Chances of getting in?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hello, I'm going to be a senior this year and I am trying to narrow down some college choices. If you can tell me whether or not I have a chance of getting into Harvard it would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Scores:
-224 PSAT (above texas semi-finalist cut-off)
-2160 official SAT...I think it will go up after the June results come back
-3.75 GPA at a rigorous private christian school (although it is not old or very prestigious). I started at the private school in 8th grade, but went to public school before that.</p>

<p>Classes:
*our schedule isn't "block." We go from 8 to 3:30 mon-fri and for the most part we don't get to choose our classes.
*Junior year is the first year that we are able to take AP's and there are only 2 available (APUSH and APLIT, which I got 103/99 and 105/100 in respectively) I am predicting a 4 at the lowest on USH and a 5 on LIT.
*I have taken the most advanced courses available, but my school really doesn't change the course loads for advanced/reg. classes until the latter years of high school so...
*9th - honors Geometry
*10th- honors English II, honors World History, honors Algebra II, honors chemistry
*11th- AP English III, AP U.S. History, Honors pre-calculus</p>

<p>For senior year things are still up in the air a little. I am going to be taking general college physics 1 and intermediate spanish 1 at the local comm. college so I don't know how that will affect my schedule for next year.
So far my courses will be: Calculus, worldviews (kind of a Bible related class), economics/government, AP biology, physics, AP English IV, and Spanish III.</p>

<p>By the time I graduate I will have more college credits than the state of texas requires for graduation if that means anything.</p>

<p>Academic Awards:
-APUSH student of the year
-Anatomy and Physiology student of the year
-3rd place in Chemistry and Astronomy at regional Science Olympiad (as far as I could go because there weren't enough participants from my school for us to make it as a team)
-1st place in district academic meet in spelling (not a spelling bee) and literary criticism despite not being told of outside material to be studied before competition...qualified for state but again I did not receive the material (didn't place at state).</p>

<p>Athletic Activities and Awards: (Texas doesn't allow private schoolers or homeschoolers to compete w/ public schools in championships. Thus, I am in the league for private schools -- Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools -- which isn't nearly as competitive)
9th- 11th at state XC meet, 3rd at district in track in 3200m
10th- 7th at state XC meet, 3rd at state track meet in 3200 and 1600, team MVP
11th- didn't run XC, 1st in 3200 and 1600 at state track meet.
12th - I don't plan on doing XC or track but if it will look significantly better then I can get first or second at the XC meet which is in mid October.
*plus I have school records in the 5k (from freshman year - not worth saying), 3200 (10:08) and 1600 (4:42).
*I would prefer not to have to do running to get into Harvard but if I have to then I will think about it. Is it possible to get "recruited" and then drop off the team but still attend Harvard?</p>

<p>Extra-curricular/personal activities:
-privately coached for over a year by John Kellogg who is now "assisting" with Cornell's distance running program (he taught the main distance coach when he was in high school).
-attended a week-long running camp put on by well-known DFW coach Terry Jessup
-runner's club member in 10th and 11th grades
-member of National Honor Society for senior year (inducted at the end of 11th)
-member of Six Wings, a student led community service group based on Christian values since 10th grade. I have done pretty extensive work with this group including two week-long mission trips and numerous local services such as special olympics, teen-challenge (helps young women in bad situations such as drug abuse and etc.), school clean-ups, day care for parenting seminars.
-volunteer at local animal shelter (30 hrs so far but expecting to get to 200ish before college apps go out). This one probably means the most to me because I am a vegetarian (since 7th grade) and a member of the Fort Worth Vegetarian Society. I care a lot for animals and
- started a competitively priced business to care for animals while their owners are on trips, so that they don't have to locked up in kennels at a vet. (one client who is a published author said he would write a recommendation for me if I asked)
- I am also technically a member of the Red Cross Youth corps although I have only attended the orientation and one meeting.</p>

<p>Thanks for taking the time to consider all of this. If I don't have a chance at Harvard could you recommend some schools that are more my level??</p>

2

<p>"*I would prefer not to have to do running to get into Harvard but if I have to then I will think about it. Is it possible to get "recruited" and then drop off the team but still attend Harvard?"</p>

<p>I would like to know too, only with swimming instead of running</p>

3

<p>I forgot, I am also in an after school weightlifting club and am learning to play the guitar.</p>

4

<p>Yet another amendment: I organized and taught a free once/week summer long SAT/PSAT prep class for students at my school and local home schoolers. I had to put together all of the materials and persuade my principal to give me permission. (right now I have only started the class, but by the time apps go out it will be over)</p>

<p>My school also does not officially release class rankings due to our extremely small class size (27)</p>

<p>Thanks, again.</p>

5

<p>I think you have really good ecs, but should probably try to get your scores up a little bit. Do you have SAT II scores? those are important too!</p>

6

<p>4:42 and 10:08 will not get you recruited athletically for Harvard. My 1600 time is 4:39 and I am having trouble even walking on the team. (I am an early admit from this December). As far as distance goes, Harvard did recruit a kid I know with a 4:21 1600. But 4:42 and 10:08 would not make the cut for an athletic recruit, but you might be able to walk on the team (which it looks like you definitely don't want to do). </p>

<p>No offense, but I think it's horrible that someone would attempt to be recruited to Harvard under false pretenses. Someone who is planning to "get recruited and drop it" isn't the type of person Harvard is looking for. Passion, dedication, and ethics are what Harvard is all about. Attempting to gain admission under false pretenses is directly going against everything Harvard stands for. Despite that, chances are that if you are elite enough in athletics for Harvard to recruit you, you probably would never dream of giving up that sport anyways. It's not that easy. </p>

<p>Good luck, and I hope you decide to be more honest with the rest of your application. But certainly mention your running--- it shows dedication and passion--- especially since you have won so many titles (records, district titles, all-state, and state titles). Those, along with all your academic accomplishments, will make you an attractive candidate. Your GPA could be a lot higher, but I would encourage you to apply. It can't hurt to apply, and who knows, you might be surprised. Since Harvard is non-binding EA, I would advise applying early as I did. </p>

<p>If you have any more questions feel free to PM me!</p>

<p>PS- I don't understand how you can be so good at running and yet be so positive about giving it up. I couldn't imagine giving up running and I am fighting so that I might be able to continue in college. Your times certainly show that you have dedication for the sport. Why work so hard for so long and give it up so quickly? Maybe it's not your passion, but sheeshh!</p>

7

<p>You should apply EA. Let us know if you get in.</p>

8

<p>Knight_miler: I have had the worst luck with running. My first problem was my IT band during freshman track, but that wasn't so bad and after a month it was gone. But having done pretty well for a beginner (10:32) I was excited and trained my butt off from the end of track to the beginning of XC doing 60 and 70 miles a week. My plans were to run low 16's in the 5k and based on my trial runs it was expected. My very first race I fractured my foot after the first mile and finished unable to walk in 18:26 (yeah, I finished). So, I went to the doctor and he did the x-rays and junk and a couple of days after called to say there was nothing wrong. After another 3 weeks of hobbling around with the team every morning I went to a specialist who pointed out on a new set of x-rays the very visible stress fracture in one of my metatarsals. Hurray, 5 months of training down the drain + 1month of running on injury + 1.5 months of healing. But my foot was healed by the last race of the season so I ran that and got about 19:30. That was too much. I like running but it's too hard for me not to get injured and I'm tired of having to start over. Running is not like other sports where once you are healed you are right where you left off. If you take time off from running then you lose the ability. </p>

<p>Here's my progression
mile:
9 - 4:59
10 - 4:51
11: 4:42</p>

<p>2 mile:
9 - 10:32
10 - 10:28
11 - 10:08</p>

<p>so 3 years and those are my improvements.</p>

9

<p>I am manager for my school's XC and Track teams, I agree with Knight_miler, your times are not enough.
The mile probably have to be under 4:30
2 mile under 9:50</p>

10

<p>I got 2230/1480 on June's</p>