Chance!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>{This is a chance for my close brother}</p>

<p>Indian Male (Mother studied in a rural village; Father studied in IIT)</p>

<p>Public School in CA, Santa Clara
UW GPA: 4.0
W : 4.8</p>

<p>SAT: 2240
Math: 800; CR: 710; Writing: 730
SAT II
Math lv2: 800
Biology 760
Physics 800</p>

<p>EC:
1) Chess: Starter/President of chess club in school; Won regional tournaments; Member of USCF; Takes lessons and is involved in the Peninsula Chess Organization started by a UCLA alumini.</p>

<p>2) Religious activities: Writer of articles in a publiched religious magazine in India; Takes Religious lessons from grandpa; He is not an official priest of a temple, but he is allowed to enter sacred bounds, and he knows religious hymns. He is the youngest and only high schooler in the Temple.</p>

<p>{He only has these two, and will mention these two activities in his essay} </p>

<p>Awards:
Chenile Acedemic Block Award
AIME Qualifier
Math League Competition Award
The Tech Challenge winner
Synopsis Science Fair 2nd place
Stanford Math Tournament 3rd place winner
Sony Stars Semi-finalist
Olympiad of the Arts 1st place winner</p>

<p>He won other scholarships (National Merit, Datatel, Bank of America, etc) </p>

<p>He Volunteers in The Tech Museum (He loves it, but Im not sure if he is going to mention this explicitly in his app)</p>

<p>Rank 3 / 500</p>

<p>Summer:
Sophomore year: EPGY at Stanford
Junior Year: SSP </p>

<p>AP Courses/score:
Sophomore:
-AP European History = 5
-AP CompSci = 5</p>

<p>Junior
-AP Calc A/B = 5
-AP Biology = 4
-AP Physics B = 5
-APUSH = 4
-AP Statistics = 5</p>

<p>Senior
-AP Chemestry
-AP Calc B/C
-AP Literature/Composition
-AP Economics</p>

<p>My brother knows that Harvard wants a diverse group of students. My brother is a Hindu Bhramin, and we strictly follow spiritual activities. We even perform daily rituals. We also keep track of our family tree (My brother is the 25th decendant of a sage and Im 26th)</p>

<p><em>Yes, all our family were in India. We are the first of our family to settle outside India and in USA</em></p>

2

<p>haha, my father went to IIT too. Your brother's academics and awards are strong, but his EC's are a little weak, because they may seem a little too narrow. However, conventional wisdom for applicants to selective colleges would normally say that "angular" students with focused EC's have the best shot. He also seems focused on math and science, which is very typical for an Asian applicant. He should consider taking his SATs again if he thinks he can get a better score. Also, his demographics will work against him, being a ORM from California. Other than that I think he is a strong applicant with a fair chance as long as his essay and recommendations are strong.</p>

<p>P.S. Even though Harvard wants a diverse group of people, it already disproportionately admits Asians, so I really think being Indian hurts more than it helps!</p>

3

<p>Thanks, anymore advise?</p>

<p>PS: Why does it hurt to be an "angular" student with focussed ECs?</p>

4

<p>It doesn't hurt, it helps. just my first thought was, it might come off as a little TOO narrow. However, I know colleges often say they want focused, passionate students. So as long as chess and hinduism are the things your brother is passionate about, it's fine.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for you advise! I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Anyone else who has good advise?</p>

6

<p>comon peoples...don't let me suffer alone...</p>

7

<p>Bump!!!!!!!</p>

8

<p>If you're banking on diversity, Indian/Asian males with super high test scores and mundane ECs are a dime a dozen. Religion is 'barely' an EC in the sense that reviewers have biases and if you get an atheist reviewer for example, you're going to have your application looked down upon. The problem with this is that there is absolutely nothing (except chess club) to back it up. I don't see your brother getting in with his lack of substantial ECs. I don't know the significance of being allowed to enter the holy grounds, so you better explain a lot, because I don't see the reader knowing much about your religion either. Are you hindu? bc how you explained it with sacred bounds, temple, priests, and the generality of religion, it gives off a 'cult' impression. Your brother really needs to watch it in his essays, religion is an extremely touchy subject. Christianity is hard to write about, even though it has strong ties to Harvard's history, let alone hinduism or w/e religion you practice.</p>

9

<p>I agree with 1MX. There are many people out there devoted to their religion, yet that's part of their personal life, and unless he did some community service through his temple or something, it has no place in the application.</p>

10

<p>Why not? religion by itself has no value in terms of EC, but if you do activities (rituals, saying out hymns in a temple, helping with religious activities) then I am sure it would count. The last time I/my brother checked, the app asks for principal extracurricular, community, and family activities and hobbies. I find doing religious activities suffices as a principal activity (and maybe family activity) and I am sure I can explain this on my essays. </p>

<p>PS: Besides, my brother and I know someone who mentioned learning Jewish hymns as his EC, and he got into Stanford.</p>

11

<p>I'm sure the jewish kid had a lot more than just jewish hymns as an EC.</p>

<p>you can do w/e you want, but I go to church every week and sing hymns, but its far from an EC activity. It has no place on a college application. That's like putting down that you cut your grandma's lawn or helped wash the dishes last night, it's just something that you do.</p>

<p>I don't know how someone can only have 2 ECs (one not even being one)</p>

12

<p>I'm bhramin you see. Many Indians in India and here are not very religious. I know very few Indians who are. Besides, not many go to the temples. Few people sing hymns (they are called the vedas written in ancient language Sanskrit). My brother knows complecated hymns and their meanings. He regularly takes classes with my grandpa. </p>

<p>Not many people are religious.</p>

13

<p>Excuse me? Just because there aren't that many relgious HINDUS doesn't mean that there aren't that many relligious PEOPLE. Anyway, whatever. Put in on his application. You're obviously not going to listen to our opinions anyway.</p>

14

<p>Let's not have this devolve into a religious argument. The bottom line is, religious activities are really not legitimate ECs, but maybe can be good essay fodder.</p>

15

<p>i agree with wayward_trojan</p>

16

<p>I was not intending for it to become an argument. Thank you to the admin I suppose for removing the insulting comments. I agree, lets stay away from religion in order to deny those who want to hit under the belt, the ammunition they need.</p>