hmm...my chances for Harvard? :)

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>SAT I: 760 CR, 800 W, 740 M. (2300)
SAT II: 760 Literature, 770 Spanish, 750 German
AP: 4 Human Geography, 4 World History, 4 US History, 5 English Language, 5 Spanish Language</p>

<p>Junior year classes: AP English Language, Accelerated Math 3, Environmental Science, AP US History, AP Spanish Language, Creative Writing, Chinese 1</p>

<p>Senior Year classes: AP English Literature, Calculus, Physics, Government/Economics, AP European History, AP Spanish Literature, Chinese 2</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.8...ranked 30 out of a class of 532....so top 10% of my class.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- Book Club at my school
- Philosophy Club
- I love to write :)
- I am well-read in literature (I love reading and literature!!)...Crime and Punishment, Catcher in the Rye, Catch-22, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Clockwork Orange, To Kill A Mockingbird, Nietzche, Dante's Inferno, Lord of the Flies, etc etc
- I have published a novel :D
- Gold Medal in Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (for Short Story)
- Beta Club at school (my community service pretty muchh)
- JV Lacrosse freshman year, Varsity Sophomore and Junior, probably varsity senior year
- Taught myself German. Mein Deutsch ist sehr gut! :)</p>

<p>I've tried not to burden myself too much with so many AP classes like other students. It's not worth it to have ulcers and grey hair as a high schooler. I challenge myself, but I also give myself time to pursue my passions and do what I love...and to actually have a life and be a human being.</p>

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<p>You seem in line for a successful college career. But this: "I’ve tried not to burden myself too much with so many AP classes like other students. It’s not worth it to have ulcers and grey hair as a high schooler. I challenge myself, but I also give myself time to pursue my passions and do what I love…and to actually have a life and be a human being. "</p>

<p>This is something you’re going to have to set aside or you’ll look foolish. The fact is there are MANY MANY kids who have the fullest academic loads, getting 4.0s and excelling in many fields. Your denigration of these “people who don’t have lives” will look foolish when you meet these people who are doing all things well.</p>

<p>Good luck to you but you shouldn’t cast stones b/c of the few people you’ve encountered who are study nerds. Trust me, there are super AP fillled 4.0GPAs with +2300 SAT who are stunning leaders and achievers outside the classroom.</p>

3

<p>Honestly I think your grades are fine(I’m pretty sure that most admissions committees understand that at some high schools the difference between a 3.8 and a 4.0 is the whims of certain teachers), your SATs are a bit low but don’t pull you down too far, your class rigor is a bit loose, and your ECs are mediocre unless that novel was somewhat successful and that award is pretty important. </p>

<p>I’m not saying that you won’t get in, but if you don’t get in, don’t be surprised. There’s simply so many amazing students with perfect SATS, perfect grades, and ridiculously amazing EC’s applying to Harvard that there’s not a lot of room for people like you and me. I’d say the same thing for my own chances.</p>

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<p>so what do you think i could do to improve upon my chances?</p>

5

<p>Work on your app.</p>

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<p>^Seconded.</p>

<p>While I don’t disagree with you in principle, the fact is that Harvard and other top schools suggest you take the most rigorous courseload available to you and so not doing so can only hurt you in your chances at these schools.</p>

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<p>What’s the name of the novel? :). I’m a writer as well. Mine’s being published this coming summer.</p>

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<p>does your school require ap calculus? and ap physics? also, is math level 3 the same as pre-calc?</p>

<p>harvard is always a pretty hard school to get in for any valedictorian or top of the class, so if you’re rank 30…
but yeah, if you’re novel sold then that is definitely a plus point! the gold medal for the scholastics award is really good so good job! but i do think you’re other ec are mediocre, so really emphasize your plus points in your app. btw, how many aps does your school offer?</p>

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<p>my school offers 24 aps: Human Geography, World History, US History, US Government, Macroeconomics, English Language, English Literature, German, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, French, Latin, Music Theory, Studio Arts 2D, Studio Arts 3D, Psychology, Physics B, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Calculus AB, Calculus AB/BC, Statistics, European History.</p>

<p>so…there you go.</p>

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<p>I know what she is talking about. There are those asian kids who take every AP class, get good SATs, but act like automatons. They are no fun to be around, and I don’t think they belong at schools like Harvard. What would you do if you got stuck with some basement dweller as a roommate?</p>

<p>These people do exist… just look around your highschool, or in the mirror (for some of you)</p>

11

<p>Honestly, I’ve never encountered such a person. I’ve encountered boring people who do well at school, but I can hardly suspect any person with a “Harvard-bound” application is going to be boring.</p>