Chance Me. Thanks

I know many of you are going to cringe at this, but I need to be reassured I have some sort of a chance XD.

Notes: Midyear Report dropped my Unweighted from 3.87 to 3.83, and Weighted from 4.45 to 4.41.

Intended Major: Philosophy
Application: Regular Decision
Nationality: Asian, First-Generation
GPA: 4.41 (Weighted), 3.83 (Unweighted)
Weighted Yearly Breakdown: 4.25 - 4.125 - 4.57 - 4.57 - 4.28 - 4.86 - 4.33 (Excluding two summer courses in Spanish– received As)
Unweighted Yearly Breakdown: 3.875 - 3.75 - 4 - 4 - 3.43 - 4 - 3.67 (Excluding two summer courses in Spanish– received As)
Total Honors/AP Classes completed: 17
SAT/ACT: 32
APs: AP Scholar Award, did not report scores.
SATs Subject Tests: Nope.
Extracurriculars:

  • National Award (Usage of External Data) in American Statistical Data Health Challenge - Opioid Crisis
  • 400+ Volunteering Hours (Youth Group, Teacher’s Aid, Food Pantry)
  • Founded a educational network that has been incorporated into multiple high schools ; thousands of unique views and hundreds of active users. Formulated of a staff of 40+ students, parents, and outside advisors.
  • 2-Week Abroad Medical Internship to a TecSalud’s School of Medicine and various hospitals in Monterrey, Mexico.
  • Honors Music Scholar Semi-finalist
  • PADI Rescue Diver
  • Founder and VP of my educational network club
  • Independant Research (Same as the ASA Health Challenge, except just as a hobby)
  • Average member of Marching Band, Choir, and conservatory pianist.

Common App Essay: Discussed the issue regarding fear of change in today’s society such as AI and certain parts of the medical field. Also discussed my passion for philosophy and the views of thinker such as Einstein, Galileo, and the suggestion to emulate their zeal, and by the power of our great advancements, overcome the fear of change.

Supplement: Celebrate Your Curiosity.
Discussed the endless and boundless limits of philosophy and the multiple perspectives to interpret our reality (Positivism, Formalism, Solipsism, Realism, Meta-physics, and Pragmatism). Discussed my love and reasoning behind choosing philosophy and my aspirations to see it play a meaningful and practical consequence in society.

Harvard has a 4% admissions rate. At this point, it’s going to come down to luck, and I wish you lots of it :slight_smile:

Thank you :D! As far as spike, however, does my ECs qualify as a spike?

Student’s shouldn’t be thinking “spike” or “passion,” as those terms are often misunderstood in college admissions. Instead, think “expert.”

Selective colleges love to see students who are experts in something, so they look at your EC’s list for an activity that you’ve become an expert at due to the amount of time, energy and commitment you’ve spent on that activity. The idea being that your time, energy and commitment is a transferable skill that could be transferred to another activity in college or later on in life. So what have you become an expert in? I can’t quite tell from your EC list – maybe it’s there, but you haven’t highlighted it.

“Average member of Marching Band, Choir, and conservatory pianist.”

Does “conservatory pianist” really belong on this line ?

Lack of reported AP scores & SAT subject tests suggests that your academics are somewhat weak for Harvard when also taking into account your 32 ACT score.

Great common app essay topic !

P.S. I glanced at another one of your threads & noticed your strong pre-med interest & activities. Have you considered applying to WashUStL & to Emory University ? Rice in Houston ?

@Publisher
Those schools are heavy Reached for OP as well.

I would stop keeping track of your GPA so closely. If you meet a benchmark, it doesn’t matter as much as the other things in your application. Remember that Harvard is assembling an interesting class. It is not about a hierarchy of worthy individuals but how you can contribute to the mix. It really is impossible to predict. Make sure you have other schools you like and good luck!

@emorynavy: Maybe my information is outdated (one year old), but while Rice is a reach, Emory seems to be a match.

@Publisher
Yes outdated by about 3 ( maybe more) years. Or we have different definitions of what a Match is. OP has avg stats, although they aren’t even interested in the schools you mentioned.

@emorynavy : My numbers are from class entering Fall 2017.