Chances at Harvard

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hey guys, I posted this exact same thread on the Yale forum (except now edited for Harvard), if it sounds familiar.</p>

<p>I'd appreciate an honest evaluation of my chances at Harvard, Yale (SCEA) Princeton, and Dartmouth [or only Harvard, as this is the Harvard board].</p>

<p>{N.B, I do realize some people may think some of my scores make me a shoo-in, but I really don't think so}</p>

<p>Since it's so important (curses witheld), I'm white and male, from NC and a +100,000 income bracket.</p>

<p>Academics
-SAT: 2400 (one sitting, not a combination) on the Nov. 4th, ~2250 on Dec. 2005
-SAT II: 800 Math 2, 780 Chemistry, 710 U.S History (Considering I'd just read an entire book on the topic, this was a surprise, but o well)
-ACT: 36 Composite (35E, 35M, 36R, 36S, 31E/W I think my essay was too short)
-Class Rank: 4th or 5th of ~550 At an NC Public School (But still competitive)
-G.P.A: 4.0 Unweighted (Will probably go down after this semester), 5.1 Weighted
-AP Scores: 5 Ap Bio, 5 Apush, 5 Ap Psych, 5 Ap Eng Lang, 4 Ap Physics</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (I swear these suck a lot)
-Piano for about 9 years, A few minor awards and recitals.
-Varsity Cross Country for 10th grade summer, 11th grade + summer, 12th Grade, Personal best for 5k of about 19:30, so definitely not a recruit
-Junior Classical League for three years, twice the Second place state certamen team.
-Vice president of Science Olympiad, a few regional awards
-Lincoln Douglas Debate (1 minor award) I wrote the Common app short essay about this one
-Only about 25 hours of Community service, although I was precinct captain of Kids voting (haha)
-High IQ team (i'm the math, music and history guy)
-No job. $&%!!!</p>

<p>Miscellaneous
ESSAYS: MOST IMPORTANT I THINK. I felt like these were really original, but I seem to sound like a prick when I reread them. Possible but minor grammatical errors. I'd love it if a current Harvard student would review these (one of them is the Yale supplement, can I use it for the Harvard optional essay?).
RECOMMENDATIONS: One of them was glowing (although not anecdotal at all), and another one I didn't see.
Counselor: haha I pretty much talked her through what I wanted to be said.
Could not get an interview.</p>

<p>Only really major academic award was Second in a national Creative Writing Contest, National Merit Semifinalist, and AP Scholar with distinction. Two 1st places on the National Latin Exam, one of them perfect score</p>

<p>Thanks a lot
Wolfe1701 is online now</p>

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<p>solid. from what ive seen, youre an above average applicant. you'll get the top ranking on the academic scale. like you noticed, ec's/service are a bit weak. it'll come down to your recs and essays.</p>

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<p>Do you mind telling me which city in NC you're from? I'm from NC as well, and I'm so sick of people always setting "low" standards and only applying to places like Carolina and NC State. ugh.</p>

<p>
[quote]
although I was precinct captain of Kids voting (haha)

[/quote]

AHAHAH as was I! That stuff was a joke. But I have to say, I enjoyed it... staying 'til 9 counting the ballots. Ah, it was great fun.</p>

<p>But as far as your chacnes, I can't really help you as I'm not a Harvardite or anything. But from what I see, you don't really have ONE specific focus. You're very well rounded, which could be a bad thing for Harvard. :/</p>

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<p>Ah, why would three different interests be bad? I dont see why Harvard would want their students to have their life planned out at the age of 16. (Not to mention that most students actually change their major once in Harvard...)</p>

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<p>wow... how the hell did you get a 2400???????? simply amazing. you better get in!!!!</p>

6

<p>hmm....i dunno.... with scores and gpa alone you will be guaranteed in at everywhere EXCEPT hypms. Now for those schools, i dunno if your ec's is enough. awards seem good tho. i say 30% chance in getting into either harvard or yale.</p>

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<p>Like I said, I'm not exactly a qualified "chancer"...or whatever you call it, but I'm just saying. His EC's seem a bit generic and nothing truly stands out to me.</p>

<p>What do you want to major in, Wolfe?</p>

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<p>in my opinion, i think that u are a good canidate, but with yale, harvard, and dartmouth nobody is "for sure" in, as u probably know. You have an amazing SAT score!!! great job!!! but yeah as u mentioned ur ecs are a little weak, but there's nothing u can do bout that now. It is an extremely stressful process applying to the toughest schools in the U.S. so I wish u the best of luck!</p>

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<p>Very impressive SAT scores. You definitely have a good chance because of your great GPA and scores. Good luck!</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
Only really major academic award was Second in a national Creative Writing Contest

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Don't underestimate yourself - if this is a major creative writing contest, it could help you a lot. Did you talk about your "love for writing," etc? I think I got in EA based on my writing abilities (although my ECs were also pretty varied)... although I didn't write my essay about how I liked writing (that would have been slightly redundant), I did make it obvious that it was important to me.</p>

<p>I guess it's too late to change anything now, in any case. I think you have a pretty good shot - you should be fine academically (although I'm not in the high-SAT-equals-admission camp, your courseload looks pretty tough as well, so I don't see any problems) - and your ECs, while not amazing, aren't shabby (at least, they seem fine - but I know nothing about Latin or Science Olympiad or Junior Classical League).</p>

<p>I think you have a great chance. Chill out, and keep your fingers crossed for April - I'm sure you'll be fine no matter where you end up =)</p>

11

<p>well thanks a lot for the posts everybody, I had an interview yesterday and it went really well. The guy's grandfather went to Harvard with my favorite author, so that basically set the tone once i mentioned it</p>

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<p>Hm your interviewer was a legacy?</p>

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<p>I'm glad the interview went well! I'm really rooting for you... more NC kids need to be accepted! Represent our (kind of lame) state! :D</p>

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<p>I know 4 people from my school who got into Harvard (3 from last year), and they're really strong in academics as well as extracurriculars. One was editor of the newspaper and litmag, involved in drama, active in piano. Another was lieutenant governor for the CA-NM-Hawaii Key Club region as well as involved in SaD and varsity ATeam. Another was REALLY involved in music (jazz band, youth symphony, multiple instruments) and science and varsity ATeam. The fourth (got in early) was litmag editor and really involved in art, music, drama, and writing (basically really passionate about art but her academics were a little above mediocre). </p>

<p>I really think Harvard looks to see what you're passionate about...and academics are just a starting point. Your academics are strong (btw how do you get a 5.1 GPA?...but like you said, a 2400 is not a shoo-in...but it sure sounds impressive...I know someone with a 2400 and for a week everyone just talked about that ;)), but your extracurriculars are weak (like you said). It really depends on the essays and recs now. </p>

<p>Hope you get into the school of your choice!</p>

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<p>The 5.1 is from the scale
Normal Classes A=4.0 b=3.0...
Honors Classes A=5.0 b=4.0...
AP Classes A=6.0...</p>

<p>Yep my interviewer was obviously a long time legacy.</p>

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<p>Hi guys, this is my first time in the forum i am currently applying for transfer into harvard. I am an international student from cameroon (africa) i attended community college in the u.s for two years. my gpa is 3.95. sat is 2040. Chem 790. math2 670, physics 670. For extracurriculars i volunteer tutoring, i spent lat summer as a volunteer in a hospital in germany, i run marathons but not with the school, i am a chemistry lab tech at my school . i know my ec's are weak but that was because i had to work as i live alone in the u.s. I am also a member of alpha gamma sigma and helped to start international club at my school. What do you think my chances are. please can someone tell me. thank you</p>

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<p>all i can say is, SAT scores don't really count as much as you think they do.... since college evaluate SAT scores in a range, a 2400 doesn't help you much. i also got a 2400 but i fully expect to be rejected from harvard, yale and princeton ... princeton's dean of admissions openly admitted that they reject 1/2 of their perfect scorers. i assume that harvard has similar figures.</p>

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<p>um... that's exactly what i said in my opening post... if i thought they were that important than i wouldn't have posted this would i.
but seriously read what i wrote "i realize some people think my scores make me a shoo-in but i really don't think so"</p>

<p>all in humor</p>

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<p>If you assume you are an average 2400 SAT canidate, there is an 87.5% chance you get into one of those three top schools. A perfect SAT is more valuable than being a valedictorian.</p>

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<p>^ I completely disagree with that lol. To me, a perfect SAT and being val are pretty much on the same level; they both show your academic status.</p>