Should I apply Harvard early?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Harvard is my dream but I am realistic and not sure if I should. Please feel free to give honest feedback:</p>

<p>Academics:
SAT: 2240 (720 reading, 800 math, 720 writing) - only taken once; will take again in Nov.
GPA: Valedictorian (1/240 at private school)
APs/IB: hardest possible schedule; have gotten a 5 on all AP exams taken already (only Lang, Bio, World, and Human because I'm in IB)
SAT II's: will have them soon; so far, 750 on Bio E
Most likely National Merit Scholar
AP Scholar Award</p>

<p>Athletics: Basketball team all 4 years (varsity last 2 years)
Varisty tennis freshman year</p>

<p>EC's: Student Gov class president 9-11, student gov executive officer in 12th
Debate all four years (LD captain last two years) - have some state awards - will reach level of distinction by application time
Mu Alpha Theta all 4 years (Treasurer for 10-11) - one local award
Key Club all four years (President last 2 years)- some huge charity events
Selected for the Freedoms Foundation Leadership Summit and attended
Selected for Boys State but could not attend
Some other community service things...won one of the Principal's community service award
Princeton Book Award
Know C++..learned it at a program
Attended the STaRS research program
Selected and attended the Young Scholars Program at Florida State (all expenses paid for 6.5 weeks)
Will be competing in Siemens this year (we will see what happens)
I have also studied the philosophy of Maimonides with a scholar</p>

<p>will have really good teacher and counselor recs... hopefully a good essay too!</p>

<p>Intended major: mechanical engineering</p>

<p>Harvard is my dream and top choice and I think its an added bonus that I'm a "science kid"...Most top science kids I know are not attracted to Harvard (at least for early action)</p>

<p>Please be frank with feedback and advice!</p>

2

<p>Your SAT/class rank/rigor is all there for Harvard.</p>

<p>Applying early will not hurt you. I would if I was in your position. The earlier you know, the less stress of waiting.</p>

3

<p>Don’t apply early. It will hurt your chances if anything.</p>

4

<p>how would it hurt my chances to apply early? please explain…thank you!</p>

5

<p>Come onto our thread for early applicants. And read through the first couple of pages.</p>

6

<p>Ok but please give me the main reason</p>

7

<p>The applicant pool is more competitive EA</p>

8

<p>^ yes, which ends up skewing the percentages.</p>

9

<p>I thank you for your advice and guidance chlogan and bmonticello…but regardless of EA now, am I a qualified applicant?</p>

10

<p>Yes but as you know, nothing is garuanteed. It really depends on how someone reading your essays/ECs/recs FEELS, or how much they like you. Also, I didn’t count but I think you listed more ECs than you can actually fit on the app.</p>

11

<p>I’d give you a 25% chance of getting in.</p>

12

<p>I honestly believe that if Harvard is your first choice, apply early. You have every thing you need in terms of ECs/ GPA/ SAT to be competitive for Harvard, you just need to write the essays and see what happens. I’d be sure to apply to a bunch of other schools though.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1533620-chance-me-princeton-wharton-upenn-dartmouth-cornell-harvard-mit.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1533620-chance-me-princeton-wharton-upenn-dartmouth-cornell-harvard-mit.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also applying to Harvard! Not SCEA though, I like Princeton :p</p>