<p>Hi, I'm a senior looking to do EA for Harvard in a few days. Can anyone give me a realistic review of my chances?
Academics:
Overall GPA: 93/100 with gradual upward trend since freshman year
APs: Chem, Euro, APUSH, Calc AB, Chinese language and culture, Biology, Comp gov, Stats (4,5,5,5,5,4 respectively excluding comp gov and stats)
ACT: 33 composite with 12 writing
Subject tests: 730 chemistry, 700 math 2
EC:
Speech and Debate captain, 4 years on the team across numerous events 2 time national qualifier
Cross country - JV/C
Community service - 100+ hours</p>
<p>It's 4am and I can't think of much more. My college advisers say that my application would be fairly strong, but there are much strong applicants from my school (GPA, EC, legacy wise) that I'm afraid of applying due to the nearly impossible odds. There are at least 4 other applicants with better credentials than I do. Do I have a realistic chance?</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as you! Just submitted my EA app a few days ago. Even though I am expecting at best a deferral, there is always that small chance I think that you have a shot. However, have you participated in any EC’s? Those I would say are very important (in my case are the hooks). My standardized testing (SAT of 2020) is what is bringing me down really badly (including the fact that I have not taken any subject tests either) even though my GPA is 4.35/4.00 and I’m an IB Diploma candidate from a very competitive school. </p>
<p>@arealcooluser - my daughter was in the similar situation a year ago - she had slightly stronger stats and similar ECs. She didn’t think she stood a chance against the rest of the Harvard applicant pool and was pessimistic about her chances. At least in her case, her pessimism was unfounded, she got in. I’m sure there were many applicants similar to her who did not. Things that I think weighed in favor: her background differentiates her from the typical applicant, she’s a female interested in a field where females are underrepresented, she wrote great essays and I suspect her recommendations were also very strong, she had a very good interview, and finally, she’s a bit quirky in some ways and that’s appealing to an admissions committee trying to build a diverse class.</p>
<p>My feeling is that the perfect but unexciting candidate has a lot harder go of it than the not-quite-perfect but outside the mainstream candidate.</p>
<p>There is no direct advice in any of this other than to try to be different and stand out from the crowd. Then let go, continue working on your other applications, and let the chips fall as they may.</p>
<p>@WorldExplorer - your SAT is not competitive for an unhooked applicant. It could be offset by very high scores on SAT subject tests or high marks on any APs or IBs you have taken so far.</p>
<p>I would hope that your 4.35 is the result of the most rigorous workload possible at your school. ECs are rarely a hook, unless you are world class at something. I think the importance of ECs is overstated - few people are getting in because of their ECs, mostly they are getting in because of their great academics potential. Their ECs make them interesting and Harvard wants interesting people.</p>
I think that you have a shot. However, have you participated in any EC’s? Those I would say are very important (in my case are the hooks). My standardized testing (SAT of 2020) is what is bringing me down really badly (including the fact that I have not taken any subject tests either) even though my GPA is 4.35/4.00 and I’m an IB Diploma candidate from a very competitive school. </p>