Is it even worth it for me to apply EA to Harvard?

[sagstudent]

Hi guys! So I’m trying to figure out if applying EA to Harvard is worth a shot or totally out of range and that I should use my early on something else.

Here are my stats:

2190 SAT (710 cr, 690m, 790w)
800 on USH
5 on APUSH, AP Lang
GPA: 3.9 UW
Senior year: 7 classes, 3 APs

ECs:
Managing editor of school newspaper
Writer for town newspaper
Captain of varsity basketball

Other:
Hispanic girl, middle class

If I don’t apply to Harvard, I have 5 schools I would apply EA to. I would much rather go to Harvard but if it is completely out of reach then I will just apply to those.

Thanks!

[Jcannon1023]

If you’re applying anywhere under binding terms, make sure it is you’re ABSOLUTE NUMBER 1 choice granted you got in everywhere you applied (we can all dream, right?)

[boolaHI]

Average admitted SAT at H, is 2260. Your score is acceptable, but reflects the bottom quarter of accepted students. You will get a look, but they will probably kick the can diwn the road to regular admission. Thus, is there a school you might get a more favorable result?

[sagstudent]

@Jcannon1023 Those schools are early action, so it is not binding. I was thinking of applying EA to Boston College but I just don’t know, because if I apply RD I will definitely get rejected from Harvard. EA is my only chance, and I’m not even sure if it is.

[qialah]

I think you’re a good candidate and EA is not out of range for Harvard, but I don’t know why you’d think you would get in EA but not RD. I don’t think the odds are much better EA vs RD. I also think you’re a strong candidate for Boston College. If it were me, I’d apply EA to Boston and have an acceptance in my pocket and then apply RD to Harvard because really the chances of acceptance at Harvard EA or RD are both pretty small…

[rdeng2614]

People who get accepted EA have nearly perfect stats and are in the top 1-3% of their high school class if the school ranks.

Based on statistics (and your numbers), you’ll most likely get deferred, and that would essentially be a waste of an EA that you could otherwise use at Boston College or the other 4 schools that you’re applying to.

Plenty of people get in Regular as well. Nearly half the class gets accepted regular.

[aunt_bea]

Sorry, but I personally don’t see the WOW factor for Harvard in your stats.
There isn’t anything in your application that seems to stand out.
Most applicants to Harvard have great scores and GPA; they also tend to have a unique ability or Wow factor.

Why are you applying to Harvard?

[Coolmom23]

I would wait because it is unlikely to make a difference for you and apply to your 5 EA’s … You can have choices come December vs a likely deferral

[gibby]

Hispanic girl, middle class

If you look through the Harvard Class of 2019 Decision Threads, you’ll see that URM tests scores are just about the same as non-URM test scores. So, there is very little bump from being a URM – at least from the College Confidential stats. That also seems be true at Yale, as well. I would encourage you to look thorough the decision threads on College Confidential to identify URM’s that were admitted either in the EA or RD cycle with your stats. Best of luck to you!

Harvard Class of 2019 SCEA Decision Thread http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1714730-official-harvard-university-2019-scea-decisions-only-p1.html

#11 - Female, Black, deferred with ACT 29

21 - Male, Hispanic, accepted with SAT of 2220 and ACT 35

29 - Female, African American, accepted with SAT 2240

30 - Female, African American, accepted with SAT 2130

39 - Male, African American, deferred with SAT 2230

40 - Female, African American, accepted with SAT 2400

44 - Female, African American, sibling, accepted with SAT 2140

47 - Male, African American, deferred with SAT 2010 and ACT 25

57 - Male, Hispanic, deferred with SAT 2220 and ACT 32

62 - Male, Black, accepted with ACT 32

63 - No gender listed, African American, accepted with ACT 32

Harvard Class of 2019 RD Decision Thread: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1752941-harvard-university-class-of-2019-rd-results-p1.html

#1 - Male, Hispanic, accepted with SAT 2300

3 - Male, Hispanic, accepted with ACT 33

6 - Male, Hispanic, waitlisted with ACT 35

7 - Male, Hispanic, rejected with SAT 2340

10 - Female, African American, accepted with SAT 2100

21 - Male, Hispanic,accepted with ACT 31

33 - Female, African American, accepted with SAT 2380

[boldhopes24]

boolaHl: I’m curious about the source for 2260 average re. SAT… Harvard Admissions FAQ has 25/75 at approx = 2100/2350; thus average approx would be 2225.

Crimson survey of stats for class of 2019 (70%+ responding) puts the average at 2229 (close to what Admissions reports); average for Hispanic/Latino at 2174, which would put sagstudent above bottom quartile for all applicants and top half for her group. That said, even with better comps, it’s not just about numbers as always emphasized in these threads.

[sansculottes]

I don’t think EA provides as much of an advantage as you think, bearing in mind all the recruited athletes and development cases who apply EA and are guaranteed acceptances - they massively push the acceptance rate up. Also a Harvard admissions officer once said that those who get accepted EA for Harvard are those who doubtlessly would under RD too - anyone who’s not so clear cut gets deferred.