Chances for Regular Decision?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I go to a boarding school in New Jersey that uses a 6.0 scale. 6.0 is virtually impossible to get and is equivalent to an A++ or a 4.0++, 5.5 is A+ or 4.0+, 5.0 is A or 4.0, etc. Getting above a 5.0 is pretty difficult.</p>

<p>Anyway...freshman year I had a 5.0 GPA, sophomore year I had a 5.3 GPA. Took all the honors I could. Junior year I studied abroad in China on the SYA (School Year Abroad, based out of Phillips Academy) program...lived with a host family, became fluent in Chinese, took classes at a Chinese high school but classes were taught by American prep school teachers (except Chinese, which was taught by some of the best Chinese teachers, 12 periods a week). This was the best year of my life, I learned a LOT, and I'm trying to emphasize this in my apps and write my essays about my experience in China.</p>

<p>Anyway...I got a 5.4 GPA this semester. The valedictorian in my class had a 5.7 and he got into Yale. I'm in the top 5% or 10% of my class of 128 (my school won't give us our actual ranks). As for SATs, I have a 2290 on the reasoning test (760V/760M/770W) and 770 in Chinese, 720 in Literature, and 640 in Chem (A+ in the class, but we all seemed to do not that great on the SAT II).</p>

<p>I do ECs like the school paper, literary magazine, model UN...and I have some activities like film production, after school chemistry, rec squash, cross country, basketball. I also started playing guitar half a year ago. I don't have any really big leadership/community service things.</p>

<p>I'll have two outstanding recs, one from my Chinese teacher and one from my Asian Studies teacher, whose classes I got 6.0s in. They love me and they think I'm one of the best students they've ever had.</p>

<p>I think my essays were pretty damn good, interesting, and original. I've been told I write well.</p>

<p>I think that's basically it. We don't have any academic competitions or really big clubs and societies that bigger public schools have. I regret not doing more freshman and sophomore years, but I can't change that now.</p>

<p>Do you think I have a chance? I'm applying to Berkeley, Georgetown, George Washington, Princeton, Penn, Tufts, Harvard, Columbia, and Northwestern.</p>

2

<p>This looks great man. I think you're chances are good.</p>

3

<p>ECs are gonna hurt, but I think if you can articulate your passion about China that could really help.</p>

4

<p>Are you actually Chinese? Honestly, I think it will look much more impressive (or at least unique) if you have such a strong passion in something you have little or no original cultural attachment to. Like, one of my essays was about my love for Indian culture, and I'm a hardcore Jew. Fine, I got deferred, but all I do on that front is listen to Indian music and read Indian literature and stuff :p Oh, fine, now I'm learning Hindi, but I didn't mention that. You've obviously taken it to a whole new level which is very impressive.</p>

5

<p>I'm not Chinese. I'm white.</p>

6

<p>Then as long as you really hammered in your passion for Chinese culture, I like your chances.</p>

7

<p>Wow, really? Cool.</p>

<p>Do you guys know what rough percentage of the applicant pool is completely unqualified? I mean, not all 23,000 applicants can be A students, right?</p>

8

<p>Dude A's are a good thing. But just because you don't have 'em, doesn't mean you are unqualified. I got to the most elite school in the country (Phillips Academy), and 13 students were admitted to Harvard early. One of those students had a 3.8. They were accepted because their essays were personal, the teachers loved 'em, college counselor kept in close contact with admissions, and they were really passionate about literature. Just remember that.</p>

9

<p>Accionara, do you know a kid named Andrew Glassrud? Or a Carey Hynes?</p>

10

<p>YEA! why?.....</p>

11

<p>Because they both went on SYA China with me and were my good friends :) I Have lots of pictures of them</p>

<p>Do you know where Ande is applying? I haven't talked to him in a while</p>

12

<p>How did Dwight get deferred from Harvard? Isn't he your valedictorian?</p>

13

<p>if u arent chinese and u studied chinese abroad, then u have a hook i think (bec u are rare...oohhhh) haha/....good job!</p>