Chance me!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hello everyone!
I'm going to apply to Harvard EA this fall, here is what I got to offer,
what do you think?</p>

<p>Country: Italy (Milan, second largest city)</p>

<p>Italian Highschool: Liceo Statale Volta, PNI course, Milano - Ranked as best high school in Milan
3rd year average: 8.1 / 10 (considered very high in Italy)
5th year subjects (my last here, about to begin):
Italian literature - Latin literature - English literature and language - History - Philosophy - Art History - Religion history - Math - Science (this year earth science and astronomy) - Physics - Physical Ed</p>

<p>Also, I have spent an year as an exchange student in Windsor, California</p>

<p>Windsor High School, Windsor, California - Exchange Student 2011-2012 with Rotary Youth Exchange
Junior year GPA 4.3
class rank: something like 20/400, (I hadn't chosen the best subjects for at the beginning I wasn't planning on Harvard or any other American college)</p>

<p>SAT: 2050 (math 720, reading 670, writing 660) - only 1 sitting
ACT: 31, don't remember the single scores
SAT Subejcts: Math II 740, Chemistry 760 (going to take Physics in October, shooting at >700)</p>

<p>Teach Racc: will have from both American and Italian teachers, both should be excellent
Couns Racc: we have no such thing as a counselor in Italy, but we have a class teacher rapresentative who could do the part, and would be great</p>

<p>Political Activities/Achievements
- Class Representative, 1st and 2nd Year of highschool
- School Political Group Member, Every Year
Participate in student political movements, pacific protests and anti-Mafia protests (Libera Association)
- School President, 2nd Year and going to candidate this year (should get elected)</p>

<p>Arts (Drama and Visual Arts) Activities/Achievements
- Gold Key Award at California Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (Sculpture), 2012
- Gold Key Award at California Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (Digital Art), 2012
- Silver Key Award at California Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (Digital Art), 2012
- National Silver Medal Award at Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (sculpture), 2012
- Solo Art Show "Connections" at Art Gallery Phantom IV, Windsor, 2012
- Group Art Show "Alliance of Young Artists and Writers - California Region", 2012
- Group Art Show "Congressional Art contest" at Napa Artists of the Valley gallery, 2012
- Juried Exhibition "Digital Depth of Field" at Windsor Galleries, 2012
- Currently working on an anti-mafia art event/installation in Milan, 2012
- Portfolio website The</a> Ideas of a Student </p>

<ul>
<li>2009/2010 Extracurricular Drama Class - "Othello" (Part - Othello)</li>
<li>2010/2011 Extracurricular Drama Class - "Lisistrata" (Part - Cinesia)</li>
<li>2011/2012 high school Advanced Drama Class<br>
- "Property Rites" (Sound and Music Responsible)
- "The Women" (part - Grace)</li>
</ul>

<p>Journalism Activities/Achievements
- School Newspaper member (writer, layout designer), Every Year
- School Newspaper Editor, 3rd Year
- Participated/held talks at CISS (Convention of Italian Scholastic Newspapers), 2nd, 3rd, 4th (via Skype while in the US)
- Participated at International Journalism Convention of Perugia 2010 and 2011 edition
Writing Activities/Achievements
- Critique Prize at “Mario Santi” literary contest (Short Story), 2010
- First Prize at “Mario Santi” literary contest (Short Story), 2011
- Critique Prize at "Mario Santi" literary contest (Short Story), 2011
- Writer of Distinction Award (Poetry) at California CATE 2012 </p>

<p>Travel
- With Family:
France (Nice, Paris, country); Switzerland; Austria (Vienna, country); Germany (Berlin); Egypt (Cairo, Giza, country); Turkey (Istanbul); Hungary (Budapest)
- Without Family:
Norway (13 years old, Bergen and country); Sweden (13 years old, Stockholm and country); New England (15 years old, NYC and Upper NY State and 16 years old, NYC, Upper NY State and Maine and 18 years old NYC and Upper NY State); Great Britain (16 years old, London); California (17 years old, San Francisco and Sonoma Valley); Hawaii (18 years old, Oahu)
2012 Fundraised for Trip to Hawaii with Rotary (making and selling tiramisù :D)</p>

<p>Sports
Various Milan Swimming Teams (10 years) (Two Gold Provincial Medals - "Breast Stroke" and "Riley" 2007)
Ski lessons and racing (8 years)
Hiking:
13 years old - 1 week of hiking (with friends), Norway
15 years old - 1 month of hiking/canoeing (Frost Valley YMCA Camp), Upper NY state
16 years old - 1 week of hiking/canoeing (with friends), Upper NY state
15/16/17/18 years old - 2 weeks of hiking/rock-climbing (with family), Dolomites, Italy</p>

<p>Additional Info
Neither parents graduated from college
Speaking: Italian (Native Language) - English (11 years, fluent) - French (3 years, Poor) - Latin (5 years, translation only)</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

<p>Simone</p>

2

<p>Ciao! Your English is very good. My Italian is much worse, so I’ll stick to the English. (Il mio latino </p>

3

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>the problem with my scores is that I don’t have a whole lot of time left, and in October they don’t offer Latin nor world history (which are the two subject tests I would take apart from the sciences).
Regarding the SAT I, again, I would take it again but I don’t have enough time, I intend to apply EA because I need the time it gives to the financial aid part and also for applying to other colleges both in the US and here. Taking it again would probably grant me a higher score, I had both the reading and the writing above 700 in the (many) practice tests I had taken at home. </p>

<p>Then, about the art-science disproportion, I know… I want to study economics and politics but I have a strong background in the arts. Funny thing, because it happened in my exchange year, I come from a very difficult scientific Highschool, where I chose the most challenging scientific course. </p>

<p>For hiking I felt what you said myself, I only thought I didn’t want to give the impression of being a no-sport kind of guy, a bookworm; while about the travel I only wanted to look international, and not rich (which I absolutely am not :D).</p>

<p>grazie!</p>

4

<p>I’d say 5.9% chance.</p>

<p>You are very smart and talented but its very hard to get into Harvard. Your test scores are excellent but definately try to get them up if you can because those can and will hurt you (aim for 34/2250 or higher on the ACT/SAT). These scores you have now are acceptable for athletes and nationally rank talents. Sports aren’t your thing and thats ok but your ECs are pretty good. Harvard would like to see your dedication to a favorite or your which looks to be writing so definately pursue that greatly. You also will have a harder time because you are a foreign student. Best of luck, you have a small shot, but unfortuantly I’d say no…</p>

5

<p>Do you think I should include the fact that I have a certified dyslexiam ? It is at low levels of course, but still is the major cause of my “low” SATs, I commit stupid concentration mistakes (e.g. misreading or mistaking +'s for -'s) and can’t do pretty much anything about it. </p>

<p>I’m not sure whether saying that would be to my favor or not.</p>

6

<p>I’m also dyslexic…I wouldn’t put it on the application but it would make a great essay. As for me I had been a poor student in elementary school upon which they thought I needed tutoring and maybe academic classes later in school. Middle School I worked my butt off and got into a Gifted Math program and also went to dyslexic tutoring for almost 3 years. And finally in high school I’m thriving. So like I said I’d put it in a essay showing you overcame it, NOT in the application so they don’t think your smart (which you are).</p>