Chances @ Harvard

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>These are what my stats are so far (Junior):</p>

<p>Courses: Most rigorous possible my school offers. Also, recently completed my junior year at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Regional Center (Calc I and II , physics, mechanics)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 Unweighted/4.4ish weighted </p>

<p>RANK: 1/436 @ Public</p>

<p>SAT: 2000
Math - 710
CR - 700
Writing - 590 (***?!?...was scoring 750+ on practice tests lol)</p>

<p>In School E.C. -</p>

<p>Editor of School Newspaper (9th only)</p>

<p>High School Debate Team E.C.</p>

<p>Member of Mock Trial Team (multi-time winner of "Best attorney" award)</p>

<p>Founder of Republican Club</p>

<p>Parliamentarian of JSA Club (Junior Statesmen of America)</p>

<p>VP of French Club</p>

<p>Member of: Comm Service Club, Spanish Club, Poetry Club, Environmental Club</p>

<p>Class-Officer Presidential Nominee in 10th grade, Vice-Presidential Nominee in 11th Grade (and coming oh-so-very-close to winning lol)</p>

<p>Out-of-School E.C. -</p>

<p>“Junior Mayor” of the Enid Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (Community Service Medium in which large scale projects are devised and executed with the aid of our City Mayor)</p>

<p>Volunteered HEAVILY for a local resident’s bid for Congress (Now Representative Mike Jackson of State House Seat 40). Campaign included door-to-door confrontation, sign postings, and any general voter aid. Campaign work was also done on the side for Local Senator Patrick Anderson, Federal Senator Tom Coburn (all candidates of these Conservative candidates were elected).</p>

<p>Have worked with a very good friend’s Eagle Scout Project to restore a local park. Besides general equipment maintenance, work included complete re-painting of playground and furniture equipment as well as tree-planting.</p>

<p>Lift weights 4 times a week at local YMCA</p>

<p>Worked 20 hours a week at local Jumbos Supermarket all summer</p>

<p>Have researched and adopted “Value Investment” skills to invest all of my earned savings in the stock market.</p>

<p>Have Paged for both a State Representative and a State Senator</p>

<p>Went on the "Oklahoma Closeup" (sort of like Paging)</p>

<p>THIS SUMMER:</p>

<p>-Will hopefully get to Page for Local U.S. Congressmen</p>

<p>-Will hopefully get to attend the JSA Summer School</p>

<p>-Will attend Boys State and run for office (Gov/Lt. Gov)</p>

<p>-Will Study *** off for SAT to get 2200+ and get SAT II scores established</p>

<p>-Will engage in independent study for political related things</p>

<p>NEXT SUMMER:</p>

<p>-Maxed out schedule, and will continue independent studies on political science</p>

<p>-Will run for NHS President</p>

<p>-Have some very good ideas on some new clubs to start...preferably an Investment Club and a Model U.N. for our area</p>

<p><em>HOOK</em> = "I'm a Republican Activist from Oklahoma"</p>

<p>College Preffered - Harvard for its renowned school of Govt. (I have no direct legacy...cousins and uncles have attended, but no father/grandfather. I'm also a white male)</p>

<p>Chances = You guys tell me. I've had people say I've got a decent shot all the way down to I have NO shot. Harvard is a lottery I know, but is it worth going EA at this point?</p>

2

<p>You have a good shot at things. First, however, you need to reconsider your way of looking at things. Throw away the 'list' mentality. Reconsider what the essence of you is.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply Ericmeng.</p>

<p>Your statement is true. However, I'm very very very VERY passionate about Conservatism in America. For the purposes of CC, I just gave "the list", but I cannot, however, stress enough how passionate I am on the issues America faces right now in the political arena (and my application will most certainly reflect these feelings).</p>

<p>EDIT: Typo on my first post, I meant to say "NEXT YEAR" not "NEXT SUMMER"</p>

4

<p>try doing a sport next year like...tennis or something....it shows that you're well roudned...also..volunteer for many charity organizations, Salvation Army, the Special Olympics...shows you care about those not as fortunate about yourself. Get recommendations from your uncles/cousins..that should help out alot....i take it you're planning on entering politics in the future? Good choice...I'm also aspiring towards the U.S. Senate. Make sure Harvard knows this...they will look at your extracurriculars that help you achieve your future goals....what else can help....try taking a few classes at a local community college...linear algebra, and intermediate literature class or what not...they look VERY highly at those...it shows that you can take on the college atmosphere (although community colleges aren't that great)....you seem very involved....if you personally know one of these Congressmen or Senators, and have a very high standing in their eyes, request that they write a recommendation for you....VERY IMPORTANT: WORK ON THAT ESSAY....if you can show tremendous writing skills, you'll have a good hook....you must be able to entertain, while being linguistically correct. Entertain...suck them in to your essay to the point where they anticipate what's coming in the next paragraph. Remember...there is ONE person responsible for your application...impress that one person, and they will put in a good word during the final Committee meeting....may I recommend...Princeton and Yale...not only are they also fantastic government schools, they both have GORGEOUS campuses...Princeton's dorms are magnificent and the city is fantastic...always something to do....</p>

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<p>The honest truth is your chances are not particularly high at Harvard, the primary drawback being your SAT scores.</p>

<p>If you look at Harvard's admissions profile, 75% of the accepted applicants had an old SAT of 1400 or above. The average applicant that applies to Harvard has a 1400 SAT.</p>

<p>What does this mean? It means that when Harvard gets roughly 20,000 apps and accepts 2,000:</p>

<p>-Only 500 kids got in w/ a 1400 or below
-10,000 kids applied w/ a 1400 or below</p>

<p>500/10,000 = 5% (this does not even factor in legacy kids w/ donor parents or athletes)</p>

<p>Now, your chances are considerably better than 5% (due to your valedictorian status + excellent EC's), but the reality is you are looking at chances that are at best 15%.</p>

<p>Although colleges will not put much weight on the new writing section, a 580 will sting regardless.</p>

<p>I would say right now for you the #1 priority is to focus on improving that SAT in all areas. Also, it seems like you have various passions w/in your EC's, but no one thing stood out to me as the one thing that matters the most to you. Which one is it? How can you show them that you are more unique than the ~18000-20000 talents individuals are rejected?</p>

<p>I definitely encourage you to apply...you are in the game and you never know. But be sure to have some other schools in mind that are just a notch down. You will end up at a top school, but it may not be Harvard. Take a look at the top 25 school & see which ones you like, plus 1 or 2 schools that you are a shoo-in at. </p>

<p>Georgetown seems like it would be a great place for you. Georgetown would be a school that you would have an excellent chance of being accepted at.</p>

6

<p>Stambliark speaks the truth. I plan on this summer studying for the SAT and bringing my score up those needed 200+ points. I'm sure you get a lot of "it's not my fault that was a fluke test day!!!", but the English score of 590 I feel isn't trully representative of what I can get come next year. I honestly feel I can get a 2200+ on the SAT. An entire summer of rigorous SAT prep will do this. </p>

<p>"Also, it seems like you have various passions w/in your EC's, but no one thing stood out to me as the one thing that matters the most to you. Which one is it? "</p>

<p>To answer, the most passionate is my political activism. In my app I will make this very apparent. Paging for multiple State and U.S. Congressmen is going to be my highlight. Campaigning on the grassroots level, and even attending the highly rigorous JSA Summer School. This is what I intend to "stick out". "To advance those Conservative Ideals that my constituents hold so dearly".</p>

<p>Furthermore, what do you guys think of this hook (if it even IS a hook)? Is this is a common one? Is Harvard going to like or dislike the fact that my political aspirations aren't liberal like 90% of the other future politicians at this school? </p>

<p>Conservative giants like Bill Kristol and Alan Keyes went to Harvard. Honestly, whether or not you are conservative, the title gives intellectual armor to your percieved status in political communities. If I brought my SAT to a 2200+, could someone imagine me getting accepted EA?</p>

<p>Thanks to those who reply and especially to those who have already replied in great length.</p>

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<p>YOU WILL DEFINITELY GET IT!
I read your stats and you are 100% GUARANTEED TO GET INTO HARVARD.</p>

<p>Because, you know, it's that easy to tell.</p>

8

<p>Ecwasmyhome. I know no one can tell with accuracy, but one certainly can guestimate if one has a shot. I even think it's safe to say we can categorize some having better shots than others. All I ask is an honest appraisal of what you might think considering you guys at CC would know more than most counselors would on this issue.</p>

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<p>The only thing I'm wondering is why you need external verification of your application status. If I say "oh no, no, you won't have any chance of getting in," are you going to decide to not apply based on my advice? If I say "oh yeah, you're a shoo-in," are you going to believe me and feel more confident because of it?</p>

<p>There's no reason to not apply. If you're poor, you can get the app. fee waived.</p>

<p>I'm just confused. Is there anything that you're going to base upon our advice - people who are not associated with the Harvard admissions office - or are you just asking on a whim?</p>

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<p>i like the sarcasm there ecwasmyhome lol, yeah, all these chance thread, but to be honest, i think you have a great chance, not as extreme as the "100%", but you are a competitive applicant</p>

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<p>Thanks. I'm glad that my piercing, rapier wit was not lost like drops of water in the warm desert sand.</p>

<p>Everyone has a chance. Everyone who would succeed and flourish at Harvard has an honest chance to get in. By asking "does this look good," you are acknowledging yourself as a potential applicant and, as such, establish your chance at Harvard. Why bother about the minor issues? All these plusses and minuses that ultimately will not affect your decision to apply to the college. Do what you'd do anyway, and let the people whose job it is to decide, decide.</p>

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<p>Ecwasmyhome, to answer your question all I have to do is refer you to stambliark's post. Look at that. He opened up a post with statistics trying to get to the heart, as objective as possible, on what he thought I needed to do (or rather, why at this point I do not have a good chance because of my SAT scores). With critical posts like these, I can "hone in" on those things I need to emphasise the most come this summer to improve my chances @ Harvard. I mean no harm to you and cannot possibly understand why you would criticize people for asking their chances to a college in a "What are my Chances?" forum board. </p>

<p>Good luck on your academic pursuits in life, sir, and wish me luck in mine.</p>

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<p>I was actually hinting at engaging in a metacritique of this board's subject. Your question has struck to the heart of this.</p>

<p>Don't do what Harvard will "like or dislike". Do what YOU like or dislike and find a school that will cater to this and support you in your endeavours.</p>

<p>Which, by the way (and you may not believe it), I wish you the best of luck in.</p>

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<p>EDIT: deleted. I really want the thread to focus on my chances at Harvard, not my fight over ec's "metacritique" of the board at large.</p>

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<p>Why do you say that?</p>

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<p>I'd say your chances at Harvard has been lowered drastically due to your SAT scores. Anyone who says you have a great chance at Harvard doesn't know what he's talking about. Even people with better academics than yours cannot say that they will get into Harvard. I'm going to be realistic and say that you should apply for a lower tier Ivy and schools like Stanford. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are quite a reach for you, even with the ecs you have</p>

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<p>Sup, if my SAT was improved to say a 2200. What then would be my chances?</p>

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<p>Also, does anyone know if Harvard is weighing the English section as much as it is the other sections?</p>

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<p>ecwasmyhome...I think it's more of a psychological reason...when you hear that you have a good chance at a school, your self esteem shoots up...when you see that your chances are slim, you dont' get your hopes up too much. I personally think GeorgeS is very well rounded off, and will be extremely competetive. When you hear ppl giving you advice, it motivates you to work harder and make an extra effort to distinguish yourself...good luck George.</p>

<p>And I'd say Harvard will start looking at the English section more heavily, since CollegeBoard has gotten through the first few rounds of scores and is begining to "perfect" this certain section. As time passes, there will be more emphasis on this new segment on the SATs.</p>

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<p>As of current, is it weighted just as much as say...an old SAT II Writing?</p>