It shows one student from Peru and it is for all of Harvard College (meaning all four grade levels).
I’m afraid that even if you raised your grades and test scores, your chances would still probably be less than 3% which is the average acceptance rate for international students unless you have some amazing accomplishments which have garnered you international level awards that you haven’t told us about.
Sorry to be so blunt. It’s better that you pursue other more realistic plans.
But you are just considering the statistics about international students to argue that these are my chances. What about my interview? What about my essay? By the way, the 1 student from Peru studied in Markham College, a very expensive and private school in Lima with a curriculum based on british education, totally different from my school.
That 1 student at the expensive private school undoubtedly had a much better level of preparation to attend Harvard than you did. That is why they were accepted. Harvard is not just looking at your tests scores. They also want to see that you are academically prepared and have taken an extremely challenging courseload in HS and excelled while doing it. They don’t care about how well you interview if you don’t have the academics and ECs that say you are one of the top applicants in the entire international pool.
In other words, you can’t “talk” your way into Harvard.
@Usuario889
NO it’s NOT unfair. American colleges may pride themselves in diversity but they do and must prioritze their own, which are citizens and permanent residents. This is me, an international student speaking. GMTplus7 made a perfect analogy: This is US college not UN college. You are starting to sound really spoiled.
I don’t know why you are obsessed with those schools. Is it only because they are “good” school? Well then, I would 2say your personal statement for each school would be boring because they wouldn’t provide any insight.
Plus, you are already in college. There are AMERICAN kids who can’t go to college for various reasons beyond their control. You on the other hand are already benefiting post secondary education, and you are more likely to get good jobs then those who don’t.
Well, my educational counselor will say that I’m a student who is very near or even one of the top applicants, because my high school has a diversity of academics which actually are the same as many schools in the world. I’ve learned A LOT of History, Math, Sciences, Literature,etc.
Multiverse7 my academics are very good in my opinion.
By the way, you first said that despite I increase my SAT scores my chances will be less tan 3 percent, but then you said Harvard is not just looking my test scores. Why don’t you tell me that when you reply in the first time? Do you wanted me to rescind my application or something?
Paul2752, I am not refering to the priority of the U.S citizens and permanent residents. I just wanted to make clear that it could be unfair that I wouldn’t be able to get into Harvard JUST because I attended a local college (which it was easy to get in) and JUST because I wanted to keep my education level, which many U.S students don’t do, they have a gap year instead. I am currently having a 5-month “gap year” and then I will start in my college.
For everybody, using your common sense. I am peruvian, I studied in a regular local school, I already took the SAT, I know what are majors and minors, what are the IB applicants and the AP applicants, what is a freshman and a transfer, I know A LOT of the American history, my parents aren’t even related to the USA, I’m a normal “kid”. I SPEAK ENGLISH WELL…
I mean, why I could be pointed as a normal american high school kid if I know all this without having any advantages such as living in the USA?
Not sure what you are saying to me but I have been consistent with what I have said.
I’m not looking for you to do anything with your application. You are obviously free to apply to wherever you choose. You asked for opinions and I gave you mine. I think you have almost no chance of being accepted.
If you think you can raise your score 600 pts. and that it will make a difference to Harvard so that you will be one of the 3% internationals whom they accept, then by all means go ahead and do it. I have no reason to want to see you not succeed. Good luck!
What I meaned HRSMom is that despite of my disadvantage of not being related to the American education system or the country at all, I was very interested to know more about getting into Harvard and as you said, I got all that info from the internet, but the point is that I did it compared to other students from my country which prefer to stay here in Peru.
I think that’s the remarkable thing.
I will probably have to discuss that with Harvard. I just want to say that I really want to get into that college, and I want them to feel that they could need me in their classrooms.
" I already took the SAT"
-which virtualy everyone does too. It’s a required test, not a genius hunt test.
“I know what are majors and minors”
-So?
" I know what IB applicants and the AP applicants, what is a freshman and a transfer"
-Again, so?
“I know A LOT of the American history”
-Knowing history of other country may enrich your knowledge but do not make you any more special.
“my parents aren’t even related to the USA”
-…this is not even a point of consideration
" I SPEAK ENGLISH WELL."
-A REQUIREMENT, NOT A TALENT.
You seemt to take this personally. Top notch schools just don’t accept transfer students-American or not- just because they are good. They put limit on transfer in order to cater need for incoming freshmen, which you are not.
You are complaining because AMERICAN COLLGE is giving you, a FOREIGNER, less chance than American kids. This is same as a neighborhood kid yelling at my mom for her giving me a SUPER RARE CHOCOLATE PIE but not him because he is not my mom’s kid.
It is VERY unlikely for anybody to raise their SAT score by 600 points. Sorry if these posts are coming across harsh but you have nearly no chance at Harvard as a transfer.
The people posting here are giving you their honest advice because they’ve seen many kids here on CC go through the college admissions process.
If you really want to come to the United States for a college education your best bet is to NOT enroll in your local college so you can apply as a freshman student. Then, study for your SAT because to be competitive you really want at least a 1300+ (totally generalizing here).
Then, instead of looking at Ivies (at which you have practically no chance), look at less selective liberal arts colleges. There are many great colleges in the US, including some that really look for int’l students.
Of course, your chances at any US college are lower because you are an international, but by looking at less selective colleges you may be able to find an option.
You are an international applicant and the acceptance rate is only about 3%.
The international pool is EXTREMELY competitive meaning that a lot of the world's brightest and most accomplished students apply to Harvard. They have stellar grades and test scores and world class accomplishments like publishing research in internationally known journals or competing at international math, physics, etc competitions.
You current SAT is 950 - NOT THE ILLUSION in your mind of 1540. And even if you did get 1540 it only means you are now competitive with the other thousands of applicants looking for one of the few spots Harvard offers.
Your grades are mediocre if you are only in the top half of your class.
Your English, from what you have posted, is fraught with grammatical errors and so not as perfect as you think. You need to get a TOEFL score to prove your fluency. I suspect you had a low SAT score because of your English.
You have not talked about your accomplishments and awards but I'm assuming they are not on par with those who get accepted to arguably the top school in the world.
You seem to think the rules don't apply to you because you're circumstances are somehow special.
You don't seem to have an understanding of how the admissions process works at elite schools if you think your interview and essays will compensate for academics or test scores.
Lastly, although Harvard and a handful of other top schools are “need blind” for international students, from my experience, the majority of international kids who are accepted are from elite private schools which means they are full pay. Other kids are accepted because of connections (the president of China’s daughter, etc) The kids who do receive financial aid and come from regular or low income schools are accepted because they are absolutely brilliant with amazing accomplishments. I don’t see you fitting into any of these categories but if I’m wrong, I apologize.
Again, best of luck to you. I’m not responding to any more of your posts .
Here in the United States, there are many excellent schools not called Harvard. The Ivy League schools enroll only a tiny portion of the undergraduate population. The vast majority of students are in much larger achools, that enroll thousands of new students each year instead of a few hundred.
If you can afford the international student tuition, there are 50 states in America and 50 state flagship schools. States with higher populations even have multiple state university campuses with even more opportunities. All of these schools will let you experience American culture and broaden your education and welcome international student applicants.
You can find a school to study in America. It will not be Harvard.