Harvard- A good match... or not

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I’ve been lurking around here since my freshman year, but now that I’m finishing up my Junior year, I’ve finally mustered up enough courage to post my stats. </p>

<p>Frankly, I'd like an honest opinion of whether or not I'd have a shot at getting into Harvard.</p>

<p>Background:</p>

<p>Daughter of immigrants from Poland/Ukraine (albeit very well educated immigrants- both of my parents are physicians; still- no legacies in the US). Still spend quite a lot of time in Europe and have EU citizenship. Speak 5 languages (potential hook?)- Polish, Ukrainian, and English with native fluency and pronunciation, Italian and Russian with good fluency, etc., but not native. </p>

<p>I plan on majoring in political science and either sociology or philosophy in college.</p>

<p>Live in NJ, attend a tiny Catholic all-girls school. Though they don’t rank us, from what I’ve managed to gather, I’m probably in the top 10%, possibly salutatorian (or even valedictorian, if next year goes well.)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.2-something weighted (should be around a 4.3 after my last trimester)</p>

<p>Have taken all the honors/AP available. I skipped Italian II Honors after a very intensive summer course in Italy.
This year I took the only 2 APs offered to non-seniors:
AP U.S. History and AP Lang. & Comp. (I’m hoping for 5s, or at least 4s)</p>

<p>Next year I’m taking:
AP Lit. & Comp.
AP Psych
AP Physics
AP Italian
AP Euro
Calc Honors (maybe AP Calc, but math isn’t my thing, really)</p>

<p>I’m also doing a guided study on Dante’s Divine Comedy, culminating in a 30-page thesis.</p>

<p>PSAT: 219 (National Merit Commended/Semi-finalist may be in the works)
SAT I: 2200 (800 v, 760 w, 640 m) (hoping to raise the math in the fall)
SAT IIs
US History: 800
Lit: 760</p>

<p>Clubs/Activities/Etc. (as of Junior Year)</p>

<p>Academic Team, 2 years (Varsity Captain)
Forensics, 3 years (Extemporaneous Speaking- 2nd place at regionals this year, going to Nationals this month)
Italian Club, 3 years
Italian Honor Society, 2 years (Treasurer, President next year)
Photography Club, 2 years
Echoes (Literary Magazine), 1 year (Editor)
Philosophy Society (Founding Member), 1 year
United Cultures Club, 2 years (Eastern European Captain)
National Honor Society, recently admitted</p>

<p>Senior Citizen Computer Outreach, 1 year (1-2 hrs/week)
Various school fundraisers, most notably organizing a library drive
Tutoring in Italian, help in organizing Italian lessons for lower levels
This summer, I'll be teaching children English in Poland (about 100 hrs. total)</p>

<p>1st Place in Physics at Science Fair
1st Place in 2nd level Italian competition (annual ITANJ event)
Various High Honors, Italian awards, etc. on school level ("Distinguished Scholar," etc.)
3rd Place at World Cultures Day tournament at Montclair State U.
Semi-finalist in NJ Scholar Program
Will be published in 2nd edition of "Blue Jean Buddha," an anthology of essays by young Buddhists/religious seekers)</p>

<p>Summers
Freshman: 1 month in intensive immersion course in Italy, otherwise in Poland with family
Sophomore: 1 month in intensive immersion course in Italy, otherwise in Poland with family
Junior: 2 months teaching English to Polish kids, 1 month touring Eastern Europe/Bulgaria</p>

<p>Hmm... I also read philosophy, political commentary, and economic theory avidly, and can make funky Ukrainian gerdany (beaded jewelry) and recite A. C. Swinburne, Nietzsche, and Marcus Aurelius on demand. I'm also quite the Italian cook and am active in my local Libertarian Party (plan on being more active in the fall). Should make for interesting interview material...</p>

<p>Ah, yes and I've played the Ukrainian flute (sopilka) for the past 8 or so years, performing regularly when I was a tad younger. </p>

<p>Occasionally, I go to <a href="http://www.jewishgen.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.jewishgen.org/&lt;/a> and translate documents from Ukrainian or Polish to English for American Jews researching their Eastern European roots. This tends to be done around 2am, mostly on impulse, but I find it very satisfying, even though I'm not Jewish.</p>

<p>Well, if I remember anything else, I'll post it. Any and all questions are welcome, as is any and all advice. Otherwise, I'd be interested to see if you'd consider Harvard a good match for me. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>If you were so smart you would know that you have great chances of admittance anywhere, which you are......but you seek flattery.</p>

3

<p>Lol, yeah, you're probably right sirwatson1.... but I'm still interested to see how others see my stats. </p>

<p>While many of my friends/family members are convinced I'll get in anywhere and everywhere, others claim I'll only get into some community college. Some objective feedback from relative strangers is thus of great worth to me.</p>

<p>Still, flattery's nice too!</p>

4

<p>Your stats and ecs are quite nice :)</p>

5

<p>You never know where you'll be admitted. Personally, I think that there will be thousands of applicants that are just as competitive as you. It's hard to tell how genuine your interests really are since most humanities achievements are things that anyone can do (even science-oriented kids are absolutely amazing in the humanities...but not all humanities people are stellar in science). Your 1st place award in the science fair would be impressive if this were on the state/national level (school-wide awards usually aren't as impressive). It helps if you have something concrete to show them, be it a gold medal on the National Latin Exam; National Chemistry Olympiad qualifier; state distinction in sports or music; winning a national essay contest. Keep in mind that Harvard draws not only the top students, but also top musicians and athletes...so it will want to compare your achievements on the national level. Good essays and interviews certainly won't hurt.</p>

<p>You seem like a strong applicant. Good luck!</p>