<p>I have been thinking over and over about my Harvard app, and of course every day I see someone here with stellar ECs (Olympiads, play 3 instruments.. ). I don't mean anything negative about the few, in fact, great work! I just feel disheartened as my academics are not exactly up to par with Harvard, and its my ECs, essay and letters that are supposed to pull me up, IF I make it to the borderline level.</p>
<p>Here they Are</p>
<ul>
<li>National Honor Society (3 years- the usual)</li>
<li>Math Team (3 years- go figure)</li>
<li>Model United Nations
---Page (1st year)
---Delegate for Saudi Arabia (2 years)
---Delegate for Pakistan (1 year)
-------Will Chair the Geneva Convention Committee</li>
<li>Capitol Forum, Watson Institute Debate, US Foreign Policy- I was on Nuclear Weapons</li>
<li>Orchestra - Violin (6 years - never got any awards though)</li>
<li>Kent County Hospital Intern </li>
<li>URI Biotechnology Intern- studied switchgrass as an alternate fuel source</li>
<li>Naval Undersea Warfare Center Intern, Division Newport
---Worked in and assisted Unmanned Surface Vehicle Department</li>
<li>Sales Associate- Staples (summer and school)</li>
<li>Invisible Children (provide aid to Ugandan Children)</li>
<li>Visited and assisted orphanages in Kenya (summer)</li>
<li>Active and helpful member in my Islamic Center</li>
</ul>
<p>Harvard does not know all these details because of the nature of the Common Application, does that make my ECs look weaker? Also, should Harvard know or should I just leave it? Some activities, out of ignorance, I didn't specify under summer activities when they were... thought?</p>
<p>I am sorry if I sound paranoid, but, I would like someone's opinion.</p>
<p>Honestly, unless you've discovered a cure for HIV or become first-chair violinist in the National Super Prestigious We-Refuse-5-Million-People-For-Every-One-That-We-Let-In Orchestra, you can't really have stellar ECs anymore. Look around; we're all interns, we all sing or play instruments, we've all helped orphans in some foreign country. Your ECs themselves are pretty good, but alone they won't gurantee a seat at Harvard. If you also have a 2400 SAT, 102/100 GPA at Super Tough Prep School, essays written by Stephen King (first author that came into my head), and are an Olympic athlete, THEN you can feel ok about MAYBE getting into Harvard.</p>
<p>Try to focus your ECs a little more when you put them on your app. It seems like you have a pretty strong background in foreign activities and the Middle East, so center your app around those. Your biotechnology internship seems slightly out of place, so don't highlight that if you go ahead with the Ambassador character. </p>
<p>Also remember that with Admission rates <30%, they tend to be something of a crapshoot to all non-recruited-atheletes (even URMs sometimes).</p>
<p>I have similar stats and not-so-great ECs and got into Y, also trying out for H. Don't worry. I believe it's too late to add addendums to your application, but the best way to find out is to call the office. Don't take my word for it.</p>
<p>You don't have to be a perfect applicant to have a slight chance to get into an Ivy League school. Your ECs, although not AMAZING, are fine. As long as the rest of your application is strong, you have as much of a chance as anyone else. Not being an olympic athlete or discovering a cure won't hurt you as much as CC would want you to think. Believe it or not, normal above-average students with good but not mind-blowing ECs get into Harvard and Yale. I know a couple people from my school who are like this and they weren't URMs, legacies, or anything like that. You have a chance.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Your ECs themselves are pretty good, but alone they won't gurantee a seat at Harvard. If you also have a 2400 SAT, 102/100 GPA at Super Tough Prep School, essays written by Stephen King (first author that came into my head), and are an Olympic athlete, THEN you can feel ok about MAYBE getting into Harvard.
[/quote]
um. no.</p>
<p>honestly, so your ECs aren't the greatest part of your application. can you get a few (1 or 2) leadership positions? becasue that would really be enough...honest...as long as the rest of your app stands out.</p>
<p>I don't want this to be a chances thread (its almost there)
I just want to know of I have at least one thing that Harvard might just want.</p>
<p>You already know I have a <em>relatively</em> crappy GPA
I took all the hardest courses
I have the generic ECs, with focus on politics
I have good SATs</p>
<p>Now what else. I am going to tell you but just understand, I am only doing this so I can calm my mind. If I sound annoying, I am sorry</p>
<p>I also put on my app my family history,
I started by saying that it pains me to indicate my race by a dropdown list giving me only one option that is technically applicable. I then went on to show I am not the 'typical asian' (I know, thee are too many threads about this.) I said my ancestors were from India/Pakistan, then moves to Kenya/Uganda then ended up here after my dad escaped danger from Idi Amin in Uganda. And we converted from Hinduism to Islam on the way :). This is what makes me different. Because of all this I know how to read Arabic, speak Urdu, Hindi, Kuchchi, and intermediate Spanish from school.</p>
<p>I also talked about how throughout my high school I have involved mydelf in political clubs, like MUN and the like, so to give a voice defending my religion and trying to clear doubts and misconceptions (products of media)</p>
<p>So yeah, what do you think Harvard will make of it?</p>
<p>Again, shoot me later, but just please answer</p>
<p>
[quote]
- Invisible Children (provide aid to Ugandan Children)
- Visited and assisted orphanages in Kenya (summer)
- Active and helpful member in my Islamic Center
[/quote]
given your family background those make a lot more sense. without that information it makes the ECs seem "cookie cutter." a good amount of well off applicants randomly go to South America, Asia, or sometimes even Africa, to do community service for a week or two then write about how the experience changed their lives, etc.</p>
<p>What does anyone else think about my whole heritage and middle eastern thing? Will such a thing appeal to Harvard, enough to not look down so harshly on my gpa?</p>
<p>Yeah I know. I sound desperate, just tell me what you think.</p>
<p>BTW, why is CC so slow lately? I mean, there is less action ... less posting ..</p>