Chances for an uncertain junior

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hey everyone,
I'm currently a junior at a, well, "funding-challenged" (read: dirt poor) high school. As far as I know, the last kid from my area to attend the Ivy League wore bell-bottom pants and platform heels. :) People tell me I have what it takes to get into a good college, but then I found CC and saw the zillions of superstar students who don't get in to elite schools. So, I don't have a good sounding board to tell me whether I could really get in to someplace like this. </p>

<p>Would you guys mind "chancing" me for Harvard? Thank you so much!</p>

<p>Student Profile:</p>

<p>Gender: F
Ethnicity: White
Location: Florida
College Class Year: 2013
High School: Public
High School Type: rarely sends grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<pre><code>* GPA - Unweighted: 4.00
* GPA - Weighted: 4.70
* Class Rank: 1/450
* SAT I Math: 650
* SAT I Critical Reading: 800
* SAT I Writing: 770
* SAT II World History: 580
* SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 650
* SAT II Chemistry: 580
* AP: I'm taking US History, Calc AB and MicroEcon.
</code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* Extracurriculars (leadership in parenthesis): Model UN, Youth in Government (president), Academic Team (captain), Student Council (VP), Principal's Advisory Committee (Executive Director--the club name is misleading, we actually organize leadership conferences for high school and middle school students)
* Honors and Awards: Best Civil Attorney, Best Bill, Runner-Up Outstanding Statesman (Statewide awards from Youth in Gov't)
Best Delegation (twice) (regional award from Model UN)
Honorable Mention (2nd place at Model UN conference)
1st Place, Florida State Academic Team Championship
* Volunteer/Community service: Giving tours at a local history museum (200 hours so far)
</code></pre>

<p>General Comments: Lousy Subject Test scores, I know, but I'll (hopefully) raise them in June when I retake the SAT II.</p>

<p>Also, if anyone has any ideas on how to improve my chances or anything, I'd love to hear it. Thank you again!</p>

2

<p>^ what he said. harvard doesn't care a ton about SATII's, but i think yours are way too low.</p>

3

<p>You should definitely apply. Harvard is focused on "economic diversity" and trying to reach out to high schools that never send kids to Harvard or other elite schools. Our high school is similar, actually...</p>

<p>Harvard does admit kids with a lowish SAT II (our daughter was one) but it would be good to do a little better on the subjects in which you are strong. They recognize that people have different strengths. Your SAT's in reading/writing are great, so take humanities SAT II's and study a little bit. But the SAT II"s also can reflect poor teaching. In our school, the kids know they have to teach themselves for the subject tests, and for the AP tests, because of the quality of the teaching. So they don't cram, they teach themselves all year (maybe two out of 80 kids do this, but those who want to learn, do, even if it is with no help).</p>

<p>It looks like you are a person who is very motivated to be helpful in your community and have a genuine interest in local history (from the museum work). Two hundred hours must mean you really love it. This summer and in the fall, just follow your interests and deepen them.</p>

<p>There are lots of great schools out there looking for students like you. Apply to Harvard and to other schools, and understand that the whole process has a random quality and is not an evaluation of who you really are. Loook at books like "Beyond the Ivies" and "College that Change LIves" to make sure that Harvard is what YOU really want, too!</p>