Do I stand a chance?...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Hi all, I'm an upcoming Junior and was wondering what my chances of getting into Harvard were. At first I thought it would be impossible, but after hearing that my cousin (once removed) went there as an international student and is currently in Harvard Med. School, I thought that there might be a miniscule chance of me getting in as well. (she was a 1st place winner in the international chemistry Olympics.</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>I live in TN, am currently the child of two Persian immigrants from Iran (maybe this holds sway?)
I attend a public high school, and was offered entrance into a merit-based public magnet school (couldn't attend due to financial and transportation issues.)</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.00 unweighted</p>

<p>ACT: (planning to take again junior year) 29 (32 reading, 28 Science, 26 Math (didn't take algebra 2 or trig before it) 29 English + 9 writing. I will get this up to a 33 or higher before I apply.</p>

<p>Freshman Year: Honors Algebra I, Honors Biology, Advanced Honors World Studies (dual English and geography credit) Band I, Band I, Honors Spanish I and II</p>

<p>Sophomore Year: AP European History (4 on the exam), Honors Geometry I, Honors Algebra II, Honors Chemistry, Adv. Honors English II</p>

<p>Junior Year: H Physics, AP Physics, AP US History (2 semester, 2 credits), AP English Comp, H Precalc, H Trig</p>

<p>Senior Year: AP Biology, H Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Statistics (tentative), AP Chemistry, AP Physics II, Spanish III, Adv Honors Chemistry II</p>

<p>SAT II: None so far, my school doesn't offer them so I'll have to ask around.</p>

<p>Extra curriculars (this is the reason I believe I can't get in):</p>

<p>H.O.S.A. member: I do medical math competitions and so far I've gotten 1st place in regional but didn't place in the state competition. Planning on becoming club president</p>

<p>I played Freshman Football ( we got 1st place in state)</p>

<p>Concert band member, but did not continue on to symphonic band (concert band is only for freshmen)</p>

<p>Debate team member/competitor, could be president next year</p>

<p>I do volunteer work, and tutor students English in Iran whenever I go there</p>

<p>Will join Honor society next year (only available to juniors + seniors)</p>

<p>AP club member </p>

<p>Working as an Interpreter on the phone</p>

<p>Fluent in Farsi, Dari, English, and learning Spanish</p>

<p>Usually people choose quantity over depth when it comes to Extra curriculars, and Harvard looks for a clear and passionate interest in a certain area. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, I've done neither. Is it too late? Should I even bother applying? I've seen some of the amazing EC's of other people on this forum, along with their perfect SAT/ACT scores. Honestly at this point I don't even think I'll stand a chance, after seeing my Extra curriculars the people at the admissions office will probably just throw it in the same pile as 94% of other applicants.</p>

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<p>

Harvard’s 25th percentile ACT is a 31. That means that 75% of Harvard students had a 31 or greater. While 25% had less than a 31, those applicants are most often associated with being a recruited athlete, an underrepresented minority (URM currently includes African Americans, Mexican-Americans, Native Americans (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), Pacific Islanders, and mainland Puerto Ricans. Unfortunately, being Persian does not count.), legacy applicants and developmental cases (donors that have given millions to Harvard). With your 29 ACT, Admissions would most probably think that you couldn’t handle the work load on campus even though you have a 4.0 GPA. So, your current chances are slim to none (sorry). You should post again AFTER you have achieved that 33 and everything else on your “planning on” agenda. In the meantime, please read: <a href=“Chance Threads - PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING ONE - Harvard University - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>FWIW: Unless you are a recruited football player, your EC in football is no different than another person’s EC in dance, theater, music, art, etc. It won’t kick you over the top.</p>

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<p>You have stated that you will be retaking the ACT, and yes bringing your score up into the 33 or higher range will provide you with a more realistic chance of acceptance. I believe Harvards Admissions process to be holistic, EC’s do matter, a compelling life story or experience does matter. I don’t believe any student cannot be across the board strong and be admitted.
Have an understanding of what you want and why and pursue that. Include a range of schools that are agreeable to you academically and financially.</p>

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<p>Agreed you need to bring up test scores to be competitive. </p>

<p>Just starting junior year, it is not too late to do something neat with your ECs. What on earth is medical math? As a physician (and college math major) I can’t even guess! That one is somewhat interesting. But your work as an interpreter is probably the better to focus on. It’s unusual for a young person. If you are being paid for services, or volunteer in a significant way, that could grow into a significant EC over the coming year. 12 to 15 months is a long time!</p>

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<p>Where is your international chemistry olympiad win? You said your cousin got accepted with this award, so I though you were implying that you too had that, therefore you too had a chance?</p>

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<p>INeedHarvard. Why is that? What about H that you can concretely point to right now that makes it the right fit for you besides its fame? I’m not trying to put you on the spot per se. But there are tens of thousands of name-chasers in the college admissions game. Just wondering if you could recognize if you were one of those.</p>

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<p>^^ I also wonder where the “fit” is and adcoms will as well. Being able to (genuinely) express this is as important as stats. What you can give is more important than what you need. Best wishes.</p>

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<p>Thanks to everyone for their replies, it mean a lot. Regarding my username, I made my account solely to post this thread (after reading countless “chance” threads), so that’s why I chose it. I don’t “need” Harvard in any way, and I realize that there are a plethora of other people who deserve (and can contribute to) it much more than I. </p>

<p>Honestly the reason I want to go there is not for fame or fortune, nor because members of my family went there. Nobody can prove that Harvard needs them, unless they show that they can contribute something academically, financially, or athletically. My cousin did just that, she showed that she had something to bring to the table. But seeing her get in made me think that not everyone has to be prepped and pruned from the day they were born for Harvard, or the other Ivies. </p>

<p>I see now (thanks to all of your posts and those on other threads) that it’s about single or multiple achievements to prove that you can contribute. Test scores and GPA’s are just qualifications to thin out the crowd. What really matters isn’t extra curriculars or grades, but a way to prove that you’ll be a good match for the Harvard community, and that you’ll succeed in life, and prove that Harvard graduates always go far.</p>

<p>I’ll come back to this forum when I have an ACT score to qualify for Harvard and an achievement to guarantee my admission. And even if I don’t get in, I realize that I can apply to another university (Vanderbilt, UCLA, and Carnegie Mellon are all on my priority list).</p>

<p>@VJSPeanut101, Medical Math is a competition in which IV flow rate, drop factor, mass conversion, temperature conversion and dosage problems are solved in a timed test, without a calculator.</p>

<p>@Greatkid I already know what I want, to be admitted into a good Medical School. Going to Harvard would maximize my chances of getting into any medical school in the US and Canada. Getting accepted into Harvard, Princeton, or John Hopkins Medical School is my dream, but increasing my chances using Harvard University first is the reality. </p>

<p>-Thanks again to everyone, really appreciated all of your inputs in this matter. Really helped change my perspective.</p>

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<p>“Going to Harvard would maximize my chances of getting into any medical school in the US and Canada.”</p>

<p>This is not true. H takes great students. Great students get admitted to Med Schools. Therefore H tends to have more admits to med schools. It’s not as if an H degree is the magic key – it’s not. Causation and correlation — you need to understand the difference. </p>

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<p>Actually, student’s may have a better shot at getting into a great medical school by attending another college: <a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/9/26/the-real-premed-requirements/?page=1”>The Harvard Crimson;

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<p>Princeton doesn’t have a med school. Do your research.</p>

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<p>Increasing your ACT composite by 4 points is easier said than done.</p>

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<p>Best Wishes and Good Luck!</p>