DISCLAIMER- Chance thread inside! :P Do you think I'm kidding myself?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hi everyone! I didn't really want to post another chance thread, but I guess that got overruled because here I am. :p
I'm an international applicant from India. Yeah, ORM. I know.</p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I: 2110 first attempt, took again in Dec, expecting 2200+.
[</em>] SAT II: 800 Chemistry, 790 Math II
[<em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): Different evaluation system; (Indian Curriculum)
[</em>] Rank: 3/250
[<em>] Senior Year Course Load: Toughest available.
[</em>] Major Awards: Table tennis, environment, internship?
[/ul]
Subjective:[ul]
[li] Extracurriculars:</p>[/li]
<ol>
<li><pre><code> TABLE TENNIS
</code></pre>

<p>1.1. Captain Delhi State Girls Team- 2007, 08, 09.
1.2. Captain Varsity Team- 2005, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10
1.3. Gold Medallist at National Championship(07)
1.4. Silver Medallist at National Sports Championship.(08)
1.5. Chosen for Delhi Team 2009, Tournament cancelled due to unavoidable conditions.
1.6. Varsity— Gold- 2005, 06, 07, 08, 09.
1.7. Awarded Outstanding Girl in Table Tennis Award-4 years running.
1.8. Table Tennis Coaching- conducted Coaching Camp early mornings and during Summer Break. 20 students.</p></li>
<li><p>BHARATANATYAM (CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>2.1. 11 years disciple of famous dance guru.
2.2. I have given numerous stage performances/shows as part of Troupe and also individually in various cities. Awarded Nritya Kasturba Award twice (awarded to very select students of the dance school). Total 11 awards and 15 public performances. Submitting CD of my performance.
2.3. Taught(apprenticed w/ main teacher) the beginners class. Also helped out at annual day volunteering/ arrangements/organisation, make up etc. Basically involed w/ dance school a lot.</p>

<ol>
<li> SCHOOL EDITORIAL BOARD</li>
</ol>

<p>Co- Editor. Do final editing, selection/rejection of selected articles and photography for the school magazine. Poems have published in CNDP’s “Toward Peace” newsletter. Submitting writing sample.</p>

<pre><code> ENVIRONMENT RELATED
</code></pre>

<ol>
<li> Collective Effort (Interact Club)</li>
</ol>

<p>1.1. Vice President. Successfully lobbied with school authorities for Water Harvesting System. In charge of ensuring maintenance of the school’s new Water Harvesting system.
1.2. Did Mapping of region within 1 km of school (2009) and pinpointed various regions of environmental degradation to Municipal Corporation. Various successful environment awareness campaigns conducted in city. Waste Management within school.
1.4. In appreciation of Club’s contribution to environment and active environment preservation work, Ministry of Earth Science, and TERI awarded us Rs. 1, 00,000 for organising competitions for 1000+ students to raise environmental awareness on Earth Day. Featured in National newspapers.
1.5. 2nd prize in State Environment based Dramatics competition held by Govt. Of India. I had lead role and co- authored the 20 minute play (2007).
1.6. Conducted Environment based State Rotary Debate (2010). </p>

<ol>
<li> Individual Effort</li>
</ol>

<p>2.1. Environmental Research trip to Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan- Fully funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests. Was one of only 15 students selected from Delhi state. Learnt from Environment Scientists, observed long- term, short-term effects of changing environment conditions, habitat, feeding ground preference, and other wildlife in area.(2008)
2.2. State award in short film I made on Pollution of Yamuna River to spread awareness about its deteriorating condition. Film featured on television. (2008).
2.3. State winner-Environment related Declamation held by TERI and Ministry of Environment and Forests. Participation of 150+ students from 45 schools. (2008).
2.4. Represented school at Workshop on Green Buildings conducted by Switzerland Embassy. Learnt more about environment protection. (2009)</p>

<pre><code> COMMUNITY SERVICE
</code></pre>

<ol>
<li> Collective Effort (Interact Club)</li>
</ol>

<p>1.1. Vice President. Devised and executed various successful fundraisers.
1.2. Covered over 400 houses to collect funds for Rotary Polio Villages. Visited said Polio Village with President of Rotary Club to oversee proper distribution of funds collected.
1.3. Collected 1000 kg of school items- bags, stationery, notebooks, and pencil boxes to donate to Child Rights and You (CRY) every year.
1.4. Nuclear Peace Assembly held by CNDP (Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace) in 2008, 2009. Over 30 schools from city participated. Noted Columnist and peace activists mentored us in the advocacy of Nuclear Disarmament and Peace.</p>

<ol>
<li> Teaching Underprivileged Children</li>
</ol>

<p>Founded unofficial classroom called “Asha” (Hope) with older neighbourhood girls. Teach basic math and English to children of impoverished servants/labourers from underprivileged village in neighbourhood.</p>

<p>I am also School Prefect. Organize all major school celebrations, yada yada. </p>

<p>academic awards
1)Selected for & attended Science Internship at University. Only top 1% students from city selected.
2) Distinction in English and Credit in science in University of New South Wales, Australia International Assessment.</p>

<p>[<em>] Essays: Idk; I'm my worst critic and I hate everything I write. But objectively speaking, they should be tolerable at least.
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation: They're good.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Generic.
[</em>] Additional Rec: Sports coach- outstanding!!
[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>] Country (if international applicant): India
[</em>] Income Bracket: Qualify for full aid by large margin. This could also serve as a hook? :S
[/ul]</p>

<p>So I have some sweet stuff in env, sports and dance basically. But then this is harvard and I really think I'm fooling myself by applying here. I don't want to put in another crapshoot application really if I don't have a chance so please tell me now if I don't.
(PS- Yes, I know statistically everyone has a 7% chance. I'm not asking about that :p)</p>

<p>Hey bdw, please tell me if this all is just too much information overload and if I should cut down on some stuff (what?).All this goes on my resume and it fits in around 1.5 pages.
Cheers! :)</p>

2

<p>okay,your resume has a lot of stuff.Overkill?It may have the opposite effect to the one you are after.try to cut down,after reading half of it one gets tired,just try to focus on the highlights.</p>

3

<p>I thought it looked boring too.
Thank you for your input macmill! Please could you suggest some stuff to cut down? Thing is, I thought the detail(names, etc) has to be present. Is it not so? I could delete all that, numbers and elaborations. What do you say?
For eg. instead of names of awards in TT, should I just write national, state and regional?</p>

4

<p>I don’t really know how to chance international applicants but I will say that you probably won’t have the opportunity to elaborate so much on all of your ECs on the actual application. So when you are looking at how your application would look to a reviewer, keep that in mind.</p>

5

<p>Being full aid isn’t a hook.</p>

6

<p>No offence, but a Distinction in English and a Credit in Science in McMillan isn’t a good thing. The lowest certificate awarded in our class was a credit. </p>

<p>That aside, I think improving your SAT score to a 23+ would nearly guarantee your chances at an Ivy, although I don’t know about Harvard. The fact that you are applying for full aid is probably the worst part of your application. Besides the need-blind colleges, that will hurt you.</p>

<p>Although your other ECs are common, I must say your Table Tennis and Bharat Natyam is quite impressive. I think that, being the backbone of your application, should be backed up by an essay.</p>

7

<p>It is quite pathetic innit? I haven’t put it on my main app, but this was on one of my old resumes which I copy pasted. :confused:
Yeah, I have good essays on both tt and dance but I don’t want all my essays to be about ECs you know? And plus, I’m very passionate about teaching kids atm.
Thanks for your opinion! (although I must say I was hoping this thread had died out. :o
It’s one of my most shoddy resumes and old; I wonder what prompted me to post it. I haven’t mentioned half the important env related stuff and put in the unimportant stuff)</p>

8

<p>Wow Pixie: I am impressed with your CV. You definitely should apply</p>

9

<p>Thank you luceverita! I hope the adcoms think the same way! :D</p>

10

<p>I don’t think sat scores actually matter…and a 2300+ guarantees nothing…You ECs are really good; write a great essay and make your list of ECs less boring to read, you probably will get into a few Ivies (though 4/8 are not need-blind).</p>

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<p>I don’t know what everyone is saying about OP’s EC’s being boring. I thought they were very interesting and impressive. You’re definitely a highly competitive applicant, although your international status makes acceptance considerably more difficult. Definitely apply (and do raise those SAT scores) - I’m expecting to hear great things from you in April! =)</p>

12

<p>^ I fully agree. To me these ECs look very impressive.</p>

13

<p>Thank you for the encouraging words Claddagh, suruname and luceverita :)</p>

14

<p>Whatever safesexondabeach.
You’re obviously a ■■■■■. You did nothing but post disparaging comments about everyone on the Yale forum yesterday and now you’re here.
Is there any point of your post?</p>

<p>Bdw, just so you know, my Dec SAT is sure to be atleast a 2200. That’s the minimum it can go. Also, I got deferred from Yale with that 2110. So, maybe you should just get a life.</p>

<p>And I do realize an Ivy would be tough even if I do manage a 2300. It’s just polite to thank other posters who posted encouraging comments.</p>

15

<p>There are many applicants admitted during the ED/SCEA round to the Ivies with SAT in the 2100 range. Also, looking at the stats posted by admitted/deffered/rejected applicants, there is obviously not one clear predictor of success or failure. Admission looks like a mysterious recipe which we do not know.
I persist in having a high opinion of OP’s achievements and do not understand why you have to be this hostile even if you do not agree.</p>

16

<p>Luceverita, check out his/her posts on the Yale forum. Then you will get a more clear picture of his/her malicious nature.</p>