Chances and Areas in Need of Improvement

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>NOTE: One of my recommendations will be from an instructor I had this past summer at Governor's School who got his B.A. from Amherst College and Ph.D. from Harvard College.</p>

<p>RACE: African American / Black</p>

<p>GENDER: Male</p>

<p>LOCATION: South Carolina</p>

<p>MAJOR: Political Science / Journalism</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8 Un-Weighted / 4.78 Weighted</p>

<p>RANK: 3 / 337</p>

<p>SAT REASONING TEST:
Critical Reading - 660
Math - 600
Writing - 610 (7 Essay; 63 MC)</p>

<p>ADVANCED PLACEMENT:
European History - 3
English Language and Composition - 5
United States History - 5
Art History - 3</p>

<p>SAT II: Taking Literature and US History in November (maybe 650+)</p>

<p>GRADING SCALE:
A = 93 – 100
B = 85 – 92
C = 77 – 84
D = 70 – 76
F = 69 and Below</p>

<p>GRADES:
FRESHMAN YEAR:
Algebra 1 CP - 97
French 1 CP -99
Algebra 2 Honors - 91
Physical Science Honors - 88
English 1 Honors - 98
World History Honors - 95
Honors Seminar - 99
French 2 CP - 96
Physical Education (CP) - 100
Computer Applications (CP) - 96</p>

<p>SOPHOMORE YEAR:
Geometry Honors - 94
Biology 1 Honors - 90
English 2 Honors - 95
AP European History - 89
French 3 Honors - 97
Visions of the Future Seminar (Honors) - 95
Art 1 (CP) - 96
Health (CP) - 96</p>

<p>JUNIOR YEAR:
Algebra 3 Honors - 97
Chemistry 1 Honors - 93
AP English Language and Composition - 99
AP United States History - 96
AP Art History - 97
Introduction to Philosophy Seminar (Honors) - 97
Global Issues Seminar (Honors) - 96
French 4 Honors - 97</p>

<p>SENIOR YEAR:
Pre-Calculus Honors
Physics Honors
AP English Literature and Composition
AP United States Government and Politics
AP French Language and Composition (Independent Study)
Talented and Gifted Art (Honors)
AP Studio Art – 2D
AP Human Geography (Independent Study)
Twentieth Century Seminar (Honors) (Independent Study)
Economics CP (could not fit AP)</p>

<p>EXTRACURRIULAR ACTIVITIES:
YOUTH ACTION COUNCIL:
Co-Chair; Surveyed over 500 district students to learn about their interest and involvement in a variety of community issues; Community, Higher Education, and School Partnerships (CHESP) : distributed over $30,000 in mini-grants to district students and teachers since inception year to support service-learning and civic-engagement projects; Project Ignition National Seat Belt Campaign: Co-Chair; Theme “Click It. That’s the Ticket!”; 1 of 25 participants to receive a $2,000 grant to implement a mixed-media campaign; 1 of 10 finalists to receive a $5,000 grant to present project at the National Youth Leadership Council’s (NYLC) National Service-Learning Conference in Long Beach, California to an international audience and renowned panel of judges; recipient of the Best Grassroots Impact Award for working with South Carolina legislators to enact stronger seat belt safety laws; Recipient of the $25,000 State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant for teaching district students and teachers about the critical socioeconomic issues facing the growing elderly population; State Farm Good Neighbor: partners the Youth Action Council and State Farm in two Good Neighbor Home Works renovation projects each year for low-income elderly homeowners; Promote youth-directed civic action through a service-learning framework</p>

<p>STUDENT GOVERNMENT:
Senate; House of Representatives; National Association of Student Councils (NASC) Council of Excellence Award; Varsity Letter for 200+ Hours of Service; South Carolina Association of Student Councils (SCASC) Gold Honor Council Award; Junior Class Leadership Council Secretary; Certificate of Excellence for 100+ Hours of Service; Sophomore Class Leadership Council Secretary; Outstanding Freshman Class Service Award; South Carolina Association of Student Councils (SCASC) District Conference; Freshman Class Leadership Council Secretary; School Improvement Council (SIC)</p>

<p>SCHOLARS SYMPOSIUM / HONORS FORUM:
Senior Class Advisory Council Representative; Junior Class Advisory Council Representative; Sophomore Class Advisory Council Representative; Freshman Class Advisory Council Representative; Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY (NAHS):
Awards and Ceremony Coordinator; Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Competition; South Carolina State Fair Student Art Show; Visual Arts Show</p>

<p>NATIONAL FRENCH HONOR SOCIETY (NFHS):
President / Awards and Ceremony Coordinator; Darfur Advocacy Campaign; Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>QUILL AND SCROLL HONOR SOCIETY:
Editor of Literary Magazine</p>

<p>NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY (NHS):
Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>NATIONAL SENIOR BETA CLUB:
Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS:
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI)
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA)
Ridge View High School Malaria Awareness Fundraiser
STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition
Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net)
Andy Thomas Radio Network Teen Forum Show
National Service-Learning Partnership (NSLP)
Project Ignition National Seat Belt Campaign “Click It. That’s the Ticket!”
Ridge View High School Winter Wishes
Richland School District Two Board Election</p>

<p>SUMMER EXPERIENCES:
The Governor's School of South Carolina at the College of Charleston ("The Holocaust in Film" and "American Collective Memory of World War II")
South Carolina Business Week at Presbyterian College
Clemson University Program for Academically Talented Students</p>

<p>ACADEMIC HONORS:
Principal’s Scholar Award
Honor Scholar Award
South Carolina Governor’s Scholar Award
Palmetto Fellow Scholarship Nominee
Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar with Honor Award
National French Contest Level 4 Honorable Mention Award
Junior Marshal at Senior Graduation
Coker College Scholar Award
Lander University Junior Fellow
Newberry College Scholar Award
University of South Carolina Aiken Scholar Award
University of South Carolina Upstate Scholar Award
AP English Language and Composition Award of Excellence
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Junior English Award
Golden Palmetto Leadership and Service Merit Award
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Sophomore History Award
National History Day Senior Historical Paper Certificate of Achievement Outstanding Academic Achievement in Freshman Social Studies Award
Academic Honor Roll
Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) Scholar
Scholars Academy / Honors School</p>

2

<p>The area of improvement is pretty clear: standardized test scores. Those SAT scores are very low for Harvard, so definitely take the test again and try to raise those scores a lot. Your high school record and class rank are great, but the very low test scores indicate that your school might not be that rigorous or competitive.</p>

<p>Other than that you look good. Lots of extracurriculars, and being African-American from the South will certainly help. However, you really do need to improve those test scores, since I would imagine most Harvard applicants average over 700 per section. If you can do that, your chances will go up drastically from not that good to very high.</p>

3

<p>Most Harvard students score between 600-800 on every section of the SAT and are in the top 10% of their class. The numbers are definitely there and you have obviously been involved so no worries. Apply, and be honest and thorough on every part of the application. </p>

<p>An area of improvement would be to worry less and enjoy your time left in high school. Doing things you like and not killing yourself cramming in extra classes/activities/tests would be most beneficial. The admittance rate drops every year and Harvard is forced to deny thousands upon thousands of qualified candidates, thus being rejected is no reflection of your competence. Do what you like and don't stress about what happens. </p>

<p>With your credentials, I feel you will certainly get into some great schools. Best of luck.</p>

4

<p>your test scores are weak, bring those up and i think you have a good shot.</p>

5

<p>You have A LOT of awards..very impressive!</p>

6

<p>do you sleep?</p>

7

<p>You have reallly weak scores. How did you win all of those awards?</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the replies! I was just curious as to if I should apply to Harvard or not. My parents want me to apply to at least one Ivy but I just don't see the rationality behind it with my test scores (although I know they're not the only factor in admissions, but mine are just really weak, as you guys have said). Actually, I sleep A LOT (probably too much lol). I take a nap right when I get home because I'm usually wiped out from school then I just stay up really late getting things done lol. But yeah, those awards are based off course grades, which I do fairly well in, and not test scores (which I do not obviously lol). Some of the awards are also based on rank (i.e. top 10 for principal's scholar, top 5% for honor scholar, top 10% for junior marshall). And finally, for some reason, I test better on AP than on the SAT lol.</p>

9

<p>i wish you could've taken the AP history for me</p>

10

<p>i think you should still apply Blazer. Maybe try the ACT instead of the SAT...</p>