<p>Lots of good advice above. The best is that despite a flawless resume and applicatrion, the odds at Harvard are still 50/50 at best. Apply if that is your S's dream/goal. As for other choices, in addition to the "lesser Ivies" I would recommend Wash U big time. They have a top 10 "selectivity" ranking (per US News), but offer one of the greatest physical situations in the college ranks and a great undergraduate experience. </p>
<p>Forest Park, which is the "front yard" of the university, is roughly the size of Central Park, and offers running trails, museums, and a zoo, mostly free. And for students, there is a train that is free going to the airport and downtown St. Louis. The campus is dramatically beautiful.</p>
<p>The life science, social service, and business education are among the best in the nation. Yet somehow the kids seem remarkably laid back. It is almost as if no one told them they are at a high powered research university. Keep in mind that it takes a 1530 to break the top quartile. </p>
<p>If he showed sincere interest, I think Wash U would be a lock, but not purely as a safety school.</p>
<p>So your son's only major EC is his band? Not that there's anything wrong w/ that, but it'll be hard to try to show his leadership qualities in a band (I mean, unless he has a position of... like... VP of Guitar dept. or sth)...</p>
<p>I agree with kwu ^^
too many applicants trying to fit the prototypical good applicant. including me. If I had the insight I have now, I would have done some things differently... aka done things my own way instead of the prescribed application building</p>
<p>
[quote]
based on what i've seen princeton has so much more to offer, mainly that princeton is an undergrad-focused experience, as far as i've heard, whereas at harvard the grad school students are the main focus.
[/quote]
Then you haven't seen much of Harvard and haven't read much on this board from Harvard students. Harvard is all about undergrads. The grad students are largely on other campuses entirely. The yard, the houses, everything is directed at the undergrads. My daughter is a JR. Last years tutorials were 5/2 ratio, this year and next are one on one. How much more interest can they show in an undergrad?</p>
<p>^^ Actually, why should Harvard spend more interest on undergrads? I would assume that the undergrads at Harvard are highly capable of learning material, finding opportunities, taking on leadership roles, and generally doing whatever they need in order to meet their (probably ambitious) goals and have great careers. In fact, one of the nice things about Harvard is the awesome research going on there, and the fact that undergrads (especially upperclassmen, unless I am mistaken?) can get involved! In a sense, isn't it kind of nice that educating undergrads is not the most important thing going on at Harvard?</p>
<p>Someone addressed a post to me and must have gotten me mixed up with someone else-? I was trying to peacemake in my post.</p>
<p>I am a parent, but pretty laid back. I have learned a few things on this site, mostly useless but sociologically fascinating. I haven't even mentioned my own kid, who could care less about Harvard, and tend to encourage others to relax. So not sure why I was the focus of that post. (Actually, I said the EC's were "cool")</p>
<p>Just want to reiterate: the NEC double degrees at Harvard and Tufts are different. Harvard and NEC have a BA/MM in music. Tufts and NEC have a BA/BM in music.</p>
<p>Did someone say they got into NEC already? How is that possible? They let people know in April.</p>
<p>Anyway, I was startled to see the post attacking me, and not sure where it came from. Read my other posts, where I tell kids to stop taking so many AP classes and get to know who they really are in high school.</p>
<p>" I don't think his ECs are necessarily that lame. My son did Science Olympiad and Academic Team at school - his only other EC was the time he spent with his computer - modding games, doing freelance work. Mind you he had grist for his essay and some extra recommendations that came out of that computer programming experience."</p>
<p>But, your S -- who got a H acceptance despite his relatively ordinary ECs for a Harvard app -- was a double legacy, and legacy can tip an applicant in who like your S has excellent stats as well as a clear talent for an academic area.</p>
<p>Oh I agree, and I think it was also a plus that Harvard is looking to expand its engineering offerings. He had stellar extra recommendations about his computer work as well. </p>
<p>That said, I think a kid with a solid interest who can present that interest via essays, teacher and GC recommendations has a chance. Not every kid who gets accepted has saved the world.</p>
<p>Don't forget he's also working on an Intel project.</p>
<p>Somebody had posted that with the Harvard/NEC music degree you have to major in music at Harvard. Just wanted to clarify - unless the website is wrong, that's not true:
The Harvard/New England Conservatory (NEC) program is a joint five-year program leading to a Bachelor of Arts (AB) at Harvard College and a Master of Music (MM) at New England Conservatory. Students pursue the AB curriculum for the concentration of their choice at Harvard, while taking studio instruction each semester at NEC. Ensemble participation at either institution is encouraged.</p>
<p>lala, you are right, apologies to all...our daughter is a composer, so the path for her would be different than a performer...there are 3 options for the BA/MM degree with Harvard and NEC: at Harvard, major in music, major in music and something else, or major in something else...as lala said, during this time, performers would take lessons at NEC and also work to complete music theory and history classes at Harvard, before beginning the MM NEC work in the 4th year. MM is then finished in year 5.</p>
<p>Just to clarify also that Tufts has a BA/BM double degree with Tufts, while Harvard's is BA/MM.</p>
<p>All this time, I have been reading the info from Harvard with certain assumptions based on our daughter..sorry for the misleading sloppiness!</p>