chances for Harvard? chancemeplz..give me some advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hi and congratulations to all who got into Harvard. Harvard has been my dream school as long as I remember and I really do want to get in but I think it's a very high reach for me. I just wanted some advice and input from you guys that could help me..</p>

<p>alright
Gender: female
Race: Turkish
I'm first generation, and I come from a low income family.</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Class Rank: 2/368, top 1%
I kinda messed up on my AP Exams..I have taken 8 so far but only passed 4.. got a 5 and 3s and failed some but I will retake them this year and hopefully get 4s and 5s...
Im in the IB Program and Im taking 3 extra AP classes so that will bring my rank up to 1.</p>

<p>I've yet to take any SAT1's, SAT2's or the ACT, but I've signed up for them.
and aiming between 2100-2300.</p>

<p>Junior year classes:
AP Calculus
AP English Lang&Comp
AP Psychology
AP Biology
AP US History
Spanish IV pre-IB
Theory of Knowledge </p>

<p>Senior year classes:
IB Math Methods
IB Biology
IB History of the Americas
IB Spanish
IB Psychology
AP/IB English Lit.
Theory of Knowledge</p>

<p>EC:
President for National Honor Society
IB Board
Co-founder of Culture Club
Spanish National Honor Society
Academic Games
Art Club
Drama Club
Science Club
Tennis Team
lotsss of Community service hours..CAS..</p>

<p>During the summer of 2006 I attended:
National Youth Leadership on Medicine, Summer Program in Boston, Massachusetts
We talked with the Surgeon General of the United States, Richard Carmona on Leadership in the Field of Medicine. We attended MED Sessions where we talked about Public Health and specialties in Medicine. We participated in a public health symposium and workshops on current medical issues. We were visited by professors and doctors from other universities and hospitals who talked to us more about what their jobs are and gave us advices. Furthermore, I attended a seminar in University of New England on the Osteopathic Medicine. I had the opportunity to practice this kind of medicine where I practiced primary care medicine using only hands. Also, I had the greatest opportunity to act as a shadow for a Cardiologist and later witness a neurosurgery. </p>

<p>Recs: I can get some pretty outstanding recomendations, in the 1 semester I've been at my school, all my teachers pretty much love me. Awesome relationship with my counselor, too.</p>

<p>I really do want to get into Harvard but I think/know that it's a very high reach for me and also with the low acceptance rate, it seems almost impossible. If you guys could help me and advice me and show me some direction, i would really appreciate it..</p>

2

<p>You shouldn't have waited so long to take SAT I and IIs. Now if you screw up there's less time to fix it. Not saying that you'll screw up. If you're a good reasoner you should do well on both the reasoning and subject tests. Try to get straight 800s on subject tests, at least 2200 on SAT I. Even if you have to sacrifice from AP cause honestly those tests don't touch the importance of the SATs.</p>

<p>Do you live in Massachusetts? Are you National Merit? It'd be great if you can say yes to either or both of these.</p>

<p>The resume looks good. Just focus on acing the standardized tests. But that isn't the end of it. After that, you'll just look identical to loads of other Harvard pro fros. So then you have to write killer essays. You didn't mention a particular reason you dream of going to Harvard. I hope that reason, whatever it is, is compelling enough to write about.</p>

<p>Just don't lose sleep over APs. It's all about SATs and essays now.</p>

3

<p>Thank you!!</p>

<p>anybody else?</p>

4

<p>Gizem,
Regarding your resume and how you went to the National Youth Leadership on Medicine...is this program very prestigious?
I've gotten several letters with invitations to this program, but is it a bug plus on your college app? I was wondering whether this is a very elite program or whether A LOT of people get these invitations to go there. Basically, is it worth the money? This question isn't just for Gizem, but anyone else that might have done this in the past.
Thanks!</p>

5

<p>A lot of students get invitations for the National Youth Leadership programs, and the fact that anyone who fills out the application and PAYS the large tuition fee is accepted negates its prestige. I think your energy (and money) would be better served seeking out a truly competitive program: a senatorial internship, a hospital shadowing program which only takes one or two top candidates.</p>

6

<p>Fauve,
So I shouldn't really put that on my application? I mean I got a scholarship to go because I couldn't pay for it all and I would say that if I had paid, the money would have worth it because I got to visit colleges and talk to professors and visit hospitals and talk to doctors and learn. I even entered a neurosurgery and watched it which is what i want to do in the future. I got to act like a doctor :)
I really want to do the hospital shadowing program. Can you tell me more about that?</p>

7

<p>I am currently a high school Senior and I am planning to apply to some Ivy Leagues universities. My GPA is 4.0 in a 4.0 scale, and my class rank is 1st in my class. I have received a three year full scholarship in tenth Grade for attending the American Community schools of Athens, in Greece, as one of the most outstanding students in the country, and in my new school, as well as in my previous High school in 9th Grade I have remained the top student in the class, and have received high distinction awards that are given only ot the best student in the class, for each subject the last four years in high school.
Some of my activities are Model United Nations in Hague, Globbal Young Leaders Conference in New York and Washington DC, Class Secretary, Two summer institute programs in collaboration with Tufts and Williams University each, Science editor in the school newspaper, Humanities trips in Paris and Italy, Literary Arts Magazine editor, and also worked as a volunteer in my school's summer youth camp this summer, and also I worked as a secretary for assisting in a firm’s organization, such as organize tax and logistics issues as well as being responsible for the admission of work force according to the Greek legislation.
Am i considered a strong candidate?</p>

8

<p>Without SAT or ACT scores, nobody can offer a reasonable assessment of either posters" chances. To the OP: Aiming for a 2100-2300 SAT is nice, but meaningless. I am sure that you also aimed for high scores on the APs. Most applicants to Harvard aim for a 2400 SAT and have 5s on all but one of many AP exams.</p>

9

<p>Hi Gizem,</p>

<p>I do not think you should set your sights on Harvard, because your application is below average in the applicant pool. Consider some colleges in Top 15-25...</p>

10

<p>Thank you. Do you go to Harvard, amb3r? siiighhh..I'll try for graduate school. I really didn't know all the things that were big factors to my admission because if I did i wouuld have done them. Being in the US for only 4 years kinda screwed me over.</p>

<p>thank you for your insights though. I appreciate it.</p>

11

<p>i don't know what others are saying, but I think you are a very strong applicant for Harvard. You have strong GPA, affirmative action definitely helps you (Turkish), and the fact that you've been in America for only 4 years actually HELPS you (unusual circumstance. My only suggestion is not to mess up on the SAT and get around 2200+. Good Luck</p>