Could I get into Harvard even with a lower sat score?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

When I took the PSAT my score was a 1200 (new scale). (I am waiting to take the SAT right now)
GPA 3.8
I just joined the table tennis team too (does that count as me being an athlete?)
I was in my school band for two years and the guitar club for one, I have taken 3 AP classes so far, over the summer I joined a volunteer program (150 hours worth of it), and I have a certificate of proficiency in Microsoft word.

When taking all of this into account, do you think that they can overlook my score if it doesn’t rise (or barely rises at all?)
What can I do to improve my chances by a lot?

2

If those are your only EC’s you will not impress Harvard or most any adcoms. No, table tennis does not make you an “athlete”.

3

I wouldn’t list this for sure. Proficiency is Word is basically a given for any applicant to Harvard.

Anyway, I would not spend too much time thinking about this until you get an actual SAT score. In the interim, widen your search.

4

If your sights are actually set on Harvard, raise your GPA, get as high of an SAT score as you can, and get some stronger extracurriculars. “A certificate of proficiency in Microsoft Word” will get you laughed out of contention.

5

I would go a bit farther than that. Proficiency in Word is a given for ALL four-year colleges or two-year community colleges. It’s not something to list on your resume (ditto with Excel and Powerpoint); it’s an expectation that every student graduating high school will have the same proficiency.

6

Table tennis is a sport so he is an athlete @TomSrOfBoston

Instead of trying to do stuff that you think Harvard will like, do things you like to do. Using functions in Excel that most people don’t know about to create amazing spreadsheets for your teachers is an example of uniqueness + passion.

7

Another Question: Are my qualifications good for a non-ivy league school, or are they weak in general?

8

There are lots of colleges that would love to have a kid with your stats. Statring just under the top 50 or 75 would seem to be your match Zone.

9

They’re just average. For any school that puts a lot of weight on ECs theyre weak which is probably every top 40-50 school. Out of the top 50, you would be a good candidate but still not a shoe-in. Even if your SAT raised 300 pts, Harvard would still be a high reach.

10

Coongratulations on the certificate for Word. That means quite a few skills that most college students don’t have and reflects hard work on your part. And skills that will help in the workplace, at internships and so on.

There are many top schools that don’t require SAT or ACT scores at all, or deemphasize them. In fact a whole range of schools like this: http://fairtest.org/university/optional

Your scores aren’t bad and they may go up further, but it’s hopefully helpful for you to look at that list, which, even just under “B” , includes Bard, Bowdoin, Bates, Bryn Mawr and Brandeis as I remember.

11

(Update) I’ve been practicing SAT tests and got a 1300 on one of them. (700 for the reading and writing & language, 600 for math)

12

Congrats but it doesn’t affect your original question. My oldest kiddo’s HS has an AVERAGE SAT of 1334 – yet only has a small handful of admits to top most schools each year.

13

There are many schools that would love to have you with those scores. Do you have help investigating choices? Google “Colleges that Change Lives” and look at their website. And the site I posted above for schools that don’t require scores (though yours are fine, some of the top schools are on there).

Do you have a job? That is considered an EC and many schools are trying to honor that type of EC in recent years. What do you do during the summer?

I think that many young people need help figuring out what the best colleges might be for them. Think about size, location (city, rural, suburban, part of country, weather), the “vibe” you want (intellectual, alternative etc.), and look at the academics (distribution requirements, majors, courses within the major etc.). And of course cost (financial and merit aid). Many state universities have wonderful programs too, and the brightest students who cannot afford Ivies even when they get in, often go to the state U. so you would be in good company.

Buy or borrow from the library a book like Princeton review or one of the other college guides. Each entry will have average SAT’s. You will find yours are relatively high, just not for Harvard : )

If you have an interest, try to do things to develop that interest, not just to get in but to help you clarify things. If you live where there are not resources for this, or cannot afford it, that is fine too. Things like working locally or helping to care for a family are also important. I am sure you will land in a good school for you.

ps doing something interesting outside of school is a better use of your time than endless practicing for SAT’s : )