Chances and advice, please?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Hello, CC community!</p>

<p>As a junior year international student, this summer is critical for building my applications, essays etc
I've had a lifelong dream of studying in the USA, (well maybe not exactly lifelong, but I've been dreaming about it for a few years now). Of course I'd be over the moon if I got into Harvard and I was wondering what are my chances of actually being accepted.
I would also be really grateful if you could add any advice or anything you think it's important.
Thanks for taking the time to read this!!</p>

<p>SAT I: 2350 750 Wr, 800 M, 800 CR
SAT II: 800 Math lvl 2, 800 Physics, 800 French
Toefl: (to be determined)
Essays/Letters of rec: In progress
School rank: top 1%
Extracurriculars, contests etc: 1 bronze medal, 1 honorable mention and several other participations in the national Physics Olympiad (actually, the honorable mention is not exactly what it means in the international olympiad. These come right after the first 3 places)
Special prize "Leprince Ringuet" from Ecole Polytechnique, France "for brilliant results at the national physics olympiad"
1st prize 4 times and one 2nd prize in Phi, physics national internet based contest
2nd prize MCM contest (multiple choice contest in mathematics, national stage)
(and the list may go on, these are the most important ones)
Students Council: vicepresident (school level), department director (county level)
President of film club in my school (which is actually part of an international project related to human rights); participated in an international summer film camp in Poland with this project
Member of an Interact club (the young branch of Rotary, dedicated to volunteering and community service)</p>

<p>I guess that would be all (perhaps there are other things to add, but these are the ones I consider the most important.)
What do you think I should focus on? What do you consider as being the most important to your winning application? (and by this I mean getting into the school you wanted, I know there aren't any sure-winning applications)</p>

<p>I feel so disoriented right now and I really don't know where to start from and that is why i am asking for your help: first of all to find out what are my chances to get in and then how to enhance or make good use of them. Sorry for the messy post. And again thank you very, very much for taking the time to read this!!</p>

2

<p>Did you read this thread at 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;

3

<p>I read it now, thanks for sending it. I didn’t want to sound desperate, although maybe I did. Well, it’s not only the chances of getting in that I am interested in. Most of all I want to know what I can do with or how I can incorporate all this info in, lets say, the most appealing shape possible. In my country, you can’t get much info, because not many are applying to schools in the USA, so I’m taking a chance asking advice from others here.</p>

4

<p>When you apply to Harvard, you need to be realistic – no matter what stats you have. Every year, Harvard admits about 1660 freshman and about 11% of them are international students. So, in reality, as an international student, you are competing for 1 of 183 beds – and thousands of students from China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain, France, Germany, Australia and the rest of the world are your competition. With those kind of odds, there is absolutely nothing anyone can tell that will improve your chances. You have wonderful stats, but so do lots of students. You just need to send your application out into the universe and hope for the best. Good luck to you!</p>