Chances for Harvard, Princeton?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm a mixed white-asian student from the UK, applied to Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Columbia and a bunch of UK schools. </p>

<p>At AS-Level I got 6As (4As are considered equivalent to a 4.0 GPA) by self-teaching myself a couple of subjects. I also got an A* in an A2 a year early by self-teaching myself another subject. I have a 2320 superscored SAT (760 CR, 760 maths, 800 writing)</p>

<p>I've got subject tests in maths L2 (800) and physics (800) I'm ranked somewhere in the top 5 students in my year of 180 i.e. top 2.7% minimum. My school was awarded a prize for best school in the UK this year.</p>

<p>I think the biggest strength of my application will be my extra academics. In my own time, I am doing a module from the Open University taken from the third year of their maths degree (it's very unusual for a 17yr old to be doing this kind of work). I am also studying three edX modules (freshman courses from Harvard and MIT). In total, this extra academic workload is rated at 38hrs/week, on top of doing double the average school workload at a top 10 state school. So far, I've got top grades in all these courses.</p>

<p>In terms of extra-curriculars, I'm a keen pianist. In December i'm sitting my Grade 8 piano exam, which is the highest grade in the UK, and this Tuesday I'm sitting the Grade 8 Music Theory exam, which is also the highest national standard. I'm self-taught for both these exams. At school, I'm the elected representative of my house on the school council and an elected House Official. I've arranged and conducted a variety of musical performances at school including a choir, jazz band and one-act musical. I'm the school public speaking champ. I'm also elected to sit in on the school's governing body meetings.</p>

<p>I'm a regular volunteer at a dementia care home (>100hrs) and I've written a research paper about a new means of diagnosing dementia and lead a team to complete a nationally published research paper on stem cells. I've planned and completed a Gold Duke of Edinburgh's expedition. I also have a 10hr/week job, which I use to fund my university maths module.</p>

<p>My essays were decent, one was about self-teaching and another was on my experiences
at the care home. Recommendations were great. </p>

<p>April's quite far away, so any chances to tide me over would be much appreciated :) i don't know much about US admissions, but I'd be happy to try and chance anyone back :)</p>

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<p>Wow… you’re pretty amazing! Although all the ivies and mit are nearly impossible to chance, I would say it would be a mistake not to accept you. Best of luck!</p>

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<p>You have a very good chance. The only thing that could hurt your admissions process would be not acting like a real person. They want to see somebody with natural talent (not children of tiger moms) and somebody with a pleasant disposition. You don’t have to be especially sappy, but in essays and interviews don’t act arrogant. You may be wondering where this suggestion comes from, but I got a bragging vibe from your post. It might just be me, though. </p>

<p>I also don’t know if asking for financial aid as an international will hurt your chances (I’ve heard it does sometimes) but you are still a stellar applicant. Those schools would be glad to have you.</p>

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<p>You have no business even starting this forum. You are what American Ivies want. You will get in.</p>

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<p>thanks guys :slight_smile: anyone else</p>

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<p>@darcydoo, why is it a lock to get in?</p>

<p>Responding to OP, of course, you are a very good applicant. However, understand that you are applying to extremely competitive schools (Harvard will probably have about a 3% acceptance rate in RD this year) as an international applicant, which makes it even more competitive for you.</p>

<p>Though I in no way mean to demean any of your hard work and research, understand that many applicants will have taken college courses, done research, and will have scored above a 2300 on the SAT. As is, Harvard rejects over half of students applying with a 2400 (make sure to check that statistic, though, as I haven’t completely verified it, but I have heard it from numerous sources). Also, in a way, chance threads are close to meaningless, considering most of us “chancers” are still in high school, have little regard for the difficulty of the admissions process, and do not have access to vital details, such as your essays or a realistic look at the circumstances/amount of opportunities around you that you have had the ability to take advantage of.</p>

<p>Keep up the good work. You are on track for a wonderful education/future wherever you end up for college. Of course, you will be very competitive in the admissions process at any school you apply to, but I do not want to give you a false hope by saying you are “in” at any college. You seem like you will be competitive in the process, and that is as far as anybody who is not an admission’s officer/has inside knowledge about the admissions process can judge on any “chance” thread.</p>

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<p>thanks for the honesty mate :)</p>