<p>Hi, I'm a sophomore in high school :) Many of my close cousins, aunts and uncles attended Harvard and, having visited the campus, it seems like a dream school for me. I realize that any college like Harvard is a reach, so this is my plea for your judgment and suggestions on being admitted. Here are my stats:</p>
<p>School Academics
- 3.94 unweighted GPA compounded through freshman + sophomore year
- I go to a top 5 public school in New Jersey
- Freshman courseload: all Honors (no AP classes available) + Spanish 4
-Sophomore courseload: all Honors + French 4 + AP Chemistry + AP US history + taking AP Music Theory exam
-Junior planned courseload: AP Calc AB, AP US History II, AP Lang, AP Spanish, AP Biology
-Senior planned courseload: AP Calc BC, AP Economics, AP Lit, AP French, AP GovPol
-Orchestra all four years of high school, concertmistress (leader of orchestra)
-Reaching AP level in two languages, French and Spanish, instead of one</p>
<p>Extracurriculars
-Mock Trial: won Best Witness award for regional scrimmage
-Model United Nations: Nominated for Premier Delegate award, elected President of the General Assembly
-Running for Secretary General this year
-Youth in Government: attended conference at the statehouse
-Chosen as a Peer Leader of my school
-People with Pals: officer of a club in which members write penpal letters to children in Ecuador and raise money for their educational success
-Volunteer at Princeton University Hospital as a courier
-Made Regional orchestra on the violin
-Participated in Scripps National Spelling Bee '09 (as an 8th grader though...does that count?)
-Applying to Partners in Science (state-funded research program in NJ) and have a good chance of making it
-Applying to Governor's School of the Sciences (competitive state-funded 3-week research program for juniors) and also have a good chance
-Working with a mentor at a neuroscience lab at NYU, planning to do the Intel competition</p>
<p>Music (this is a category of its own, trust me haha)
-Carnatic music (a form of Indian Classical music) is my passion
-Have been trained vocally since the age of 4
-I go to India every winter break to perform full-length concerts in the annual music season
-Won around 30 competitions since the age of 6
-Have performed concerts in the USA, India, and United Kingdom
-Gave a benefit concert in my area and raised $10,000 for 9/11 victims and for education for women in India
-Practice every day for an hour to two hours
-Considering this as an essay topic
-Will probably send recordings to supplement my application</p>
<p>Miscellaneous
I lived abroad (in London, England) for 4 years, so I could possibly write about that too.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about what Harvard looks for, but you seem to be on the right track… If you don’t get accepted to Harvard, I am not sure who would. </p>
<p>My dad went to Harvard and now he does interviews for people in our area that are applying. Everyone that comes for an interview has great grades, fantastic test scores, and is in the top 10% at their school. In order to get noticed you have to find something that sets you apart from the thousands of other applicants. Whether it be your unique take on the world something that you are passionate about. Just be yourself and don’t try to be what you think the admissions commitee wants to see. I encourage you to try and do an interview because it significantly increses your chances of admission. For example, out of maybe 10 people my dad will interview he will choose 1 or 2 to "boost up’ (ie. write a fantastic letter about them). Compiled with great scores, you will almost certainly get in. Other than that I think you have a good chance. Good Luck</p>
<p>You are definitely on the right track. Get that 2300+ on your SAT and find some kind of extracurricular to differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicant pool.</p>
<p>You are doing excellent. Keep up the good work, and continue to do what you love. However, don’t do activities just for college; make sure you truly love what you do. Other than that, I don’t have too much other advice to give you - you seem to know what you’re doing well.</p>
<p>Don’t post the same thread over and over. It’ll irritate the moderators and the rest of us. If you are this determined, then stay determined, and come back the beginning of your Senior year for a serious chace. Otherwise, stay the course, but one major recommendation. Cut off the fat from your resume: it’s too much, and it’ll hurt you if anything. Colleges want to see a few solid interests, not two dozen semi-dedicated ones. Got a passion? Pursue it, and leave the dead weight behind. For example: you show interest in music, debate, and science. Keep it limited, and don’t branch out everywhere just to get another item to put on your list. </p>
<p>Finally, just take AP Calculus BC. Taking AB as well is not only incredibly stupid but an enormous waste of monetary resources. BC is literally AB + more sophisticated content. And…there is only one AP US History. Not two.</p>
<p>JustAnotherTry, we aren’t allowed to skip Calc AB in my school. And or APUSH is divided into two parts (2 year course)- no other choice. Otherwise thanks for the advice and apologies for the irritation…even though I posted this twice, not “over and over again”.</p>