<p>I just finished my sophomore year in high school, so I realize that it is too early to ask for actual chances seeing as I haven't taken the SAT I yet, but I wanted to inquire as to how much a grade and my current GPA will be a detriment to me. I am aiming for around a low 3.7 (UW) for my GPA at the end of my junior year, which isn't that great, and furthermore, that is including one C+ in honors math at my school (which is the highest level possible in our 4 level system per grade level).</p>
<p>My extracurriculars are what I hope hold me up: in my freshman year I was #4 in the state for my sport (I'm not going to say exactly for security purposes, but it is a popular individual sport), and this past year I was #3 for the same sport. I play year round, and was ranked #1 for the past two years in my age division, which I hope to equal this year, and I am also given discounts from a well known company which specializes in my sport. At school next year, I will be the president of two clubs which I consider myself to be adapt at the subject in, and will participate in one more club.</p>
<p>In the best case scenario where I score well on the PSAT and SAT I (hopefully becoming a NMSF), how much would that C+ hurt me?</p>
<p>Sorry for posting this on the Harvard board, but I figured I should post for my chances for the most exclusive acceptance rate college. Thanks for any feedback!</p>
<p>And if there's any insider hints about what I should aim to do more of (especially to get into Harvard specifically), I'd love to hear it. Thanks so much for reading this!</p>
<p>C+... ouch. In a time when "B" has become the new "C", that's considered "below average," and will be brutal for your application. I can't fairly be optimistic.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, you are a current sophomore, and you still have some time. If you are 1) recruited, 2) 2350+ on tests, 3) GREAT recommendations, 4) 4.0 QPA in your junior year, and 5) compelling essays and supplementary ECs (volunteering, etc)... it could happen. That's a tall order, though... good luck.</p>
<p>If you're recruited you could make ALL C+'s and get in. Seriously. The same way Native Americans get huge breaks because they are so rare for the Ivies. Great athletes, who can compete on the national level, are just a rare, they normally go to big state schools. So push your game and you won't have a problem.</p>
<p>Talk to the coach for your sport. Go to the Harvard website and you can find the contact information for all of the head coaches. Send an E-mail. If they don't respond use snail mail. If that doesn't help, see if you can call their office. Just make sure they know your name, and send them updates throughout the season. </p>
<p>Not sure which sport you play, but if you run or swim you might want to send times during season. Fencing, tennis, or golf, you could send video. I'm sure you know what is best for your sport, but if you can get in touch with a coach, make a point of staying in touch, so that they remember you when admissions times come around.</p>
<p>(to lackadaisy): Yeah I know, it was a rough couple of weeks and the state tournament coincided with days where we were learning the material, and right after I missed 4 days of class, I had an AP exam, so I had to go into the test missing a week's worth of class, and so I didn't really know most of the material. Do you have any advice as to off set this score (I was thinking I, like you said have to do well on the SAT, and I'm thinking I'd have to do really well on the Math IIc SAT II as well). Should I write about this in my app or something? Will the interviewer probably ask for a transcript and will he/ she ask about that grade?</p>
<p>(to trackster262): I'm not quite sure if I can compete on a national level. I've been to a couple tournaments (ironically, a Harvard recruiter was there), and I talked to him. I'd just lost a match, and I went up to him, and asked what I should aim for to get recruited. He basically told me that Harvard not only looks for athletes who are already great, but also who they can improve to be great. I guess I have to bank on this to get in, or at least have somewhat of a chance. Thanks for the advice and encouragement!</p>
<p>By the way, how does that work, contacting the coach? I mean, would the admissions person who is reviewing my app contact the coach or something?</p>
<p>wow. Tknogk, you are in exactly the same position that I was last year, to the point where I did a double take to check that wasn't just one of my bumped up posts from last year...</p>
<p>The answer, to cut the BS, is simple: you need to do even better than average next year. Don't even go for straight As- go for straight A+s. If you actually want to get into Harvard or somewhere else comparable, you are going to need to work your ass off even more than otehrs. I know it's hard to do; I didn't succeed completely, and that's why I may not even bother to apply to Harvard next fall...</p>
<p>anyhow, my two cents in:
grades are the top most important thing...however you are still a sophomore, and if you display considerable improvement, that C wont hurt your chances, not at the same extent people think it will..you can still make it happen.</p>
<p>wcf... seeing as you've neither been accepted to harvard nor are even sure whether you're going to apply, i can't really say you're justified in giving this kid a hard time. </p>
<p>"straight A+s" are certainly NOT a prereq for harvard admissions. kids with steller albeit imperfect grades get in all the time. why? because they have special, often extraordinary talents and abilities that the adcom believes will be a asset to the institution. by the looks of it, this kid seems to fit into that category. 4th in the nation in anything is awesome, and i, for one, am duly impressed. </p>
<p>for tkn, i'd warn you not to be complacent, and to improve those grades if possible... but know that you're doing just fine. from what i've seen of harvard's capricious selection process... you have just as good a chance, if not better, than the vast majority of applicants.</p>
<p>and oh, if you have not done so early, i would definately suggest contacting the head coach of your sport at harvard and to develop a decent relationship with him/her. if you're close enough to arrange a visit, do so. athletes, especially good ones like yourself, are often presented with a backdoor in this competitive admissions processs... and i'd try to get as much of a boost if i were you.</p>
<p>Nobody's giving the kid a hard time!
Just a friendly piece of advice. after all, that's what this thread is for anyway, right? Everybody's free to post what they think.</p>
<p>Does a 3.67 put you out of the range already? If it wasn't for freshman year, I would have a 3.91 GPA by the end of senior year. Sophomore and Junior year I got one B, the rest were low 90's. If everything else is normal (median SATs, 5's on most APs, top 7-8%) am I still out of the race? I am first-gen Puerto Rican if that makes any difference (apparently it does to some people on the board).</p>
<p>celita, 3.67 is low...btu you are hispanic and first generation, so those two will probably balance one another out.</p>
<p>And no, I haven't gotten into harvard, but I think I have a reasonable idea of what it takes to get there, having seen what the top students in my school only a year ahead of me just went through. I think you should aim for A+s instead of As because you need to make up for some lost time. I think you should be optimistic, you've got a good shot at making yourself competetive with the other 12389432184 academically qualified students. I did sort of overlook the OP's status as an athlete, which does indeed give a boost, but its still far from certain.</p>
<p>and iloveme, that GPA is definitely in the range...as long as you're taking (the most) difficult courses, sure.</p>
<p>I think it also depends on how hard the class is in the context of your high school and how competitive your high school is. Is it like a Horace Mann or Harvard-Westlake, where you can definitely get a B or a C if the class is hard enough? Because I went to a high school like that, and I had a C in Honors Math 2nd semester of sophomore year, and I got into Yale and Princeton. One of my best friends got into Harvard and Brown PLME with a C in honors math as well so it isn't impossible. I would work hard to make sure you don't get another C, try to do well (As if possible) in the rest of your classes, and your extra curriculars. You're a tennis player I'm guessing? I was one too and the state rankings, age groups and preferred player discounts sound very familiar.</p>
<p>How many people posting in this thread are </p>
<p>a) current Harvard students (Harvard classes of 2010 or earlier)? </p>
<p>b) newly admitted to Harvard (Harvard class of 2011)? </p>
<p>c) possible applicants to Harvard in future admission seasons? </p>
<p>d) people who would never submit an application to Harvard? (I am in this category--my children may or may not include someone in category c.) </p>
<p>e) Harvard graduates? </p>
<p>f) Harvard admission officers? (I suspect no one in this category ever posts here, but I wouldn't bet that no one in this category ever reads threads here.)</p>
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I think it also depends on how hard the class is in the context of your high school and how competitive your high school is.
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</p>
<p>In general, this is the correct answer to "how low is too low" questions about high school grade averages. It's wonderful and expedient to have a straight-A average, and also nearly impossible at some high schools. It is nearly impossible for a student who does all his homework NOT to have a straight-A average at some other high schools, which is why admission committees have to gather a lot of information about high schools and how their programs differ before comparing different applicants for admission. The OP is involved in a sport, and thus might want to take a look at Harvard's NCAA self-study </p>