How well are my chances ?

Hi guys. I am a student from Ethiopia. Who recently took the SAT and got 750 on math and 700 on Verbal and 17 on my essay. I am planning to apply to Harvard computer science to EA. My GPA is 3.8 unweighted. My extracurricular activities are good. How good are my chances of getting in ?

@abthestarboy As good as anyone with good stats. It’s a lottery. Do you need a full ride?

What is your GPA or school grade?
Where else are you applying to?
How much can you afford?
Also, 17 in SAT essay? SAT removed writing section altogether.

^ No they didn’t…
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat/new-sat-tips-planning/about-the-sat-essay/a/the-sat-essay

Oh, I thought they removed essay too. Never mind.

I need a full ride.

We need more info than “I need a full ride”. Is your family completely incapable of affording schools in Ethiopia? No airfare? No personal expense such as food, clothes? US schools cost around 40k to 67k, and it is more expensive for foreingers due to other costs such as flights, summer accommodation etc.

What exactly are you extracurriculars? Your SAT score is good enough to be in Harvard applicant range.

WHERE else are you applying? Don’t tell me you are applying only to Harvard! There are other schools that may offer you great merit scholarship as well.

I have tons of extracurricular activities. And got a lot of awards ranging from school to national level. My family’s income is less than 50,000 a year.

@MYOS1634 A full ride with 1450 SAT, 3.8 and National level awards. Suggestions?

@abthestarboy On which term would you enter college? What do you want to major in? Have you done/do you plan on doing any SAT Subject Tests

Fall 2018. I want to major in computer science. I haven’t took SAT subject tests

There are many brilliant students wanting to study computer science at the top schools, including Harvard. If you’re serious about studying in the US you need to apply to a broad selection of schools. Applying to Harvard only means you’ll likely still be in Ethiopia next fall.

Also, you should brush up on your English grammar.

@abthestarboy I don’t want to discourage you but these are the kind of questions you should have asked about a year ago, top colleges like MIT and most Ivies will require two Subject Tests, 1450 and 3.8 GPA is good but it’s not the best, probably won’t be enough for merit full rides.

I’m not 100% sure so you should definitely check for yourself but I think Harvard requires subject tests, also as an international with those stats you better have some ridiculously amazing extracurricular activities because otherwise your chances are pretty much 0.

Aren’t you considering other universities?

The good news is Harvard is need blind for all students, including Internationals, and 100% need based financial aid. If you get in, you will likely get a full ride in the form of grants based on your stated family income and assuming your family is not sitting on a pile of assets.

See the link to Harvard’s website for the application process for International students so that you have accurate information. https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/international-applicants
BTW, SAT2 are no longer required for Harvard, even for US students. https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/application-process/sat-subject-tests As an international, you have good reason not to have taken the SAT2 if it is not offered in your country and/or travel to a site would be difficult or financially burdensome for you.

The bad news is that the odds of getting into to Harvard as an international student are lower than US students, even for students with perfect test scores and grades. In the 2014-2015 school year, there were a total of 3 students at Harvard College form Ethiopia. http://worldwide.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/worldwide/files/2014-15_international_enrollment_school_country_fromoir.pdf So on average, Harvard admits maybe 1 student from Ethiopia a year. You would be well served to research other universities in the US that have generous aid programs for international students that are less selective. Your chances of getting into Harvard are 0 if you don’t apply, but understand they are low if you do.

Look at HBCUs that give full rides for stats (such as FAMU).
Add Berea (application deadline coming up).
Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, and Amherst are need blind/meet full need. Look into them.

Thanks @MYOS1634