<p>What did I do concerning the thread? and, Yes i know that my ACT was low. Apparently, I got out of order on the language arts portion of the ACT, bringing my score much lower than I would have liked. I know that I got out of order because in 8th and 9th grade I made a perfect score on the state testing and in 10 grade I missed one question, leading me to believe that I must have done something quite stupid when taking the ACT.</p>
<p>LTMREM:
I do think writing a good essay is key, especially if there is some other part of the application that needs to be made up for. (And most of us aren’t perfect.) Essays are the one chance the student has to make themselves seem real to the admissions committee. Too many students are earnest and boring. Don’t be afraid to be a little bit quirky (if that’s you) or to show your sense of humor (if that’s you), or to show your intellectual chops (if that’s you), or to be creative (if that’s you.)</p>
<p>My older son started his college essay with the results of a computer program he wrote. My younger son wrote an essay about a volunteer activity where he showed himself approaching the activity with the mind of a historian even though he was just discussing the neighborhoods association’s newsletter about whether a school playground should be open after hours or not. </p>
<p>Some of my favorite CC posts on writing college essays: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13327168-post19.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13327168-post19.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1044933-some-important-last-minute-advice-essays.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1044933-some-important-last-minute-advice-essays.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13201424-post6.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13201424-post6.html</a> (note you can also buy his book) 
Another good book is Harry Bauld’s [Amazon.com:</a> On Writing the College Application Essay: The Key to Acceptance and the College of your Choice (9780064637220): Harry Bauld: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Writing-College-Application-Essay-Acceptance/dp/0064637220]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Writing-College-Application-Essay-Acceptance/dp/0064637220)</p>
<p>I am a sophomore, straight A student, ultra involved in church activities, in six different music groups, taking AP US History, AP Euro, AP English, AP Gov and AP Latin (all in the next three years, don’t worry), the rest all Honors classes. I am good test taker, so I’m not really concerned about my SAT scores, etc. But the public school that I go to has had only a handful of students admitted to Ivy Leagues, and I’m sure none of them was Harvard. Is there any hope that I can get in, even if my high school isn’t the best? Please spare the “if you’ll try hard, you can get in!” stuff because I AM trying hard and so were the kids that applied to Harvard from my school in the past.</p>
<p>None of them *were Harvard. And I thought I might add that I am planning on being a poli sci concentration and going into law, public service or speech writing. I also do debate team and volunteer at least 6 times a month. I am actually in the Boston area for a family trip right now, and I have been to Harvard’s website, walked around campus, and done some research, and I have kind of “fallen in love” with Harvard. So basically what I am asking is “is it possible to be admitted to Harvard not having gone to a really great public school or private school, but going to a low rated to mediocre public school that hasn’t had many Ivy League acceptances?”</p>
<p>so i havev about a 2.8 gpa and i’m a junior in my second trimester. I wanna go in for psychology. i volunteer a lot in my and state.and i always go to west africa to help the needy. do you think i will have a shot at getting in? I’m from West Africa, and i’m involved with a lot of extra curricular activities. i didin’t realize hw impotatn this was until about a week ago, so i plan on workign hard to get A’s in the rest of my classes.</p>
<p>Probably not. Harvard likes students who get 3.5+s from their own motivation to do well in school, not the students who only want to get good grades as a means to an end (Harvard). Sorry.</p>
<p>wait people with 3.5 gpas get into harvard? #itsnotover</p>
<p>Picked that as the very low end of reasonable (UW), given an applicant not expected to be the new star of the men’s basketball team.</p>
<p>Hey guys im new here and i was just wondering if I have like 3 internships in marketing ie (one in hotel, one in real estate, and one somewhere else) and also i own an adversiting company for two years that made like only 40000, and i am financial manager of a charity do i have a good chance for harvard ( along with 95.5 average) </p>
<p>also lots of volunteering like teacher in rural china and tutor at two schools for small underprivilaged kids. </p>
<p>as long as president of political debate and other clubs
and involved in business and investment club </p>
<p>Does it show i have passion for business</p>
<p>You need to be the top 1 or 2 student in a regular high school. The quoted top 10% of your class are reserved for those elite High Schools that have more than a few students accepted by Harvard yearly. You need to do very well in SAT or ACT and have a talent outside academic excellence. Be yourself when writing the essays. Apply early (action or decision) to other top schools if you do not fit the criteria above. There is no luck involved in the process!</p>
<p>With all due respect, IvykidDad, you’re just plain wrong. My D was 7th out of 84 in her class at a thoroughly average rural high school (3.94 UW GPA) and had a combined SAT score of 2190. No hooks whatsoever (i.e., middle class white kid, non-legacy, total klutz), yet she got in to Harvard and the top two kids in her class, both of whom had higher SATs, were rejected outright. What my D did have were outstanding ECs and an absolutely knock-your-socks-off essay. (Indeed, the regional rep on the AdCom wrote my D a letter after her admission stating that it was one of the best essays he’d read in a long time). And my D’s experience was hardly unique, even at our small high school. Her best friend, who was only in the top 15% but who also had outstanding ECs, was admitted to Yale. The idea that there is an automatic cutoff, that you need to be first or second in your class unless you go to an “elite” high school, is hogwash. What Harvard (and the other Ivies) are looking for is exactly what Lowellbelle articulated in her first post on this thread – academically excellent kids whose passion for learning will make the University a richer community. By suggesting that there is some kind of objective correlate for the personal qualities that Harvard is seeking, you risk deterring a lot of worthy kids.</p>
<p>And it’s not like at the “elite” high schools, of which I went to one (MIT/Princeton feeder, not so much HYS), the kid at 10% has all that much less of a chance than the kid at top 1%. I think all the admits to H from my year–maybe one of us a recruit, but I don’t think so–came from the bottom of the top 10% down to the top 15 or 20%. The kids in the top 10% did very well in admissions, too, but not increasingly well as their rank increased. It happens.</p>
<p>It’s not a crapshoot, in that if the admissions officers explained the rationale to you, you’d see it. (Well, I’m sure they make a few mistakes or baffling decisions, but “crapshoot” implies that like 70% of decisions are baffling, rather than 5% or less.) That said, “no luck involved,” that it’s objectively only from students at regular high schools with rank 1 or 2, is kind of laughable. There are a lot of boring kids at regular high school ranked #1, and there are a lot of very bright applicants with interesting stories who got a couple B+s over their time at high school, and so are 7th instead of 2nd.</p>
<p>My 20+ years interviewing for a Harvard competitor tell me that IvyKidDad’s advice isn’t the most sound. Personally, I was about 10th or 12th in my urban magnet HS. Granted this was many years ago but the admit rate was about 15% back then. To say one must be 1-2 to be competitive shows an lack of understanding of the real process. Claudeturpin: your DD sounds fantastic. She and her friend must have been a great pair. I hope they got to visit each other often.</p>
<p>Hi I am currently a junior who has a 5.0 GPA out of 5.0 GPA
I took the AP chem test and got a 4 same with AP world history
I made the all-state orchestra for two years in a row.
I was in the Greater Youth Orchestra.
I have also recieved the outstanding soloist award at state solo ensemble where they choose 200 people out of 22000 people.
My passion for helping people and music led me to create a school club that plays charity concerts for donations to Africa.
I am 3 year student body president experienced with all kinds of management.
Tons of community service.
Currently I found a new passion in physics, and I am doing research with a university professor requiring particle accelerators.
I was on the math olympiad team for two years.
I am making 96 and above in all Ap/Pre-Ap classes
1st chair at my school’s orchestra.
Currently practicing to enter the music competition in our state.
I made a 2150 on SATs and retaking it.
I have taken the SAT chem test last weekend.</p>
<p>What are my chances of getting into Harvard?
I am thankful for you reading this.</p>
<p>My daughter is currently at Harvard as a freshman. I think you have a very good chance.
In my opinion, you have the GPA and SAT scores to apply. What will give you a chance is what makes you unique, what makes you stand out. Leadership and passion for something count a lot. State and national recognition also counts a lot.
So, entering the music competition for your state is a great idea.
Love that you created the school club that plays for charity donations to Africa!
Make sure you write a compelling essay that highlights your passions and accomplishments. If you can tell a story that’s powerful, I think it would help you.
I don’t think that scoring higher on the SAT will make the difference - once you pass 2100, hopefully with all scores in the 700’s, it will be your “wow” factor that will make your application stand out.
Maybe think about how you chose what area in Africa your donations go to - what moved you about a particular situation or area and how you were able to combine your passion for music with your desire to make a difference in the world.
Good luck! I think you have a good chance.</p>
<p>Thank you so much!!</p>
<p>Dragonoh, I would take that advice with a grain of salt. I know gracesullivan is trying to be helpful with her comment, but you can’t forget about the circumstances(hooks) that her daughter had at the time she applied.</p>
<p>collegeinfo1994: Yeah, I guess you’re right. Oh well, nevertheless I will try my best.</p>
<p>I am so happy to have this thread. All we have to do is do what it tells us and we will get into Harvard. This is the kind of thing consultants try and sell for 1,000s of dollars, but here it is here, all laid out for us like a grocery store checklist. Thank you!</p>
<p>Hey Lowellbelle, how’s it going?! I happen to come across this post about being accepted into Harvard and I thought it had great advise! To bad I’m not as intelligent lol. Actually, I’m a 2.8GPA 23ACT student who studies non stop for AP classes that I shouldn’t even be in. I was shocked to hear that you were a lazy student but ended up being a valedictorian with a 4.0GPA 34ACT score. So I have a quick question. What do you think is the reason I have to work my butt off everyday only to end up in the same college as the loser kid in my class while you go through high school like it’s a breeze lol?</p>
<p>Thank You
-Anthony C.</p>