Chance me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>I attend an early college program that is in partnership with my local University.
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Class Rank: 1/62
SAT: 2300
ACT: 36
SAT 2: 780 Math II, 770 Chem, 800 US History
AP: My school does not offer AP classes, but we take College courses our last two years of high school and I took many high level college courses like, Organic, Organic 2, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Statistics, Calc 3, Macro and Micro Economics...All these classes were either above or on the level of AP. I did take a few AP exams with other schools though. AP Chem (I got a 5 on the exam) and AP Calc BC (I got a 5 on the exam).
EC: I volunteered at my local hospital for 3 years, at Full Belly project (its a humanitarian aid organization) for 3 years, at an elementary school for 2 years, and at the hospice for 2 years. Over the summer I also attended a few Medical camps, went to Guatemala to volunteer and attended NC Governor School. I have also been playing soccer since I was a little kid, and I have been Swimming since middle school. I am the president at my schools Science Olympiad team, president for National Honors Society, and have ranked in math competitions with my schools Math team. I am also part of the debate club, and eco club.</p>

<p>If this helps at all, I am Arabic, my parents were born in the Middle East so I am first generation.</p>

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<p>Harvard is an automatic reach. Your scores are great but your extracurricular activities while good don’t really “stand out”.</p>

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<p>I guess you missed this thread on the top of the Harvard forum: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Gibby - Just stop. I know it’s your life’s great work, but they’re excited.</p>

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<p>Sorry . . . maybe I should have said “Having a 4.0 GPA, with a number one ranking, a 36 ACT, being Arabic, a first generation at college and helping the poor, you’ve got a better chance than most” . . . but I don’t know that to be absolutely true, as so much of the college applications process is subjective and comes down to how an Admissions Director “feels” after reading a student’s essays, teacher recommendations and guidance counselor’s SSR and compares them to all other student’s who are applying in a given round. </p>

<p>If you can give better advice moutaingoat, please go right ahead!</p>

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<p>I am sorry I missed that thread, this is my first time on the website and maybe I should add if anybody can give me advice to make my chances higher into getting in the school. I know that the “feeling” of the Admissions Director plays a part, but somethings can make my chances better no matter how they feel.</p>

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<p>Aside from trying to get adopted by Bill and Melinda Gates, or having your parents donate $50 million to Harvard, I really don’t know what else any applicant can do to increase their chances . . . other than to write a really powerful essay that reveals a bit of your soul.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice about writing the powerful essay.</p>

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<p>gibby et. al.,</p>

<p>How about this:</p>

<p>There are more qualified applicants than there are seats at Harvard. Great grades, test scores, extracurriculars, demonstration of leadership qualities are pretty much prerequisites for admission. Great essays and recommendations will also play a role in the admissions process.</p>

<p>Because there are many more fully-qualified students who apply than there are seats in the incoming class, at least to those of us looking from the outside, there is a seeming element of randomness in the process. Even if you’re good, you’ll also need some luck to get into Harvard.</p>

<p>There is little that you, the student, can do to directly get yourself into Harvard. Do your best academic work, engage in non-academic activities that you enjoy or are meaningful to you, and be the best person you can be.</p>

<p>But you should be doing all those things, anyway, not just to get into Harvard.</p>

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<p>^^ Thank you notjoe. May I have your permission to copy and paste that statement into the next “chance thread” on the Harvard Forum?</p>

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<p>mountaingoat: I try to give applicants a realistic view of just how difficult it is to be accepted to Harvard and other selective colleges. Many applicants have no idea of what they are up against. FWIW: I just came across this article in the NY Times. Although it’s not about Harvard, I thought it was relevant to the topic of chances . . . and your comment about “. . . they’re excited.”
<a href=“Lifting the Veil on the Holistic Process at the University of California, Berkeley - The New York Times”>Lifting the Veil on the Holistic Process at the University of California, Berkeley - The New York Times;

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<p>^^Gibby that happens at a “public” institution…so, can you imagine what happens at elite private institutions that practice “holistic” (black box) admissions…let’s just be thankful/grateful somehow our kids got in…</p>

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<p>I am very grateful (and amazed) that both my kids got in where they did.</p>

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<p>gibby - Sure, that’s fine.</p>

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<p>I think you have a really good shot. Apply to other ivies and schools you like and youll wind up somewhere good! Im certainly envious of your academic stats! Good luck!</p>

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<p>@braves2013: What do you think would “awe” an admissions officer? That is what I was worried about, my EC’s not being top notch.</p>

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<p>Xerex- There’s no way to know what is going to impress and admissions officer. All you can do is do your very best. My son got a letter of recommendation from a world renowned cardiologist at Harvard Medical School (an alum of Harvard as well). My son also worked with the cardiologist’s national nonprofit organization in a patient advocacy role. My son had a very compelling life story to tell in his essay. Nonetheless, despite all this, he still didn’t get into Harvard or the three other Ivy League schools that he applied to. My son is taking his talents and energy to WUSTL.</p>