<p>OK GUYS, so I'm thinking of applying to Harvard. I can't take physics in my senior year and so far have taken: Regular Biology, regular chemistry, and AP Biology. Here's what it says from the Harvard website about what sciences you should take in HS :::: <<< four years of science: biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course in one of these subjects >>>>> .... So, I've taken 4 years of every other subject, but i'm screwed in the science section, and my stats aren't so spectacular, I don't have straight As, am not a valedictorian and don't have stupendous ECs. Obviously, I'm trying to do everything I can to look worthy to the admins, so I'm really really worried about not taking physics. I know on the website they said "an IDEAL 4-year prep. program in HS", so I shouldn't freak out, but I'm feeling really depressed that on top of my mediocre grades, I didn't even complete physics. What does everyone think? I planned out my senior schedule with the best teachers so that I can possibly get straight As. Should I take physics and instead get an english teacher who may be harder (than my 1st choice teach.) and who may not grant me an A ? Please help, I'm feeling very down !!!! also did I mention, I looked forward to taking physics, and was bummed after realizing it didn't fit with my schedule.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'm in a similar situation (although mine deals more with only three years of a foreign language.) Admission officers take all things into consideration, and if it really is bothering you, talk to your guidance counselor about it. If you make it clear to him/her how concerned you are, they can include an explanation in your guidance recommendation. Good luck.</p>
<p>There's a section at the end of the application to add any extra info you think the adcom should know, so just write there that it didn't fit into your schedule but you would have liked to take it otherwise. It's difficult sometimes to tell how Harvard makes its decisions anyway... perfect students get rejected, and many of them. Don't worry about a single class, especially if you were unable to take it because of your school's poor organization. No college expects you to be in two places at once! It may sound odd, but try to be interesting. Excel at one or two things you really care about and try to show what it is about you and your personality that is compelling. And if you're religious, say a prayer or twenty. :)</p>
<p>thanks guys !!! magnificent advice, hahaha. ok, hows this kcastelle, you said to be interesting, so unfortunately I can't take phys. and am skipping the first year of spanish to go to spanish year 2 ! so what do i do now ?!!! Do i take physics to look "complete" and "well-rounded", but then drop the spanish and not look as "interesting"? taking two languages in HS, esp. when ur skipping a level looks cool, right? So now what??? Interesting, or well-rounded ??</p>
<p>I think what's truly important is that you do what feels right for you. It's alright to strive for a certain college [like Harvard], but overall it's important to do things becuase you want to. Harvard attempts to let people in based on their unique individuality [insert the 'you're unique just like everybody else' joke here, haha], so shaping yourself for Harvard seems almost like cheating.</p>
<p>I was in the same situation - regarding a fourth year of science and choosing statistics my senior year instead of Calculus BC. In the "additional information" section, I simply explained the situation with the scheduling and told them that in order to take part in a class I was passionate about, English, and participate in my school's top two choirs (which was required of me as President), I had to sacrifice the fourth science and instead did Calculus BC. It worked for me and my counselor mentioned that I had tried as hard as I could to develop a schedule which would continue to challenge me while the rest of my classmates had at least 2 off-periods.</p>
<p>You don't need to feel depressed about not taking physics. And you shouldn't be depressed if you don't end up getting into Harvard. Work hard on your application and essays, pray for the best - and have safeties and matches that you also love. Don't pin all your dreams on Harvard! There are other colleges at which you can prosper. Don't psych yourself out on the minute details of your application, either.</p>
<p>thanks everyone, obviously harvard doesn't want a bunch of shady ppl just taking the best classes cuz of admissions, instead of really wanting to really take that class. many people have this bloated misconception that harvard accepts only the brightest when it comes to grades, test scores, and rank. What these people are sadly missing, is the fact that top universities such as Harvard are as picky as they are with admissions not because of applicants' grades necesarilly, but more bec. they're trying to root out the most well-rounded, interesting individuals (who may not have the best stats).</p>
<p>Actually, they tend to try to find the most well-rounded, interesting individuals who DO have the best stats. (Those are the students the top schools fight for.)</p>
<p>Choosing between your classes comes down to this - a good high school record is a good high school record. How you craft yourself within that record is up to you. Do you want to be well-rounded or well-lopsided (so strong in a specific area that it's understandable you didn't do everything)? You really can't be both. And I hate to say it, but try not to pin all your hopes on Harvard... there is an element of luck even for perfectly qualified students. Yale may take you but Harvard may waitlist you, or vice versa. Or maybe MIT or Stanford. Don't plan too specifically for Harvard, because there is nobody who can call it a "safe match" except maybe Rivers Cuomo. ;)</p>
<p>don't worry about the science; i didn't take it at all junior year, because i took three languages instead and couldn't fit science into my schedule. one thing like that isn't going to make or break you.</p>
<p>I'd go ahead and take physics, risky or not.</p>
<p>I think you may be overestimating the importance of "straight A's." In my experience (I graduated from Harvard in '02 and am now an SAT tutor, and have seen <em>lots</em> of students go through this process), the difference between an A and an A- average is not that big a deal. More important is your class rank, by the way.</p>
<p>A tough English class will prepare you better for college. Physics--a tough subject that you seem to genuinely enjoy--will also prepare you well for college. Colleges will be impressed by your course load. </p>
<p>Here's the big reason, though. You are too late in your high school career to dramatically improve your chances of admission to HYP or Ivy League schools, at least if your grades are really "mediocre." If you want to help yourself out, study your butt off for some SAT IIs and see if you can get some great scores. Other than that, start focusing on preparing to do really well in college and have a great college experience. Getting a B instead of an A in <em>just one</em> class is probably not going to make the difference between getting in, and what's more, that kind of super-safe approach is destined to backfire in the long run. Pursue your passions. Take some risks.</p>
<p>lavendercloud, i guess you're right, that's why it's so tough to gain acceptance. kcastelle, good advice (i'm not going to rely on harvard, especially with it's reputation and admittance numbers.) lotf629, i'll take physics. Thanks for the comments everyone. Btw, on the Harvard website, it said "3 SAT IIs are required, preferably in three diff. subjects", so if i provide my world history and US history scores, that's not too beneficial, is it ?</p>
<p>"I planned out my senior schedule with the best teachers so that I can possibly get straight As. Should I take physics and instead get an english teacher who may be harder (than my 1st choice teach.) and who may not grant me an A ?"</p>
<p>Are there other kids from your school, or schools similar to yours in your geographic area, who will have taken Physics? If yes...not taking physics could be a problem.</p>
<p>You should have an SATII in a science or math.</p>
<p>Sorry, in advance, for being so harsh, but are you sure you're Harvard material? The two sentences quoted at the beginning of this post would indicate you may not be an ideal candidate for Harvard -- even if you get straight A's your senior year.</p>
<p>YESSSSSS 2BOYSIMA, thats the point. Many competitive seniors are taking either physics or AP physics, so I'm trying to get a boost and take physics so that I'd look worthy enough when compared to other applicants from my area. Also, I can't say how many people from my school appy to Harvard, but i think it's 0. You want to know why ? I'll explain ::::the only kind of statistics available on college admissions is a huge poster hung up on the wall behind a glass screen in the main hallway of my school. the poster shows all the schools that people are going to. I would say the only Ivies are I've ever seen are "Columbia, Yale, Duke, Uof Penn, Princeton" and I think that's it. The main thing is that it says: "Number accepted" and "number going". Usually for the ivies aforementioned, it will say " 2 accepted" and "1 going". The numbers are extrememly low, never more than 3, i'd say. I haven't seen Harvard's name on that poster board for 3 years straight, so perhaps no one from my school applies there and probably not to many other ivies either. Or perhaps, people who applied and got rejected never reported it to the guidance counselors. 2boysima, you're not being harsh, I have a Biology SAT 2 and I guess the first few sentences you quoted sounded really cheesy and preppy but it's just that i heard and actually believe, that excellent grades in your senior year (straight As for example, or just about), along with a rigorous courseload will give you a boost.</p>
<p>gooduniforme, that list sounds creepy as hell - it doesn't have names, does it?</p>
<p>i wouldn't want the entire world knowing where i went to school...</p>
<p>pepsiholic, hahaha. No, it doesn't list names. But I heard from a senior that someone in fact did get into harvard this year. I'm sure he told his counselor, so I'm wondering why it wasn't up there on the list, maybe he was being "modest" and didn't tell many people.</p>
<p>lotf629:</p>
<p>Harvard looks at +/-? I thought it was just GPA and rank that mattered along with course selection.</p>
<p>Chill out. </p>
<p>I had 3 years of french because I couldn't fit it into my schedule in junior year. Ask your guidance counselor to write a note like, "This student could not take Physics because of blah blah blah." </p>
<p>And, even better, enroll yourself into a community college physics class.</p>
<p>Okay, second reply after rereading the original post. </p>
<p>If you want to go to a school like Harvard, you should be willing to get your BUTT kicked. </p>
<p>Take the harder English class, take the harder physics class. Don't worry too much about the As. (Although, don't let your grades slip either!) Anywho, don't wuss out. If you don't get into Harvard, you'll be going off to a school with a V. good preparation in English. (Essential to have in my opinion, unless you're off to a tech. school...but even though, v. important.)</p>
<p>Anyways, the harder English teacher is more likely to be your absolutely most wonderful Best Friend during the fall of your senior year. She/he'll be the one reading your college essays, pushing you to be more creative, correcting lame grammar mistakes. </p>
<p>Besides, don't cheat yourself and think you can't do it. Just buckle down and do it.</p>