Hi everyone. This is my first post on CC, and I really want to know if my daughter has a chance of getting into Harvard. It has been her dream since she was 8 years only and saw legally blond for the first time (no joke, I know it sounds crazy) but since then she has fallen in love with the school for real. She has worked so hard in high school and we cannot be more proud. I just really want to know what we are getting ourselves into and if we should be preparing for the worst.
GPA: UW: 3.97 W: 4.56
SAT: 1580
ACT: not superscored: 34, superscored 36.
Major: History
My daughter’s school is fairly large approx: 1,400
My daughter has been a part of student government all four years and has been the president of her big public school for the last 2 years.
She has been on the robotics team for all four years, and they recently progressed in their FRC tournament with her as the captain.
She has also been on the varsity tennis and soccer team since freshman year, and for the past two years has won their CIF tournament in tennis,
In addition, she wants to be a doctor and has been on courses at Harvard during the summer before 11th and 12th grade.
There is more, let me know if you would like clarification.
Thank you for reading.
Harvard Admissions is on record as saying that 80% of applicants can do the work on their campus, and fully 40% of them are top students with exemplarily credentials.
This year 43, 300 students applied to Harvard. If 40% of those students are tippy-top students, that means 17,320 students are the best-of-the-best from across the country and around the world – truly stellar students with top grades, test scores, recommendations and essays – just like your daughter!
However, Harvard only has room for 1660 students in their freshman class, which means over 15,000 terrifically qualified students are going to be rejected this year – and everyone one of those students had a chance. So, might your daughter also have a chance? Sure! But how much of a chance is anyone’s guess.
FWIW: Admissions uses a student’s teacher recommendations, guidance counselor’s Secondary School Report (SSR), Essays and Interview Report to choose one high performing student over another. They look for wonderful scholars of “good character” – that’s an old fashioned word meaning the way you develop your inner qualities, intellectual passion, maturity, social conscience, concern for community, tolerance, inclusiveness and love of learning. Unfortunately none of those qualities can be gleaned from a post like yours. Best of luck to your daughter!
“The waiting is the hardest part”
– Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
If, by “preparing for the worst,” you mean “prepare to be rejected,” then yes, you and she should prepare, since 95%+ of applicants (most of whom are highly qualified as @gibby says) will be rejected.
However, if she applied to a mix of reach/match, and safeties that are financially affordable, she should have some good news come decision time.
If she is good enough to be recruited for tennis or soccer, her chances would rise significantly. Otherwise, her ECs are average for Harvard, where they look for national or at least regional level accomplishment.
^ that’s the answer right there. Get in the easy way through sports (where admission for her would basically be guaranteed), or prepare to face the sub 5% acceptance rate.
@CCThunderfin “The easy way through sports” requires that national or regional level recognition, as well as those 1580/34-36/3.95 GPAs for non-helmet sports like tennis and track—not really so easy.
I always think it is troubling to read that a kid has dreamed of Harvard since they were a child. Try to help her avoid getting fixated on any one school, including Harvard. Clearly watching the movie made some sort of imprinting and it will take some work and clever strategizing to get her off this fantasy. But try.
Since you posted her, it would seem that you are encouraging this hope, but perhaps in the background you are already providing a healthier perspective.
Harvard is a great school but there is nothing magical about it. Many classes are taught by star lecturers with TF’s (grad student assistants) teaching sections. The house system does break the school up into smaller units with some personalization. The presence of grad students has pros and cons. Etc.
The best antidote here is for your daughter to learn more about other schools. Take her to visit some that have that Ivy look, if that is what draws her. She can by all means apply to Harvard and other top schools, but should be excited about a range. Check out the Colleges that Change LIves website for some examples. State universities, in some instances, can also provide a great experience.
So the point is not whether she can get in. It would seem to be, instead, that her well-being might be affected by rejection, and that is not a good situation. You have time to correct this attitude, and wishing you good luck.