Hi,guys…i am new to college confidential and am also an international student entering 11th grade this fall. i aspire to attend harvard college in 2017…can someone give me advice
Be one of the 10 or so best grade 12 students in Nigeria and score high 2300+ on the SAT.
thanks…i am among the top 3 in my class of 90 students and i have represented my school in some competitions
i will also be writing the national biology olympiad in my country…through which they will select the countrys representatives at IBO 2016
but i dont know what extracurriculars to involve in
please guys reply
^^^ That’s a bit optimistic. See: http://www.hio.harvard.edu/statistics.
If you go to Harvard’s International Office Statistics page (above) and from the pull down menu’s select STUDENTS, HARVARD COLLEGE (the undergraduate school) and NIGERIA, you will see there are three (3) students from Nigeria who are freshman, sophomores, juniors or seniors currently attending Harvard College. That means, on average, Harvard admits about one (1) student a year from Nigeria. (With an 80% yield that translates to 3 student’s over the course of 4 years.)
So, you need to be the absolute best of the best (however you want to define that) from your country to be admitted. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but those are the realistic odds.
See: http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/harvarddean-part3/
If you still don’t know what extracurricular activities to be involved with, here’s a good article for you to read: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways
Thanks…i am kind of a go-getter
and i know i can be the best of the best
in my school…its optional to take IGCSE’S but it’s pretty expensive…so should I take it or not
hello…
I don’t know enough about IGCSE’s to comment. You might want to send an email to Harvard’s International Office and ask: http://www.hio.harvard.edu/contact-us
If you can take the IGCSEs then I suggest you do because it shows that you’re willing to go above the restrictions of your curriculum. I have not felt any need to do them myself as a South African because my school has international equivalence exams which are currently being written.
Since, I assume, Nigerian schools are British-patterned then it would make sense to show that your A at your school is equivalent to a normal A in the British standard. I hope this helps you but my counsellor and I sat down and discussed all the schools in South Africa which had sent students to the Ivy Leagues and almost all had some international benchmarking done be it A-levels or whatever. I think that says something. Also, the school you go to seems to matter because currently here the top schools that send to the Ivy League and other top colleges include African Leadership Academy, Bishops, Crawford Schools, Michaelhouse, etc. The AOs trust these schools I believe, and they are all independent schools. If you can take the IGCSEs do it! Supplement for any doubts that may arise about your curriculum.
But most importantly don’t lose yourself trying to get somewhere. Be yourself, the best version of yourself. If that means you’re into dance, amplify that interest (no, I did not say passion, that word is over used here).
I wish you the best of luck in your journey. You sound very determined and I have hope that you’ll turn out alright. Visit www.educationusa.info to get some help along the way.
thanks…do you think its okay for me to apply to only Harvard college in 12th grade
Rejection is much more likely than acceptance. If you don’t apply to other colleges you’ll probably have no acceptances. If I were in your shoes I’d cast a wider net.
I think it really does depend actually. As an international student you will often get criticised and called a prestige-seeker (not in absence of a better way to phrase that; it would be vulgar ;), but it may be that your “safeties” are in Nigeria. If you desire to apply to just your reaches I don’t see any problem with that, as long as you have safeties back home. HOWEVER, if your primary purpose is to get a US degree then I would agree with the above poster. I, for one, want to come back immediately to South Africa after studying and many have told me a degree from a random place (well, random to internationals) such as Bryn Mawr would not be beneficial.
Food for thought? I don’t know. Only you can decide.
well,my safeties are at home and in ghana
and ill also be applying to some colleges in canada
i dont think ill be able to take part in much EC’s…'cause im quite busy with school work and competitions…so what do you guys think
guyss…
Hello @sophieudochi I’ve done CIE IGCSE and Alevels so I no what mean Ur in 11th grade rite? I took my IGs in 10th with its hardest curricula available at my school and and got As and A*s with a B in art (I intend to do science). It’s great u want to challenge urself but don’t jump the shark. What’s ur speciality? R u an artist? A writer? A scientist? Get clubs that relate to ur talent with a club to “throw the loop”. Ie U write well, so Ur in ur school’s newspaper, write blogs and publish stories and Ur also am part of MUN. Etc. etc.
as for applying to several schools across countries, I’d say think about it: Nigeria and Ghana and Canada AND US?Knowing the college system in All 4 countries is important.