<p>Hey
i had a 34 act, 2230 sat</p>
<p>my sat 2s were 670, 740, 770</p>
<p>and i got in</p>
<p>scores arent everything
i spent a very long time with essays though, crafting 2 solid ones
make sure your recs are glowing
and i think my interview was crucial as well, the guy said it was his most memorable (in a good way) in 15 years</p>
<p>so yeah, apply but dont assume anything
i wasnt anticipating an acceptance but miracles do happen!</p>
<p>Well... your EC's... They seem rather built up, you know, to seem spectacular when they really aren't. You just founded a bunch of uselessish clubs that do not seem to have any real purpose. If I could see that, then a trained admissions officer would definitely do so. </p>
<p>Your GPA is admirable, but you need to get your scores up. Honestly, you kinda reduced your chances in my book when you said you were going to apply EA.</p>
<p>I agree w/ the EC argument</p>
<p>they all seem synonmous
i would try to put together a wider array of activities
and trying not to attach honor society to it</p>
<p>My only comment would be that you need to articulately convey who you are. I cannot discern this from your listed stats/ECs. I know that sounds vague, but the stats/ECs you have listed do not give me an idea of what you want to accomplish, what your values and goals are (other than trying to sound like a Harvard applicant), how what you have done in high school translates to some sort of worthwhile contribution to Harvard and your life beyond. Hope that was clear. (Obviously, I didn't go to H, but my D does. :) ) Good luck to you!</p>
<p>thanks again! so how do you think i should go about trying to show all of my different activities without sounding like i did it just so it would look good on my transcript?
and i'll be honest, i am mostly interested in going to harvard for the name, but who isnt? i know that if i go to harvard i can virtually major in anything and be successful cause i have good credentials from my undergraduate</p>
<p>any more advice on what i should do to improve my chances would be great!</p>
<p>haha Wii wow thats great! so what did you do that made your interview stand out??</p>
<p>" i am mostly interested in going to harvard for the name, but who isnt? i know that if i go to harvard i can virtually major in anything and be successful cause i have good credentials from my undergraduate"</p>
<p>That's not true at all, you're very naive. You graduate at the bottom of your Harvard class and there is a very good chance you're not going to grad school. On the other hand if you graduate top of your class at a state school and you've done some good internships you'll have a good shot at some top tier grad schools. In all seriousness if you plan on going to grad school,med school, law school, etc. it doesn't matter where you go for undergrad. It would be a stupid decision to go to Harvard when you could go somewhere you'll enjoy much more. </p>
<p>My physics teacher actually made fun of the valedictiorian for going to Princeton because she plans on going to grad school. Save yourself the money and go somewhere you'll actually enjoy that will challenge you.</p>
<p>Yes you will totally get into Harvard ED, just like I got into Princeton as a transfer student.</p>
<p>You have two problems: first, your ACT @ 31 is just too low and would not allow serious consideration UNLESS you have a sports or other hook; second, your Asian heritage puts you in the most difficult category for admission. No AdComs admit it, but Asians compete against Asians. It is not fair, but true.</p>
<p>Get your ACT scores up to at least 34 and try to distinguish yourself with your ECs, etc.</p>
<p>Always be sure to spell correctly elite institutional titles like HARVARD!</p>
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My physics teacher actually made fun of the valedictiorian for going to Princeton because she plans on going to grad school.
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<p>That was quite an ignorant reaction.</p>
<p>Ok, a lot of these posts are kind of negative. I'll tell you my experience, I got in off the waitlist but from what most ppl at harvard that i know have told me, they really under-admitted this year so those who got in off the waitlist would have most likely gotten in first try other years. From what I can tell, harvard isn't looking for your typical grade-grub who stresses day and night about getting 800's. My sat's were relatively "low" compared to what other people are saying, I got an 800 (CR) 730 (w) and 650 (m) which is a 2180 total. I didn't take the ACT, and my SAT II's were a 760 (U.S. history), 700 (bio) and 670 (spanish). I'm also white from rural new york and I'm ranked 6th in my class. Harvard doesn't neccesarily need the perfect scores, but I was involved in TONS of extracirriculars (choirs, student government, envirothon, track, NHS, etc etc etc) and I had an internship at a local college doing genetic chestnut restoration and chestnut ethanol which turned into really nice recs from the professors and 10 science fair awards. Maybe you should get a rec from one of the adults involved in your activities. </p>
<p>Also, I went to community college this year instead of senior year. My mom is a professor there and I really needed a break from the AP craze. And a lot of people have a seriously low opinion of community college, but I got 50 credits and all A's. I think that really making my own choices instead of taking the typical stressed-out perfect score/9AP's route. My essay was pretty honest (I thought it was good), I pretty much just told them who I was and tried to show my personality. If you want a copy I'd be happy to send it to you. As far as your EC's, I don't think you need to broaden them if you're doing what you're passionate about. If you love it, admissions will see that and probably appreciate that you didn't try and calculate the system to be the perfect harvard student. A lot of people do that and end up looking the same (and probably boring). Harvard also has a student-run homeless shelter and a lot of habitat for humanity projects. Even if they don't have what you're looking for, it's incredibly easy to get a grant to start your own club. I don't think you need to be 1000 percent sold on Harvard either, I committed to a state school and was perfectly happy before Harvard called and told me I was in. Harvard is an amazing place, it's fine to want that experience and the name without other reasons. A lot of people do that even if they don't want to admit it. Anyways, this was terribly long (sorry!). Bottom line: Don't stress out. Harvard admissions is a huge mystery, do what makes you happy and if you get in you get in. And if not, you're still an incredible student just like the 24,000 others that don't get in every year.</p>
<p>oh yea! Harvard is ABSOLUTELY affordable. Under the new program students whose parents make less than $60,000 go for free while students between that and $180,000 only pay 10% of their parents income which works out to about the same as a state school. Even small loans are worth it for the experience. Plus, they literally have BILLIONS of dollars. If you need a few thousand extra, they can definitely swing it.</p>
<p>EX200855</p>
<p>This information may be of some assistance to you.</p>
<p>Ivy</a> League College Admissions Facts and Statistics</p>
<p>Molly0252.
What a GREAT, balanced kid you are! Your parents MUST be very proud of you! It is easy to grasp why Harvard is lucky to have you! I hope you will come to Ohio to speak to my daughter someday, OR that we can look you up in Cambridge if we come for a visit!
Bless you!</p>
<p>haha okay well i am sorry for the typo i obviously didnt do it on purpose!
i know most of these posts are pretty negative, but i just wanna let yall know that i appreciate your honesty! and if you dont think i have what it takes to get into harvard, then what more do you think i should do?
molly, i would really appreciate a copy of your essays!
and i know my act is too low bu i know i can bring it up!
and being asain dosent help haha cause i guess i am one of the millions that was also another concern, i really want to stand out of the crowd and i dont know how to do that, any suggestions??</p>
<p>
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i really want to stand out of the crowd
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</p>
<p>Do your own research on college websites, including websites of colleges other than Harvard. Everyone applying to Harvard has to have another college to apply to, to avoid disappointment.</p>
<p>EX200855, if you spend a couple hours each week on CC, you will learn a many good tips from hither and yon---I have been a member for just three weeks and am enriched by both the student AND the adult posts. It is equally refreshing AND intellectually stimulating.</p>
<p>Moreover, you will learn more about your own passions by absorbing the wisdom and the whines of others!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Apply asap, and when Dec. 1 comes around, submit. A great ACT and SAT II will help - you don't need the SAT (unless it's easy for you an you can score 2250+ or something).</p>
<p>You also need luck.</p>
<p>It is difficult not to focus on stats like test scores when applying to college. After all, that's all we hear about: "SAT this, AP that, etc." Yes, it's important to do well on these exams, but there still is no formula for admission. There are so many talented, bright students out there who are extremely qualified for places like Harvard but who do not make it, not because they are't qualified but because, unfortunately, college amdissions is sometimes a crap shoot. My best advice is to stay true to yourself when applying to college, specifically Harvard. They want to see you as a person, not as a list of test scores and a brag sheet attached. Don't try to do things because you think they will look impressive to an admissions committee. If you do what you love, excel in it, and express yourself honestly in your essays, then you should have no regrets whether you are admitted or rejected. You have to have faith in yourselfif you expect Harvard or any other school to have faith in you. I think that's the biggets thing I learned from the college application process. I was waitlisted at Harvard, but I stayed proactive. I expressed to Harvard, from the bottom of my heart, why I wanted to attend, and quite honestly, I think they appreciated this instead of just an updated list of activities and awards. It was when they saw me more as a person that they chose to accept me, and now I am blessed to be part of Harvard Class of 2012. So just relax a little, guys. Apps aren't as bad as they seem, and just remember to stay true to yourself and have some confidence. It really shows!</p>
<p>
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If you do what you love, excel in it, and express yourself honestly in your essays, then you should have no regrets whether you are admitted or rejected. You have to have faith in yourself if you expect Harvard or any other school to have faith in you.
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</p>
<p>Well said; that's advice the OP can keep in mind whatever his target college is.</p>