<p>I am talking about me. Obviously.
I am an international. I had never been interested in further education in USA after high school, and thus, never really did well in middle school, or in my freshman year.(As, Bs, Cs)
But later, something happened. I started working really hard, and getting involved in my community. Somehow, I now carry a 4.0 GPA, acording to my school, very high As, #1 rank and extensive extracurricular experience, multiple internships, along with a 22XX SAT I score.
My teachers and family members believe that from where I come from, I have as good a shot as anyone of getting into Harvard.
I don't know if there is any point in applying, as I do not think I have any chance of getting in. Why invest time and energy into something which will definitely lead to a rejection letter?</p>
<p>“I have as good a shot as anyone of getting into Harvard.” If you truly believe this, then you are also aware that your chances are slim. And you would also be well served by attending 100s of other US colleges. Don’t fetishize a name. Apply to H if you want. But if you similarly don’t apply to other great US colleges, it’s clear your rationale for applying to H is deficient.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you’re a senior now. If you think it’s a waste of time, then don’t apply. There are thousands of other applicants who are actually passionate about Harvard and have been working their hardest since preschool (I’m exaggerating but you get the point). But if you’re a junior now and you’ve been getting striaght A/A- since sophomore year, then consider applying. Don’t apply if you don’t see any point in applying. In the end it’s you’re choice to make, though.</p>
<p>Apply! You’ll never know if you were good/special enough to get in if you don’t try. I applied on a whim and I got in, much to my surprise. You don’t know what the admissions office is looking for so you can’t say that you’re definitely going to get rejected - that’s a bad attitude!</p>
<p>via: while I applaud your enthusiasm for H, may I lend to you this caution? I actively recruit for an H peer school (as a matter of fact, I’m doing a district-wide presentation tonight). I’m a huge booster and salesman for my alma mater. But I’m also blunt in the cold & hard numbers for anyone who would attempt to apply. I tell students and parents that if they happen to be in the handful of top scholars in the entire school then they might be viable. My unspoken implication is that if they aren’t in the top handful, then they aren’t viable, IMHO.</p>
<p>I believe the OP should apply if he/she is realistic that practically no one has much of a chance. Given that it’s going to be an international application the odds are even worse.</p>
<p>But I don’t blanketly encourage people to apply. It does them and my school (and schools like H), a disservice.</p>
<p>No there is not, because Harvard does not accept any students, or at least the ones they do accept, the vast majority of them have 2400s, 4.9’s and recs from politicians and executives. :)</p>
<p>T26, I dont like that you tell people to not apply, especially based off of your own judgement. I hope you didnt cost some poor kid in the past a Harvard acceptance because you advised them not to apply or file for a fee wavier. Non athledes have been accepted under 30 ACT score, so ‘top tier’ numbers is not a requirement for every applicant. I also dont like your vulgar use of people will disorrs (fetish) - did you really go to Harvard? I dont mean to provoke, but these types of social interactions are not common among alumni.</p>