<p>What requirements must Hispanics fulfill in order to get accepted into Harvard. I currently have a 27 on my ACT, but plan to retake it. I'm also taking AP Literature, AP Calculus, and AP Chemistry. Got a 3 on AP Biology last year. I'm ranked 1 in 301 students at my school. I currently have a 4.0 GPA unweighed.</p>
<p>Pretty similar to what everyone else has to do to get into Harvard. (Remember that the average ACT and SAT scores of applicants, which are approximately 33-36, do include all the people for whom breaks for circumstances, athleticism, or race are given.) 27 is not even close to good enough. As you say, you’re retaking it, but your raw numbers aren’t competitive until you hit I think about a 32. (I’m used to SATs myself.) Then there’s the extracurricular dimension, which will also be a factor.</p>
<p>Being Latina/o and at the top of your class is a good start. Grades are more important than test scores. Better test scores would help, as einstino said. But strong essays and extracurriculars might just get you over the bar.</p>
<p>My son has a Spanish passport and an 800 in the Spanish SAT subject. He does not live in a Spanish-speaking country and his high school education took place in another European language. His father is not Spanish-speaking.</p>
<p>My questions are: 1) Would he get a hook from being Hispanic?
2) If he gets a hook for being Hispanic, would his SAT Spanish become irrelevant?</p>
<p>Eintino: my advice to you would be to try to boost your ACT. I disagree with the other poster that said 32 is a starting point. For someone in your circumstance, you need 29 at least, to be viable. I know from history, similar applicants like you have been considered viable w/at least 29s. Maybe a test prep class? Good luck to you.</p>
<p>polonorte: try to post a new thread rather than taking over Einstino’s post. However, does your son have US citizenship too? If not, he is considered an international student applicant – all who face even TOUGHER admissions standards.</p>
<p>^ Listen to this person and not to me.</p>
<p>being hispanic is certainly NOT a guarantee. You still have to have outstanding stats. lots of competition getting into a school like Harvard</p>
<p>The Hispanic applicant pool for Harvard becomes more academiccally competitive every year. I would suggest a 32 ACT to be comfortable, a 34 to feel like you are in the ranks.</p>
<p>Poponorte- If your son is applying as an Hispanic URM, the 800 Spanish will not be seen as unusually significant. With a Spanish passport, it would be assumed he has had a Spanish language influence of some sort. </p>
<p>And remember, the Hispanic “hook” decreases in power with the ever-increasing number of high-scoring Hispanic applicants from CA, NV, AZ, CO, FL, NY, NJ, NM, etc. The hook does not have power of the Afr-Am hook or, the most powerful hook of Native American.</p>
<p>Your 1 out of 300 and ur hispanic… if u bring ur act up to a 30 or 32, youl forsure get into a few ivys and have a good shot at harvard… practice practice and keep doing so till u have act coming out of everywhere… youl score higher…</p>
<p>I think its wrong to say that a 30 or 32 should get into a few ivys. Most of them from my research have ACT scores from around 31-35 as the 25-75 percentiles, but a score in the 30’s will certainly put you in the running though. Not to say that anything is a sure shot at these schools though. I personally have a 34 on my ACT, am ranked second, am hispanic, am president of NHS & Mu Alpha Theta along with having plenty of other extracurriculars and summer jobs, and I am EXTREMELY nervous in regards to admissions.</p>
<p>^ Well let me tell you, you shouldn’t be nervous at all. Hispanic with a 34 and 2nd in class… buddy you’ll forsure be at an ivy next year 100 percent…</p>
<p>Wondering how best to proceed. DD is a senior and got her ACT results this week and scored a 33–up from a 31 from the February Exam. She was very pleased with her results until she saw the writing score posted today and she only scored a 6! On the two previous exams she scored a 10 both times and writing is one of her strongest areas. She is currently taking AP English and Gov and scored 5s on both APs she took last year–AP US History and AP English Lang and Comp. I just looked on the ACT site and we can not just send the multiple choice scores–they will send all scores–writing including. So how will admissions staff look at that 6–will it be a black mark or will they overlook it given her 33 composite? Counselor is recommending that we send the 31 results with the 10 writing score in addition to the 33. Anybody else encounter this type of situation and how did you deal with it?</p>
<p>I also have the same question. I have just started high school, but I am curious if my being Hispanic will boost my chances at getting into a higher ranked college. Understandably, it depends mostly on scores and extracurriculars, but seeing as how I only have a 29 on the ACT, I am not sure how I will match up.</p>
<p>@luli I think you will not be marked down for the one odd low mark, considering it’s still very high composite.</p>
<p>@Classical Your ACT score should increase significantly by the time you take it again in your junior/early senior year.</p>
<p>I believe all students are viewed equally. Of course they take a student’s ethnicity into consideration when trying to diversify the school, but you need to have good stats before being considered for admission. Personally, you need at least a 30 on the ACT. However, that would not guarantee your admission. You would probably need to show some outstanding services you have given back to your community/school. </p>
<p>Don’t take this the wrong way, i’m hispanic as well. Yet I think that I would need a stellar score on the SAT/ACT in order to be considered!! Lol. Even with a 30, i’d be doubtful. IDK, that’s my opinion…</p>