<p>floridadad55: “The SAT and ACT do a very good job of identifying truly top candidates.” </p>
<p>I am not too sure about that. I agree that APs are better indicators of college readiness but I think that the SAT is a greater indicator of your socioeconomic bakground than of your true intelligence/preparedness, because I know many kids who spend hours upon hours studying for SAT, going to tutoring centers, and skipping school on SAT weeks (like this one). Yet the kids who do that, are not smarter than anyone else or really “Top candidates”, they are just children who study excessively for tests. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong. Tests are something people will have to do all their lives and being able to take tests is an important skill for any college student. Yet I think SATs arn’t everything. The girl who started this thread was not saying that her test scores will “ruin her dreams” she just wanted realistic opinions and though you gave her just that…you don’t know the minds of the admissions officers (unless you are one) and she might just have something that your brother didn’t. </p>
<p>I say have faith in your application and what is in the past is in the past. If Harvard wants you then i guess you’ll find out in December. In other words…don’t sweat what you can’t change, just get some Froyo and chill for 6 weeks! :)</p>
<p>Not impossible, just improbable. But you do have 4.0 uw, very good ECs, great essays, and a very compelling story. I think, with all you other factors as well, you have a decent shot, but even a decent shot is still like 10% chance at most. It’s Harvard, you can be perfect and still not get in because they had 2000 other perfect students and could only accept 1000. Don’t give up, but don’t get your hopes up too high. I really hope you get in :)</p>
<p>31 is the bottom 25th percentile, and I think 33 is the 75th percentile, so the vast majority of applicants are between a 31 and 33. There are athletic recruits as low as 27, and maybe a couple of non-recruits who are below this number (1 out of 2100 is effectively 0%). </p>
<p>So, no, 30 is not the end of the world, and your SAT II’s are fine (others accepted) albeit a little low… </p>
<p>Bottom line: yes you’re in the ball park, and that’s what counts. These other posters talking about how valedictorians and 2400’ers were rejected are way off base about judging solely on objectivity.</p>
<p>Please remember to apply to other schools too, and do NOT get your hopes up about any school, including Harvard. There is lots to love (and not love) about all schools. You will not be able to find one Harvard student who won’t have things they dislike about the school, things they didn’t realize until they got there!</p>
<p>Also, have you taken any AP tests? What have you gotten on them? I know some people don’t do well on not-really-subject-specific-tests (SAT), or multiple choice (SAT II), but can still do APs really well. If you’re one of those, I wouldn’t worry that a 30 ACT means you’re incapable of doing Harvard-level college work.</p>
<p>Okay. Wow.
For one, I DO NOT think that I freaking deserve to go to Harvard. On the contrary, I know very well that I really don’t.
I also know very well that I am not a genius. That is my father. I am simply a hard worker.
But for Allah’s sake, can I not DREAMM??? </p>
<p>I do not understand why you have to be so freaking rude about things. YES, I know that I probably will not get in to Harvard, and yes, I know I am not ALLLL that smart, but I am also no idiot and have every right to dream for good colleges, even with my not so hot test scores. </p>
<p>I never took the SAT I. I have only taken SAT IIs. And English is not my first language.</p>
<p>I do not have and “inflated view of myself.” To be quite honest, I have depression issues.</p>
<p>And no, I am not trying to make you feel sorry for me by writing out my personal issues, but I really think you need to know where someone comes from before you start prancing around calling people this and that</p>
<p>Oh and FWI, I. Don’t. Want. To. Know. Any. More. About. Your. Friend’s. Son.</p>
<p>I really wish I was exultationsy, but my school is so small that we do not have any A, IB, or Honors classes available. I have, however, taken loads of Dual Credit if that counts for anything.</p>
<p>Thank you, you are sweet :)</p>
<p>This idea that Harvard is filled with super-human intellects? No.<br>
Students who got very rigorous high school educations and did well and tend to be ‘type A’ people, yes.</p>
<p>Floridad55 overstates the validity of the SAT. In a relatively recent study by the College Board, the raw correlation of the combined SAT score with first-year college grades is .35, which means the test explains about 10% of the variance in freshman academic success. (The report also gives a correlation adjusted for range restriction of .53, which means the most optimistic case is that the SAT predicts 28% of the variance, leaving 72% unexplained.) High school GPA correlates at .36 (.54 adjusted), just a tiny bit better. SAT and GPA combined explain a little more than a third of the variance. <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/Validity_of_the_SAT_for_Predicting_First_Year_College_Grade_Point_Average.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/Validity_of_the_SAT_for_Predicting_First_Year_College_Grade_Point_Average.pdf</a></p>
<p>So, most of the differences in academic success in college are unexplained by the SAT. Thats even more true for students like tarakn12 for whom English is a second language. Tarakn12s description of herself raises the possibility that shes high on test anxiety, which has been studied since the 1950s. Some people suffer a performance drop on high-stakes tests because they experience high levels of emotional and physiological over-arousal.</p>
<p>The odds of admission are long for just about everyone at Harvard, but I agree with those who believe tarakn12 isnt entirely out of the running. And, if she doesnt get into Harvard, there are a lot of excellent schools that would love to have her.</p>
<p>tarakn, I can definitely see potential in your application, even with a 30. I’m not sure what the “all state in radio competition” means, but that & the National Band could look great on an Ivy app… also the county fair queen! Harvard loves stuff like that. Your essays sound intriguing as well. I’ve seen plenty of successful Harvard apps, and what they have in common is a certain X factor “different-ness”. I have seen few (none?) of the mythical Harvard applicant who is “wicked smart” and perfect & amazing in all respects. Perhaps they exist in greater numbers that I am aware…</p>
<p>If you had weak grades & great test scores, I would not be encouraging. But honestly do not count yourself out of an Ivy. On the other hand, NO ONE should fall in love with Harvard before they are admitted because-- as others here have told you… that is folly!</p>
<p>Bbbbbbuuuuuuuummmmmppppp :)</p>
<p>Personally, I think that everyone has left out a very crucial part of the application process. Essays. For that 3% or whatever amount of Harvard students who have lower scores on their standardized tests, they all have the same thing in common, an awesome story. May it be that they are an orphan and never had the same opportunities as everyone else, or you went through some sort of trial and tribulation throughout your life, Harvard sees those things and realizes that the intelligence may be there, but simply was never fostered. Apart from those exceptions, I personally think that these standardized test scores should be taken seriously.</p>
<p>And yes you have the right to dream, I am one of those dreamers too, who will be applying regular with no such “hardship” in my past. So best of luck to the both of us!</p>
<p>Just saw this and wanted to say that Floridadad was being really harsh(and rude at times, imo,since he was making assumptions about you and your thoughts). Don’t mind opinions like that…that may have been true years ago, but not anymore. If you’re not admitted, it won’t be solely based on your ACT scores. Concentrate on the parts of the app that you do have control over :)</p>
<p>@ tarakn12: Your scores are low relative to the rest of the Harvard applicant pool, but just as others said, don’t lose hope. If Harvard wants you badly enough, they’ll accept you regardless of what your scores were. It’s your job to make them want you that badly after reading your application.</p>
<p>Good luck. You never know what the class profile will end up being. You bring a unique perspective and might be someone that they are looking for to round out their freshman class. </p>
<p>If you do not get in, start putting together the rest of your list. Their are so many wondeful colleges that you would shine in. </p>
<p>You can always go their for graduate school…</p>
<p>You are a URM in Missouri with a decent test score.
I have a feeling that if you wrote well enough and got to admissions that way, then you’d have a shot at getting in.</p>
<p>If you were to apply to anywhere besides Harvard, I’d also be very positive of you getting at least a 50% at other top 20 universities.</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone has addressed this yet so:</p>
<p>“I have amazing everything else. I have multiple presidencies (including Student Council President), Two V Presidencies (including National Honor Society), I am all state in Radio Competition, I have been a band member since 5th grade (made a National Band, first chair since freshman year), I am county fair queen, etc.”</p>
<p>I would not consider that “amazing.” =P Many people might disagree with me, but I’ve reviewed many apps of my friends who got into ivies so I like to think I have a pretty good idea of what I’m talking about. But I’m obviously no adcom.</p>
<p>Vice President of NHS and President of Student Council: Both quite low tier EC’s. Very typical and average, dosen’t really show anything good about you.</p>
<p>All state in Radio competition is pretty good. But considering you live in Missouri, it is not as impressive. </p>
<p>I have been a band member since 5th grade (made a National Band, first chair since freshman year).</p>
<p>^ No leadership position? </p>
<p>I would consider your EC’s just average for Harvard. I wouldn’t rely on them as being something to pull your application up.</p>
<p>Oh sorry. Here. 
President of: Math and Science, Student Council, and International Student Exchange
VP of: NHS and Drama/Speech
Was class president junior year and also secretary of ISE junior year
I am a Section Leader in the band, and have made multiple other bands, I just didn’t feel like listing all that on CC
I have ran varsity long distance track since 7th grade.
I am county fair queen and also a volunteer at my local hospital.
I also teach my uncles to read and write English in my spare time and am a lifeguard in the summer.
There are a few more things, but again, I really don’t feel like listing it all :)</p>
<p>Hi - good luck! Some people on this thread have been too negative, in my opinion. However, I do agree that you should not think of Harvard as your only option. I went there and, in retrospect, I don’t think it was the best choice for me.</p>
<p>nobody gets into Harvard</p>