Double-Legacy Harvard Rising Junior

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I’m a rising junior at a big public school in Southern Virginia hoping to apply to a few Ivy’s next winter as well as some others (MIT, etc.). I have an interesting narrative that I won’t include but one perk is that my parents both went to Harvard: my dad to get his PhD and my mom for graduate school and then law school. I saw that 40% of legacy applicants are admitted to Harvard College, so I think that I have an advantage. As far as the content of my application, here’s a sneak peak: (keeping in mind that I’m just starting Junior Year)

Intended major: Something along the lines of engineering, math, or physics

GPA/Class rank:
Currently tied for #1 with one other girl out of about 350 students with a 4.33 weighted, 4.0 unweighted GPA (it’s kind of a different system since anything >=90% counts for an A which is a 4.0 [or a 5.0 for AP’s] )

Sophomore year AP:

  • AP Human Geo (5), AP Calc BC plus AB subscore (both 5), AP Physics 1 (5), AP Physics 2, AP Music Theory, AP French

Junior year AP/college classes:

  • Multivariable, Linear Algebra, AP Stats?, Engineering Physics (college class), Research Methodology and Ethics (college class), APUSH, AP Lang

SAT/ACT:

  • Haven’t taken SAT yet but basically it will be 1600 minus how dumb English is (1560 at first maybe but hopefully close to perfect after a bit–I know speculation isn’t a good idea)
  • Haven’t taken the ACT yet either
  • Plan on several 800’s on subject tests, it will depend

Notable facts:

  • One of the most influential members of an online global community of math enthusiasts
  • Regional captain/champ for MATHCOUNTS
  • #1-ranked mathlete who was not from Northern VA at the state competition
  • Spelling bee champ and 3rd place out of 70 at regionals (on TV haha)
  • Only person to qualify for AIME from my school the past 2 years
  • Attended a selective, all-expenses-paid, French 3-week total immersion program at a university in VA
  • This coming year I will spend most 4th blocks working 1-on-1 with my physics teacher in preparation for the USAPhO
  • Have spent many hours coaching MATHCOUNTS and when I was 12 I held several seminars to train select rising middle-schoolers
  • Attend a “governor’s school” for engineering for the first half of each day which means next year I will he doing some sort of internship/project/research with NASA, most likely
  • VA Herpetological Society member and active enthusiast
  • Enjoy tinkering and building things with my friends, hopefully a science fair submission will come about
  • Lead actor in school drama production–talented singer
  • 10+ years of piano lessons, several awards

Super fun fact: I’m actually a chill guy who loves stuff like rap, video games and having fun despite being pretty smart

Extracurriculars:

  • Membership in many clubs, with many more to come
  • Play a school sport every season of high school (XC, indoor track, soccer, repeat)
  • In addition I play rec basketball and soccer during the school year
  • First alternate as a sophomore, regional champ 4x200 dash (4A Eastern)
  • Top 8 aka Varsity for 600m time trial (Track)
  • Undefeated soccer season sophomore year
  • Team manager (XC)
  • Scholastic Bowl East Region runners-up, 4th in state
  • Tutor after school for free

During the summer I swim and coach younger kids on the team when I’m not on lifeguard duty. As far as volunteering, I do it infrequently for my synagogue and to help places like Avalon, but this year I’m going to start for real.

Gender: Male
Race: Jewish (or white I suppose)
Family income: <$200,000

I’m definitely forgetting stuff but I also had to leave out a lot of stuff as well. Given that detailed, albeit undeveloped application, what are my chances at Top 20 schools? Thanks, and if you’re just going to tell me to work on my EC’s… C’mon man haha.

2

You’ve got a good chance. Knock it out of the park with your grades and standardized test junior year and you will have some great options. All that being said, top 20 schools are fluky and it’s competitive so don’t wonder why you get into some but not others. There will be no rhyme or reason but I think you will have outstanding options. Have a great Junior year!

3

I believe Harvard defines legacies as children of graduates of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges. Children of alumni of graduate and professional schools are not included. At least when “legacy” admit rates are cited, that is the definition used.

4

Not a legacy for admissions purposes. Legacy is defined as receiving an undergraduate degree form Harvard as noted below:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/5/11/admissions-fitzsimmons-legacy-legacies/

I plan on winning Powerball, but that doesn’t mean it will happen either. Best to ask the question once you have actual scores. Additionally, more ≠ better. 2 Subject Tests are sufficient.

5

Forms usually ask where your parents went to school, so I would list it there. I would not make other mention of it. It should help some. However, many of the legacy’s parents made large contributions, and some have several generations that have gone there, and other connections. So just having parents who went there is not going to make a huge difference.

6

“Membership in many clubs, with many more to come”

Don’t waste your time. There are only 10 spots (10!) on the common app for ECs. And you have space for about 2 sentences to describe them. That’s it. You will not have space to add meaningless club membership to your common app so don’t waste yours or the club’s time with token membership.

quantity <> quality. You already have quality - focus on one or 2 things you really love and apply broadly.

7

Update: @suzyQ7 and @skieurope I didn’t sign up for too many clubs and I pulled a 1560 first-time no study (just got the score). Thanks for the advice, you guys!