Harvard Just Called Me...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>...why? </p>

<p>Well, I've been getting emails from this lady at the Under Represented Minority Office at Harvard (I'm Puerto Rican), and just now she called me house and we had a little chat. She was encouraging me to apply and email her and all that good stuff.</p>

<p>Anyway, should I even bother? I can't help but feel that they are toying with me :&lt;/p>

<p>My GPA nor my test scores are... shall I say... Harvardesque? </p>

<p>Here is my info:</p>

<hr>

<p>Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic (Puerto Rican)
Intended Major: History
High School Info: One of the best Public High Schools in America. We used to be #11 on the US New Report, but somehow this year we were in the 30s... Every year we send a minimum of 3 kids to Harvard, 2 to Yale... Dozens to Ivys.</p>

<p>GPA - 3.4. Its not that hot but I have a very steep upward trend. My freshman year I was sort of depressed and did not really try, I got alot of 3.0s. My sophmore and junior years I got all 3.5s and 4.0s however with a few APS thrown in. (A 5 in APUSH and a 4 in AP Biology)</p>

<p>SAT Scores (probably wont use): 2020 - 680 CR, 670 Math, 670 Writing.</p>

<p>SAT II Scores: Will take this coming fall.</p>

<p>ACT Scores (will probably take again):
Composite: 31
English: 32
Math: 31
Reading: 32
Science: 27 (this blew it)</p>

<p>Classes (Junior Year)
- Math - 3.5... barely
- AP US History - 4.0, 5 on the AP
- AP Biology - 3.5, 4 on the AP
- Music Theory - 4.0
- Symphony Orchestra - 4.0 (I'm President of the Orchestra)
- Chinese I - 3.5
- Writing Communications - 4.0 (I got a lot of great examples of my writing here. It was a HARD class with essays every 2 or 3 days... She said I was one of the best she has ever had, and she is using a lot of my work as examples for her next classes. I'm going to hit her up for a recommendation...)
- World of Shakespeare - 3.0 (I don't like excuses but I really think she didn't like me because I was Puerto Rican and automatically thought I was a slacker...)
- History of Music - 4.0
- Chamber Orchestra - Pass.</p>

<p>Senior Year Classes
- Math
- AP Earth Science
- AP European History
- AP Music Theory
- Chinese II
- Symphony Orchestra (President)
- Chamber Orchestra
- Film Study
- Literature of Childhood</p>

<p>Current Extracurriculars (in school):
- Varsity Wrestling since 9th Grade at a 1,300 student school. Shot of being captain next year
- President of the Symphony Orchestra (we win the Music In the Parks Great East festival basically every year)
- Captain of the Ultimate Frisbee Team (about 30 kids in the program, we have played other schools)
- Captain & Co-Founder of the Badminton team
- Captain & Co-Founder of the Footbag (hacky sack) team
- Principle Bassist (1st chair) of Symphony Orchestra
- Principle Bassist of Chamber Orchestra (we have to try out at our school)
- Student Teacher at IBM Family Science Program</p>

<p>Current Extracurriculars (out of school):</p>

<p>I am heavily involved with Numismatics (coin / currency collecting). For the past two summers I have gotten a full Young Numismatist scholarship to go to Colorado College for the American Numismatic Association's Summer Seminar. I am the number one Currency grader under the age of 18 in the USA.</p>

<p>I work for a dealer of obsolete bank notes, essentially he trusts me with tens of thousands of dollars worth of his inventory. I go to auctions, bid on things for him (again at times upwards of $10,000) and go to shows to sell notes for him. I also catalog for his website.</p>

<p>I with a friend of mine lead a coin club after the past guy who ran it passed away... I have given several lectures to kids and adults at various coin shows and coin club meetings on topics ranging from The Origins of Paper Currency, National Bank Notes, as well as how to grade and preserve paper currency.</p>

<p>Outside of Numismatics I play bass the New York Area-All State symphony Orchestra.</p>

<p>I am also volunteering with the SCA (Student Conservation Association) at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forrest. Basically I'll be preserving the landscape and restoring it so that tourists and other groups can come in and view the historical site. I'm leaving in a few days to Virginia for about a month for that.</p>

<p>Most of my outside extracurricular activities however have to do with Numismatics. I will probably write one of my essays about my involvement the Coin/Currency business and the hobby in general. I personally think that makes me sort of unique.</p>

<p>Other stuff:</p>

<p>I used to be overweight, but my Freshman year I brought myself out of it by working out constantly and joining wrestling (i made varsity). I lost over 30 pounds and got in shape all on my own. Maybe a good essay topic?</p>

<p>At my last seminar one of my instructors took a liking to me and he happened to be one of the Curator's at the historical Williamsburg Foundation. He told me he works closely with W&M and would love to write me a recommendation and do whatever he could to help me get in.</p>

<p>So I guess having a Curator at Colonial Williamsburg on my side definitely can't hurt?</p>

<p>What do you guys think are my chances?</p>

2

<p>It never hurts to apply. It’s either (1) apply and receive a decision or (2) don’t apply and never know if you could have been accepted.</p>

3

<p>1) Why won’t you write your essay on coin-collecting? No offense intended, but the I-lost-30-pounds essay has the possibility of coming across as superficial and juvenile. What about losing weight and becoming in shape makes you unique? How does that shed light on your application? Was losing weight your main extracurricular? Was that a defining moment in your life?</p>

<p>2) Don’t overload your app with extra recs. The saying is “the thicker the file, the thicker the student.” Only include that rec if it will add a side of you NO ONE else has discussed and that will do so in a way that will truly change the reader’s overall perception of your file. In other words, it’s looking like a maybe not.</p>

4

<p>Definitely apply! That numismatics interest is so intriguing…a definitely unique experience. I wouldn’t necessarily go with the extra rec unless as the above poster said, it shows a very different side of you.</p>

5

<p>I second the suggestion to write about numismatics. And definitely apply.</p>

6

<p>I think you have a great chance of getting in, with grades and scores that are very adequate for consideration, and the extremely intriguing outside interests (numismatics). Your musical accomplishments are also impressive. What I get from reading your extracurriculars is a feeling of authentic passions, and so many people come on here with extracurriculars that don’t feel that way. It doesn’t seem as if you do anything just to “get in,” but rather because you truly love doing these things.</p>

<p>Two extra recommendations, especially considering how interesting your activities are, would be a great asset in your application. Our daughter had two extra recommendations, because her true interests had no connection to her high school, and she got in. I really feel those recommendations are what made the difference.</p>

<p>If you read books about admissions (like "The Gatekeepers, which I only read AFTER my kids went to college), you will find that they WANT to admit you, because they want someone of your ethnic background. Admissions officers recruit URM’s, and that phone call was the beginnning of that interest from them, in you. From that point, I think the rest of your resume is very sufficient to have hope that you will be accepted.</p>

<p>Harvard does not want a campus full of uninteresting people with perfect GPA’s and SAT’s, and their admissions are less numbers-oriented than, say, a state university, because Harvard admissions has the ability to talk about each applicant.</p>

<p>You can’t assume anything, of course, but it would be well worth your while to apply.</p>

7

<p>My thoughts are that your receiving a phone call is positive sign. I am hoping that other CCers may have experience with this and can shed light on its significance or insignificance.</p>

<p>Your scores though on the lower end are numbers that Harvard has openly stated are acceptable to them. Though I am guessing that, without some other pull, they would not get an applicant in. Since your have gotten the call from the URM office, that hook is clearly going to be part of your application. </p>

<p>As for your essays, your coin collecting is much more unusual. Start working of that essay now. If it turns out right, it will be your primary essay on your applications. Remember it may take more than one attempt on the same topic. D’s primary essay on fishing, catching a mako shark, and it’s ultimate impact was started last July yet after a month was discarded. It was not working. She went on to develop another essay on her experiences at Drum Major Academy. This was going to be her main essay. Then October came and she tried that first topic one more time and it clicked. It ended up her best. D did send both to Harvard. Mako for common ap, DMA included with supplement. Point is to start early.</p>

<p>Lastly, you mentioned writing an essay on your weight loss. Remember many applications provided opportunities for other essays. Figure out your angle and see how it develops. It may be something you also choose to submit.</p>

<p>PS Was just re-reading your post. Also, as additional essays go, consider looking at the angle of your conservation work. Something might jump out at you there.</p>

8

<p>Absolutely do apply! I agree that your passion for and extraordinary experiences in numismatics (I didn’t even know what that was until I read this post) is really great. Your stats certainly put you in the running. Put a good effort first semester senior year, nail the application and post next spring to let us know about your acceptance!</p>

9

<p>Cool, a fellow numismatist! Unfortunately, my forte is coins rather than bank notes, lol…seriously, if she called you, i see no reason for you not to apply! best of luck!!!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/752133-i-will-officially-ban-use-word-chance-verb.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/752133-i-will-officially-ban-use-word-chance-verb.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>I definitely think you should apply. You may not think your grades/scores are very “Harvardesque”, but all of your extracurriculars are. You seem like a person that’s taken a few things you love and worked very hard at them (wrestling, music, and numismatics) and achieved a lot. Btw, there’s an office for URM at Harvard? I never knew about that. I’m Latin (Brazilian), and hoping to one day attend Harvard, so can anybody send me some more info about the URM Office? A web link, article, etc?</p>

11

<p>which grade are you in OP?</p>

12

<p>I don’t often comment on these “chance-me” threads, but I think you’d have a great chance of being admitted for all the reasons stated by compmom.</p>

<p>One thing, though: I’d advise against writing an essay about your weight loss. Not too long ago, I saw a thread here on CC which discussed an essay of the same topic, except with significantly more weight having been lost. In other words, it’s been done.</p>

<p>I’d write about numismatics; in particular, I think the admissions officers would be especially interested in an essay relating to your job as a numismatics bidder/vendor.</p>

13

<p>You are interesting. If you had a higher SAT or a higher GPA (e.g. 3.9-4.0) I would probably feel more confident. That said, even though you are an URM, I think elite schools are looking for URM who at least have a high GPA even if they don’t test well. The URM is overemphasized on CC. And also, while I find your extracurricular very interesting, I don’t think that it is super exceptional… you can find a “best” in nearly anything, and I’d much rather accept the “best mathematician” or “best high school football player” than the “best coin collector.” I’d personally waitlist you or reject you, but I think it is a bit of a toss-up.</p>

14

<p>At this point, OP’s question is whether to apply, not whether he will get in. He is clearly well-qualified and has done well in a multitude of extracurricular activities (not just the numismatics stuff). If he thinks he might want to attend Harvard, then he should most certainly apply!</p>