Hi,
I am an international student, applying to Harvard this year Early Action.I am safely in top 10% in class, doing the IB at a rigorous school, and my SAT scores are a little over 2000 (which I recognise is not ideal). I am retaking SATs next month again, but do not think a huge difference would be made (I am just a generally bad standardised test taker).
However, I have – according to many – a prolific extra curricular record: have been a government youth ambassador to the United Nations, and have been working with multiple diplomatic missions at an international level. Co-organising international events and conferences.Multiple development assignments in different countries. Led various local initiatives under the same thematic focus as well. Leading and founding an emerging organising for youth development. Really active with debates, MUNs and all things in between. A couple of international awards, as well as a publication coming up next year. Well travelled, and profound leadership CV. Great essay and recommendations.
What would be my chances of getting in, in all honesty? I really want to apply Early Action, as Harvard has been my DREAM DREAM DREAM school (as cliched as it sounds). Could I please get honest advice?
Unfortunately, Harvard is the DREAM DREAM DREAM school of tens of thousands of others too. You need to substantially boost your SAT score for serious consideration and being “safely” in the top 10% is not the same as being at or near the very top of your class. Sorry if this was a little blunt but you seem like a really highly motivated kid who will someday have a role in changing the world, so the good news is that there are many other schools which will equip you to do so. Good luck with everything!
Tough crowd, eh? I think you have a decent shot. Your extracurriculars seem pretty awesome, and if you express yourself well in your essays, and your recs are good, you could get in. Perhaps your chances would be better if you had a 2400, but no one is a perfect candidate. It’s not out of the question that you’re accepted. You have just as good of a chance as many of the thousands who will apply this year. For everyone, it is very hard to get accepted at a school like Harvard. Perhaps instead of a 5.8% chance of getting in, yours is a 4.1%… Either way, the difference is marginal. Best of luck to you, I hope you get in.
^^ You say OP has a "decent shot " and that we’re a tough crowd but the you go on to peg their chance of admission at just 4.1%. What’s different about your 1 in 25 chance and what we’re saying?
@giraffeinatree what do you know about college admission? You are just another college applicant, and a DOMESTIC one, who has no knowledge on international student admission. Don’t talk about what you don’t know
Thank you everyone for your time to chance my admission. I am at this point truly petrified! It might sound cliched but Harvard resonates so well with my interests, especially after I visited the campus earlier – I felt at home. I have genuinely engaged myself in international development; it’s just that I happen to be one of those people who are not good at standardised tests, despite having a good academic ethic and track record.
@paul2752 Ok college admissions officer, being cruel and terribly insensitive seems to be too much fun for you. This kid does not have a 0% chance. Who are you to tell him he’s going to be rejected? I said nothing of the sort that he’ll be accepted or rejected, just that he has a chance just like everyone else who applies. No one in the world can predict whether someone will get rejected or accepted at Harvard. There are way more variables involved than an SAT score, and his isn’t even that bad. You running around senselessly shooting down people’s dreams does nothing but stir up more anxiety and insecurity in applicants who could use a confidence booster, if anything. You represent what I detest about this site.
@giraffeinatree Are you an international student? You are not, so you should stay out of this.
“For Early Action as an international student with SAT scores around 2000? Sadly, somewhere between slim and none. Widen your net and/or try the ACT”
"^^ You say OP has a "decent shot " and that we’re a tough crowd but the you go on to peg their chance of admission at just 4.1%. What’s different about your 1 in 25 chance and what we’re saying?
Ambassadorial Service Award from the Government mission to the UN
Honorable Mention for Asian of the Year (Reader’s Digest)
Other awards are more national/local than of international importance. What I have done more than that is being engaged with the UN linking local people to global audiences
I’m giving SAT Subject tests in October, and then SATs (the regular ones) in November. It may sound strange but apparently Harvard accepts scores for SATs in November for EA