My chances, how to improve them..

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hey everyone! I was just curious what you thought of my chances at acceptance to Harvard, and what recommendations you have for improving them. As it stands now I know I will need to dramatically improve my SAT scores (both reasoning and II's), as well as working on more community service hours and projects. I know that how those two aspects stand now, they nearly cannibalize my chances. But beyond that, is there a decent chance and if so, what can I do to improve it? All answers are appreciated, thanks!</p>

<p>GPA Weighted/Unweighted: 4.51/3.9
Rank/Class Size: 4/630
SAT Reading: 660 Math: 740 Writing: 620
SAT II: Math IIC: 700 Literature: 670</p>

<h2>My EC Sheet...</h2>

<p>HOLLISTER HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES</p>

<p>STUDENT GOVERNMENT
-Associated Student Body President (12)
-Associated Student Body Treasurer (10)
-Freshman Class President (9)
-Sophomore Class President (10)
-Junior Class Special Projects (11)
-Student Congress Representative (9, 10, 11, 12)
-Inter-Club Council Representative (12)</p>

<p>ORGANIZATIONS
-French Club (9-12), Treasurer (11), President (12)
-College Bound Club (11-12), Founder (11), President (11-12)
-Humane Association (11-12), Cofounder (11), Secretary (11-12)
-Rally Club (9-12), Winter Homecoming Chairperson (10)
-Interact Club (10-12)
-California Scholarship Federation (11-12)
-Link Crew Leader (10-12)
-Leadership Class (9, 10, 12)
-Prom Committee (11), Prom Etiquette Book Chair (11)
-Winter Ball Committee (12), Winter Ball Invitations Chair (12)
-Spring Drama Production: The One Act Plays (10)</p>

<p>ATHLETICS
-San Benito High School Junior Varsity Water Polo (9, 10)
-San Benito High School Junior Varsity Swimming and Diving (9, 10)
-Stanford Water Polo Summer Camp (10)
-San Benito Aquatics (9-10)
-Scholar Athlete (9, 10)</p>

<p>AWARDS, HONORS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
-Foreign Exchange Program with the Barrere Family of Barzun, France (11)
-San Francisco University Spit Tobacco Awareness Speaker (10)
-Academic Rally Honorary and Participant (9-12)
-Academic Top Ten (9-12)
First in Class (9)
Seventh in Class (10)
Fourth in Class (11)
Second in Class (12) <-hoping for this, won't find out until school year starts.
-Honors Examinations Passed (9)
English 9, World Studies, Earth Sciences / Human Biology, Geometry.
-Honors Examinations Passed (10)
English 10, United States History, Biology, Algebra 2.
-Honors and Advanced Placement Examinations Passed (11)
Economics AP (5), Physics AP (4), Psychology AP (4), English Language AP (3), Precalculus.
-Honors and Advanced Placement Examinations Pending (12)
English Literature AP, Government AP, French AP, Calculus AP, Chemistry.
-ASB, Class, Student Council
Most Outstanding Class Officer (9)
First Place Fall Homecoming Float (10, 11)
First Place Winter Homecoming Mini Float (10, 11)
First Place Rally Wall (10, 11)
First Place Air Jam Act (9, 11)
First Place Halloween Pumpkin (10)
Second Place Fall Homecoming Float (9)
Second Place Rally Wall (9, 10, 11)
Second Place Halloween Pumpkin (9)</p>

<p>OTHER SCHOOL EVENTS
-Club Info Day (9-12)
-Back to School Night (9-12), Emcee (12)
-Air Jams (9-12)
-Feeder School Assemblies (9, 12), Emcee (12)
-Food Drive (9-12)
-Toy Drive (9-12)
-ASB Convention (9-12), Emcee (12)
-Class Convention (9-11), Emcee (9-11)
-Baler Lunch Time “BLT” (9-12)
-Eighth Grade Preview Night (9-12), Emcee (12)
-Freshman Orientation (9, 10, 12), Emcee (12)</p>

<p>COMMUNITY/STATEWIDE INVOLVEMENT</p>

<p>STUDENT GOVERNMENT
-California Association of Student Councils Region 6 Vice President (11, 12)
-California Association of Student Councils Summer Camp (10, 12)
-Student Advisory Board on Education (12)</p>

<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE
-Spring Grove Elementary School Website Design and Maintenance (5-Present) 100 hrs.
-American Red Cross Registered Volunteer (12) 100 hrs.
-Compassion Week (10-12)</p>

<p>EMPLOYMENT
-Target Team Member (July 2004-Present)
-Website Design for A&J Performance (2004- 2006)
-Website Design for Dr. Mark Stephens (2004-2005)</p>

<h2>-MC Electronics Employee (2002)</h2>

2

<p>Tycoon, are you a white American CA resident? If yes, unfortunately, Harvard, in addition to all ivies, are not a possibility. I am deemed to be mean, but I see it as just honest. High GPA means nothing at the average high school when accompanied by sub par SATs. Grade inflation and low standards are just so common. You have a fine profile for many schools, but not the top 15.</p>

3

<p>First Place Halloween Pumpkin (10) - Call me crazy, but that sounds like it could be a hook.</p>

4

<p>Hmmm.. Poor scores but interesting EC's (although I don't believe that someone could be a competent webmaster in 5th grade without significant aid). To get in despite the scores the interviewer and adcom would really have to love you. So make sure you convey yourself well through the essays and interview. Your probability of admission is quite low based on your stats, especially because you are from Cali. But if you are as likeable as your SGA positions suggest, you have a chance.</p>

5

<p>u should really refine your list of ECs. Some of those awards are pretty much useless to adcoms. Spend some time and make a concise list of the most important ECs and Honors and Awards.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the input! wrathofgod, yeah, I simply copied my EC sheet, a lot of them are simply there for the purpose of impressing the local scholarship committee, not really the big shots at the Ivies and such. I'll definitely take your advice and consolidate and refocus on those more important to me.</p>

<p>tupac, yeah my stats score-wise suck. Hopefully those fat SAT books I've bought will help me a bit, lol. But I'm curious what makes someone from CA less appealing to Harvard? Not that I disagree with you, I’m just curious why it's so.</p>

<p>lindseylujh, lol, you think they'll buy into it? Heh, that was one of those aforementioned fillers. It's just a competition between the classes we have every Halloween, and something I partook in. </p>

<p>And yes suze, sadly I'm a white CA resident. Well, I'm full blood Portuguese, all my grandparents are from Portugal, but Portugal is still European and technically white. And yes, I truly appreciate your honesty, it simply reinforces to me how I need to improve on these fall SAT's if I intend on having anything more than a miniscule chance. </p>

<p>Thanks for all your input, any more is welcome. I'm going to refine my EC's a bit more and see if I have anything else for all of you to ponder. Thanks, later!</p>

<p>Brian</p>

7

<p>Brian, in all honesty, it would be hard for you to get in with a 2400. It's time to fall in love with one of many really fine schools out there where you have a more realistic chance.</p>

8

<p>not necessarily... my advice would be start preparing for some kick ass essays and a good interview.</p>

9

<p>The reason that it is more difficult to get in from California is not because Harvard dislikes people from that state. Rather it is because so many people from the state apply and Harvard wants a diverse class (some students from all 50 states including south dakota, wyoming, etc). Therefore it is much more difficult for someone from California to get in than someone from one of the less-populated, under-represented states.</p>