Background: Pakistani male, Muslim (does this work in my favour?)
Country: Canada but born in the US (if it makes a difference)
GPA: 95% with no APs. My school offers IB but I am in a different program which is enough for the most rigorous designation from my counsellor, not sure how this will be looked upon by AOs.
SAT: 1530
Subject tests: 720 Bio, 760 math 2 (I know they’re low)
EC:
Chess: Nationally ranked, many accomplishments
Research: Completed a research internship with the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western. My research will help improve treatment for 500 000 people worldwide with esophageal cancer. Selected as a semifinalist for ISEF, pending finalist status, but finalists are not announced until next year. I submitted a poster of results in the application portal, the data is really good.
Clinical research on mental health treatments: nothing very impressive
Volunteer: created chess program at senior home, volunteered in a program helping immigrant children settle in Canada, peer math tutor.
Others: HOSA, entrepreneurship club, basketball (have played AAU internationally in the U.S. for a Nike sponsored team but not recruited, stopped playing in grade 10), debate club, spelling bee (4th in chapter), sneaker reselling (have made 5k).
Essays: everyone overrates their essays so I won’t rate but they were the best I could do and I am happy with them.
LOR:
Counsellor: generic
English: will be amazing, I am the best student she has had
Chem: great but I don’t think it will be glowing
PI for cancer research: will be glowing
PI for mental health research: probably generic, I shouldn’t have submitted
Hooks:
I have weak legacy at Harvard: my grandfather and his brother were some of the first people from Pakistan to go there and my cousin just graduated recently as well.
Asian male STEM kid of any variety does not help at any IVY.
If you were born in the US and are applying to US colleges with US citizenship, then it matters. At most US highly selective schools, foreign applicants have much lower chances.
Unless your mom was on a diplomatic passport when you were born in the US, you are a citizen. Make sure that happens for you - don’t somehow give up US citizenship in favor of Pakistani citizenship, if you’re forced to do that at age 18. You were born in the US, you’re a citizen. I think your cancer research is the most interesting thing. You’re an “also ran” in terms of qualifications, except for that cancer research. Emphasize that. It’s very unusual for a high school student to be doing that level of research. I’m intrigued, and I think they will be, too. Focus on that, and continue in that line. You might have something more to add before March.
Unless your parents were diplomats or some such when you were born, you are a US citizen.
Do you have any other citizenship, like Canada?
Yes, I am a US-Canadian dual citizen but I don’t know if that helps for Harvard (applied REA) @ucbalumnus
I have US citizenship, how does this increase my likelihood of acceptance? @tdy123
Yes I have US citizenship. I believe I wrote about my research well. I also submitted my poster in the portal. However, will having not presented it at any competition hurt me significantly? @parentologist
Try to understand what matters to H, what represents the combo of traits they want. It’s tough for all applicants.
I think I have done that well, I searched up what they look for and tried to emulate all the traits listed on their website. However, do you think my ECs are enough?
Canada citizenship should help with universities in Canada.
US citizenship means that you will be a domestic student for admission and financial aid purposes, but if you live outside of the US, you will not have residency in any state for the purpose of state universities.
Just curious. What’s your chess ranking ? All chess players have ratings. Are you FIDE?
Nobody can reasonably chance you for a school with an acceptance rate in the single digits. You will know soon enough. Keep yourself busy until you hear back – go to the movies, read a good book, spend time with friends etc.
Hey, I don’t want to reveal my rating to keep anonymity, sorry. On another note, do you think AOs are familiar with ratings? Like would they know how good, for example, a 2000 player would be? @Knowsstuff
Agreed, but do my ECs seem better than the average applicant? @happy1
@ucbalumnus Not really worried about financial aid or state schools. Im just wondering if US citizenship will help with ivy+ US admissions.
Like sports Harvard would look at those with a us collegiate or Olympic level as a 1 rating. If you were a Indian National soccer player but short of having an impact on the team or internationally. You would be a 2 or 3.
I would think that it’s excellent but won’t move the needle for an acceptance.
In combination perhaps. But it’s still less than 300 spots per gender for non preference category students. So it’s you versus the world for one of those spots. 1 and 10 chance. Imho.
It will “help” in terms of making you not an international applicant, since international applicants are generally considered to be at a disadvantage. But lots of applicants are US citizens, so join the crowd.
It doesn’t increase your chances per se. What it does is prevent you chances from being drastically lowered by applying as an international applicant.
@chessophagus. Most likely not unless you explained why it’s important. My son played also. His team was top 7 in state and he played varsity all 4 years. Chess has to do with analytical thinking and decision making. That they will know. If your at master level then emphasis what they means. It is a plus depending on how you frame it. It you are internationally ranked that might matter.
No one can figure out who you are by ranking. Just curious if your talking 2000 or 2400
Many kids on good state teams are 2200. But if you are 2600 and ranked in the top 100 in the world. Then yes use that to your advantage.
@privatebanker I am not a recruited athlete, probably 3+/2- for athletics