<p>Do you honestly NEED a 33 ACT to get in... Obviously there are many many many other factors, but is it possible for a kid with a 28 and a 4.0 gpa to get in? How important is the standardized test if someone is an exceptional student in his or her EC's? What if they are unique and interview well?</p>
<p>I guess my question is, is an acceptance with a 28 act score ever likely to happen with the right circumstances other than someone's test score??</p>
<p>The admissions office makes mistakes every year.</p>
<p>meaning, hopefully they make a mistake with my app and let someone slide with a 28 even though it is not a well qualified score?</p>
<p>Yes, with a 28 ACT you have to get remarkably lucky or get in via a mistake. There are many HIGHLY qualified applicants with 2400/36s who get rejected and even though test scores aren’t everything, there isn’t even a shadow of a doubt that 36>28 by a remarkable amount, meaning that there is almost no reason or chance to be accepted without a mistake. I would find another dream school.</p>
<p>Gotcha! I figured that, just wondering. It’s not my dream school at all, but would be cool to go to!</p>
<p>It is neither pure luck nor a mistake that gets an applicant with a 28 ACT or an equivalent 1250-1280 SAT Critical Reading and Math score into Harvard. You get into Harvard if they deem you, for whatever reason, as one of their most special or extraordinary applicants! Of course, Harvard must be convinced that you can hang academically with the special and extraordinary applicants they admit with high test scores. Thats why they look closely at teacher and school evaluations, the quality of your courses, and at your academic strengths and accomplishments. If all you can show is high test scores, you will not stand-out in Harvard College admissions. Please consider what the Harvard Admissions Office says about test scores:</p>
<p>Harvard does not have clearly defined, required minimum scores; however, the majority of students admitted to the College represent a range of scores from roughly 600 to 800 on each section of the SAT Reasoning Test as well as on the SAT Subject Tests. We regard test results as helpful indicators of academic ability and achievement when considered thoughtfully among many other factors. [Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Frequently Asked Questions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/faq.html#10]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/faq.html#10)</p>