Should I apply to Harvard EA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Okay, so here's the dilemma: I can either apply to Harvard EA or Georgetown SFS and UChicago EA. I want to attend Harvard more, but I'm afraid that my GPA will lead to a deferral. And I have a decent shot at SFS and a pretty good shot at UChicago... the reassurance of early acceptance is tempting. </p>

<p>Basically, my question: will a non-stellar GPA and my competitive location (Northern Virginia) significantly reduce my chances at Harvard EA?</p>

<p>Basic Stats</p>

<p>Race/Gender: Chinese/Female
Location: Virginia
School: Competitive IB school
Courseload: Full IB Diploma Candidate</p>

<p>SAT: 760CR/800M/800W
SAT II: Math IIC- TBA, US History- TBA, French- TBA, Chinese- TBA
GPA: 3.88 UW, 4.02 W
Rank: School doesn't rank; top 10%</p>

<p>Amnesty International
President of Chapter
Virginia Student Coordinator
Coordinated state-wide student membership campaign
Coordinating DC area benefit concert</p>

<p>Model United Nations
Vice-President of Chapter
USG of my school's conference
1 Best Delegate Award
2 Outstanding Delegate Awards
2 Honorable Delegate Awards
2 Verbal Commendations</p>

<p>Interfaith Liaison
Student interfaith ambassador
Hosts seminars encouraging interfaith dialogue at various high schools
Sponsored by GU and the FFC</p>

<p>Student Alliance for Nuclear Security (SANS)
Founder and President
Received $1000 grant from NAPF
Using grant to coordinate DC-area conference in Oct. 2006</p>

<p>IB Student Advisory Board
Appointed member (1 of 12 juniors)
Coordinating events for the ONE Campaign</p>

<p>Volunteer Experience
U.S. Holocaust Mem. Museum~ 100 hours
VA State Legislature Campaign intern~ 150 hours
Tutoring inner-city ESL students~ 60 hours
Youth Advisory Council at teen shelter~ 50 hours</p>

<p>**Random Stuff<a href="Should%20I%20even%20bother%20to%20include%20this?">/b</a>
Member of French Honor Society
Member of Mu Alpha Theta
Member of National Honor Society
Most likely National Merit Semifinalist</p>

<p>Misc. Awards
1st: Swackhamer Peace Essay Contest
1st: Society of Professional Journalists Essay Contest
2nd: Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest
1st in VA, National award pending: National Peace Essay Contest
School nominee (award pending): NCTE Achievement Award</p>

<p>Summer Stuff
Freshman: CTY Lancaster, Logic
Soph: Previously mentioned volunteer work
Junior: TASP @ Cornell</p>

2

<p>How non-stellar is your GPA?</p>

3

<p>It's 3.88 cumulative and un-weighted, and here's the breakdown:</p>

<p>Freshman: 4.0 UW
Sophomore: 3.79 UW
Junior: 3.85 UW</p>

<p>My main concern is the decline between freshman and sophomore year. I transferred to a more competitive school, so hopefully, that will make up for it?</p>

<p>It seems as if most Harvard EA admits have either 4.0's, or slightly lower with an upward trend. Since I have neither, I'm not sure how I fare against such a competitive applicant pool.</p>

4

<p>Sorry, I didn't see your GPA when I read your first posting. </p>

<p>Of course no one can tell you what to do or what your true chances are. You certainly seem like a competitive student (but I am far from an admissions officer!)</p>

<p>Your ECs look great. Certainly include your honor societies on all of your applications - top schools will expect you to be a member of Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society. </p>

<p>Harvard definitely reads everything you send. Perhaps you can include copies of the essays which won the contests with your application.</p>

<p>It's hard to say whether applying to Harvard EA enhances your application. They say that it does not - who knows?</p>

<p>I think you have to decide what you want most - and then give it your best shot. Since none of your early apps are binding - you can't really go wrong any which way. In any event, be sure you add good safeties and matches to your list. Consider applying to a rolling school such as Michigan so that you do have something secured.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the advice, especially about Michigan. Are there any other good public universities with rolling admissions? I know that American University has rolling admissions, but it's private.</p>

6

<p>I'm not sure if UVA is rolling ... you'd have to check into that. I don't know your financial situation, but you also may want to look into "Scholar" programs - such as Emory's. Be aware that many of those schools require early applications (often a Dec. 1 deadline.)</p>

7

<p>I know that UVA has an ED program, so I doubt that it's rolling admissions. I'll definitely consider applying to UMich and Harvard EA simultaneously, since Harvard allows apps to rolling admissions programs at public universities.</p>

8

<p>Just be certain that you carefully read all "rules" for ED and/or EA/SCEA ... wherever you decide to apply!</p>

9

<p>twinmom, please say more about "Scholars" programs...what schools offer them? And what type of financial aid do they offer (merit and/or need-based). Thanks!</p>

10

<p>If your family are doing well financially, and you are now in an IB high school,plus if your parents are well educated, you normally needs to do very well to get into Harvard. I think your EC are in too many areas. You need to focus on a very few to excel them. Too many Chinese amercian students overdo ECs. It is very bad to fall in that category. By the way, I am a Chinese. And my S got accepted to HYP and Williams. He has no leadership roles, no sports, no music, just plain doing family chores and write them on his essays. To be a real person can be a moving factor to adcoms. You are qualified to apply anywhere. But only good application can get you in the selective door. Good luck.</p>

11

<p>savoirfaire, I applied EA to Georgetown and UChicago partly on the basis of receiving two acceptances early as a sort of "safety net." However, after the RD round, I fell in love with Princeton...if only I knew that earlier, I could have applied ED and saved myself all the hassle and heartache of applying to other schools and waiting...:p. Anyways, it all worked out in the end for me. I would apply to whatever school you feel is best for you, even though you might "risk" a deferral.</p>

12

<p>I think you can go with applying early to an HYP-level school, but you really need to write a catching, honest essay and have incredible recommendations. Also, if you can, send an additional recommendation that speaks to your personality, but not from a teacher. Maybe from someone who you know from the community, the high school principal (if you know them personally) or one of your ECs. It should really highlight how you are different as a person. Remember, there are thousands of applicants to the top schools from relatively wealthy areas like Northern Virginia.</p>

<p>There is no such thing as "overdoing" ECs. And there is nothing negative about being Chinese or from any other group. There are no quotas. It is a matter of how you present yourself, how you can demonstrate that you are actually committed to the ECs you are active in, and that sort of thing. To this end the essays & recs are of supreme importance. And no typos anywhere else.</p>

<p>Apply to Harvard if it's your top choice. If you'd be happier elsewhere, apply there instead. If you're not sure, which it kind of sounds like from what you're writing, you should ideally visit and stay overnight at a few of these schools, for a couple of days at each. I know it seems like a lot of time to spend, but this is a big decision for you and time spent in a high school is relatively worthless, in the long run. So take a week off. </p>

<p>In any case, whatever you do, really go for it.</p>

13

<p>Hm, I might be overdoing ECs, but they're all very important to me. My philosophy on education is this: application of your knowledge is just as important as acquiring it, if not more important. And living in the DC area has opened me up to so many opportunities to apply this knowledge; how could I not take advantage of them? </p>

<p>I'm in love with DC, by the way.. one of the reasons why I'm considering SFS.</p>

<p>And I might get a rec from someone outside of my high school, either from Amnesty International or the interfaith project I'm working on. Or could I do both? I've heard that I shouldn't include too many additional recs.</p>

14

<p>Yes, it is about seeing the interrelationships among points of knowledge that is important, and about observing, not about the "learning." That's not really learning. </p>

<p>Rec wise, only send an additional one if it is really, really, really good. And personal.</p>

15

<p>What if the rec isn't overly personal, but it touches on my specific contributions to the organization and describes my leadership role in greater detail?</p>

16

<p>It should try to shed some light onto your personality. Your achievements will be fairly clear from your resume and first two recommendations. Having an additional letter stating that will not help the adcom make a decision. What it not clear to the adcom, and what they need to know, is what kind of person you are. This they can gather something on from your essay, and possibly that additional recommendation (and, ideally, from your first two - make sure you pick teachers who are good writers and know you well). </p>

<p>In fact, if you send any additional materials, whether they be personal testimonials/recs, music tapes, art slides or published poetry or scientific studies, they should be of a quality and purpose that really sheds light on who you are.</p>

17

<p>I totally agree with PosterX.
Your ECs have to come from your heart - corny as that may sound. You're not doing too many if you truly are enjoying them ... and it sounds like you are. You must convey that through your essays and recommendations though, as PosterX says. If you're doing them just to get into college, well, the admissions officers will know. They've seen it all.</p>

<p>MSMDad - Emory has a Scholars Program where you can get qualify for free tuition or possibly even tuition plus room and board. It is very competitive - most recipients also have applied to and been accepted to top notch schools. The scholarship is merit based. </p>

<p>Look on the Parents Forum under the Master List of Merit Awards. You will see many that are not financial based. Look through the web sites of any schools your child may be interested in. Duke also has a fantastic scholarship program. Again - it's highly competitive, to say the least.</p>

18

<p>do Harvard EA!</p>

19

<p>Any comments on my GPA and how that might affect my chances...?</p>

<p>I'm also concerned about what previous posters have mentioned, that is, how I have so many ECs. I dedicate significantly more time to ECs than studying or schoolwork because obviously, ECs are more enjoyable, dynamic, etc.</p>

<p>However, I am concerned that without more detailed explanation of my activities, colleges will view me as a "joiner", which is not the case. That's why I've been considering these additional recs.. mostly as confirmation of my dedication, and to demonstrate that I'm not just compiling a laundry list resume.</p>

20

<p>And yet another factor:</p>

<p>My county grades somewhat differently--</p>

<p>A = 94+
B+ = 90-93
B = 84-89
C+ = 80-83
etc.</p>

<p>Will Harvard go a little easier on me GPA-wise or will this grading system work against me because of the assumption of grade inflation?</p>