Harvard International Applicant RD Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hello all!</p>

<p>I've applied to UPenn Huntsman Program for ED, and was deferred. I've been writing applications to different schools, and Harvard is one of my favorite choices.</p>

<p>I would appreciate it if you could help me evaluate, and better my chances at such a top-notch college.</p>

<p>I an Asian (South Korean) international student living in Canada. I've been following some of the posts on the Harvard forum, and have seen many threads talking about Asian stereotypes and generalizations. I would also appreciate it if you could tell me how much I fit into such category. If I do so, please elaborate. If you would like to see my essays, I would gladly do so for criticisms and improvements. Thank you so much in advance for your input.</p>

<p>GPA Weighted: 4.1/4.1
GPA Unweigted: 3.96/4.0</p>

<p>Class Ranking: Top 10% - our school does deciles out of 100 students</p>

<p>SAT I: (2330)
CR: 760
WR: 800, 12
MA: 770</p>

<p>SAT II:
Math IIC: 800
Chem: 770</p>

<p>APs:</p>

<p>AP Econ Micro: 5
AP Econ Macro: 5
AP Calculus AB: 5
AP Music Theory: 5 (aural: 5, non-aural: 5)
AP Psychology: 4
AP Chemistry: 4
AP English Language: 4
AP European History: 4</p>

<p>Courses at University of British Columbia (Concurrent Studies)</p>

<p>PSYC 102 - social, clinical, developmental psyc: A-
PHIL 120 - intro to logical and critical thinking: B+
PSYC 308 - social psychology: A-</p>

<p>Most rigorous course load in senior year</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:</p>

<p>Model United Nations</p>

<p>Canada International Model United Nations 2012 – Founder and Secretary General;
World Model United Nations 2012 – Assistant Chair of the Paris Peace Summit
Canadian High Schools Model United Nations (CAHSMUN) 2011 – Undersecretary General of Committees
Vancouver Model United Nations (VMUN) 2011 – Director of Economic and Social Council; created a research backgrounder on Universal Green Tax and Debt in Developing Countries; provided to all Specialized Agencies
CAHSMUN 2010 – Best Delegate @ International Monetary Fund; represented USA
VMUN 2010 – Best Delegate @ Economic and Social Council; represented China
CAHSMUN 2009 – Honorable Mentions @ International Monetary Fund; represented South Korea
VMUN 2009 – Honorable Mentions @ World Bank; represented Ghana
New York High School MUN (NHSMUN) 2009 – Head Delegate @ IMF; represented Sri Lanka
School MUN Club - Founder and Head Delegate (2009-2012)
Vancouver Education Post MUN Club – MUN Coach (2011), Honorary Head Delegate (2010)</p>

<p>Piano</p>

<p>Royal Conservatory of Music – ARCT (Associate of the Royal Conservatory) Performers Diploma
Seattle International Piano Competition 2011 (14-18yrs) – Alternate Finalist (ranked world 8th place)
Korean Heritage Cultural International Music Competition 2011 (14-24yrs) – First Place; $300 scholarship from the General Consulate of Republic of Korea; $200 sponsorship from Tom Lee Music; Winners’ Solo Piano Concert (sponsored by TD Bank, 5000+ people audience)
Kiwanis National Class Music Festival (Diploma Class) – 3rd Place (2011)
Kiwanis Music Festival (Diploma Class) – 1st Place (2011)
BC Conservatory of Music Festival (Diploma Class) – 1st Place (2011)
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Youth Showcase Solo Piano Concert @ Athlete’s Village (selection by two evaluation phases: CD recording, live audition)
School Orchestra – Piano Soloist (2009-2012)
Kiwanis Music Festival 2011 – Gold Standing (School Chamber Orchestra)
Kiwanis Music Festival 2010 – Gold Standing (School Chamber Orchestra)
School Chamber Choir 2010 – Piano Accompanist</p>

<p>Debate & Public Speaking</p>

<p>School Debate Team (2009-2012); Co-Captain (2011-2012)
Western Provincial Public Speaking Competition: Fifth Place Speaker (2011)
British Columbia Independent School’s Debate Tournament (Newman-FISA): First Place Speaker (2010)
British Columbia Debate Camp Tournament: Second Place Speaker (2010)
British Columbia Debate Camp: June 2010 – August 2010</p>

<p>Volunteer Work</p>

<p>Sunny Kim Taekwondo, Black Belt Third-Degree Instructor (2009-2012); 350+ hours
Piano performances at senior facility centers, hospitals, covenant houses (2009-2012); 150+ hours
School Art Magazine (2010-2012); Editor-in-chief (2011-2012) – putting spotlight on school’s emerging musicians, fusing journalism with fine arts (combines my love for music and writing)
School Varsity Badminton Team; (2008-2012); MVP & Captain (2009-2010), Captain (2011-2012)
School AP Economics Teacher Assistant (2011-2012) – danced on desks to portray Wall Street’s cocktail party on the porch above Occupy protesters; ensured every theory learned was correlated with current events (profit maximization vs. maximized exploitations; Neoliberalism vs. Economic Hegemony);</p>

<p>Miscellaneous</p>

<p>Freelance Writer (Published opinions on Vancouver Observer, Espresso Press) – “Harmonized Sales Tax: I say NO to ‘YES’” (2011); “Death of Dictatorship, Dove of Democracy” (2011); “Disillusioned Capitalism” (2011)</p>

<p>Speaker and Volunteer at Occupy Vancouver – participated at eight General Assemblies, camped two nights at Vancouver Art Gallery, stood up for what is moral and just.</p>

<p>Teacher Recommendations: Wavered not to see them, but I do believe they will describe me as an unique individual, burning with passion.</p>

<p>Counsellor Recommendations: Wavered not to see them, but he told me I was the first student to exhaust the AP list in school's history, as well as take UBC course. Apparently, the most rigorous course load in school's history. He talked about how I slept on streets to understand what homelessness really is, and how I am the 'most unique student he has ever had in his entire 10 year teaching career."</p>

<p>Our school anually sends around 10 students to Ivy Leagues.</p>

<p>Essays:
extra-curricular paragraph was about instructing taekwondo (merging of my heritage, introducing multiculturalism to children)
common application was about MUN, and how it disenchanted me away from our state of political illusion.
additional information elaborated on CAIMUN, international MUN I founded, its progress so far in a journalistic approach. talked about "A Harvard Connection" as to I am the first high school student to participate in WorldMUN in its 20-year history. * WorldMUN is hosted by Harvard University. I will be working with a Government major junior to write a backgrounder, as well as chairing a committee of 30 post-secondary students from around the world.
Additional essays: talked about my UBC experience/another essay was about how my favorite class is BUS 101 (in between class, in my bus rides, interactions, friendships that sparked defined the essence of harmony and beauty).</p>

<p>I know numerous students with much better stats, and prestigious ECs than me who were flatly rejected from the EA round. I was a little surprised as to how such brilliant friends weren't given a second chance in the RD round. Therefore, I would like to shape my application that could best demonstrate my passions and interests in life, which is politics and economics. </p>

<p>Again, if you would like to see my essays, please PM me.</p>

<p>I appreciate your help. I am excited to see the criticisms, and learn from them. Like all others, I would love to go to Harvard, and anything that could set me in a good path (at least in the next 5 days), I will be thankful.</p>

<p>Good luck to you all, and hopefully, we would be in all smiles on March 31st, 2012! :)</p>

2

<p>Rain me with criticisms! I will gladly take them :)</p>

3

<p>You just killed my hopes. I listed 3 ECs and 1 honor on the CA. With this ^ list, you probably should get in. Being Asian might hurt though. I am Indian so the same applies to me. Good luck to both of us. I submitted my CA so I can read your essay. PM me if you want to.</p>

4

<p>Karan, ECS and academics must be balanced. If your academics exceeds mine (which is very, very probably for my stats are superb), then your chances aren’t diminished by having less ECS than me.</p>

<p>I will PM you. Thanks in advance for the critique.</p>

5

<p>Guys, help me out here; will be submitting it in few days</p>

6

<p>You sound ridiculously pretentious. Maybe it’s just your posts on CC, but that’s how you come across. Double check your app and make sure that’s not the case. </p>

<p>The piano thing, albeit being above the norm, is still very stereotypical to Asians. While your involvement in MUN does seem extensive, I’ve always viewed MUN as a joke club at my school. I doubt colleges view it the same, but that’s just me. </p>

<p>Once again, make sure your app doesn’t sound nearly half as pretentious as your chance thread does. While some ECs might be strong, I doubt you want to alienate your adcom. Clearly, this thread was meant to brag, but you never know. That being said, being apologetic is also not good. Find balance.</p>

7

<p>Hey DRose2012! Thanks for your comments. If you would like to see my essays, I can PM them. Then you will understand that the above, which I have attached as my additional information, stays consistent to the tone I emphasized in my essays, which is a burning passion to become a civil servant to lead progess and bring change.</p>

<p>My teacher recommendation and counsellor’s also stay in tune with the tone I’ve written in. Although I do believe it could be taken as pretentious when not in context (and if I read this somewhere without knowing who that person was, I would too call him/her ‘bragging’), with rest of my application, I do hope it will slide in comfortably. That said, I am more than happy to send my essays and rest of my application if you are willing to make a more considerate evaluation.</p>

<p>Yes, I agree with you about piano. It seems that many asians do a lot of piano. But the amount of work I put in (3hrs/day), would that discern me from the others who have started piano at an age of 5, got their diploma because of their parents, and stopped? I am not so sure, but hopefully it does, because I really love piano! (I am applying to the NEC program in conjuction with Havard) :D</p>

<p>Yep, tots know what you mean about MUN. People call it a pajama party, and reluctantly, I do agree. But hopefully with CAIMUN, I will be able to change that, at least in our conference.</p>

<p>Anyways, thanks for your comments. Appreciate it, and Happy New Years to you.</p>

8

<p>Waver (verb) - to shake with quivering motion; to become unsteady or unreliable
You are one ridiculous individual. Lima india alpha romeo.</p>

9

<p>You strike me as a very intelligent individual. I like your chances. Hopefully the admissions committee likes what you bring to the table.</p>

<p>By wavered, he meant to say he waived access to see them…</p>

10

<p>Wizkid, can I PM you my essays for more comprehensive opinions? Thank you for your opinions.</p>

11

<p>This might sound weird, but your list is just too long and big! Some of the things you have there are fluff: you don’t need to tell me every little thing about MUN- just give me your top three achievements (same for piano and debate)! By the way, I don’t care that you danced on a desks and gave examples to the theories discussed (you should have talked about something more sympathetic, like improving your peers’ grades). Keep it short and focused. Because you have so much stuff on your list, I don’t really see what you’re truly committed to. Cater your list to the program you’re applying to. For example, your Huntsman list should have focused on MUN and debate and only briefly mentioned piano. I had a similar problem when I applied to Huntsman. I had a bunch of Olympiad achievements I could have listed, but I only chose math and briefly mentioned chemistry. Instead of writing all 15 or something points (math/ physics/geology/whatever), I kept at like this: IMO, national math and national chemistry. More than enough. </p>

<p>You have to learn how view yourself and your resume from another person’s view (this applies to your writing too).</p>

12

<p>Interesting analysis Cardgames. Do you want me to PM you my essays? I do believe if put in context, a more comprehensive evaluation could be given.</p>

<p>Much thanks!</p>

13

<p>Dude! Do you even have time to sleep?</p>

14

<p>how many ppl are applying from your school? That may have an effect for you</p>

15

<p>Sure you can if you want to. In general, I would be careful whom I showed my essays to, but I would be glad to have a read.</p>

16

<p>Hi KoHarvard,
My sister got deferred from the Huntsman program, and applied to Harvard for RD, so I wish both of you the best of luck!
I’m still in the prepping stages for college, but I was wondering if I could read over your eessays? Your experience of being a freelance writer seems like your essay would have a different approach from the ones I’ve already read
thank yoU!</p>

17

<p>KoHarvard, </p>

<p>Anybody know?</p>

18

<p>^^Please do not revive old threads.</p>

19

<p>that is very true</p>