<p>My top school I want to get into is Harvard (which is a reach for me), but I'm also applying to Columbia and Brown. I want to study political science and do something with the government. I also have another interest in film. Here are my credentials:</p>
<p>Weighted GPA: 4.34
Unweighted GPA: 3.82
Class Rank: 13 out of 285 (Top ten percent)</p>
<p>SAT Math: 700
SAT Reading: 700
SAT Writing 740</p>
<p>Subject Tests
Math II 660
Biology 690
US History 800</p>
<p>APs:
US History - 5
Microeconomics - 5
APs taking senior year:
Macroeconomics
Calculus AB
English
Physics B</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
- Created a Film Club at my school my junior year and am the president (3, 4)
- Created and produce a public access cable show "Politically Divided" where students debate current events (3, 4)
- Model Senate (3, 4)
- Tiger News - school news program; head writer, producer, political correspondent (3, 4)
- State Senator Brian Joyce's Re-Election Campaign; I organized standouts for the campaign (4)
- Green Team - recycling club; a team leader; (2, 3, 4)
- Spring Track - (1,2,3,4)
- Golf Team - team manager (3,4)
- Executive Board - club that aids the class officers in fundraising (2,3,4)
- National Honor Society - (3,4)
- Tutor Second and third grade in math (2,3)
- Service Clerk at Supermarket
- Participant in Boys State</p>
<p>The State Senator I volunteered for is also writing me a letter of recommendation and his son goes to Harvard. I live in Massachusetts and the senator's a Democrat (which is good for Harvard/Columbia).</p>
<p>What are my chances of getting into Brown, Columbia and Harvard?</p>
<p>Don’t take this the wrong way, but some adcoms may see the "3,4"s as resume-padding given the timing. Pretty interesting ECs, though - good luck!</p>
<p>The party affiliation for your State Senator is irrelevant. As likely will be his letter for you. Rec letters that comment on your academic and classroom performance are most cogent. Your luck to know someone in politics is irrelevant.</p>
<p>Also, your SATs/class rank are a little bit low, which are the first criteria that you need to satisfy before Harvard starts caring about things like state senator recommendations.</p>
<p>I don’t think that’s likely true because not everyone who’s above me in class rank is applying there and my unique interests and extracurriculars set me apart.</p>
<p>I’m very interested why people seem to think I won’t be able to get into these colleges. True, my SAT scores aren’t off the charts stellar, but I’m in the middle 50% of scores for every school. Yeah, I’m no genius, but I am academically qualified to do the work at any Ivy League school. I set myself in the extracurricular department. I feel that my activities set me apart from the pack as an individual with many unique interests. I don’t think these colleges want people who only studied for four years. They want unique people who will add something to their campus. Harvard needs Hasty Pudding people and Harvard Lampoon people.</p>
<p>First of all, your record is very, very good. It will be good enough to get you into outstanding colleges, any one of which should fulfill what you want out of college. The reason that the odds are long at Harvard, Columbia and Brown is that the very best students from across the U.S. and the world apply to them, and they only have room to accept 7 - 11% of them. The next 70% or so of their applicant pools are just as academically qualified as the 7 - 11% who are accepted. So in order to decide which ones of the many qualified students to accept, the schools look for unusual accomplishments and qualities that will bring added value to the entering class. Given the level of competition at these schools, that often means that application “hooks” are awards and recognition at the state, national or international level. </p>
<p>So yes, the odds are quite long, but then they are for everyone else as well. By all means, take your best shot!</p>
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<p>Actually, liberal arts = broad and extensive, such as a liberal slathering of butter on an English muffin.</p>
<p>I am quite aware of what liberal arts means. :P</p>
<p>However, he is using it in reference to a politics, where liberal refers to those progressive socialists who are turning us into Europe, as the extreme non liberals would say.</p>
<p>I was using as a reference to politics because Harvard and Brown especially are very liberal colleges. Harvard, for instance, does not allow Army recruiters on its campus because it doesn’t agree with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.</p>
<p>^ That’s not going to help you get in. And my point was fleshed out well enough by gadad. The odds are very rarely in any applicant’s favor, that was my point. Statistically speaking, EC or not, the odds are very low for one, let alone three Ivy acceptances.</p>
<p>There’s certainly no harm in applying, but your SAT, SAT IIs, and GPA are all low for these schools. Also, I do not see much commitment, focus, or leadership in your extracurricular activities. </p>