<p>My dream school is Harvard, and I'll be applying early action in the fall. I'm black, 4.0 GPA, high SAT and subject tests, rigorous classes, and plenty of leadership and involvement. However, I don't play an instrument or do a sport. </p>
<p>Am i at a huge disadvantage? I've been terrible at sports my whole life and have had no interest in music. A year ago I got into ballet, but it was too expensive to continue with. </p>
<p>No you aren’t at a disadvantage.</p>
<p>Not at all. </p>
<p>As long as you are involved with something, you are fine – it doesn’t have to be sports or music.</p>
<p>“Am i at a huge disadvantage?” </p>
<p>Anyone, even someone with the solid achievement you’ve already attained, is at a HUGE disadvantage the moment they hit the “submit” button with their Harvard application. What you CAN to to lessen any disadvantage is to crystalize why you wish to attend Harvard. Without context, everytime I see someone write that phrase I think: “name chaser”. I apologize if this doesn’t apply to you. However, there are a billiion kids who’d love to attend Harvard for no other reason than some hyped up tropes and stereotypes that have found their way into their heads.</p>
<p>But to your orig question: it’s not a factor really.</p>
<p>I know plenty of Harvard students who didn’t play either in High School. Good luck!</p>
<p>“Leadership” roles in activities that you like and care about will look better than simply having played JV soccer or been in band for a year. </p>
<p>How high are your SATs?</p>
<p>It seems like everyone on those threads who gets into the Ivies played a sport/instrument… </p>
<p>but what kind of other things do you think you did or one should do to make up for that “hole” (and still constitute a similar amount of time that is generally associated with either of those 2 activities)?</p>
<p>I think more academically-oriented ECs, like Model UN, Junior States, Debating, Science Olympiad, Robotics, School Newspaper; “leadership” roles in campus organizations or student government; community service; performing or visual arts involvement at a high level or over many years (e.g. exhibited art and photography, film production, acting, dancing, etc.) all look at least as strong as routine involvement in sports or school bands. Wouldn’t you see a Class President as more accomplished than someone who sat on a bench for a couple of seasons with JV soccer? Unfortunately, there aren’t many things you can initiate as a senior that will look great on your application. You can’t become an Eagle Scout without the appropriate preparation. The best you can do is find one or two activities that will allow you to enter something in that section of the application.</p>
<p>@ooohcollege 2240 for the SAT. 780 on the first subject test I did, and I’m waiting to get my other one back tomorrow.</p>
<p>@College123college and @woogzmama Some of my ECs include being captain of the debate team, president of NHS, Vice President of Spanish Honor Society, editor-in-chief of the school paper, captain of the mock trial team, etc.</p>
<p>@T26E4 I totally get what you’re saying, but I’m in no way a name chaser haha. I’ve done plenty of research about the school, and have visited once, and it seems like the best fit for me. I also love Stanford, but it’s a bit too far from home. </p>
<p>With your stats you have a very high chance of being accepted. There just aren’t a lot of URMs with your kind of stats.</p>
<p>Not to steal the thread or anything, but are sports specifically something really looked for at Ivies and for the top scholarships (Robertson, Jefferson, etc.)?</p>
<p>@ThatMathySciGirl no.</p>
<p>@Melissawilliams Those are great ECs which I think will more than make up for the lack of sport/instrument… if your essays/recs are good and you have your ducks in a row, I think you’d be a competitive Harvard applicant.</p>
<p>@Melissawilliams Don’t fret. Playing a sport or an instrument is not a significant indicator as to whether you’ll be accepted or not. I’m #Princeton2018 and I’ve met plenty of people who did not play sports or instruments, but we’re active in other ways. I would remind you that acceptance into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or Stanford is a rigorous process, so be prepared. Don’t try to be the perfect applicant. These schools are just looking for students who excel in a variety of areas, not perfect robots. Good luck! </p>