Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I lied, but I can't buy a view at this by simply putting "chances?" I'm sorry I hope you'll learn to forgive me. I've already forgotten</p>

<p>Male immigrant from Argentina (bilingual)
TX resident
top 10%
Father is Harvard alumni
from a political family concentrated in Argentina</p>

<p>SAT: 1320 (CR+M) 1970 (CR+M+W)</p>

<p>IB Full Diploma Candidate at moderately prestigious public high school in DF/W</p>

<p>EC: </p>

<p>involved in soccer both club and high school. Club team captain</p>

<p>UIL Social Studies and Current Events</p>

<p>1st Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do</p>

<p>Spanish Honor Society 2 years</p>

<p>Eagle Depot (Peer tutoring) senior year</p>

<p>Active member of the Obama 08 campaign</p>

<p>Closing Statement: My SAT scores aren't as outstanding as those others applying to Harvard, but I think that I may attract some interest from my ethnic background, and my deep dedication to my EC's (which was not in great depth as to save time seeing as how this is people's opinions and not the real thing)</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>JuanEatsPandas</p>

2

<p>Can you tell me your reasons for supporting Obama?</p>

3

<p>How active of an alumnus is your father? Does he conduct interviews with prospective students/donate money/participate in alumni events?</p>

4

<p>I support Obama for a number of reasons. As far as how active i don't really know, but I could probably get some guy from the Harvard Alumni club to write me a good recommendation.</p>

5

<p>"I could probably get some guy from the Harvard Alumni club to write me a good recommendation."</p>

<p>From what I've heard, those don't really help that much. Anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.</p>

6

<p>I don't know what your grades are, but your SAT is low, you have no SATII's, and your EC's are modest for a Harvard applicant. Your only chance of getting in is relying on your background + alumni connection.</p>

7

<p>Buy (or borrow) a prep book and try the SAT again. Also you might want to try the ACT, since some people do better on it.</p>

<p>3 SATIIs are required, so you'll want to get on that.</p>

<p>Just do your best and then apply. Nobody on the internet can give you a real idea of your chances anyway.</p>

8

<p>yeah, you guys are all right.</p>

<p>I do plan on taking the SAT again in October. However, I'm really not aiming for Harvard seriously, it's more of a thing to please my dad. I want to go to the University of Texas at Austin</p>

9

<p>Well there's your problem! If your heart truly ain't in it, that's something you should probably talk to your dad about. </p>

<p>PS SATIIs suck real lots anyway. Me: "I'm out of time!? Already!? But I still have 10 questions left! Ahhh, no I will not put my pencil down!"</p>

10

<p>i looooove ham and cheese empanadas, my mom is from argentina. :-)</p>

11

<p>all-ivy-league academia doesn't know much. take it from someone who has already gotten in (like myself)... you're not getting in. sorry. you're just too "bland"-- and that's putting it nicely.</p>

12

<p>hey there, I just got here in US not long. I'm really facing some problems with the educational system over here. I'm going to be a junior when school starts. Plus I'm working really hard on this SAT stuff. You guys have any idea of how I should study? Like methods in studying vocabs. I was thinking about taking the PSAT when school starts. But I'm facing problems with the writing section with all those identifying errors stuff. Wish you all could help me with this. Thanks</p>

13

<p>You'd be counting on legacy and URM status to pull you through with those SAT scores.</p>

14

<p>@tenzin:</p>

<p>Just buy an SAT prep book at a local Borders or Barnes and Nobel and take a few practice tests. The PSAT is probably free at your school, so you might as well. For vocabularly, just practice conversations with friends and teachers. I also recommend voracious reading and a word-of-the-day calendar (or you can get dictionary.com to email you one).</p>

15

<p>Tenzin, you'll probably have more luck posting on the international or the SAT board.</p>

16

<p>Rosh, how am I too bland? I'm from an immigrant from a different country, I speak 2 languages, I've done a number of other activities, how am I bland? Bland is the definition for those asians on this site with perfect SAT scores.</p>

17

<p>^ You have a point, but being a bilingual, immigrant [wait, you aren't even an immigrant, your dad is?] still doesn't set you apart. There will be about 1000 applicants like yourself. Heck, I was one, except I was actually born in a foreign country and I speak 4 languages :)</p>

<p>Good luck, though!</p>

18

<p>I was born in Argentina.</p>

<p>Btw, that's pretty cool that you speak 4 languages, which ones?</p>

19

<p>juan, speaking 2 languages is nothing much really..for you, it must be ur native language and english?</p>

20

<p>JuanEatsPandas... right now I would say that you have a shot like anyone else. However, what you have to realize is that legacy without major contributions won't help you as much as you think. Then we go to the URM status. There are many URMs with stellar ACT and SAT scores ( 33+ and 2250+) who come from other countries and are first generation students as well. Although you may be considered a URM... keep in mind there are some amazing URMs that score really well and others who may not score that welll but still over 2000/30 who have national championships and state championships under their belt. </p>

<p>I didn't feel like buying the ACT or SAT prep course because I simply couldn't afford it, but I did buy like 7 SAT 2 and ACT books and did fairly well on my tests by December.</p>

<p>You need to take three SAT 2's. I would suggest that if you speak Spanish or French that you take those tests because that will help your scores or it will show that you are not that great of a test taker even in your native language.</p>

<p>Improve the scores and delve more into your ECs. Write a fantastic essay and just wait and see.</p>