<p>Ok, my friend wanted to know if he could get into Harvard, so I was wondering if anyone could help him out? Thanks!</p>
<p>Junior-
Indian
Academic: SAT: 2340
SAT II: 780 World History, 800 Math IIC
GPA: ~4.3, rank 2 out of ~550
APs: Calc BC- 5, World History- 5, taking APUSH, AP Comp, AP Biology, AP Enviro, AP Statistics, Spanish 3, Multi. Calc.
Next year: AP Lit, AP Econ, AP Gov, AP Spanish, AP Chem</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Speech and Debate: qualified for State, Nationals, many small regional/league awards, Co-Captain
President of Red Cross Club, Volunteering for a hospital, red cross, tutoring at a local library. (200+ hours)
Tennis 2 years
Teen government leader
Teacher aide </p>
<p>Will write essays on how he enjoys speech and debate, debating, talking politically.</p>
<p>You have great credentials (test scores and grades), and you're extracurriculars are good.
Now TELL A STORY to the admissions folks. If you convince them that you are not only smart, talented and driven (which is clearly demonstrated by your stats), but that you have real passions, or that you are going to do something interesting with your life, that you are, in other words, more than your grades, you will be heavily competitive, and to be honest, that is as good as it gets with the top tier. If you get in, it is because you put yourself in competitive range and then got picked - you you are turned away it is because you put yourself in competitive range and didn't get picked.
Tell a good story and you will have as good a chance of getting in as the people who ultimately are chosen, if you follow me. End of the day, you are fighting for a coin toss - with a compelling narrative, you've got your coin toss. Good work man, and hope to see you here next year!</p>
<p>thanks! that was very nicely put..but when you say tell a good story..you mean a true, honest story about motivation, about whatever the essays ask, supported by both true statements and convictions, and by stats/academics right?</p>