixated on any one college. Hope you have enjoyed and benefited from your high school activities and summer internships, no matter where you end up
