<p>Here is my stats:
International from China, Asian, female
SAT: CR-760 M-800 W-770 (Total: 2330)
SATII: MathII-800, Physics - 800
APs: AP Chem-5 AP Calculus BC (Self-study) - 5 AP Physics C - 5 (self-study) - my school does the Chinese curriculum and doesn't offer APs
GPA: UW3.98 (We dont have weighted GPA)
Class Rank: 2% out of 750
School: Nationally recognized HS, possibly the best has to be 1% in Beijing to get in
spent an exchange year in a very competitive private school in America and got 4.0 (UW) (entered a highly selective program, that sends students all around the world to go to the best private schools in America on a full scholarship) </p>
<p>Most Notable ECs:
- Founded Student Company "New Beatles" and donated the earned money to Hope Project, a project assisting children all over China to acquire proper education
- Organized team project to improve the conditions for children at a local Elem., a special school for kids of underprivileged Migrant Laborers in Beijing
- Chief Editor of Class Major Publication
- Organized a series of workshops on self-discovery and life-planning, won national fame
- The only student Teaching Assistant in school, created Morning English Sessions to improve English teaching, which is now a class tradition
- Directed a English film, and was in charge of its marketing, which became wildly successful in the school annual Movie Festival</p>
<p>Awards: a couple of national awards in writing, student-run business, speech and workshop-organizing</p>
<p>Not applying for financial aid. Applying for economics/applied math. </p>
<p>I think it’ll depend on the strength of other applicants from China; no doubt your stats are very good, but there are always a lot of very strong applicants from China with similar stats, and Harvard won’t accept all that many.</p>
<p>You’ll need to articulate to them how you are different from the swathes of Chinese applicants with near-perfect stats…</p>
<p>The thing about China and India are (especially China, though I can speak for India better seeing as I am from there) that many, many, many of the applicants for Ivies/top-tier schools are usually beyond qualified academically but lack outside involvement (due to rigor of curriculum in those countries and lack of funding by school districts for “outside” academic activities). Any ECs have to be collected by the student as per his/her individual interest. </p>
<p>Now your stats are excellent IF you were applying from the US. However, as a Chinese applicant your chances will be the same as many others from your country. With that being said, you have a great hook (American exchange program) and quite a few interesting, focused ECs. This gives you an upper hand but you still match many other applicants from your country.</p>
<p>So it boils down to your essays really. If you had ones which were unique and fantastic, then you truly have a chance of getting in (though the problem remains that admissions is so competitive it turns out to be random, even with those who wrote fantastic essays, had amazing academical and EC involvement, et cetera). </p>
<p>If your essays are good, then you have a shot. Again, nothing set on stone here but it is possible for admissions. Don’t get your hopes up but don’t be completely pessimistic as well.</p>
<p>Actually, looking at Harvard, it’s better to expect the worst…</p>
<p>^I totally agree about ready for the worst but hoping for the best. I think my essay is good, althought I am not sure if I should call them amazing. I guess at this point praying would be the best solution.</p>