Do you think I have a good chance of getting into Harvard College?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello everyone,

I am sixteen years old, living in the Cayman Islands. The high school I currently attend follows the UK system of education, therefore I am now taking my AS, and finally, obtaining my A Levels next year. I am currently studying Economics, Psychology, English Literature and History.

Throughout my life I have always set high standards for myself. From a young age, I had many achievements such as student of the month, participating in my student council, as well as becoming a member of my previous school’s Concert Band. I have also participated in science fairs, spoken on my local radio, and played football (known as soccer, in the USA). I also won third in my local Optimist Club competition at age ten, when my other competitors ranged from ages sixteen to seventeen. I have also participated in many spelling bees, and was my school’s junior House Captain. I also achieved second in a full any-school scholarship competition offered by DART, and was guaranteed a summer internship. I taught myself to play the piano at age 8, and have played by ear ever since. Additionally, I play the flute, achieving a Grade 6 level at Trinity Guildhall and plan to complete my Grade 8 this year, leading into next year.

Currently, I am in my school’s Concert Band, MUN (Modern United Nations) Club and play in a college Steel Pan Group. I have also participated in steel pan competitions, winning second out of fourteen bands in Toronto’s ‘Pan Alive’. I am also planning to do a TED Talk in my local community about the fear of fitting in and the obligation of conformity, plus the worldwide controversy that goes along with that.

Besides academic and extra-curricular achievements, I have also performed lots of community service. At Christmas time, I’ve gone caroling at my local old-age home, orphanage and for those with mental disabilities. Furthermore, I have also created arts and crafts for under privileged kids in less economically developed areas, such as smaller areas in Jamaica. In my free time, I also walk the dogs and take care of the cats at my local humane society.

I took the PSAT a couple years ago, but I do not remember how good my results were. As I’m doing A Levels, I do plan on applying to universities in the UK, such as Oxford or Imperial College London. I am planning to take the ACT (with writing) or the SAT (with 2 subject tests) four subsequent times before applying to universities in the USA to ensure that I achieve above 2000 (which I believe is a good result to have). Yet, my GCSE results were not the best, I received: five A’s, four B’s and one C (which was half a GCSE, so I never really consider it).

I am only taking the ACT/SAT so that I can apply to Ivy League schools. I am applying to 10 universities in total: 5 in the UK and 5 in the states. Although I would love to be accepted into Oxford and other schools alike, Harvard College is my DREAM SCHOOL. Each day I dream of attending Harvard and how proud of myself I would be to get into such a prestigious school.

Yet, I have to say - I am not the SMARTEST person academically in my year. I do believe that it is good to set high standards for yourself so that they could be met. I am aware that Harvard has a RIDICULOUSLY LOW acceptance rate, but I feel as if I would be happier applying and being rejected rather than living with the guilt of not applying at all.

What do guys think? Do you think I have a good chance of being accepted to Harvard? I would love to go. Additionally, do you have any tips and tricks for me in regards to being accepted? Do I have an advantage over local US citizens because I was born in a Caribbean island? Does Harvard like cultural diversity?

Thank you so much for your time! :slight_smile: Please give me your honest opinions.

2

Without scores, there’s no way to say. (My honest opinion.)

3

(and for Harvard, you’ll almost certainly need far better than 2000 on the SAT 1)

4

For the most selective schools in the United States, such as Harvard University (I looked it up and Harvard College is part of Harvard University; I would check out which is correct before you write an essay possibly using the wrong one!), 2000 SAT isn’t quite good enough. I’ve heard a good rule of thumb is about 2250, though you can certainly get rejected with scores even higher than that.

Anybody whose grades/scores “aren’t the best” probably has a lesser chance than most, because EVERYBODY wants to go to Harvard. :frowning: If you are not a US citizen, chances are even smaller, because the international pool is very competitive.

Definitely work hard and apply. I agree that trying is better than forgetting it! Good luck!!

5

Thank you guys! I appreciate the help.

6

Don’t you get UK rates from Cayman? Has anyone indicated you are competitive for Oxbridge or do you have some UK match schools too?

7

No, it has not been indicated whether or not I am eligible for Oxbridge - I suppose because I have not taken my AS exams yet, but I would like to assume that I am competitive! I am not sure how else I could find that out, and yes, other schools on the island also offer A Level programs and IB/AP classes as well.

8

OP: No one – unless Harvard Law School’s new library bears your family name, or possibly you’re a tenth generation Harvard College legacy, or your mother is a revered tenured full professor at Harvard, or your brother is Massachusetts’ Governor – has (to quote your title) “a good chance of getting into Harvard College.” Please understand this immutable fact.

With this said, I very much like your advance thinking. Furthermore, your limited “statistics” look solid. However, you have no standardized test results. Until you do, any opinion proffered is truly meaningless speculation.

Good luck.

9

Okay, thank you all, but this question still stands: should I get above 2250 on the ACT, should I apply?

10

You mean SAT?

Of course you should apply. Just understand that there are few admitted to HYP, etc. There should be little expectation for ANYONE.

11

No. The international acceptance rate is about half the overall rate.

That should not be a goal. If you get 34/2250+ the first time around, call it a day and move on.

12

You should make sure you have some match schools in the UK and the US, I don’t know what you plan on studying bu the Oxbridge and Imp college options are just as much of a reach as the Ivy option in the USA. I assume you are in a private school on Cayman so take note of where your peers go and what your counselor suggests. How do you define yourself ethnically? Are you black Caymanian? Do you have dual citizenship outside of Cayman?

13

OK I’m going to be honest. I do not think you have a good chance of being accepted to any of these particular schools. I think it’s even less than 1%. Sorry. I would say the same to my own daughter. That said, if this is your dream, you still have time to make it happen! Kick everything up SEVERAL notches, I mean SEVERAL. You need straight A’s, a 2300 SAT, and better EC’s than MUN and caroling. MUCH BETTER. Now go do it!

14

Well, I’m going to take the chance. It’s worth applying, you only have one life. I appreciate the criticism but I have decided to apply.

15

I am white Caymanian by the way - female.

16

Nobody told you not to! :slight_smile: I think they just want to make sure you don’t get your hopes up. It can be soul-crushing.

17

You should apply…everybody who wants to should…the posters are just saying that your chances are very small…and being an international, it’s even tougher. So apply to Harvard…and have good backups.

18

Really, a white girl from a country known as Cayman is isn’t exactly offering cultural diversity, so that isn’t going to be a hook. Line up match schools.

19

Unfortunately Harvard are one of the few American Colleges which look at your GCSE’s and A levels.
It is suggested that whilst A levels determine whether you get into Oxbridge a minimum of 6 A*‘s at GCSE is required for all private school students.
Harvard is certainly close to, if not at, the level of Cambridge and Oxford and so with your lower GCSE results it is vital that you obtain excellent SAT scores.
This is not to say you cannot gain acceptance to Harvard. American Colleges’ more holistic approach to admissions will give you an opportunity to ‘balance the ticket’ with your extra curricula activities and character.
Good luck!

20

So, since I don’t have any A*'s at GCSE, I can’t apply to Oxford? :frowning: (I am not considering Cambridge).