Chances for a Junior?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hey guys. I'm a junior and I would like to know if I'm on the right track (if so that's great) and if not what I can do to align myself. I posted this in the What are my chances forum but apparently more people respond here ;)</p>

<p>SAT: 780M/760CR/780W(11 Essay) - 2320 Total</p>

<p>SATIIs: 800 MathIIC, 790 Biology (M), planning on taking US History and Chem in May and June</p>

<p>Class Rank: My school doesn't rank, but probably top 5% out of ~500 people in a highly competitive NJ high school</p>

<p>GPA: 3.91 unweighted (our weighted system's really weird...)</p>

<p>Courseload: toughest available</p>

<p>APs: currently taking Calc AB, US History, Langcomp, planning to take those APs this May, Bio, French, Calc BC, Lit, maybe Euro next year</p>

<p>Some of my ecs:</p>

<p>Piano for 9 years</p>

<ul>
<li>ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Level 8
with Merit.</li>
<li>NJ Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) 5 Year Honors award</li>
<li>Golden Key Festival Winner, performed at Carnegie Hall</li>
<li>Participated in the 2004 International Children's Cultural Arts
Festival, selected to play in Shanghai Grande Theatre.</li>
</ul>

<p>Table Tennis</p>

<ul>
<li>Nationally Ranked for under 18 juniors.</li>
<li>2005 AAU Junior Olympic Singles silver medalist, doubles silver
medalist, and teams gold medalist</li>
<li>Teaches a class at the local community center (volunteer work).</li>
</ul>

<p>I've won many other small awards from tournaments and such.</p>

<p>Other Things</p>

<ul>
<li>News editor of school newspaper, hopefully editor in chief next year.</li>
<li>Staff writer English section of local Chinese Newspaper</li>
<li>Columbia Science Honors Program</li>
<li>Member of the 2006 NJ Physics Olympics Champion Team</li>
<li>Worked at Kumon for 8 hours a week over the summer.</li>
<li>I'm in a few other clubs but they're not really worth mentioning because I'm not an officer.</li>
<li>I'm a Chinese male from a midupper class family (I guess this hurts me)</li>
</ul>

<p>That's about it. I did cross country and spring track for a year, but I don't really think I should mention it because I quit. You could see that piano and table tennis are my "passions", and I'm looking for advice on how to show colleges this. I will definitely mention it in my essays. I don't really have much time for many clubs in school because table tennis and piano take up a lot of my time.</p>

<p>Please rate my chances and give me recommendations as to what I should do to improve my chances. If you can, rate me on a scale of 1-10 or give me percentages. Please be honest.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>You are smart enough to know that no one on this site can give you
percentages that mean anything.</p>

<p>Your stats and accomplishments make you very, very competitive, and certainly well-qualified for acceptance... so definitely apply. But Harvard is not a lock for anyone.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for replying, but is there any part that seems lacking or needs improvement?</p>

4

<p>Needs improvement?? Huh?
You have excellent stats, a rigorous schedule, extracurriculars that you are passionate about... that's all you can do... enjoy the rest of high school, continue to pursue your passions, apply and let the chips fall where they may... you have an excellent shot, but if you don't get in, I'm sure you will get into some other fabulous school.. and life will continue...</p>

5

<p>Hollly crap. I read your description and it's almost exactly like mine. We have almost the exact same SATs and extracurriculars (substitute swimming for table tennis). Wow...amazing. </p>

<p>Chances wise, people have told me that I'm the typical asian, and I guess this comment applies to you as well. What are you planning on majoring in? From your description of yourself, I can't really tell. Try to make this stand out to let Harvard know that you're focused and know what you're going to do with your life.</p>

<p>Otherwise, I think you're pretty much on track. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>I was just browsing the forums and happened to notice someone talking about tt, so I had to comment.</p>

<p>First of all, your academic credentials are outstanding.</p>

<p>However, in regards to table tennis, I would have difficulty describing 94th in the U-18 as "Nationally ranked." It may be in some other really competitive sports, but not table tennis.</p>

<p>Also, I noticed that you wrote that you got silver in the singles at the Junior Olympics. Weird, since a quick check of the website reveals you got bronze in that particular event.</p>

<p>I'm not trying to take anything away from your accomplishments, but the last thing you want to do is embellish information. I have no doubt that you are a hard worker, but these small exaggerations can cost you if adcoms find out.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

7

<p>I'm probably prone to undermine your achievements, since I'm unfamiliar with both piano and table tennis. ><</p>

8

<p>by any chance, is the newspaper you write for called Chinese Newsweekly?</p>

9

<p>er i looked and it said he got silver..</p>

10

<p>Woohoo go Jersey. Quick question: if you mean the summer of 2005, which Kumon did you work at?</p>