<p>OK, first off, I'm a junior (Class of 2010!:D) and it has always been my dream to go to Harvard... I know it sounds clich</p>
<p>low GPA... do you have anything that stands out?? (like nationally?)</p>
<p>I competed in the national finals of We the People.... I don't know if you consider that nationally... and I'm taking the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) next month so I'd see then...</p>
<p>hmm... NMSQT is VERY unprestigious. We the People is also not prestigious. </p>
<p>um... what is your race??</p>
<p>I think you're pretty mediocre, but who knows. You have a year and a half to go. Work hard and make your dream come true.</p>
<p>I'm Hispanic... but my primary language is definitely English over Spanish... (even though I speak Spanish fluently..)</p>
<p>Also, when I eventually choose which AP scores to submit, should I submit the Euro one? Or if I withhold it, would it look as if I got something even lower?</p>
<p>Also, coolkid007, if you don't mind, could you tell me an example of what you consider as something prestigious? Thanks :)</p>
<p>You have to be . . . say . . . top 100 in a pretty competitive field such as sports, mathing, DDR . . anything that shows you're dedicated and accomplished.</p>
<p>I'm sure the majority of Harvard applicants score very high on the PSAT.</p>
<p>I think your odds are just as high as mine are. As minorities, our acceptance rates are slightly higher than normal. I don't think you can exclude a specific AP score from the score report, but have no worries. Passing an exam will not hurt you, and you won't have to send anything until after you have been admitted.</p>
<p>If you don't mind me asking, what high school do you go to? I'm right up there in Broward County ;]</p>
<p>Your stats aren't amazing, but your EC's seem decent. Just try to become nationally recognized in something, and the URM factor is always good.</p>
<p>"I am hispanic..."</p>
<p>+1</p>
<p>"Since I started high school, I started doing a lot of research on colleges (much more than expected from a freshman) and Harvard seemed so great other than just a reputation.."</p>
<p>For me, that sentence completely legitimized your mediocrity. I should think a "delegate" (if that's an honor at your school, I don't know, but you make it seem as such) should be able to pull off 5s on those APs. </p>
<p>"Convention in Miami in which several schools from the city participate in with many experts in their fields come in to help prepare for all the AP's."</p>
<p>What does that mean, and why didn't you get 5s? I'm sorry, something about your sentence structure just doesn't flow to me.</p>
<p>"I have taken 4 virtual classes the past two years - really just to take those credit courses that just take up time (Personal Fitness, Driver's Ed, Health-Life Management Skills, and Business Systems and Technology)"</p>
<p>Sounds like a load of rubbish.</p>
<p>You have a lot of time to still overcome that blatant mediocrity, but with your PSAT, you're going to have to do a lot of prep to get that SAT within the Harvard (that is, 2250ish) range. And frankly, I don't get where those ECs are "good" at all they sound like a load of baloney. Mock trial, that delegate thing (which I feel is nullified with your AP grades) and a few vocational classes? All the tutoring comes off as derivative and insignificant. </p>
<p>You've got a lot of work ahead of you, best of luck :P</p>
<p>
[quote]
it has always been my dream to go to Harvard...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This makes me cringe so much....</p>
<p>It seems I have competition!</p>
<p>En garde!</p>
<p>"I am Hispanic..."</p>
<p>+100</p>
<p>impressive...id make sure you score well on the sat..i did about the same as you on the psat....</p>
<p>if i were you, in junior and senior year i would focus my efforts on two or three extremly outstanding extraciricular activities i.e. internships etc...</p>
<p>can you please elaborate on the statement...however...on internships for state representatives having a big impact on kids you knew who got into harvard (what were their gpa;s, sats, etc...i have three internships and am truly intrested!)</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>"I am Hispanic..."</p>
<p>+1000</p>
<p>(...i think i just killed it...)</p>
<p>i think you have a decent shot at harvard. your minority status helps and your ecs are average for ivy leagues, but you need to pick up your SAT scores. good luck!</p>
<p>ECs look good but, a weighted GPA of 4.9 with a 185 in the PSAT and mediocre scores in the APs raises questions about grade inflation.</p>
<p>Thanks...</p>
<p>To fenderbender: the people I knew that were accepted into Harvard were absolutely top students as well.. I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure that their GPA's and SAT scores were through the roof. (Minority status may have helped as well)</p>
<p>Are there any other extracurricular activities I should be aware of...</p>
<p>Oh.. one more thing I didn't add at the top:</p>
<p>>>I also skipped a grade, so I'm graduating HS at 16*<<*
Idk if that makes a difference
>>I also was (am) in Gifted.. I still am technically, but now I'm taking all AP, not gifted anymore...<<</p>
<p>And by the way, I'd like to elaborate on the part of the AP convention... I was chosen as a delegate not based on merit. I volunteered to represent the school... The point I was trying to pass was not merit-based, but to emphasize how I volunteered to do so....</p>
<p>Lastly, I'm fairly sure that the 3 I received on Euro will be a simple anomaly... and might only occur once more.. out of 16 total AP exams... I don't know if that will be a big deal...</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who responded so far... I encourage any more comments - please and thank you.</p>