<p>If somebody could tell me about Harvard admissions, specifically, that would be great. </p>
<p>I didn't want to post this in the "Chance" board, because I'm an irregular case, and I don't have many numbers to back myself up. I don't plan on applying until next year, when I'm 18, but I'd still like to know. First, let me explain my schooling situation:</p>
<p>I am a male Indian American, currently living in Bangalore, India. I do not attend a traditional secondary school, but for the past three years I have instead been attending an alternative school run by close family friends. The school is alternative in the sense that it accepts kids of all ages, and there are no grades. There are also no grade levels. Instead, students are grouped based on skill level in a certain subject, so that a math whiz at age 8 will be in the same class as a student who is on-level at age 12. There is no competition, because there are roughly only 20 kids in the school. </p>
<p>The exams I have taken to "graduate" are the O-levels and A-levels, administered by Cambridge. I think the O-levels are equivalent to having passed the 9th and 10th grades (I could be wrong), and the A-levels are what most Indian kids need to take in order to apply to universities here. I've made an A in the O-levels, and I'm value predicted to make an A in the A-levels</p>
<p>I don't have any extra-curricular activities that are attached to the school, for obvious reasons regarding the school's size. The one thing that differentiates me from the other students that would be applying is that I have spent a great amount of time over the past three years teaching tribal students in India, some of them older than me. I've taught English, physics, trigonometry, computers (typing, internet, etc.), history, and geography. Along the way, I've learned a great deal about the tribal culture, which is something not very many people have the opportunity to do. I've also helped out at the local tribal hospital quite a bit, mostly secretary jobs such as data entry. I eveb once compiled a medical training book for the local tribal nurses. </p>
<p>Here are my stats:</p>
<p>Race: Asian
SAT: 2300
SAT II: -- (I have yet to take)
ACT: -- (I have yet to take)
O-Levels: A
A-Levels (value predicted, in four subjects): A
Languages: Fluent in English, Hindi, and Kannada</p>
<p>I have a couple of more questions, as well: </p>
<p>1.) Will the fact that I went to this alternative school put me at a disadvantage in the eyes of admissions? Does the fact that I have no GPA to compare to other students put an unfavorable light on me?</p>
<p>2.) Would it be beneficial for me to take the ACTs, in addition to the SATs? </p>
<p>3.) In addition to teacher recommendations, I can also ask for recommendations from the headmaster and headmistress of the school I taught at, as well as a few other people who I've worked with. Is it worth getting their recommendations? </p>
<p>I'd just like to thank anybody who answers any of these questions or gives me advice on what to do next.</p>