Chances of Harvard and How to Improve It?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I am still starting HS in the fall and here is my planned schedule and stuff...</p>

<p>Grade 9</p>

<p>Computer Essentials (CP)
Freshman English (H)
Art I (CP)
Art II (CP)
Physical Education (CP)
Geometry (H)
Biology (H)
US History I (H)
Spanish 2 (H)</p>

<p>Grade 10</p>

<p>Sophomore English (H)
Health (CP)
Physical Education (CP)
Chemistry (H)
AP US History
Spanish 3 (H)
Advanced Art I (H)
Advanced Art II (H)</p>

<p>Grade 11</p>

<p>AP Microeconomics
American & British Literature (H)
AP Calculus BC
Physics (H)
AP World History
Spanish 4 (H)
AP Studio Art - Drawing</p>

<p>Grade 12</p>

<p>AP Spanish
AP English Literature
AP Statistics
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
(maybe math mentor?)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars
- Cross Country, Basketball, and Rugby team
- maybe Class President?
- American Red Cross Club
- Science Olympiad Team
- Varsity Math Team</p>

<ul>
<li>National Honors Society</li>
<li>National Art Honors Society</li>
</ul>

<p>And I plan to volunteer at my father's practice, shadow a doctor at the hospital, maybe start a tutoring program, and anything else that interests me and comes my way</p>

<p>I want to be a neurosurgeon and hope to attended Harvard College and Harvard Medical School.</p>

<p>What do you think I should do other than this? I do not have any awards cause I am just starting High School but I plan on receiving a National Merit Award and a National AP Scholar Award.</p>

<p>Opinions?? I really want to get into Harvard. Its been my dream since 3rd grade when everything, including my passions, fell into place. I really do love science, art, and math. And don't worry, I have a social life, or at least the social life my parents approve of.</p>

<p>So my questions...
What do I add?
Where do I volunteer?
Does this give me a reasonable chance of being accepted to Harvard?
How hard do I have to work?
And finally, How do I find my hook if I enjoy many many activities?</p>

2

<p>What is your gpa and SAT/ACT score? That’s a pretty important factor.</p>

3

<p>I haven’t started HS so I don’t have any of that stuff. But my GPA throughout everything has been 4.0. I’ve been a straight A/A+ student and if I have a weighted grade and through the four years of high school continue with my straight A’s, the weighted GPA would be 5.02.</p>

<p>I still haven’t taken my SAT or ACT or any other test like that. But I am confident enough to day that their range would be from 710-800. I think my true question is if all of my grades and such live up to the highest expectation, and they will cause of family, school, and personal pressure, what hook or EC should I pursue. I only know of a few awards.</p>

<p>I will start 9th grade at the end of August…</p>

4

<p>Some good articles in this thread for you
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1522348-harvard-hopeful.html?highlight=8th[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1522348-harvard-hopeful.html?highlight=8th&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Thank you! What do you think of the courses I have chosen? My guidance conselour thinks I’m instance but I feel that this course will be enough for me to feel productive cause next year (grade 9) I feel like I’m not going to be learning a lot. I am also 1-2 years ahead of everyone in math. Any other advice would be nice and how hard is it really to get into Harvard? I live 30 minutes away from the campus so I am familiar with the area.</p>

6

<p>** thinks that I am insane ***</p>

<p>Sorry I’m on my phone</p>

7

<p>Is all that art a hs requirement? You think you’ll be ok in AP Calc BC (and physics) with only geometry and no 10th grade math? </p>

<p>You know your ECs outside school have to expand. Shadowing is a good start, but doesn’t substitute for taking on some later challenges (research, lab work, some work for a clinic or service where you have responsibilities with patients, even if any of this is low level.) Most important, your competition will be in math-sci hs activities/competitions, plus outside responsibilities. For many, their tutoring is in addition to these. When you are aiming tippy top, a good idea is always to climb out of the usual hs comfort zone. Remember that leadership isn’t titles, it’s what you actually do, the commitment and your impact. And, to some extent, the satisfaction, rounding and grounding that comes through. Make sure you also do some fun things in the hs.</p>

8

<p>I love art so I decided to take them. I have exhausted the math and science department at my school, having taken Algebra 2 8th grade year. I’ll be fine. Math is probably going to be the easiest thing alongside gym, computer essentials, health, and art. I love math and I have exhausted the curriculum. I already understand pre calc geometry but my guidance conselour won’t let me opt out.</p>

<p>As for EC, I am not sure what is able to be offered around and working with my dad, a psychiatrist I have done many small things, but I am still to find a good clinics in MA. Any ideas are welcome. Sports are also something I won’t stop doing. And the thing is, I want to decide this year what I will volunteer and do so I can stay committed. I don’t think I want to do tutoring all to much, and I also want to keep the art because it is a requirement to do an elective, which I chose as art…</p>

9

<p>Course selection is part of it, and it is good you know your interests. But try to plan summer programs (there is a thread for those on CC) like RSI at MIT, SIMR at Stanford, NIH. Try to use your family contacts to get summer research opportunities now. try to publish.</p>

<p>You will need 4 years of English, 4 years of the same language is recommended, 3 years of history (US Hx, European Hx and another hx), biology, chem, physics and advanced course in one of the above. You have those (but maybe try AP European instead of APUSH? since you already have a year of USH). </p>

<p>Math is a concern, as noted in the prior poster as well. You can’t jump from geometry in 9 to AP calcBC in 11. pre-calc, and maybe intro calc needs to be in there. That may limit your art classes in 10th grade. AP statistics is OK for self-study, so instead, suggest you spread out 4 years of math and end with BC calc or higher calc if your school has it. </p>

<p>Check out the Harvard undergraduate admissions course recommendations on their website. Come up with a wider list of schools of interest too. Even if you are valedictorian with straight As and perfect SAT scores, etc., your chances of admission to H are less than 50%.</p>

10

<p>Let me add that English is my second language, my first one being Arabic…
I don’t know if this has any meaning but I was on tv for an iPad intiavitve I helped start at one of my old schools in 7th grade.</p>

11

<p>I took Algebra 2 in 8th grade so the next course is Geometry in 9th Pre Calc in 10Th and Calc Bc in 11th. Statistics will be taken durint senior year since it will meet 4 years but also BC and Stat are the highest my school offers.</p>

<p>I am taking 4 years of Spanish; Spanish 2, Spanish 3, Spanish 4, AP Spanish. </p>

<p>My English has requirements at my school and the four years are met: Freshnan English, sophomore English, American and Brit lit, and AP English Lit.</p>

<p>My schools history requirements is also met for graduation: US History 1, AP USH or USH2, and AP World History. My sciences are also met, but I could not fit in physics, even if I did take out art because there is the pre requisite and school requirments…</p>

12

<p>My other school options are BC & BU because of family/religious/personal issues. Everything must stay in MA</p>

13

<p>Ok, you have put more thought into the schedule than I realized.<br>
The summer programs can be good- when they are competitive for admission and demanding in the program, itself, versus “pay to play.” They don’t always substitute for taking on responsibilities. I’d also warn that adcoms know hs kids don’t publish on the level true professionals/grad students may. They’re getting their feet wet, not swimming the marathon. </p>

<p>The volunteering- don’t be in too much rush to settle on one big 3-4 year commitment. It can show as much or more to do something as a start and consciously pick a larger challenge later, when you qualify for more. Show a well-considered progression. You need to get through 9th and then come back for a fine tune.</p>

14

<p>What is a STEM application?
Do you have any ideas as for volunteering?</p>

<p>I put thought into everything so I know everything is met. I am thinking of self studying one AP- Psychology.</p>

<p>Do you know of any good summer programs in MA? Other than MIT obviously. I may do some sport camps at Harvard as well…
Harvard is one of my biggest dreams :)</p>

15

<p>OH I see why everyone got confused, ahaha I forgot to write Pre Calc honors in Grade 10 haha sorry ;3</p>

16

<p>Loving these goals of yours!! I’m also from MA, what city/county are you from?</p>

17

<p>Southborough!!! yeah haha hbu?
Everyone I know thinks my goals are too much. Haha
I just NEED to know how to get into Harvard, without forcing myself to do too much stuff I don’t enjoy. </p>

<p>Haha funny story, at the end of 7th grade, my family decided to move so the boy and I have tied gpas so at the end we agreed that we were going to see each other at Harvard. Lol</p>

18

<p>Other than the name, what makes Harvard so important to you?</p>

19

<p>Why limit to Massachusetts only? For example, Yale and Brown are close.</p>

<p>Near Boston, Tufts and Northeastern may interest you too. How about a LAC like Amherst (very good med school results). MIT. MIT. MIT… (check out MIT admissions web pages for ideas on math and science enrichment)</p>

<p>STEM stands for science technology Engineering and Math.</p>

20

<p>Well Harvard is near where I live, closer than most colleges, I’ve heard loads about their science department and that their art is good. My father also has influence their, having had many jobs open to him, he refused cause of the low pay but has thought of working there if I get in to help pay the tuition. I think the main reason is location, it is why we moved to MA in the beginning. I’ve heard of the intense curriculum which makes me happy cause its difficult to find a challenges, especially in math, at the public and private schools I have attended</p>