Official Harvard University 2016 RD Results

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
101

<p>Decision: Rejected</p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I: 2350 (800 CR, 760 M, 790 W)
[</em>] SAT II: 780 Math 2, 610 Spanish
[<em>] Unweighted GPA: 4.0
[</em>] Rank: 7/~450
[<em>] AP: Human Geography (5), Art History (5), Statistics (5), World History (4), English Lang. (5), US History (5)
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: AP Computer Science, AP Calculus AB & BC, AP Microeconomics, AP US Government, AP Physics C, Orchestra
[<em>] Major Awards: National Merit Semifinalist
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars: Lots of music stuff (section principal in some ensembles)
[<em>] Job/Work Experience: None
[</em>] Volunteer/Community service: Minimal
[<em>] Summer Activities: More music stuff
[</em>] Essays: Good overall
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation: Didn’t see
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Didn’t see, probably mediocre
[<em>] Additional Rec: None
[</em>] Interview: Decent, didn’t make a fool of myself</p>

<p>[/ul]Other[ul]
[<em>] State: GA
[</em>] School Type: Non-competitive public
[<em>] Ethnicity: White
[</em>] Gender: Male
[<em>] Income Bracket: $200,000
[</em>] Hooks: None</p>

<p>[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[<em>] Strengths: SAT, grades, course rigor, essays
[</em>] Weaknesses: SAT IIs, breadth of ECs
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Someone from my area who’s better than me on my instrument was already admitted SCEA. Other than that, who knows.
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted everywhere else: UChicago (EA), USC (Southern Calif.), Tulane (EA), Northeastern (EA), and UGA (EA)</p>

<p>[/ul]General Comments:
Congratulations to everyone who made it in! If I could change anything I did, it would be:

  1. Study for SAT IIs harder
  2. Apply SCEA
  3. Apply to more super-reaches besides Harvard (e.g. Yale, Stanford, Princeton)</p>
102

<p>Decision: Accepted (Likely Letter)</p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2380 Total, 800 M, 800 W, 780 CR.
[</em>] ACT: -
[<em>] SAT II: 800 Chem, 800 Bio, 800 Math II.
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): -
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 1%.
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): All self-studied. Grade 9: Macroeconomics (5), Microeconomics (5), Statistics (5). Grade 10: Biology (5), Environmental Science (5).
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): Math SL (7), French SL (6). Predicted: English HL (7), Chemistry HL (7), History HL (7), Physics SL (7).
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: IB English HL, IB Chemistry HL, IB History HL, IB Physics SL
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Two international science fairs (no Intel), gold medal at national science fair, provisionally patented research filed by a hospital, national/international media exposure, top honors in a national biology competition.</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Science research (11-12), a lot of public speaking (10-12), music in a pre-professional wind orchestra (9-12), member of school DECA chapter (9-12).
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Intern at a bank for one summer (after grade 10), research student another summer (after grade 11). Both paid.
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: Council for a regional student program for a charity (10-12, Chair in 12), fundraising and awareness for the disease I do research on (raised a few thousand) (11-12).
[</em>] Summer Activities: Each job took up one summer each, worked full-time. Grade 10 summer was spent at Shad Valley. Did nothing in grade 9 summer.
[<em>] Essays: Worked on them all summer. Have something like 30 drafts of each essay. Best pieces of writing I’ve ever done. Talked about how I saw the people side of research after meeting the patients that my work impacted, sketchy Chinese takeout food, and the importance of childhood.
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation: Chemistry teacher said research was at a Master’s thesis level. English teacher’s was absolutely glowing.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: A bit generic, but very long and based on what she heard from my teachers. Really good considering we talked maybe three times throughout high school.
[</em>] Additional Rec: Research mentor said I was doing research at a comparable quality and level to her Master’s and PhD students.
[li] Interview: Awkward. Interviewer read off questions, texted during the interview, and called three hours before the actual interview to schedule it. He asked me to recite all my scores too. But I mentioned I was accepted early at Yale in this interview, which I suspect led to my likely letter.</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Other[ul]
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant): -
[</em>] Country (if international applicant): Canada.
[<em>] School Type: Public magnet.
[</em>] Ethnicity: Asian.
[<em>] Gender: Male.
[</em>] Income Bracket: ~$100,000.
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None.</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[<em>] Strengths: National/international science awards and media coverage, whole application showed passion for the disease I work on (research, public speaking, fundraising). Good objective stats with early self-studied APs.
[</em>] Weaknesses: Only one major leadership position, almost no ECs outside of my passion area, not involved in the school at all.
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: True passion for research and for the impact science can have on people was able to shine through. That’s it.
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Early action acceptance at Yale, likely letter from Harvard, regular decision acceptance at Princeton. Rejected from Stanford (international asking for aid).</p>

<p>[/ul]General Comments: Tried too hard to be that kid that was the president of all the clubs, etc in the first two years of high school, but began research in grade 11 and discovered my passion. My entire application was essentially built on my final two years. Realized it’s so key to find what you love and just do it - regardless of when you realize or how do you realize it, you’ll end up a better person whether you get into your dream school or not.</p>

<p>Hope this is at least somewhat helpful to future applicants. I know I went through countless posts like this one over the last few years so I figured I had to return the favor. You really don’t need to be the president of 6 clubs or whatever and chair five committees to get into a good college - however clich</p>

103

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>yay!</p>

104

<p>END LEGACIES:</p>

<p>Query: Are you a recipient of financial aid from Harvard? Will be curious to hear your response.</p>

<p>Disagree with two of your fundamental propositions. First—please provide support for your statement from the Harvard Admissions Office that , “the majority of applicants are quailified to attend Harvard”. From my review of the “stats”, I do not think this is an accurate statement.</p>

<p>Similarly, your suggestion that legacy candidates have a “huge chance of getting in” is similarly exaggerated and thus unfounded. Two years ago, my daughter, who was a legacy candidate with a 99 GPA and great scores/extracurriculars ( she founded a very successful non-profit organization that received national recognition) got wait-listed at Harvard and was not ultimately accepted. She nonetheless, applied again the next year as a transfer, with a 4.O from a prestigous university, having received several major national awards, and was ultimately accepted. This year, my son, now a double legacy, with a 2310 SAT; great grades and extracurriculars, has been waitlisted. In reviewing candidates who were accepted, many with lesser credentials who fit the URM box were accepted. </p>

<p>Alumnae provide significant funds for scholarships for minority candidates. A small “tip of the scale” for both legacies and minority candidates seems eminently reasonable.</p>

<p>And by the way, my son, also a legacy of Princeton (my alma mater) was flat-out rejected there!</p>

105

<p>I am puzzeled how did Harvard accept a low EQ sucker like EndLegacies? What a waste on all legacies’ finaid donations.</p>

106

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): W=770 R=770 M620 =2160
ACT: E=34 R=33 S=30 M=26 W=33 COMP=31
SAT II: BioE=530 WorldHis-700 USH=760 French=710
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.6/4.02
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): no rankings
AP (place score in parenthesis): Bio(2) Euro(4) EngLang(4) USG&P(5) USH(5) EnvSci(5)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP English Literature, Ancient Greek II Honors, AP French Language, Discrete Math/Probability & Statistics, AP Economics, Classical Studies, AP Comp Gov
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar with Distinction…
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): USA Swimming (2005-present), HS Swimming (all four years), Class Board (9th, 10th as Community Service Chair, 11th as VP, 12th as VP), Board of Directors Athlete Rep for State’s swimming governing body, <----same thing but as well for 11 states in Eastern US, Student Council (all four years), State Board of Education student member, town Board of Education student member, Human Rights Coalition (all four years, latter 2 being the VP/CO President), Alzheimer’s Association Fundraising organizer
Job/Work Experience: none
Volunteer/Community service: Tutor for local middle school, Alzheimer’s Association work
Summer Activities: summer school each summer
Essays: 1-10? i’d say 8.9
Teacher Recommendation: both very good
Counselor Rec: no clue
Additional Rec:
Interview: very good
Other
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: public
Ethnicity: mixed (black, white, asian)
Gender: male
Income Bracket: ~$40,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, first generation
Reflection
Strengths: EC’s, essays, overall how i conveyed myself to them
Weaknesses: grades, some scores
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: luck?
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Harvard/Yale/UPENN/Brown/UChiago/Georgetown/GW
General Comments:</p>

107

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>First time I’ve ever posted on CC, haha.</p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2310 (superscore)
[</em>] ACT: 34
[<em>] SAT II: 800 Physics 710 Math 780 Literature
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 2 out of about 500
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): 5 on all subjects taken except for 4 on Physics
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: Mostly AP
[<em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Scholastic Art and Writing Portfolio Gold Medal, Siemens AP Scholar, 19th at National Forensics League Nationals in Policy Debate
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate (President), NHS (President), Student Council (School Board representative), Spanish Honor Society (VP)
[<em>] Job/Work Experience: Internship at University of Nebraska Medical Center
[</em>] Volunteer/Community service: Chinese teacher, Equality Prep test prep book fundraiser
[<em>] Summer Activities: Internship, volunteering, Yale Ivy Scholars Program, debate competitions
[</em>] Essays: I think it was good
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation: One awesome recommendation from my debate coach, one great one from physics teacher
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Good
[<em>] Additional Rec: One from research mentor at University of Nebraska Medical Center, one from a parent of a student to whom I teach Chinese
[</em>] Interview: Wasn’t anything really special, but it was alright</p>

<p>[/ul]Other[ul]
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant): Nebraska
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: Chinese American
[</em>] Gender: Female
[<em>] Income Bracket: $150,000-$180,000
[</em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Underrepresented area? I live in Nebraska.</p>

<p>[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[<em>] Strengths: Writing skills, essay, debate experience
[</em>] Weaknesses: No huge major awards, freshman and sophomore year of high school weren’t anything special. Test scores aren’t perfect, but good enough apparently.
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think what pushed me over from the Waitlisted to Accepted pile was my strong essay. Also, I notified the admin committee about my Scholastic Art and Writing award as soon as I got it.
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to Dartmouth, University of Chicago, Stanford, Amherst, Pomona, Middlebury, Washington University in St. Louis. Waitlisted at Columbia and Brown. Rejected from UPenn, Yale, Princeton.</p>

<p>[/ul]General Comments: My face looked like this :open_mouth: when I got the acceptance email because I didn’t really consider myself as having a high chance at Harvard. But, I think I’m going to end up going there, so I’m pretty excited. PM me if you have any questions!</p>

<p>HERE’S A TIP!!! Don’t worry about test scores. Once you’re over a certain threshold, you’re fine, so don’t kill yourself to get that one extra point. Your character and passion for what you do is much more important to the people reading your application!</p>

108

<p>You couldn’t be more right. My D got in last year (and took a gap year, so she’ll be your classmate) with an SAT of 2240, a GPA of 3.95, no hooks, but incredible ECs and an enthusiasm for learning that jumped off of her application.</p>

109

<p>Interesting that you have not responded to my inquiries…regarding (i) are you a recipient of financial aid?; and (ii) support for two of your assertions. Your “passion” seems to have abated???</p>

110

<p>Given the despicable personal attacks that have been launched at him for raising a perfectly legitimate question, is it any surprise that EndLegacies has dropped out of this conversation? Those of you who’ve accused him of being a ■■■■■, or having a low IQ, or asked about his financial aid status ought to be ashamed of yourselves. I suspect the administration at Harvard, including the members of the Admissions Committee, takes this issue a lot more seriously than the Harvard CC community.</p>

111

<p>speaking from experience, groupthink can be toxic.
case in point.</p>

112

<p>Amen to that!</p>

113

<p>My only point was-- END LEGACIES does not seem to acknowledge that alumnae fund many scholarships for minority applicants, and thus, I would submit that it seems fair that a small percentage of “legacy” kids, assuming they are “equally qualified” with other candidates, should receive a slight preference. I am all for minority admission, but also feel it is only fair that alumnae, who fund many of these scholarships, receive some recognition. As someone who went to Princeton on partial scholarship, I am thankful to those alumnae who contributed to my education, and I would not begrudge their childrem a “slight” advantage over a non-legacy candidate, assuming they are both equally qualified academically. I think you have “sensationalized” this unnecessarily…</p>

114

<p>^And I think you have hijacked this thread unnecessarily. Isn’t this supposed to be a results thread? I expect/hope a moderator will intervene soon.</p>

115

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 780 Math, 700 Reading, 750 Writing
[</em>] SAT II: 800 Physics, 800 Math II
[<em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9
[</em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 2
[<em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Physics C: E&M (5), AP Physics C: Mech (5), AP Physics B (5), AP Calculus BC (5), AP Calculus AB (5), AP Chem (5), AP Stat (5), AP US History (5), AP European History (5), AP English Literature (5), AP Spanish Language (5).
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP English Language, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science.
[<em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Intel ISEF Finalist
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Nanotechnology Research, School Newspaper (Editor-in-Chief), Mathletes Team (Captain), Quizbowl Team (Captain).
[<em>] Summer Activities: Research Preparatory Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory; Materials Science Research at SUNY Stony Brook.
[</em>] Essays: I talked about my Bulgarian culture and uprising intertwining with the American surroundings as I grew up.
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation: One from Physics Teacher/Research Advisor, One from English Teacher/Newspaper Advisor.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Decent.
[<em>] Additional Rec: Research Mentor.
[</em>] Interview: Went very well.</p>

<p>[/ul]Other[ul]
[<em>] State: New York
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: White
[</em>] Gender: Male
[*] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Research; eleven 5s on APs. [/ul]</p>

116

<p>Just curious, but what high school do you attend.</p>

117

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>I was admitted with my 1970 SAT and 30 ACT (Not very competitive scores) and only taken 1 AP test (US History and received a 3) (taking three AP’s this year). I was 2/121 in rank. Had a 4.0 unweighted GPA. My message is one of hope and the importance of all of the elements of your application. I was also a Questrbidge Finalist. I believe that my essays really voiced who I am and my personality. I’m first generation, Colombian. Low income. I go to a arts high school where I was in the dance strand. I believe that Harvard saw the uniqueness of a male ballet dancer. I also sent an update in March about my recent accomplsihments and made a point to talk about my involvement in the LGBT community and my dream of being a part of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation on campus. I wish you all the best of luck (future aplicants) & I want to tell you to apply and believe in yourself. Follow your dreams. & if tis meant to be itll happen (:</p>

118

<p>Do not be discouraged if you dotn have great test scores or lack AP’s. Schools look for passion and commitment. I was passionate about ballet and dance throughout high school (was a paid ballet dancer for two dance shows, danced in multipel Nutcrackers, went to two ballet summer intensives (summer of 2010 & summer of 2011 in North Carolina & New York). I submitted an Arts supplement and contacted the adance department with my interetst and passion for being a part of their program in the fall. My essays reflected on 1) my foundations as a dreamer and believer in my dreams 2) my middle school experience with my homosexuality and 3) who I am as a person. I also updated them on my Finalist status for the Gates Millenium Scholarship and Point Foundation for LGBT scholars. Harvard was my dream school and I am still amazed that I was accepted. Either way, I had no regrets abou tmy high school experience. I wouldn’t have gone back to do more AP’s or do better on tests. I was going to go to a school taht saw how special my high school expereience was and Harvard saw that in me. I was also the President of French Club, VP of Math Club, & member of National Honor Society, Gay-Straight Alliance, and Dance Honor Scoeity. My tips: Be involved, enjoy your high school years, have fun, live, laugh, love, and believe in yourself. You will end up right where you’re supposed to. & remember that a school doesn’t make you. You make a school. Best of luck (:</p>

119

<p>Deferred Early → Accepted Regular!
Objective:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT I (breakdown): N/A

  • ACT: 32 (33 superscore)
  • SAT II: (US History 720, Math II 660)
  • Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.93? IDK Our school weights, weighted it is just a hair below 4.1
  • Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 14/513 (97%)
  • AP (place score in parenthesis): Human Geo (5) World History (5) Calc BC (4, AB sub=5) Psychology (4) US History (5) Lang (3)
  • IB (place score in parenthesis):
  • Senior Year Course Load: 5 AP classes
  • Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar with Distinction
    </code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Senior Class President
Student Council (Treasurer)
Speech Team (Captain)
Amnesty International Club (Founder/Chief)
N.H.S. (Vice President)
CAPITAL Division of Student Councils (Vice President)
Model United Nations
Gay-Straight Alliance (leader)
Volunteer at a local cat rescue (weird I know)
A VOUS LA PAROLE (French public speaking)

And some other diddly ones…
Mock Trial (1 year)
Theater (1 year)
Yearbook
Barbershop quartet

etc.

  • Job/Work Experience: Tutoring
  • Volunteer/Community service: A cat rescue…nothing else that I put on my app than that.
  • Summer Activities: Went to live with friends in France for a total of 2 months over high school, MN Boys’ State
  • Essays: I just wrote about how Madonna inspired me to run for class president and win even though I am gay
  • Teacher Recommendation: Calc teacher wrote me a GREAT rec
  • Counselor Rec: Made me cry it was so sweet!
  • Additional Rec: Principal
  • Interview: N/A
    </code></pre>

<p>Other</p>

<pre><code>* State (if domestic applicant): MN

  • Country (if international applicant):
  • School Type: Gargantuan public school
  • Ethnicity: White
  • Gender: Male
  • Income Bracket: Don’t want to share
  • Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None? I am gay but I don’t think that is a hook.
    </code></pre>

<p>Reflection</p>

<pre><code>* Strengths: I have an extremely energetic go-get-em personality. Had depth of accomplishments in several things.

  • Weaknesses: No hooks.
  • Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I have a crazy personality and that is definitely reflected in my essay…
  • Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted so far at Northeastern U, UConn, U of M. Waiting on several others.
    </code></pre>

<p>General Comments:
I love Harvard and their amazing financial aid!</p>

<p>P.S.: If you creep on my profile, the post I posted contains stuff/activities that I was planning on doing this year but didn’t end up on my college app because I decided not to do it. Funny how senior year hits you!
GO MADONNA</p>

120

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): W790 / R800 / M760
[</em>] ACT: Did not take
[<em>] SAT II: World History 800/ US History 800
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0 (?)
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1
[</em>] German Abitur: 1.0 (max. credit)
[<em>] TOEFL: 119
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: History, Phys Ed, Philosophy, Maths, Portuguese, German, French, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English, Art/Painting,Drawing & History of Art
[<em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Scholarship from the Robert Bosch Stiftung to pursue a degree in Engineering at the University of Heidelberg (Got this when I was 16)
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Student Gov (President & Advisor)
School Board member
Middle School Basketball team (Coach & Captain)
Varsity Volleyball team
Debating Society (Founder & Captain)
Violin (7 years)
Tennis (6 years, qualified 5 times for National Championship)</p>

<p>[<em>] Job/Work Experience: None…Well, I do have some internships in my resume, but I’ve never had a job.
[</em>] Volunteer/Community service: Monitor at local Catholic Youth Groups/ Work at Homeless Assistance at Local Parrish
[<em>] Summer Activities: Tons of traveling, reading, internships etc.
[</em>] Essays: Excellent, I guess.
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation: Excellent
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Ex.
[<em>] Additional Rec: Ambassador of Germany
[</em>] Interview:Great</p>

<p>[/ul]Other[ul]
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant):
[</em>] Country (if international applicant): Portugal
[<em>] School Type: Private, although controlled and partially funded by the German Federal Gov.
[</em>] Ethnicity: Caucasian
[<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>] Income Bracket: 250 000 - 300 000
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Languages (I speak 7 languages at native level), Bicultural background - Portuguese family & German education…</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Reflection[list]
[<em>] Strengths: Leadership Skills, keen to learn, very inquisitive, languages, bicultural background, academic accomplishments, extremely ambitious
[</em>] Weaknesses: Don’t have the major awards, that most countries give out…Not a true virtuoso when it comes to music :stuck_out_tongue:
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Essays, Interview, different academic background, scores (although they aren’t the most important factor), languages…
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:</p>

<p>Acc.: Stanford, Oxford, Yale, UChicago, Northwestern, Georgetown
Waitlisted: Princeton</p>