Okay, I’ll bite: The title of your thread alone indicates you lack maturity, humility, self-awareness and good judgment – all things that Harvard values. It’s also an attempt at humor that falls flat. If your college essay has the same tone as your headline, your application will end up in the recycling bin.
In addition, as you only have a practice SAT score to go on, it’s too early to post a chance thread.
On another thread, now deleted, “Regardless, lowering expectations is a loser’s mentality and a bad advice.”
No, being unrelentingly optimistic isn’t a magic key. In some cases, not mature. Better to learn more about what these schools do value and look for. The issue with the publication may be the objective contribution a high school kid is able to make, before the leap to a greater education.
What you do next is your decision.
I remember one of my teachers trying to convince me to display more of my achievements and activites - regardless, my intention was not to boast about anything. Apologies out if this came across too arrogant / violated the netiquette, that is actually far away from me 
Regarding the mentality, I strongly disagree. While you might argue that this is “not mature” I see it as a way to overcome resistance. I was told by teachers who taught me in earlier grades that I would never make it through school. Critics is fine and beneficial in small doses (hormesis) not in constant ad hominem attacks.
@kaisyteknon: That comment demonstrates a lack of judgement and shows your inability to listen to wiser posters. As a new member to College Confidential you may not be aware of this, but one poster on this thread who gave you advice works in an Admissions Office and another is an alumni interviewer for a Harvard peer school. While you may strongly disagree, I would defer to their judgement. All the best. I’m done here, as you know best!
I am very aware of the fact that admission officers are also incognito using CC. I am part of the forum for more than one day
Let me say something - I hope it still reaches you - I have no attention problem, nor do I try to display achievements for recognition, my only intention for this thread was getting suggestions/judgments in respect to admission chances.
I guess it makes no sense to write anything more than that.
For the record, while I agree that the book doesn’t mean guaranteed admission, I didn’t think it was that ridiculous a title to use. “National Best Selling Author” is one of those things I’ve seen floated around as an example of something that does really increase someone’s chances; however, I think most people are imagining a solo authored book at the top of the general US best seller list. A multi authored book at the top of niche lists (albeit several) in Germany is a totally different story. I would certainly not have clicked on this thread with it’s current, edited title.
@kaisyteknon:
Supposed you were to miraculously get your grades and test scores up to the high competitive level they need to be at for the schools you mention. Once you do, then the only number you can use for your chances of getting admitted is the “admit rate” for internationals from your country. Whether it’s 1%, 2%, 4%, it’s still extremely low.
Feel free to continue to reject the valuable advice everyone on this thread is giving you. You’ll end up like many on CC who find themselves in April with all rejections and no acceptances (because they aimed too high).
@kaisyteknon In U.S. colleges, grades are extremely important, even more so than test scores. You have very compelling ECs, but the applicant pool has gotten so competitive that there’s a lot of kids who may diminish the advantage you have through having both good grades and somewhat comparable ECs. Apply everywhere and apply widely (I recommend colleges in the UK since they only look at test scores).
Also, I love your username. As soon as I saw it, I squealed a little bit.
You have a shot.
Without knowing goals or motives, it’s hard to give more advice.
Good luck.
Just don’t be a prestige hunter, consider ‘fit’, and real reasons about getting into each one.
I think having a D on your transcript (plus C’s) and being from Germany make your chances low to nothing. You should definitely diversify where you’re looking.
You might want to consider taking a gap year so you can apply based on actual IB scores, rather than predicted.
I would think that if you do as well as you expect that has a good chance of mitigating against your Grade 9 and 10 results. It seems to me that the reason GPA is so important for Americans is that there is no national qualifications framework on the U.S. This means that GPA plus SATs and APs have to serve as a proxy for your intellectual ability and worth ethic.
The IB is a rigorous qualification that takes steady work over a two year period. If you really get 44 or 45 the top U.S. universities will know what that means.
During that gap year you could work at a job - to show maturity and “stickability” as well as to get a broader perspective on life and save some money.
As others have said, there are no guarantees at the top U.S. universities. Having said that there are international students like you studying at these institutions - I know because my son (also an international but from a much smaller country) is studying alongside them.