<p>The point of this thread is not so much as to what are my chances, but how can I maximize them?</p>
<p>As a freshmen(14 years of age) I've yet to take the SAT or ACT. My GPA is 4.0 and I'm taking all the AP classes possible. In addition, I take 10th grade math as a freshmen.(Geometry)</p>
<p>Despite my academic prowess, I lack any ECs whatsoever. I'm not socially awkward- I have a ton of friends and love to hang out with them- I just have no ECs. I hear depth > breadth, so next year it is my plan to join and actively promote environment clubs. I am NOT athletic though, and probably will never be part of an organized sport. I also plan to join the student government(called student council here) and do my best there.</p>
<p>So.. have I trashed my chances at Harvard University by having no EC's my first year of high school? Also, what can I do throughout to maximize my chances at being accepted into an Ivy League college, preferably Harvard.</p>
<p>What academic prowess? You’re a month in and a half in and you feel as if you are set for a Harvard worthy Transcript already? </p>
<p>You may not know what you really have a passion for with 0 extracurricular activities. I suggest running the gamut of what seems like a good fit and something out of the blue, and push the envelope of how far you go with them. </p>
<p>Maximize your chances? Have a stellar academic career, top the standardized tests to the best of your ability, actually have a passion for what you do, and stand out from the thousands of other applicants, who share similar stats.</p>
<p>I’ve been in school since August, the academic prowess is the 4.0 I have had for the last 5 years or so, and I never said it qualified me for anything, hence the word “despite”. Thank you for the advice.</p>
<p>Go make some friends right now, you have maybe 4 and that’s pushing it. You’re a freshman saying that you have a 4.0 which is probably on your 5 week report card since you turned in 6 assignments. </p>
<p>You wouldn’t have to state “I’m not socially awkward- I have a ton of friends and love to hang out with them” if you actually weren’t. It’s like lower class people wearing $185 Nike’s to prove that they are rich, when middle class kids in high school will just wear a pair of shoes. That same strongly-based theory goes for the sentence you made. </p>
<p>Enjoy your HS life, and don’t bother responding back to my reply because I have no reason to come back and read it. </p>
<p>And I’m sure you will reply back. It’s just human, its part of your affect, cognition, and behavioral thoughts.</p>
<p>you aren’t getting into Harvard just because “freshmen” is plural and you referred to yourself as a “freshmen.” Haha Jk dud just get a 4.0 all years, and rape EC’s you’ll get in.</p>
<p>At least your aware of resources on this board. When I was a freshman in High School I honestly knew nothing about colleges, Ivies, or counselors. Keep wit the AP’s and get above 4.0 with outstanding yet focused EC’s and you’ll have a decent shot. Also you NEED to get involved in student government. Colleges look for leadership experiences and also question what YOU will bring to their campus.</p>
<p>You have to do much, much more if you ever want to get into Harvard. I was taking precalculus my freshman year and would have never stood a chance had I applied to that establishment of “higher education.”</p>
<p>If you’re a ■■■■■, then I lol’ed, but in case you aren’t, here’s what I want to tell you.</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll try not to be mean, but honestly I believe that your self-confidence is a little too high.
“I take 10th grade math as a freshmen.(Geometry)”
-Uh…I guess that’s…um…impressive… Sorry, but there are countless applicants who take even higher levels of math as freshmen. How will you stand out amongst the other applicants? Plus, basically all of the better applicants will have taken higher levels of math than their peers…what makes you any different, if not worse? Also, not that this matters, but take me for example… I took pre-calc honors as a freshmen, but that certainly does not, by any means, make me qualified AT ALL for Harvard.</p>
<p>“Despite my academic prowess…”
-Uh…honestly, I see no “academic prowess”… If you’re talking about having a 4.0 GPA, then hate to break your little bubble, but that’s not something to call academic prowess…I hope you understand that tons of applicants will have 4.0 GPA…as I’m sure that even in your school there are many who have 4.0 GPAs. And having a 4.0 GPA …uh you’re only a freshmen haha. You got As in your 1st marking period… well you basically have taken very few classes so far, and getting As in your 1st marking period does not guarantee you to receive As as your final grades. </p>
<p>“I also plan to join the student government(called student council here)”
You have to be elected in first. If your school is like most schools, your peers need to vote you in, for you to get in student council. And since you “aren’t socially awkward” and “have a lot of friends”, you should obviously get in, right?
Plus, You’re not currently in it, so that really doesn’t count. And if you believe that it would be impressive for you to get in student council, you should know that there are many applicants who have been in student council for all 4 years that they were in high school. I was in student council as a freshmen and I don’t think that it’s special by any means.</p>
<p>I suggest you take your SATs, PSATs, SAT IIs… and come back after, you know, like 2 more years after you have gone through more of high school, and ask people to chance you. Right now, you should probably learn more about the college admissions process and maybe step off of your high chair.</p>
<p>4.0 is always good
and I don’t mean to burst your bubble but most kids applying to Harvard probably will be graduating with some advance mathematics,
Honestly geometry in 9th grade is the norm for almost all kids were I live.
Maybe try to take higher level math courses before you call your self an academic ninja tiger?
Just some advice</p>
<p>I was the same way when I was a freshmen, well sorta not really…I didn’t have a 4.0. </p>
<p>To start:
Always good to have a 4.0 and with this and seeing as you’re a very intelligent person you will do well on your SAT’s and AP’s and what not. And yes following your passion for school is good but another big thing for colleges is to see how you are outside of school and how you “deal with life.” I was afraid of joining clubs as a freshmen and I felt “socially awkward” from time to time and felt I had to be in a clubs my friends were in, well I am in a few clubs with them but broke that “bond” and joined other clubs to meet new people and find more interests…I am now apart of 8 clubs and president of 3! They’re a lot of fun and if you truly have a passion for them the college will see it. </p>
<p>Another good thing to have is volunteer work, this shows leadership. Taking initiative.</p>
<p>Also look for summer programs that universities may have. Like Boston University–great summer programs and Brown University also great summer programs–>having those on applications look really good!!</p>
<p>Overall, right now since you’re a freshmen, focus on having a strong high school start and start looking at some clubs maybe try joining one of two before the year ends.</p>
<p>I would say since you were like me as a freshmen…sophomore year you’ll have a better idea about your chances! Right now theres really no way of saying whether or not you have a chance. But keep up the great work!</p>
<p>Why don’t you look at decision threads for Harvard to get some ideas of how you can stand out? Asking people to chance a freshman is like…uh…asking ppl to carry you and all the projects you’ve done since high school to Europe and back. Pointless, irritating and time wasting.</p>
<p>BTW, your current “plan” is probably not going to get you into Harvard.</p>
<p>No offense, but I took Algebra 2 as a freshman…and I’m pretty sure that I’m not definitely in Harvard yet, probably no where near.</p>
<p>But to help, if you want to go to a Harvard, either win a prestigious, preferably national, award, write an AMAZING essay, make a discovery, get GREAT recommendations from prominent people, or be one of the top players in your sport/instrument nationally. Or have really rich parents that donate a ton of money. </p>
<p>All while getting stellar grades and SAT score…</p>
<p>Hmm… well i’m a freshman as well and I don’t think we need to worry about that just yet. It’s actually my PET PEEVE when people do things simply to get into an ‘Ivy League’ school, there are thousands of other great schools out there that fit your needs- sometimes even better than an Ivy. It’s dumb to tailor yourself to fit at Harvard just for its reputation, when you don’t even know what you want to do in/post-college. I’d say just do what you love and love what you do, and hopefully Harvard, or your dream school, will be able to see that through your application and interview.</p>
<p>PS No offense, but a 4.0 as a freshman isn’t really a big deal- most colleges barely look at 9th grade, and taking 10th grade math as a freshman isn’t all that impressive either. For an Ivy applicant, it may be lower than the norm. I’m taking Honors Pre Calc as a freshman.</p>
<p>just saying kid, but posts like yours get me pretty worked up, because it seems pretty obvious that you don’t know much about Harvard except the name. it’s not all about the numbers and what ecs look good in your transcript. just do your best in what you are passionate about and have fun - it won’t be long before your years as a teenager are over</p>
