My Chances Harvard EA

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I know I shouldn't post one of these chances threads but when looking through the Harvard board I saw a lot of people being honest, sometimes brutally, about chances, and thought I'd give it a try.</p>

<p>White male at an unknown suburban public school. Rising senior.</p>

<p>Rank: Top 10/~450
SAT: 2270 (790V/780M/700W)
PSAT: 219 (80M)
Sat IIs: 720 Bio, 710 USH, 690 Math 2 (retaking bio and math)</p>

<p>APs: Euro Hist (4) and USH (school only offers history APs for nonseniors and has no science APs)</p>

<p>ECs:
NOSB - First in nation, (captain possible this year in all of these activities)
Science Olympiad - 2nd in state
NSB
Math Team - 1st in division, top scoring junior
FPS - 1st in state last year (conflicting schedule with competition date this year)
Swim Team
Environmental Club</p>

<p>Other:
BSA - Eagle Scout, ASPL, JASM
Summer @ Brown (waste of time and money)
Brown book award (perhaps to make up for my wasted time and money)
2 summers volunteering in proteomics lab
Took AME
Community service at food bank and soup kitchen
Going to get Biology Olympiad to my school for this coming year</p>

<p>I really had my hopes up about doing the Intel Science competition but the only way I would have been able to do it is by getting the director of the lab I volunteer in to let me do a project in his lab. But I felt it would be rude for me to ask him to spend his time and money on my project when I'm here to save him time and money by volunteering. Even if there was a project within what the lab is doing it would still be his project, not mine. (Sorry, this is a little bit of a vent).</p>

<p>Hoping that national championship, research in lab, and the fact my school system had to protest in order to keep from losing ALL school activities will be adding factors.</p>

<p>Tell me what you think. I'm expecting nothing and just putting this out there. I know a lot of people around here know a lot more about Harvard than I do, either from research or experience. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Hmm... Hard to tell without knowing what NOSB is... science bowl?</p>

3

<p>if you don't mind me asking, why was summer @ brown a waste of time and money?</p>

4

<p>NOSB is an offshoot of science bowl that is only on ocean-related topics and is almost the same format. If you want you can check out <a href="http://www.nosb.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.nosb.org&lt;/a> for more information.</p>

<p>Candlize: Well, it may have just been my experience there but I was stuck in a classroom in the basement of the science building and the professor who was teaching the class was there maybe 10-15 minutes the whole day. She would just tell us what to do and leave and I didn't learn a thing. I just really didn't enjoy myself much, but the other kids there were fun for the most part. It wasn't horrible, just not worth it to me.</p>

5

<p>You have a decent chance (15 plus or minus 10% depending on essays & interview). If you bring up each of the 2 sat2's that you are retaking to over 750, your probability of admission will probably rise about 10%. The awards don't help you tremendously because they are not very well-known and nosb is a team competition if I am not mistaken. Also, you don't necessarily need lab access or a mentor to do well at Intel. It is not very difficult if you are proficient at computer programming.</p>

6

<p>My opinion:</p>

<p>Your test scores on the SAT I and SAT IIs are simply too low as they stand right now to be accepted into Harvard without a dynamite extracurricular, major athletic accomplishments, or a disadvantaged background. (None of which seem to apply in your case)</p>

<p>Your extracurriculars in the Science Bowl and Ocean Science Bowl are good, focus on those instead of Boy Scout, which is neither impressive nor prestigious.</p>

<p>It's good that you are retaking Math 2C and Bio, this will give you a better chance. </p>

<p>I would also recommend trying the SAT I again.</p>

7

<p>Why is Boy Scouts neither "impressive nor prestigious". It takes a lot of work to reach Eagle and he was titled Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, which gives him the authority of the Scoutmaster (Only two JASMs in the 60 year history of my troop).</p>

8

<p>I think your SAT I is fine, but raising those 2 SAT IIs will sure help.</p>

9

<p>Sorry, but I don't think you'll get admitted to Harvard.</p>

<p>The scores too low; rank too low; Not enough APs; extracurriculars are good, but not great.</p>

<p>Harvard supposedly rejects many of the valedictorian applicants with perfect SATs.</p>

10

<p>HarvardAlum98: I actually do agree with you that Boy Scout/Eagle Scout is not impressive at all. I get especially annoyed at some of the things people pass as service projects and the merit badges are geared towards 12 year olds. I think I will try to explain what my project was in my application, however. I redid a few rooms at a living center for mothers overcoming substance abuses and their children. I painted, got furniture, over 800 childrens books, and 4 computers with extra equipment including educational software. This was to give these kids a chance to gain experience with computers (which they had no domestic contact with) and make learning supplies available to them.</p>

<p>As far as my SAT scores go I personally think my SAT I score is fine. Without the evil writing section I would have a 1570 and I've heard that many colleges are going to disregard the writing section anyways. If you know what the deal is with Harvard please enlighten me.</p>

<p>Yes, I know my SAT IIs aren't so hot. I know someone with 3 800's that got rejected with a 1580 SAT I score. I really didn't put the effort into them that I should have.</p>

<p>NO G8 SN: I do agree that Eagle is a lot of work, just the 7ish year commitment can be a lot of work. JASM, however, is not considered to be anything big in my troop. It is more or less guaranteed to every SPL after they serve their year and ASPL if they don't want to run for SPL (which I can't anyways because I'll be 18 before the end of the next scouting year).</p>

<p>Tupac: Yeah I know I don't have any awards in any internationally recognized competitions...but people sometimes underestimate the level of dedication in competitions such as NOSB, which I think colleges may recognize. Yes, it is a team competition but I have a newspaper clipping from my city's newspaper where my team credits me for being the key to our victory (not that I could ever take full-or even half-credit). </p>

<p>Also, you suggested I could succeed in Intel without lab or mentor...but I don't think that's the case in my situation. All my experience is in biochemistry and I don't see much that I could do without at least lab access. But then again that could just go to show that I don't have what it takes to compete in such a competition.</p>

<p>Phew, that was more work than my original post. Some people tell me that the fact that I'm white, middle-class, and male puts me at a disadvantage. In no way could I add diversity heh. But I do support affirmative action so I can't complain. I would never begrudge a person who has had to overcome a lot in their life to even succeed less than me (not that I am the epitomy of achievement) and get into a school over me as I am incredibly jealous of rich, prep school kids who can literally buy their opportunities.</p>

<p>Done rambling. Have a good day all and thanks for all your input!</p>

11

<p>ZipZoop: I think your analysis might be a little harsh but I do appreciate your honesty. The APs are not my fault though and I've seen many sources that say they look at them in context of your school. I'm taking all the APs that I can possibly take. All my school has is English, Calc, and history APs. I'm taking both English and Calc next year and I have no desire to take a 3rd history AP. Oh, we have Spanish but I take Italian.</p>

<p>As far as rank and SAT scores go. You just told me that Harvard rejects many valedictorians and perfect SAT scores. Perhaps that is to make room for people like me. </p>

<p>...or perhaps not haha. :)</p>

<p>Oh and just for the record, I don't think I'll be admitted either.</p>

12

<p>Look in my profile. I didn't have any hotshot test scores. Neither did I have any "OMG" extras like winning a medal at an international competition or won INTEL or something...</p>

13

<p>
[QUOTE]
I redid a few rooms at a living center for mothers overcoming substance abuses and their children. I painted, got furniture, over 800 childrens books, and 4 computers with extra equipment including educational software. This was to give these kids a chance to gain experience with computers (which they had no domestic contact with) and make learning supplies available to them.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>This is a very good accomplishment/job to put in your application. It will undeniably improve your chances.</p>

14

<p>The NOSB is impressive, although I'm required to be slightly bitter as I'm from Lincoln-Sudbury :-p (2nd in the nation) although I quit the team this past year. Anyways, it's a lot more prestigious than the people in this thread are acknowledging.</p>

<p>I guess the most useful info I could give you would be what happened with the people on our team.</p>

<p>Captain: Deferred EA/Rejected from MIT, rejected from Harvard, rejected from a bunch of other places he applied and ended up at Carnegie Mellon. His scores were significantly better than yours, though his ECs were similar.</p>

<p>Another girl: Accepted EA from MIT. Scores also significantly better than yours, ECs probably a bit worse.</p>

<p>Your scores are your weak spot. The 690 on IIc and the 720 on bio are not commensurate with a national science championship and may make people wonder about how much that victory is yours and not your teammates. Everything else looks fine--good ECs, the only deficiency being not much of anything in the humanities. I might look more at the tech schools.</p>

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<p>Blendecho: Thanks for the info and I definitely respect Lincoln-Sudbury's NOSB abilities. I'm not happy with my SAT II scores myself but like I said, I'm working on them...</p>

<p>Oh and one other thing, I believe the person on my team who focused entirely on biology in NOSB got a 590 on his Bio SAT II. Perhaps it is achievement on the SATs that is not commensurate with actual performance.</p>

16

<p>I think you have as good a chance as anyone, especially since you seem to have a quite a level head and a real maturity (it's not often that a middle-class white male supports AA). Your service project sounds great, and I think you should find a way to highlight that on the application- either by writing an additional essay on that (Harvard has an optional essay) or by getting a recommendation commenting on it. If you can get your SAT scores to improve that would be good, but if not I actually wouldn't worry too much about it. Harvard accepts people in your score range all the time, and it's because they see something beyond the scores. Emphasize your strengths, build a "package" of who you are. Good luck :)</p>

17

<p>Pygo--I recommend applying to U Penn, Cornell, Georgetown, Columbia, etc. Those are good universities too. Scre* Harvard eh.</p>

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<p>I agree, I'm not a big fan of standardized testing... I'm just saying that from a college perspective, it might make people wonder. I got an 800 on my bio and I'm godawful at it.</p>

19

<p>Asterstar: Thanks a lot for the compliments. That is a really good idea though, for me to get a recommendation from the woman who runs the center I did the project for. I wish you luck too (if you are even a college applicant. Or if not, then just in general).</p>

<p>Zipzoop: I think I'll save scre*ing Harvard at least until I get rejected. And I've visited UPenn, Cornell, and Columbia. I'm not applying to UPenn or Columbia though, I just had really unenjoyable visits to both. At Columbia they wouldn't even let us take a look in the library. Cornell was very nice though and I'm applying there. I could definitely see myself going there, even if it is surrounded by miles and miles of cows and rolls of hay (meh).</p>

<p>But yeah, I do have a few other colleges on my list: MIT, Tufts, Cornell, WUSTL, either BU or U of Chicago, and URI (my state's college). If it looks like I'm shooting a little high don't worry I've already considered that when making my list. I can go to URI for room and board alone and that seems like a better deal to me than paying 30-40K for a slightly better school. </p>

<p>Brown is also a possibility since I work with a Brown professor but I've heard a lot of bad things about Brown lately and my experience there wasn't the best. Providence isn't such a bad place though...</p>

<p>Blendecho: Congrats on your 800! I do see your point. And I've yet to meet a person who DOES enjoy standardized testing.</p>

20

<p>Pygo--Ok, so I was being harsh before, harsh but honest. Frankly, I think you will definitely get into some Ivies--whether they are the "lower" ones or not, that's up to chance and fate. </p>

<p>But I think you'll definitely get into Cornell, for sure. University of Chicago--I think most definitely that you will get in, but I'm less sure about this one than Cornell. But your SAT I's were definitely high enough for U Chicago-- above average.</p>

<p>And BU-- I assume you mean Boston University. That's a definite shoe-in. No questions about that. You'll probably get some scholarship to go there.</p>