Chance/Should I apply EA or RD?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>What can I do to make myself a stronger candidate? I'm not trying to live my life to get into college, I've spent the vast majority of my high school life fooling around (League of Legends... lol) and doing stuff that are hurting my chances of getting into Harvard. But I do want to do something big for this world, and I think that going to Harvard (from what I know) will maximize my opportunities, and I know that I will take advantage of them all if I get in. I'm a rising Senior, so I don't have much time left.</p>

<p>Basics
unweighted GPA 4.49/4.5; Ranked 1/431
National Honor Society Member
SAT I: Math 800, Critical Reading 800, Writing 730
SAT II: Math Level II 800, Physics 800, World History 800
AP: Physics C (Both Sections) 5, World History 5
AP Scores Incoming: Chemistry, Calculus BC, English Language and Composition , U.S. History
Senior Year AP Courseload: Econ, English, Statistics, Biology, Chinese, Government Politics</p>

<p>Academic Honors
US Physics Olympiad Semifinalist 2012
US Chemistry Olympiad Semifinalist 2012
AIME Qualifier 2012
AMC 12 School Winner 2012
ARML State Team A Qualifier (didn't attend) 2012
1st Place, local Math League 2010</p>

<p>Activities/Leadership
Captain, Debate Team 2012-2013
Captain, Math Team 2012-2013
VP, Interact Club 2012-2013
PR, Student Gov't 2011-2012</p>

<p>I haven't done anything important in these clubs. For senior year I plan to take a more active role.</p>

<p>Volunteer Piano, Nursing Home/Hospital
Volunteer Speaker, Cub Scouts/Middle-schoolers in Town Hall
Volunteer, Meals on Wheels/Local Library</p>

<p>Total volunteer hours not that much, like 30 hrs. I wanted to do something epic in volunteer work this summer (half for colleges, but more for fun) but all the programs rejected me... lol.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Honors
2nd Place Local Piano Competition 2012
2nd Local Piano Competition 2010
1st Place Local Symphony Orchestra Piano Competition 2010</p>

<p>2-time All-State Orchestra Member
3-time State Debate Varsity TEAM Champion (Team = 2 people). Ranked top 5 individual speakers twice, should I even mention this?</p>

<p>I was really good at music in middle school, but slacked off in high school. I also got tendinitis in high-school from playing video games, I'd probably talk about the tendinitis but not the video games part (I was addicted bad). Should I mention my middle school stuff from 2009 (it's within the year range), it includes performing everywhere with an International Charity Group and winning a bunch of competitions?</p>

<p>Recommendations/Essays
I'm expecting to write OK essays. I'm not a passionate guy ATM, but I'm excited about life lol. I haven't done much = problem.</p>

<p>Recommendations are a problem. I got positive responses from all my teachers. My English teacher said I had stellar class participation and beautiful writing, but I don't think I'm top few in her career (not even top in this class). That's going to kill me, right?</p>

<p>Math teacher said I was top few in career (but he hasn't taught for very long). He praised my thinking skills as graduate-level, said I was his most honest student, good people's relations, but said my work ethic wasn't great. Can't ask him, right?</p>

<p>Chemistry teacher said he'd be happy to write it. I think the recommendation will be so-so. I'm probably top few in his career, and tried kind of hard (but didn't go all-out or anything).</p>

<p>So I'm expecting a strong rec from my English teacher, but she won't be able to say top few. Math teacher can write an outstanding rec and agreed I could see it, but work ethic is exactly what Ivy schools want and what I don't have. He's coaching math team next year, will he change his rec if I work hard as captain next year? Chem teacher will write a strong rec, but it's not going to be outstanding in any way, shape, or form.</p>

<p>What I'm asking</p>

<h1>1: Do I even have a chance at getting into Harvard?</h1>

<h1>2: How do I improve my chance?</h1>

<h1>3: Should I apply EA, or wait RD until Senior year teachers to write my recs and get more accomplishments?</h1>

<p>I'm Asian/M/Sister graduated from Harvard. High income bracket.</p>

2

<p>There is nothing more you can do to make yourself a stronger candidate at this point besides working on your essays.</p>

<p>You have fabulous test scores, a high GPA and a great ranking. But, based upon what you wrote (I’ve spent the vast majority of my high school life fooling around) and your other thread about teacher rec’s, I would say apply RD to Harvard. The big ‘H’ is a long shot for everyone, but without absolute stellar recs, you will probably be deferred to the RD pool. I would, however, recommend applying early (non-binding) to other great schools, such as UChicago, Georgetown, MIT and your top State School. In that way, you will hopefully have at least one acceptance from the early round and who-knows-what from the RD round.</p>

3

<p>Admission to HYP is probably the most random and unpredictable game out there (as I am sure you have been told many times to your chagrin); however, I would be positively floored if at least one of those three and many of the other Ivies + Stanford/MIT didn’t accept you. Send creative supplements, write an essay that describes you well (even if it isn’t about one of your academic/extracurricular passions per say) and apply to all the top schools–you’ll be receiving many big envelopes next spring. Good luck!</p>