<p>Good evening (I do realize that this is a rather European way of beginning a thread). I am writing to you in sate of perplexity and out of helplessness. I am a nice German, aged 19, serving in the military. I returned two weeks ago from my interview and have just received a conditional offer of Kings College, University of Cambridge for the course Natural Sciences with the intention of studying Astrophysics or maybe switching to Politics, Philosophy and Economics. I had already considered in my last year of high school to apply to Harvard College for the class of 2014. Together with friend, I visited Boston last summer and we had a fine discussion with someone affiliated with the college. He spoke of how well-educated we were but went on to say that the academics, in the first place, only serve to indicate whether one can handle the work, at least in the selection process. We loved the college and the person said we had the right mentality, therefore I now consider to actually reject my offer and instead try Harvard. I am now just seeking your advice on my chances.</p>
<p>I am aware of all the information you need when it comes to chancing someone, speaking about hobbies, achievements etc. however for now I am just in need of your opinion about the basic academics. I was an IB-Diploma candidate with an original score of 44, which was upon a schools query, raised to 45. My school transcript reads, in all 6 subjects, A+ for grade 12. Furthermore my counselor calculated a GPA of 4.0, but (ha-ha) only for grade 12. My grades in 9-11 were not that good. My lowest alpha grade is a B- but the GPA calculates to 3.35. My question now is whether it is worth applying or if that kills me. I know you need SAT scores, but I only took mock exams under real exam conditions and ended up with 2200ish (If I take subject tests then probably the Physics, World History and Spanish). Thank you in advance and please consider only whether I would have a chance; you seem to evidently have a trustworthy idea of this whole admission process, please excuse my nescience on this and the grammar mistakes, I am a native German.</p>