<p>Lollcowz, I don’t think it matters what you plan to study, in terms of helping your application. </p>
<p>As far as double-majoring, back in my day it was generally not done. I don’t know if it is done these days. Word to the wise… don’t ask questions like this when you go to your interview. Alums are NOT experts about the current state of affairs at the college. Especially if your interviewer is an oldster like me, we won’t know the answers to questions like this and we will wonder why you didn’t research it yourself!!!</p>
<p>Thanks, that’s great advice! I was just curious because the popularity of double majoring generally isn’t discussed on sites or the realism of it, but thank you!</p>
<p>Grinver, I would bet on you getting accepted at Harvard. That said, I would have lost a lot of money betting on students I interviewed who I thought would be accepted, but weren’t. It’s a crapshoot. Don’t count on it. But you should definitely apply. Good luck!</p>
<p>I have a few questions… very sorry if they sound “stupid”, but I’ve heard a lot of different things & would like to clear up some misconceptions. </p>
<p>Does it really matter where you go to college? I want to go into medicine, and a doctor is a doctor, no matter from which college… right? Also, getting to Harvard undergrad is hard enough, so wouldn’t it be even more difficult to get into the medical school? And if a student IS accepted for undergrad and applies for medical school, would they have a better chance of being accepted than a student who applied from a different undergrad university?</p>
<p>Also, I wanted to ask about extracurricular activities. I think most people agree that depth is far better than breadth, but does it matter which activities you’re involved in? Do the admissions officers care about which activities you were involved in, or your passion for those activities? I guess anyone could get involved in some really great projects & have no real passion for them, but would they be able to fake it and still come across as genuine? I was just wondering because the idea that people like that could be accepted in the place of those who truly loved what they were doing and were pouring their hearts into it.</p>
<p>I’m an intl’ student (never lived in the US). I was born in France but moved to Israel at age 13. I speak French, Hebrew and English fluently. I’m now 20 years old.</p>
<p>GPA : 93/100
SAT I: taking it on Oct. but I score around 1950 right now (hope to get 2100+ on the real test)
SAT II : Maths II 800, Hebrew 800, French 800, USH (taking in Nov.)</p>
<p>I believe the strong part of my application is my essay. It’s about how, at 20, I’m a commander of 14 soldiers in the army…
EC : not so much since I’ve been in the army since I’m 18…</p>
<p>@isarub, sorry… I don’t have any real or anecdotal info on which to base a guess for you. On the one hand, your story is really compelling and exciting… something Harvard will love. On the other hand, your age… the adcoms might (MIGHT, I really don’t know!) be reluctant to place a 21 year old (next fall, you will be 21?) with your worldly experience in with a bunch of 17 & 18 year olds. As you may know, all freshmen live together in the yard. I’m not saying it couldn’t happen, only I haven’t seen or heard of it.</p>
<p>@Leftyy, I think the Harvard reputation is a bigger deal in people’s mind than in reality. You will have a wonderful, successful, and happy life regardless of where you go to college/grad school, if you decide that is what you want & will work for. Harvard is way overblown. (But don’t blame Harvard for that!) </p>
<p>GPA: 3.95 UW/4.548 W (Rank 2/645)
SAT: 2270 (740 CR, 760 M, 770 W)
ACT: 33 (Same composite across two sittings)
AP’s: 5 so far (Five 5’s including AB Subscore, one 4), should have 12-13 by end of senior yr.</p>
<p>EC’s: -Marching Band: 4-year member of the Drumline, senior year Section Leader (have won numerous section awards at local and state competitions)
-Youth & Government: Attorney since soph. year, have placed in the state Appellate competition two years running
-Church Youth Group (all 4 years): Play drumset in weekly worship band (also frequently tasked with organizing weekend worship), Member of both Leadership Board and Missions Trip Fundraising Committee
Awards: Natl. Merit (most likely-PSAT 220), possibly AP Scholar (I have the scores, but haven’t gotten the certificate?)
I’m white, living in IL, attend a public school. Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, I’m planning on majoring in Biochem or Neuroscience with a Minor/Certificate in Spanish, and hope to go to med school. I suppose I should add that…</p>
<p>“I have been an alum interviewer for Harvard for over 15 years and before that I spent several years as an assistant to a private guidance counselor who worked mostly with high school students.”</p>
<p>and all of you have decided to believe that?</p>
<p>GPA weighted/unweighted- 4.0/4.42, class rank is 1/235</p>
<h1>of APs/honors/IBs- 18 honors (most I can take at my school), and 6 APs- US history (5). I’m taking the rest senior year due to logistical problems and the fact that my school only offers 4 APs.</h1>
<p>ACT- 32 on ACT (English- 35, Math-34, Reading-31, Science-27, Writing-11, English/Writing-34) I will retake this in September, got a 35 on last practice test from red book…so, we’ll see.
SAT subject tests- US history-740, will take math2 and biology M in October.
top 1-3 ECs- Student Council (senior class president, junior class president, sophomore vice-president, and freshman representative), debate (many awards, two time district champ, etc), National honor society (president), and a leadership position in a community revitilization project…to name a few.
hooks (URM, first generation, legacy)- none
race/gender- white male from MO
Significant awards (above school-level)- 4th place at state American legion oratorical competition, president’s volunteer service award, optimist club teen of the month, national forensic league distinction award.</p>
<p>@ayousef, your stuff all looks good. If you are from a area in MO that doesn’t typically have many applicants, this will help you. Your stats are fine. I’m one that believes that a 32 ACT is fine for serious consideration so don’t kill yourself studying for the retake… you would be better off IMHO working on your essays. Harvard likes the leadership offices so that’s good, too. Nothing WOW there, but all very solid. I would encourage you to apply EA. Best of luck!</p>
<p>@jeckert, much the same advice as the previous… very solid, nothing WOW, will depend on your area in IL and your competition there. You should definitely apply. I think all your stats are fine and I wouldn’t spend any time retaking any of the tests.</p>
<p>Regarding your plans to “minor/certificate in Spanish”, I would advise you to do some research and ascertain if that is a possibility. Back in my day, there was no such thing. Perhaps things have changed, but if you go into your interview-- or put on your application-- that this is your plan, and there is no such thing, it won’t look good.</p>
<p>@stressedouttt, As for what purpose you imagine I would lie, I cannot fathom. Still I commend your healthy skepticism. You are welcome to PM me and I will provide you with my post.harvard e-mail for you to verify. But I suppose anyone diabolical enough to flim-flam high school students would also hack a secure e-mail system.</p>
<p>@israrub, yes most definitely, Harvard looks for people with “different stories.” I think if your “worldly experience” was wrapped up in an 18 year old body, you’d have a better shot. But that’s just my opinion and you should definitely apply! I would love to interview an applicant such as yourself.</p>
<p>I do know for a fact that Harvard discourages and rarely (perhaps never) admits young students. You never hear about kid prodigies attending Harvard. Probably the youngest would be 16 at matriculation. Probably for the same reasons I gave you.</p>
<p>The reason I’m 20 and still not in college is that I’m in the army…and I have 6 more months to go (out of 3 years). That’s the part of my story (as I said, I express it in my essay), and I actually think that’s the strongest part of my application.</p>
<p>Here are my credentials.
2350 in my SAT.
800 in SAT II Biology, Math I and Math II.
780 in SAT II Literature, Chemistry and 790 in Physics.
5/5 in AP Biology, Env. Science, World history, Psycology.
Now my country’s grading system is very different so:
85% in 9-10th Grade.
90% in 11-12th Grade</p>
<p>2- I Led a campaign in which we planted 50’000 trees to raise awareness about environmental problems.
10-I Volunteered as a field officer to help Polio and lead poisoning affected people in Nigeria for 2 months.
I am a science writer and part of the core team of a Pakistani science journal called Plasma.
I have been selected as a speaker at TEDxGCU and TEDxLahore.
I am leading a research in which we’re developing a structure that could (theoretically) generate 500GWatts safely!
I speak Urdu, English(Duh), Punjabi and French fluently.
Ethnicity: Pakistani</p>
<p>And for the essay, I have my story of how I got really interested in the medical sciences. And also wanted to ask if it is evident through my EC’s that I’m really passionate about healing and medicine.
I have a LOT more EC’s but these are the ones I’m really proud of.
If anyone here’s gonna bash me for a thread I posted earlier, let me point out that that was my cousins posting their chance threads without bothering to make accounts.</p>
<p>@shahrezsyed, your ECs for me have the WOW factor. All your stats look great. </p>
<p>The only thing I’d say to you is that I hope your essay on “how I got really interested in the medical sciences” is interesting. Frankly, it SOUNDS like it could be a bore. From your unique & fascinating list of ECs, it seems to me that a topic highlighting your experience with one of them would be more compelling. Remember that the essay serves two purposes… one, to show your writing skill and two, to show your personality. If the reader can’t stay awake they won’t be learning about you!</p>