<p>i am a student in Philadelphia and want to attend Harvard (dont know what major yet). I am a sophmore, and in fresh year, i had a weighted gpa of 3.88 and probably and UW of 3.5ish. This year, im taking AP chem and Honors english and have close to Straight As. BUT, this year, i also took the SAT I and i got a 1460/2400...... ure probably wondering why. I went in without and prep and pretty much did terrible. Is it alrdy over?? if not, what do i need to work on? I know my SAT is obvious, possible 4.0 UW next 2 years?? or this year?? and as for EC, i was a part of recycling club last year and am Leader this year. I am a sports editor in school newspaper, and am on the chess team. Each of these clubs take up all my days. So i cant do anymore. Are my EC ok and as for my grades and stuff. Is there any chance lefT?????? thanks and please tell me what i need to work on.</p>
<p>As you said, SAT definitely. Grades aren't too great either. I mean, they're better than most, but to get into Harvard, you have to be the sbest of the best. You can get in with those grades, but you need something else amazing to stand out. Your ECs are okay, but once again, nothing stands out. You also say you are taking AP Chem and HOnors english. Are thse your only honors/AP courses your taking? I would recommend on loading up on all the AP/honors course your school offers next year. Push yourself, but don't kill yourself if you don't think you can handle it. There's no point in stressing out an entire year just to slightly boost your chances at Harvard.</p>
<p>In general, focusing on getting grades/test scores to "Harvard" level, then try to do something that really stands out. And when I say this don't go out of your way looking for something just to get into Harvard. Just do something that YOU would do on your own time for the fun of it, take it really far, and hopefully something amazing will come out of it.</p>
<p>Me for example, I spent almost my entire 4 years of HS just doing math and physics because I wanted to. I had almost no hter ECs and I was freaking out when college apps came around. Then I realized that the fact that I was willing to take 20hrs out of my week everyweek to study math/science would actually mean something to colleges, and the entire time in HS I dindt have to spend a minute "working" beacuse all that "work" I actualy wanted to do.</p>
<p>uh k thanks for the advice, but tell me this what is "Harvard" level grades and test scores. Perhaps you can also tell me more about EC, i have them on all days but i feel as though im not doing enough. I am on the Chess team and do play chess almost 2 hours every day at home with friends. I hope to become cap soon but yeah. Any advice? i was thinkign something on weekends o_O maybe teach kids at the library how to play??</p>
<p>sushant269, let me give you the mature, parental perspective:</p>
<p>Just do the best you can do, and just pursue the things that interest you. You might be Harvard material, you might not be. </p>
<p>Often people come on these threads and ask, "What score do I need to be admitted to X?" I'm amused by that question -- as if, if someone said 2180, you could get that, but if someone said, 2200, you couldn't. All you can do is the best you can do. Focus, study, work hard, and get the best you can get. After that, it's out of your hands.</p>
<p>Besides -- have you visited Harvard yet? What about it do you like? Have you looked at other schools?</p>
<p>Don't get obsessed with the "gotta go to Harvard" bug. Most people don't get in. You need to expand your horizons. There are lots of great schools out there.</p>
<p>He's just a sophmore people. VOLUNTEER. that will make you stand out, find a charitable organization you like and consistently volunteer. Start a canned food drive, or a program to collect old jackets for the poor at your school, that will make you stand out.</p>
<p>Sushant, since you're a sophomore, you have plenty of time to both follow your interests to a good result AND educate yourself on the process. There is a book written by a harvard admissions officer ('What it really takes to get into the ivy league' by chuck hughes) which while about 5 years old, will give you a much better sense of the complexities of the process and how students with different backgrounds are evaluated than anything you are likely to find on discussion forums, and will be more accurate. It's available online, or wherever. That's a better investment than spending time on a forum where by its nature you can only get incomplete and scattershot information.</p>
<p>volunteering's a good idea...community service is important to the "elite" colleges, as they want to know what you can contribute (aka "service") to their community.
as for sats, go on collegeboard.com; they have 25-75 percentile SAT scores for every college, and every section.</p>
<p>uh, umm i did 57 hours this year already.... i ll do more i guess, most of them were at a hospital, some came from the AIDS WALK. I guess i ll find an organization.</p>