Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hello CCers -</p>

<p>Please chance me for Harvard (or any other Ivies, for that matter). I'm a bit nervous about doing this but I'd really appreciate any information or input you might have.</p>

<p>I'm a white, middle-class girl looking to apply as an engineering or computer science major.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.6 (and honor roll all three years of high school so far)
Rank: my school doesn't rank, but either 1 or 2
SAT: 2370
SAT II: Math II (800), Chemistry (750), probably taking Japanese in the fall
APs: Chemistry (4), European History (5); this year I took US History, Calculus BC, Physics B, French, Literature, and US Government
Senior Courseload: AP Physics C, AP Computer Science, AP Language, AP Spanish, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Engineering, and TA-ing AP US History.</p>

<p>Summer Activities: I spent last summer at Harvard SSP, and this summer I have an internship with a law firm. I also tutor more during the summer and am on my local swim team.
Extracurriculars:
- founder, captain and student coach of speech and debate team (my school didn't have one so I started it)
- captain and president of math team (AIME qualifier, participated in Harvard/MIT Math Tournaments, and the team I captained placed third in New England)
- editor in chief of school newspaper
- play piano and guitar
- black belt in karate
- member of JSA (Junior State of America)
- was on the Student Council
- I also speak a lot of different languages
Community Service:
- member of National Honor Society and chair of our Project Committee (I put together all our chapter projects)
- founding member and current president of online peer tutoring program
- volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
- school representative/tour guide
- organized schoolwide can drive for local food pantry
Recommendations: positive they'll be strong; one has written me a rec before that was excellent</p>

<p>...Any thoughts?</p>

2

<p>At least a 20% chance. Are you applying early? And make sure to start your essays early. You aren’t one of the people who are clearly going to be admitted on your record alone (see: Olympic athletes with brains). That said, your record is clearly strong enough for you to be in the top tier of candidates (however big that is), in which I think essays and recommendations do a lot of the differentiating.</p>

3

<p>I say your chances are GOOD if you stick with Engineering…Harvard just started their ABET cert. engineering program this year…they want to grow their science/engineering reputation…white women in engineering are still a minority—i see scholarships for your group—my son was accepted to Harvard–MIT and Yale last year–and i went to all 3 accepted student weekends with him…I know what I am talking about!..PS…if you go to a public school you(your parents who pay taxes) can FOIA the list of all students’ GPAs in your class on the basis of their tax dollars are paying for those educations…then you can look at the list of numbers and see where your GPA is!—just an idea—Harvard really does want to select valedictorians…</p>

4

<p>Few girls apply to engineering. That should improve your already considerable chances.</p>