<p>apply if it's your #1 choice. that's what EA's for.</p>
<p>It's up to your college counselor to explain the issue of your school's GPA (that 90 -93 is a B+ for example) to the adcom. You're not being compared against everyone else on an apples to apples basis, they look at the specifics of your school, your courseload. If you took a hard course load and did well at your school (and you said top 10%!), then that should weigh more than just the numbers. And don't worry about "too many" ECs (I worry my son has too few!), just put extra emphasis (maybe just one extra rec) on the ones where you've had the most impact and that meant the most to you. Maybe the Model UN? If you've been able to do all that and have good grades, that should be impressive.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. Hm, MUN isn't really an innovative activity. I mostly just attend conferences, debate, and receive awards. I think I'd rather get a rec from someone who has worked with me on an advocacy project.</p>
<p>How significant are SAT II scores to the EA admissions process?</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your advice.</p>
<p>I've been looking at the Harvard EA thread, and barely anyone with < 3.9 UW GPA gets in early. And even so, they usually have a distinct rising trend throughout high school. I'm most likely going to apply to UChicago and Georgetown EA instead; Harvard seems like such a far reach right now, especially with my GPA.</p>
<p>It's not all about GPA, although if you aren't in the top 5 or 10% of your school, your chances tend to be significantly diminished. Go for your top choice unless your guidance counselor says you don't have any chace.</p>
<p>When I applied EA, I had a 3.88 weighted GPA which was approximately the top 10% of my class and I was deferred. I was then waitlisted with a 3.93 GPA weighted in April (I had straight A's in all AP's first semester). </p>
<p>Don't worry about the GPA, as long as you're above a certain threshold you're fine. What's more important is where you got your best grades. My GPA was brought down by my easiest classes, whereas in my hardest courses I never got a grade lower than an A (which is 94 and above at my school). I think it was pretty clear, and still is clear to the AdCom, that I was basically bored by my core curriculum requirements at my school (a private prep), so they probably more or less ignored the few Bs I had in those classes. </p>
<p>Basically, GPA is much less important than the individual course grades, which is why my "not so good" 3.88 weighted GPA was just fine in the EA pool, considering that anywhere I've taken a college level course (Harvard, Northwestern or my high school) I've never had below an A.</p>
<p>Since you mention Georgetown--my GPA was perfectly fine for the RD round for the School of Foreign Service, where I'm attending next year (barring an H admit off the waitlist). Like I said, what's important is that your academic accomplishments are above a certain threshold, the rest is all made up by your personal characteristics, essays, EC's, etc. One girl got into H from my school this year and I was the only one waitlisted--among people with way higher GPA's, test scores, etc. from me. The difference between a 4.2 or 3.9 from my school was essentially immaterial to them. So again, don't worry so much about GPA, because NO ONE gets in to a school like Harvard (or Georgetown for that matter) on academic accomplishments alone.</p>
<p>(on a smaller note- about your GPA, i wouldnt worry about that drop. the important thing is you once again raised your GPA. plus- out of three of my recently admitted ivy students, one going to harvard after being accepted EA, ALL of them had a slight drop during their sophomore year. I am also constantly being reminded that sophomore year is a reality check and is academically- the year where one works the hardest.)</p>
<p>so basically- dont worry about a slight trend. if your GPA was a 4.0 then a 3.8 then a 3.7 etc etc, then thats a different story. </p>
<p>good luck with whatever you choose!</p>
<p>stockholm syndrome also has a completely valid point. with all the publicity going around about the harvard student and her plagiarism- well her book was about how a straight a student was rejected from harvard because she didnt have a life.</p>
<p>life does not equal academics, where you get waitlisted, attend or graduate from. life is what you make of it with what you have where you are.</p>
<p>so best of luck. :-)</p>
<p>Wow, thanks dande and stockholm. That's definitely encouraging news.</p>
<p>haha and one more thing.</p>
<p>remember that NOT EVERY HARVARD APPLICANT and more importantly NOT EVERY HARVARD APPLICANT THAT WAS ACCEPTED posts on these walls. sure a few do, but the majority dont. dont make assumptions. </p>
<p>my friend who was accepted to harvard EA had a 3.8-3.85 cume GPA. however he played varsity soccer, varsity hockey, varsity lacrosse (captain) and was head prefect. he was in many clubs and everyone knew him around campus. h e was and is perhaps one of the most amiable people that i have had the privilege of being friends with. regardless of what college you are applying to- numbers arent everything. your personality really counts. who cares if of the 892 EA applicants, 30 or so posted their scores and GPAs. SURE you need to be exceptionally intelligent. But the truth is- you CANT look at other people and their scores and their acceptance decision and say, "o no! i dont have that GPAm i dont have those scores! i dont have that many EC's! i wont get in!" if everyone said that, Harvard would be a school of mindless drones. Look beyond the box- everyone on this forum has to learn that these schools dont want 2405734057340857 prep school copies. They want the artists, they want the peace activists, they want the hockey players, they want the kids who really dont excel at anything amazing but have proven to admissions that they wish to find their talents with the help of Harvard. </p>
<p>Through the months of looking at decision threads, i admit. it is hard to look and see GPAs and SAT scores and feel as if you arent good enough, or you need more. Yet what im saying is- College Confidential is an amazing thing. It is not meant to be taken as criteria for admission. so please please please look at the scores of other people (it is hard not to at times) but dont feel discourages if you dont match. The admissions office is looking at YOUR application, not that of someone else. </p>
<p>Be yourself. Work hard. Dont let anyone stop you from achieving your dreams.</p>
<p>Well said; thanks!</p>