Could I Get Into Harvard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I was ranked 1st in my class out of 180 this year as a freshman. I know that if I keep it up, I could be valedictorian.</p>

<p>However I know with 37,000 high schools there are 37,000 other students in the country just like me.</p>

<p>I really want to go to Harvard University. Would being valedictorian improve my chances? Would it help me get scholarships?</p>

<p>Extra Information:
Besides being valedictorian, I will also be the first one ever in the history of my high school to take an AP Biology course that I designed, and take the exam. I want to study medicine (be a medical writer), so I'm also taking chemistry (honors and AP next year. ) And almost all accelerated/ AP classes except for gym/health (mandatory.)</p>

<p>I'm doing a robotics camp in Vermont this summer, and a political science camp in Princeton.</p>

<p>I'm class president, president of FFA (I do public speaking), student council, soccer, basketball, track, science olympiad medalist, peer tutor, and in young writer's club.</p>

<p>I also am starting a Newspaper Club at my school, since I was editor in middle school, but was shocked when I came to high school and we didn't have one.</p>

<p>I am also a published author.</p>

<p>I also took the PSAT and ACT this year, and besides the math section I scored in the 90th percentile or better.</p>

<p>I have about 20 hours of community service, mainly from peer tutoring.</p>

<p>Both my parents are also from Africa, so I am an underrepresented minority.</p>

<p>Could I get into Harvard? What else could I do? What are your honest opinions?</p>

2

<p>I think you need to do more service activities in order to be considered a competitive applicant. You have a shot if you keep everything else up</p>

<p>Sent from my Desire HD using CC</p>

3

<p>^^ Oh PLEASE! Admissions directors realize that a vast majority of students only do service activities because it looks good on their application. I know many students, including my two kids, who were accepted with absolutely no service activities. </p>

<p>OP: If you have the requisite stats, the only way to distinguish yourself among a group of students who have similar grades and test scores is on personal merit. And that impression comes directly from your essays, teacher recommendations, and guidance counselor report. As such, your essays are critical to the success of your application because they provide dimensionality and a “face” to the numbers. It’s also the only part of the application you have total control over.</p>

4

<p>Regarding service hours, I agree with gibby. My son performed the 55 service hours over four years required to graduate from his high school. Although he engaged in other service activities, he didn’t keep count of hours (it seems perverse to actually count the hours one performs as a volunteer serving others), he just did stuff. He listed the things he did briefly on his application, but without quantifying his efforts.</p>

<p>In terms of service, he did fairly ordinary things. He tutored elementary and high school students in a variety of subjects, he lent a hand to different fundraisers for different charities, he was a volunteer assistant karate teacher for little kids, helped out with a few other activities on a few different occasions.</p>

<p>I don’t think Harvard accepted him for his service hours, LOL. Neither did they reject him for a relative paucity of them.</p>

5

<p>If you can get really good essays written, you’ll definitely have a good chance. Since you are a URM, that’s a HUGE hook. You also boast an impressive resume, so you’ll probably do perfectly fine!</p>

6

<p>At Harvard, all financial aid is given on the basis of need, as demonstrated by tax records from your parents. There is no merit money, so being a validictorian would not help get money, but would help gain admissions. </p>

<p>To be really competitive, you will need higher test scores. There are increasing numbers of high-scoring URMs, so you want to be at the top of that demographic.</p>

7

<p>Simple advice: apply and find out. My son was accepted Early Action. We’re a Hispanic family living in London and as we have moved a lot, his schooling has been affected. He has a 3.67 GPA but is fluent in Russian and has done loads of international development work when we have lived abroad. He was accepted by Harvard and Dartmouth, and both offered us 100% financial aid. Harvard accepted two other students from his class: neither with at the top of the class but both also had diverse backgrounds. So try. Interestingly, Harvard did NOT accept the two candidates who graduated 1st and 2nd in his class.</p>

8

<p>I honestly don’t see anything that could distinguish you from other applicants. There is nothing that is like “WOW” and it seems like you’re just trying to impress the adcoms.</p>

<p>Community service is a tricky one. You need to have specific work on an area that is relevant to your ambitions that doesn’t scream “HEY HARVARD LOOK AT ME I DID SERVICE!”. You gotta stick out.</p>

<p>Being valedictorian won’t get you scholarships. Being awesome and truly unique will. Also, if your family is middle class or above their are limited options for scholarships.</p>

9

<p>ReecesPieces, OP is a freshman asking for guidance. Some of your comments are not particularly encouraging, such as “it seems like you’re just trying to impress the adcoms.” Try to be a bit less judgmental.</p>

10

<p>Yes, but who knows if you will. </p>

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<p>lol… </p>

<p>Do this if you’d like. I found (and find) volunteerism to be pleasant, but nobody should feel compelled into “service,” unless, you know, you don’t own your own time.</p>

11

<p>How are you a published author?</p>