Harvard 34 ACT?? 2260?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>I am currently a junior and will apply REA to harvard in the fall. I have a 34 ACT and 2260 SAT. Which do you think is better to submit?</p>

<p>Also, does it make a significant difference if I dont have a 35? I hope it doesnt because my other test scores are not bad:</p>

<p>SAT Math II: 790
SAT Chem: 800
SAT Physics: 800</p>

<p>SAT Chinese: 770 (and Im not Chinese lol)</p>

<p>I have 5s in 13 APs</p>

<p>Just based on test scores alone, and not the rest of my application, will a 34 ACT actually make a difference? do they put it into perspective with my other test scores?</p>

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<p>Chess: I’m assuming you’ve already read: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>While high school students are obsessed with test scores, an Admissions Officer probably spends less than FIVE SECONDS looking at them. That’s because schools use test scores as an indicator of “college readiness.” The lower a student’s SAT/ACT score, the more an Admissions Director will ask themselves, “If I admit this kid, will he struggle with the work-load on my campus? Will s/he become a ‘B’ student or a ‘C’ student?” If I had to pick a “safe” number, it would be 2100. Admissions Committee’s assume that students with a 2100+ SAT (or the ACT equivalent) are prepared to meet the challenge of college work. </p>

<p>So, in your case will a 34 ACT actually make a difference? No, it will not. Nor, will your SAT II scores and your 5’s in 13 AP’s matter all that much.</p>

<p>What matters – and what distinguishes you from all other applicants – are your teacher recommendations, guidance counselor’s Secondary School Report (SSR), essays, extracurricular activities and “wow” factors. At selective colleges like Harvard, test scores are secondary to everything else.</p>

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<p>BTW: It’s SCEA (Single Choice Early Action) not REA. </p>

<p>[Compare</a> ACT and SAT Scores | ACT](<a href=“http://www.act.org/solutions/college-career-readiness/compare-act-sat/]Compare”>http://www.act.org/solutions/college-career-readiness/compare-act-sat/)
Look at the ACT/SAT concordance table to compare your test scores. Without knowing the breakdown of your SAT score, I think it’s on par with a 34 ACT. So, you could submit both scores, or just the SAT. It does not matter.</p>

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<p>I know people always say that test scores at top schools are considered in a holistic manner with everything else, and perhaps more importantly certain ECs or outstanding accomplishments.<br>
But I was just wondering what a could “threshold” value was if there is any lol. i think you answered it pretty well.
Thanks!</p>

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<p>Your test scores make you pretty competitive, although you must know that test scores are only one facet of the admissions process. There is unlikely to be any difference between a 34 and 35. Spend your time in other pursuits other than test scores. You’ll be much happier.</p>

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<p>I got into Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, the University of Michigan Honors, Michigan State Honors and United States Naval Academy with relatively similar scores - 34 ACT (12 writing), 2270 SAT, 690 Physics/710 Math II/720 Literature, 4 5’s on APs, National Merit designation, etc. I was not rejected from ANY schools - so to answer your question, these scores will not act as a “barrier” in any way from admission, assuming that the rest of your application is competitive. I chose the retake the ACT after initially receiving a 33, but I honestly don’t think that the extra point mattered much. I did submit all the aforementioned scores in my application except the SAT score, no particular reason why.</p>

<p>So yes - these scores are more than enough. In case you are wondering about my credentials beyond my scores, I am white, female, middle class, relatively high though not perfect GPA (several A-'s and a couple B’s), public HS that does not rank, competitive athletics though NOT recruited, and significant involvement with LGBT issues plus some involvement with Econ competitions and other academic endeavors.</p>

<p>Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.</p>

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<p>Could you look at my profile?
I am a junior currently and first in my class. I’m really interested in finance and engineering and am going to apply to Upenn and harvard. What are my chances (ED/EA and RD) at harvard </p>

<p>ACT:34(first attempt in 10th grade) planning to retake
GPA : 4.1 (unweighted)
Taken 13 APS
Achieved 5 (maximum score) on:
Physics C Mechanics, Microeconomics, U.S. Government and Politics, Calculus BC, Calculus AB, Chinese, APUSH, Physics C Emag, statistics, Chem, Macroeconomics
Achieved 4 on:
World History, Computer Science</p>

<p>I took AP Calc BC freshman year. I took linear algebra and number theory and as a sophomore.</p>

<p>Special Achievements:
May 2011: Placed first in the National Chinese Bridge Speech competition organized by the Confucius Institute (affiliated with Ministry of Education of China) </p>

<p>October 2011: Represented United States in the Fourth Annual Chinese Bridge Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Chongching, China.</p>

<p>Spring 2012: 1st place in Ohio in National Economics Challenge
• Fall 2012: Invited to perform kuaiban, a traditional Chinese instrument, at Harvard University in front of a delegation of Chinese consulate members.
First place in Ohio in state Economics Competition</p>

<p>four year member of state math team to compete in ARML
Many awards in chess
Impromptu speaking awards</p>

<p>I have over 100 volunteer hours a hospital. Additionally, since 8th grade I have been tutoring at a College math lab. I have also started a private math and chess tutoring service. I also started an Economics team and am very interested in economics.
I have been playing competitive chess since elementary school and have many state and national awards.
I have been taking many math, physics, and computer science classes at a community college during summer and school year.</p>

<p>My most distinguished achievement in in Chinese. I have been studying for about 5 years. I won a national level Chinese competition as a Freshman and was one of three representative from USA for the international round. I was selected to participate in the prestigious U.S. Dept of State NSLIy program in China (study abroad).
I also performed kuaiban, a Chinese instrument at Harvard’s China Night performance. I was invited recently in May 2013 to present a speech and kuaiban at the closing ceremony of the National Chinese language conference. </p>

<p>Leadership
• President of High School Chess Team
• Member of High School Speech and Debate Team
• Member of Academic Challenge Team
• President of High School Science Bowl Team
• Member of Model United Nations Team
• Member of high school newspaper
• Member of school jazz band for 5 years
• Member of high school varsity tennis team
• President of Economics Team</p>

<p>Research/ Internships</p>

<p>Computer Science Intern at local company</p>

<p>Worked in a mechanical engineering lab one summer and will be doing sensors research at the Air Force summer before senior year.</p>

<p>What are my chances?? My grades are not a problem, although I will retake the ACT. How about my EC’s ? Are my achievements enough?
BTW, I think my main common app essay will be about learning Chinese and then a supplmenet about my interest in science/engineering.
Thanks</p>

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<p>Did you read: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Your record looks great, terrific. You should be proud. There’s no need to re-take your tests. There’s not much to do between now and the time you submit your app in the fall that is going to make a substantive difference. You should know that you won’t study finance at Harvard as they don’t have undergrad business courses. You will get into some great schools, but you have to realize that as great as your profile is there are probs 10-12K others applying to HYPS with similar stats. Good luck.</p>

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<p>Your scores are perfectly fine. Great scores actually. Won’t get looked at twice. Good work!</p>

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<p>Haha, don’t let anyone tear you down. While nobody can guarantee anything, you are a competitive applicant, meaning that you have a shot. You don’t need to retake tests, don’t fret. Your academics meet their “barriers” where you are almost definitely what they would consider academically qualified. The biggest hurdle is standing out beyond that! Your EC’s look good - focused on a small range of topics, but with significant depth, which is what Ivies look for. I think what you should mainly focus on is being able to show off your qualification. If you give your recommenders good examples to write about, write your essays in a way that both reveals significant life experiences AND shows off your skills, concisely but deeply describe your EC’s in the 10 spaces allowed by the common app, and make a solid resume for the other info section of the common app, then I would say that you are very competitive for admission. HOWEVER, as I mentioned early, you can’t guarantee anything. For instance, I don’t know your race, but it could help or hurt you - if you are Asian, then participating in Chinese competitions will be less impressive. Also, since the Ivy League schools often are trying to fill “niches” in their classes, if someone else with DEEPER experiences in the SAME areas also applies, they could be picked over you. But these are factors you can’t control!</p>

<p>Single Choice EA gives you better “odds” plus a smaller applicant pool, which would allow you to more easily fill a “niche” at your Number One school. I would definitely advise you to apply Ivy - you have the credentials that will give you a solid chance.</p>

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<p>13 aps? holy s****</p>

<p>I beat your sat tho and i’m only a 3 ap kid :p</p>