<p>I am just worried sick about getting into Harvard and have done everything possible to present myself as a hardworking and diligent student. Of course, I still don't believe I can get in, I know its not the end of the world if I don't, I know I should have more self confidence, and all those cliche phrases. So, anyone that feels the same way can discuss here.</p>
<p>Here's my reasons
Pros: 2240 SAT, 780 M2, (will take Chem, Physics), recs, essay, ECs</p>
<p>Don't get too worked up, the odds are stacked against everybody. At best, it's about a 1 in 12 shot. Put twelve pieces of paper, numbered 1 through 12 in a hat, with the number 6 piece representing admission. Then blindly pick a piece of paper out of the hat. How likely is it that you'll pull number 6? Not very.</p>
<p>To increase your odds, you'll have to offer Harvard (and most other top schools) something quite unique, something that will contribute significantly to the Harvard community and/or that really sets you apart -- beyond scores and grades. Scores and grades are just the ante to get in the game. </p>
<p>Your lower grades/class rank can be offset, but only by something amazing (e.g. fluency in four languages; published novelist; Olympic caliber swimmer; world-champion sitar player; a family contributing $$$ for generations, etc.). You get the picture.</p>
<p>I don't mean this to criticize, but rather to caution you: in the world of college admissions, the words "hard-working" and "diligent" have negative connotations because they imply that a student is not naturally smart, but rather has achieved good grades because they have their nose to the grindstone. If you still have applications to complete, just be careful how you present yourself - you want to show colleges that you are naturally smart and intellectually curious, not that you stayed up late studying.</p>
<p>I am a Harvard Reject but accepted everywhere else Yale, Princeton..... Till this day I don't know what made them decide to reject me but glad they did. I am so happy at Princeton, never in my wildest dream an Ivy league school which is # 1 in the nation will have such a great campus life and great people!It is just an amazing school. The chances of getting accepted regural decision last year for me was such a gamble , but You never know, make sure you have plan A, Plan B ,C, D .... I certainly had great score , great Ecs... so does majority of the applicants. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!! You will ended up in a great school with your stat anyways</p>
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[quote]
I am so happy at Princeton, never in my wildest dream an Ivy league school which is # 1 in the nation will have such a great campus life and great people!
<p>I have a friend from my high school there who has a different view than yours but it is just him. I still believe Princeton have a vibrant campus life.</p>
<p>Even kids with much higher scores and GPAs than yours, akahmed, will be rejected. :( I think they take pride in doing that. It's a crapshoot for everyone...</p>
<p>Thats why I'm sweting bullets right now. Again, I know its not the end of the world, but, when I was talking to my dad whose in Saudi Arabia with my mom doing their pilgrimage, and I told him I decided to apply to an Ivy... he asked which one, I said Harvard, the silence that followed and the excitement in his voice just makes it worth all the worry.</p>
<p>Its not 'my dream school', its a dream school</p>
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[quote]
I have extremely low stats and am applying. I would love a spot, but it probably won't happen. : P
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same here. why not apply instead of wondering 'what if?' I personally (sort of) know 2 ppl who got in with a 1300/1600 (person 1) and 2050/2400 (person 2) without anything fantastic, so i'll give it a shot.
plus my parents support me with the $65 donation ;)</p>
<p>SAT I: 560/750/750
SAT II: 800/780/750
GPA/IB/Rank: 3.8/36 out of 42/1st or 2nd out of 14
ECs: scattered all over the place, nothing national or whatever
Recs: decent, but no 'best in career' checkmarks.
Essays: subjective</p>
<p>Harvard's 25-75th percentile for GPA is around a 3.88-3.9 something, so do people like me, with a pathetic 3.57 ever get accepted? Do you necessarily need something large, like a rec from a influential person, or the whole 'curing cancer' thing, to be accpeted?</p>
<p>Usually if your stats are on the low side for a college, you need some other quality that makes you stand out in order to be accepted. A rec from an influential person is useless, unless that person knows you well and can comment on how you will contribute to college life. I think admission officers despise generic rec letters from influential people, because the motivation behind them is pretty transparent. Also, remember that this is a really tough year for college admissions - too many great students for too few spots. If you look at some of the ED/EA results threads for top schools, you will see how people fared. I was shocked at some of the students that got deferred. Sometimes the difference between an acceptance and deferral lies in the way you present yourself in your application.</p>