<p>Whoa. I want to take that Math 55 class. Sounds like a GPA killer for sure–assuming you got in and didn’t drop out.</p>
<p>Your stats are fantastic, it’s really up to you to choose based on best fit, but it seems like you’ve got an excellent shot for both.</p>
<p>your statement about applying ED to Harvard because they seem to accept a higher % of their ED applicants is a fallacy. the % is higher because well qualified and confident students
usually apply ED. Also, Harvard is better ranked than Yale and more prestigious so top applicants shoot for Harvard ED, and Harvard just picks the good ones early. They don’t predetermine the % that they will take in. </p>
<p>You have incredible stats, even better then mine! However, you are lacking in your focus in EC. Sure, you have a very diverse and lengthy EC but you have no focus. I personally wouldn’t know where your interests lies at all. I hope that you are able to shift focus more onto your interest ( I heard it was engineering?) because colleges know that all your other skills and involvements will become useless once you pick a major. Rather, it’s more important that you focus on achieving much on a singular interest!</p>
<p>I disagree with GiveMe Reason saying that a candidate from CA with the same stats would be more prestigious than you. Actually, I think it would be the opposite. The Adcoms will be more impressed with a student from Mississipi who can achieve such stellar scores. (This may be due to incorrect stereotypes on their part–ie that all of Mississipi, or our home state of Missouri, is "podunk, not intellectual, etc). They will see you as a student who had to struggle through the adversity to achieve, and achieve you did–with scores as high as those California kids that GiveMe Reason mentions. They will be MORE impressed by you. Also, colleges want geographic diversity, so you are very lucky to be from Mississippi with those stats. Harvard will not have as many Mississipians as Californians with your scores, so you are more likely to get in.</p>
<p>Just to add to your comments on how teachable the ACT is, I would totally agree, but I’d add that the SAT is equally teachable. That was not true with the old SAT, which had analogies and other more intuitive questions, but now it is quite similar to the ACT. Granted, the ACT has Science and SAT does not, but everyone knows that the ACT Science can be done with very little knowledge of science; it is more of a reading test, but testing the comprehension of scientific literature (reading graphs, etc). Bottom line, the SAT is just as teachable as the ACT.</p>
<p>For pre-med and research opportunities I’d think Harvard would give you the upper hand. Both are obviously the best in the country, so you can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>Go with gut and apply early to one. It isn’t binding, so you can apply RD to the other along with some other schools. Visit the colleges you get into in April and decide.</p>
<p>I assume you have done the financial numbers to determine which schools your parents can afford. Your credentials will also garner a ton of full tuition awards at some wonderful schools.</p>
<p>I hope you realize that Yale and Harvard are both High Reaches, as they are for any applicant. You have a great application, but still, you are a unhooked applicant, and it is still a high reach. Good Luck, you will go somewhere awesome.</p>
<p>I second the above poster.</p>
<p>You ned to be realistic about your chances and not get ahead of yourself.</p>
<p>If you talk about Harvard you have about 15% legacies, 15% URMs and 15% recruited athletes. There is some overlap between the categoris, especially URMs and athletes, so you can assume around 40% of admitted students are hooked one way or another. You also have around 10% internationals.</p>
<p>According to admissions around 25-30% of admitted students are so-called ‘superstars’, mostly with notable academic achievements such as IMO, IPhO) and Intel/Siemens awards, but also musicians/artists/writers…</p>
<p>That leaves only around 20-25% of the admission spots for unhooked, BWRK applicants such as you, including thousands of valedictorians. </p>
<p>The percentage of unhooked/non-star applicants is fairly similar at Yale. It is slightly higher at MIT which gives no preference to athletes or legacies but on the other hand has smaller admitted class and puts greater emphasis on math/science ECs. The greater gender imbalance at MIT 55/45 M/F may give you a slight additional edge.</p>
<p>Whatever top school you apply early to, you need to work on what would make you stand out in a crowd of high scoring valedictorians. As another poster stated, it is impossible to tell from your description what makes you unique. Frankly, the last thing they need is another smart premed.</p>
<p>I second the poster above. Regardless of how great your stats are, getting admited as an unhooked is very difficult at top schools. However, you do have great stats. Apply to EA to the school you like better and write great essays. You’ll go somewhere that is perfect.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone. Even with all this stressing, I’ll probably just end up at Ole Miss or something…</p>
<p>Why on earth would you just end up at Ole Miss!. There are tons of other great schools besides H and Y too!</p>
<p>Murphy600, I would probably get a full ride plus a nice stipend if I chose Ole Miss, and I would have a friend that I know isn’t a lunatic to be my roommate. It might be hard to turn down…</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I decided on EA to Harvard, and I also applied to several public honors colleges. Your input really helped me out.</p>
<p>UPDATE: Deferred. But I haven’t given up all hope yet!</p>
<p>Apply to Harvard and Yale, unless you’re sure you’ve decided which one to go to. You’ll definitely get into both, with your GPA and ACT/SAT score so high. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>UPDATE: Rejection from both Harvard and Yale. 
</p>
<p>Oh well. I got into all the other Ivies I applied to though, “likely letters” from Brown, Dartmouth, and Amherst, and an “early write” from Williams! So I still feel loved. 
</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your input. Now I have to decide where to matriculate, so… New question!</p>
<p><a href=“Princeton vs MIT vs Dartmouth vs Vanderbilt vs Williams vs Duke vs Amherst vs Penn... - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>Princeton vs MIT vs Dartmouth vs Vanderbilt vs Williams vs Duke vs Amherst vs Penn... - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;