My Chances of Admission...

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hey everyone, I just graduated from my HS in Australia last week and have my final Examinations in a weeks time. I am applying to eight universities in the USA, all of which, bar 1, are ranked by USNews as the Top 10 in the country, Harvard being one of them (no I wasn't overly influenced by the rankings, it has been my dream to attend most of these since I was in primary school). Here are achievements/extra-curricular's</p>

<p>ACADEMIC:</p>

<ul>
<li>Academic Entrance Scholarship 2001</li>
<li>Academic Excellence 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005</li>
<li>General Proficiency 2001, 2005</li>
<li><p>Academic Tie (most prestigious academic honour) 2005</p></li>
<li><p>Gold Medal (For Highest Score in State) in UNSW Mathematics Competition 2000 </p></li>
<li><p>2nd Placing in WAJMO (WA Junior Mathematics Olympiad) 2002 </p></li>
<li><p>High Distinction in the International Tournament of the Towns 2002 </p></li>
<li><p>High Distinction in the Mathematics Challenge Stage (with Perfect Score) 2002 </p></li>
<li><p>High Distinction in Noether Enrichment Stage 2002 </p></li>
<li><p>High Distinction in the AMC 2001, 2004 </p></li>
<li><p>Distinction in the AMC 2002, 2003, 2005 </p></li>
<li><p>Participated in the Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad 2002, 2003 (with Distinction) </p></li>
<li><p>1st Placing in the Have Sum Fun Maths Competition 2003 </p></li>
<li><p>2nd Placing in the Have Sum Fun Maths Competition 2002 </p></li>
<li><p>Distinction in UNSW Science Competition 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005</p></li>
<li><p>High Distinction in the Australian National Chemistry Quiz 2004 </p></li>
<li><p>High Distinction in ACER Exams 2002</p></li>
<li><p>High Distinction in Alliance Francaise Competition 2004, 2005</p></li>
</ul>

<p>End of Year 12 Statement of Results:</p>

<p>Physics A
Calculus A
French A
Applicable Mathematics A
English Literature A</p>

<hr>

<p>EXTRA-CURRICULAR:</p>

<p>2005</p>

<ul>
<li>Men’s SBL (State Basketball League) [Cockburn Cougars] Squad Member (Departed team in March due to school commitments)</li>
<li>1st V School Basketball; School MVP & PSA (Private Schools Association) All-time Record for Single-Game Points Total and Triple-Doubles in Season</li>
<li>School Debating</li>
<li>1st IV School Chess </li>
<li>Division 1 Interschool Athletics</li>
</ul>

<p>2004</p>

<ul>
<li>U18 Division 1 in WABL (WA [State] Basketball League) </li>
<li>1st V School Basketball </li>
<li>1st IV School Chess</li>
<li>School Debating </li>
<li>Organisation of School Table-Tennis Club </li>
<li>School Physics & French Clubs </li>
</ul>

<p>2003</p>

<ul>
<li>U16 Division 1 in WABL (WA [State] Basketball League)</li>
<li>10A School Basketball </li>
<li>1st IV School Chess</li>
<li>School Physics & French Clubs </li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p>MISCELLANEOUS:</p>

<ul>
<li>Web Design / Graphic Design</li>
<li>Competent with the Microsoft Office 2003 Bundle</li>
<li>Ability to touch-type</li>
<li>Adequate knowledge in web/graphic design through the programs Adobe Photoshop CS & Macromedia Homesite 5.0</li>
<li>Internet programming languages known: HTML, CSS & JavaScript</li>
<li>Competent with Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 & Sony Vegas Studio 5.0 for multimedia/video production</li>
<li>Amateur Photography </li>
<li><p>High School Tutor, Yr’s 8-11</p></li>
<li><p>National Schools Basketball Tournament (Ballarat) 2003</p></li>
<li><p>Exchange Program to France for 4 weeks 2004</p></li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p>As you can see a lot of my high academic achievements are in 2002, 2003 (grades 9 and 10), and I'm pretty sure this will affect my application, because it is indeed true that I have had lapses over the years. I am, however, affirmed that I have overcome this year, and have been consistent throughout the academic year.</p>

<p>With regard to my formal application and rankings, I project I will finish up in the top 0.3% in my state, and will rank 2nd or 3rd in my school (we have 178 Year 12's graduating, i know this is small, but my school is rather prestigious)</p>

<p>Furthermore, I am yet to sit my SAT I's or II's, but I will be doing the Reasoning test in November and again in December. I also plan to sit the SAT II's in January.</p>

<p>My family can be considering above-average middle-class; both work at Universities, however we moved to Australia from Europe 10 years ago, and do have a lot of financial troubles, so I will be applying for a significant amount of Aid as well.</p>

<p>Any opinions?</p>

2

<p>I can tell you that your chance won't be great. Your ecs aren't that strong and our international. I would emphasize your b-ball ability.</p>

3

<p><em>dryly</em> don't feel bad, he does that to all the chance threads. </p>

<p>If you don't apply, you have 100% chance of rejection. If you do, that decreases. It all depends on how you present yourself.</p>

4

<p>Sweetsith, I certainly do not do that. He has a chance just like everybody else, but in my opinion, its not a great chance. I would certainly not dissuade him from applying.</p>

5

<p>vrumchev-</p>

<p>Are you currently attending Sydney Boys High School?</p>

6

<p>eyezonharvard, nope I don't attend Sydney Boys High School :)</p>

<p>SweetestSith, thats alright, I like ppl being honest :) thanks for the words of support though.</p>

<p>maguo, why do you say that my chances aren't great? Are my academics lacking as well? For EC's, I was under the impression that it was good to be passionately involved in around 5 areas, which is what I feel I have in Basketball, Chess, Debating, Athletics and Web Design... </p>

<p>Thanks for your feedback</p>

7

<p>Point is your EC's are pretty good, nice variety, and international should help, not decrease your chances.</p>

8

<p>they are good, honestly....?? so wat am I lacking? I am worried about academics, because in Australia we dont really have any of these Academic honour societies, so apart from my competition/olympiad awards, and school A's I don't have much more to show..</p>

9

<p>Where do you attend then?</p>

<p>As far as your record, the only missing piece from the puzzle (and it's a pretty damn big piece) are your SAT/SAT II scores. Do well on those and you'll be in a pretty good position.</p>

<p>P.S. By doing "well" I mean getting 2200+ on SAT I, and 2150+ on the 3 SAT II's</p>

10

<p>They make it their business to know about the academics of other schools, especially international. If you did everything you could at your school, and honors just wasn't offered, don't fuss about it, I'm sure they will figure it out. If you want, you could attatch a brief explanation about that to the application, but I wouldn't fuss to much. </p>

<p>eyezonharvard is correct, right now focus on your SAT scores. Also your essays, those will play a big part in showing who you are. In one of the main college admissions threads they have links up from some prestigious schools and their advice about essays. I found it to be very good, you might want to take a look.</p>

11

<p>eyezonharvard, Im in WA not NSW, i'm not sure why you thought I would be at Sydney Boys High School School. I really would like to focus on my SAT's, unfortunately I will have absolutely no practise apart from this Friday for the Saturday test, as I have my own end of year school examinations next week. Nevertheless, I am not too worried about the math, its the critical reading (particularly the vocabulary areas) that I think I will struggle with.... On that note, since I am rather unfamiliar with the SAT format, I was wondering about the following. Say that I've finished Section 6 in less time than allocated to that particular section, am I allowed to go back to previous to finish them off/check them again? Oh, and I don't understand the scoring tables on the practise SAT's that I've glanced over; how can you be allocated a 'range' score of 700-800, for instance? Does that mean that I can get 4 wrong in the Critical Reading and still get 800 somehow?</p>

<p>SweetestSith, thanks for your advice, I hadn't thought of that and I will make sure I do include some form of explanation about my academics. With regard to the essays, I am actually truly looking forward to writing them, as I've glanced through some of the questions, and they seem particularly enticing to write on!</p>

<p>Thanks for your help guys!</p>

12

<p>They won't let you go back to previous sections, I'm pretty sure. But don't worry! You seem like a really smart person so I'm sure it won't be any problem for you. The hardest part (for me) was the Writing Multiple Choice - they have these annoying little grammar points that aren't inherently obvious. </p>

<p>Don't panic too much though... From my understanding (and from my scores) you can get a few questions wrong and still have a 'perfect' score on the SAT. And since you haven't prepared much for the SAT's you probably won't have heard this tip yet: Guess! If you can eliminate an answer choice or two, odds are you'll benefit.</p>

<p>Don't worry about your chances! They're certainly better than mine :)</p>

<p>Good luck vrumchev!</p>

13

<p>except in math. don't make mistakes in math or you will fail.</p>

14

<p>international doesnt help you</p>