Is an Increasing trend in grades OK for Harvard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>So, I am a senior this year at a private school. In freshman year, I went to a public school, and took all honors classes and even two math classes simultaneously (Geometry and Algebra II) I got literally all A's one semester, and all B's <em>and and F!!!</em> the next semester. The "F" was in a computer class that was either you turn in all your work on one day, or you fail the class. I forgot to turn my work in on that day and thus the "F." In sophmore year, I switched to a private school, and got 10 A's (counting both A's and A-'s) and 2 B+'s. The B+'s were in math and science. The thing is in this private school, the actual percentage grades are shown. In junior year, I did kind of poorly in the semester, in that I got B+'s in chemistry and physics. However, next semester, I shaped up and got all A's, with 98+% grades in all my classes (2 AP's, the rest all honors classes). Now, in Senior year I have finished my first semester, again with straight A's, all above 98%+. I am in 8 AP classes this year. Let me quickly go through this transcript:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.5 (9th Grade), 3.95 un-weighted, 4.5 weighted (10th-12th grade)</p>

<p>SAT: 2390 (790 CR), SAT Math II: 800, SAT Chemistry: 800, SAT US History: 800</p>

<p>AP Exam Scores (all 5's): AP Chemistry, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP US History, AP World History, AP English Language, AP Computer Science A</p>

<p>In the following AP Classes in 12th Grade: AP English Literature, AP European History, AP Biology, AP US Government, AP Comparative Politics, AP Spanish Language, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics</p>

<p>Clubs: Math Club, Ethnicity Club, Academic Team (9th); Chess Club, Speech Team, Young Democrats (10th), President/Founder Math Club, President/Founder Chem Club, VP Young Democrats, Mu Alpha Theta Member, NHS Member (11th); President Debate Club, President Young Democrats, President Math Club, President Chem Club, President of Mu Alpha Theta (12th)</p>

<p>Major Awards: Top 3 in Speech and Debate x 12, National Quarter-Finalist in PF Debate, USA Chemistry Olympiad finalist, USA Physics Olympiad semi-finalist, USA Math Olympiad qualifier, National Merit Commended Scholar, National AP Scholar, 2nd place in Algebra II state contest in 9th grade, 4th place in pre-calculus state contest in 10th grade, 1st place in state calculus test in 11th grade, 1st palce in state math problem solving test in 12th grade</p>

<p>Piano: Played at an intermediate level in 9th grade, stopped in 10th grade, played at at an advanced level in 10th-12th grade, did very well at state piano contests in all years I played</p>

<p>Research: I wrote two papers in chemistry at a local university in the summer of 11th grade. I attended the USA Chemistry Olympiad Camp in 11th grade summer. </p>

<p>Volunteering/Employment: I did 40 hours as a volunteer at a local science center in 10th grade. I did 100 hours in Pakistan (where both my parents are from) building schools and giving food to homeless people in 11th grade summer. I started up a Mathcounts club at my private school and coached it in 12th grade. I worked at a movie theater every week for four days after school in 12th grade. </p>

<p>Reccomendations: I got very good reccomendations from my AP English Literature teacher, my AP Biology teacher, a chemistry professor, and my college counselor. They said I was a creative, intelligent, and mature student who set an example for students in their class. I was one of their best students they have had.</p>

<p>Income Bracket/Parent Education: My dad is a medical doctor, and my mom has a master's degree in entemology but does not work. My family generates an income of about 200K/year, and I have two younger brothers.</p>

<p>Essays: I wrote an essay about the importance of family, which I learned from my parent's sacrifice of living two hours apart so I could go to an excellent private school. I wrote another one about being a Pakistani Muslim Democrat in America, and how I learned to accept my heritage and my responsibility as an American citizen.</p>

<p>Please opine on my chances for getting into Harvard this year. I would like to know if am a competitive applicant, despite not having the "straight A" resume. I think I would be quite competitive because I did fairly well at national level math/science competitions. Please let me know if this true. I appreciate if you read this entire post, and give an opinion. Thank you.</p>

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<p>I’m not very good at chancing people, but holy cow! If you don’t get in, I definitely won’t :(</p>

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<p>Thanks @rastogr for your reply. I would really appreciate it if others would also reply. I recently submitted my application and would like to know where I stand.</p>

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<p>I think your 790 critical reading is killing you. Lol jk I think you have over a 50% chance of getting in.</p>

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<p>Your stats are pretty undeniable. The slow start isn’t going to hurt as much knowing that you knew how to get your act together and come out on top with stellar grades and ECs. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks @wizkid94 and @thecollege1. Please could I have some more opinions? (@wizkid94-really 50+% chance?!?)</p>

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<p>Make sure your counselor writes about the f ! D:<</p>

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<p>recommendations*</p>

<p>Just saying.</p>

<p>EDIT: To answer your question, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.</p>

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<p>Thanks, @Moonpie1, I have got to learn how to spell. Yeah, @physicsboy32, the thing is my “F” was from my freshman year, when I was at a different school, but I’ll ask my current college counselor to write about it.</p>

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<p>Could some more people please, please, please give their opinion. I would really appreciate it.</p>

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<p>‘anything to worry about…’ ‘holy cow, you will get in!’</p>

<p>I hope you aren’t complacent and convinced with these empty-meaning replies.</p>

<p>Harvard is crapshoot and ‘holistic.’ I do believe you have great chances of getting in, but Harvard can’t accept all fantastic students like you. “50% of perfect score SATs get rejected.”</p>

<p>Mind if I take a gander at your essays? If I could, then I would certainly have more of a sense if your chances stand at a good place. Of coure, I won’t mind if you said no; this is to have a better idea as a person, rather than a crazed academaniac.</p>

<p>Good luck to you MysticLion.</p>

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<p>What do you all think would be the best way to minimize the effect of seeing all those random B’s and that horrible F in freshman year?</p>

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<p>Hey, I forgot to mention that my school was second in the state for Mock Trial, and that I live in TN. I was I think a “top mock lawyer.” I did that in my junior year. Also, will it look bad, considering that I’m South Asian, that I don’t have straight A’s? The thing is that I was pretty lazy in my first five semesters in terms of maintaining super-high grades, and only in my last two semesters have I gotten grades above 97% in all subjects. I have taken all Honors classes and 8 AP classes, but of the 7 semesters of high school and in the approximately 44 classes I have taken, I have gotten 5 A’s, 6 B’s, and 1 “F” in computer class in 9th grade, 10 A’s and 2 B’s in sophmore year, 8 A’s and 4 B’s in junior year, and 7 A’s in the first semester of senior year. My B’s in sophmore year were in math and science, in junior year in math, science, history, and english, and no b’s in senior year. I did indepedently study for 6 AP classes in my junior year and got a 5 on all 8 exams, including the two I had done in school. So does that kind of make up for my non-stellar transcript? Also, I have done very well in national level math/science competitions, and ironically enough those are the things I usually got B’s in.</p>

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<p>Also, my un-weighted GPA for grades 10-12 is actually 3.87 instead of 3.95, and my weighted GPA (.5 for Honors classes added, 1.0 for AP classes added) is 4.45 instead of 4.5. I would really appreciate some more replies not just to these specific questions, but overall opinions of my chances of getting into Harvard. I really appreciate it!</p>

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<p>Even for kids with the most stellar grades it is a crap shoot. You certainly are “in the range.” Good luck!</p>

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<p>I understand the “crapshoot” part, but what do you mean “in the range?” Does that mean, I have a “very good chance.” Please be blunt if you have to be. If you think I should probably get in, say so with a good reason. If you think I will most likely get rejected, say so with a good reason.</p>

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<p>Please be blunt now. I have submitted my application. Just say, you should get in, or you shouldn’t get in, and please give a reason.</p>

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<p>No one here has the ability to predict whether you “should get in” or “shouldn’t get in”.</p>

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<p>“In the range” probably means “oh, at least a 12% chance of acceptance.” When the RD acceptance rate is going to probably be 4-5%, that’s a compliment.</p>

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<p>Of course, nobody can say for certain whether or not you’ll get in. That is for the adcoms to decide :wink:
As to your increasing trend in grades, I reckon that is actually what they want to see; to improve yourself etc.</p>