<p>Hi, this question goes out to current or former Harvard students or anyone with any real knowledge about Harvard admissions.
I'm sure people ask this all the time, but I'd like a couple outside opinions of whether or not I should apply to Harvard. All aside, I'm likely going to apply no matter what, seeing as how it is my dream school, but I'd like to know if I'm going to embarrass myself. At my school, it's seen as rather conceited to apply to Ivies, so I just want to know if its worth it. Here I am in a nutshell:
I grew up in a small town in West Virginia, attending public school, until I left for a Maryland boarding school in eighth grade. In public school and eighth grade, I kept perfect straight As. Halfway through my eighth grade year, I withdrew from boarding school, having been a serious member of a ballet company and wanting to return to it. However, I decided that academics were ultimately more important and returned to my boarding school at the start of my freshman year. Freshman year I had a 3.99 and sophomore year I had a 4.0. Presently, I have a 3.9 unweighted, but I'm not sure what my weighted GPA is. I take AP US History and have an -A and AP Chemistry and have an A. My other classes are British Literature, French III, and Precalculus, all of which I have As in. I'm captain of the varsity soccer team in the fall and on the varsity basketball team in the winter and the varsity lacrosse team in the spring. I love theatre, and was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz as a sophomore for our spring musical last spring. I'm also a campus big sibling, a tutor, a tour-guide, and have been a member of the choir every year and am now a member of the school's new chamber choir, as well as the girls' A Capella group. I've been in several musicals and was in my first play this fall. I'm pretty sure I do a few other things about which I have forgotten. In terms of community service, I went on a Habitat for Humanity-esque trip to Kentucky over the summer and am a habitual blood donor.
That's an impersonal view of my life. I'd like to say that the reason I do all these different activities and take various AP courses is not to impress any college. I've always been interested in a myriad of things, which is why I've always loved Harvard. Harvard is a place, in my eyes, where you're encouraged to explore your interests, and where everyone is welcome and no one condemns you for wanting to work hard and have fun. So with that in mind, do I stand a chance applying to Harvard?
Thanks!!</p>
<p>“I’m likely going to apply no matter what, seeing as how it is my dream school”</p>
<p>I think you should apply for several reasons: </p>
<p>(1) You are going to anyway – and you will not know what will happen unless you apply.
(2) You didn’t mention SAT/ACT scores, but you have a high unweighted GPA at a school from West Virginia, a state not automatically known for its stellar academics (no offense).
(3) It’s impossible to predict anyone’s chances as so much of the applications process is subjective and comes down to how an admissions director “feels” after reading your teacher recommendations and essays and compares them to all other applicants. Given your GPA and love of learning, you will not embarrass yourself if you apply. I’m not saying you will get in, but just that you should go for it!</p>
<p>“Harvard is a place, in my eyes, where you’re encouraged to explore your interests, and where everyone is welcome and no one condemns you for wanting to work hard and have fun.”</p>
<p>That’s also true of Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT and about 400 other colleges – so you need to keep an open mind about other schools. Please read Jeffrey Brenzel’s epilogue to the college applications process. It applies to student’s applying to Harvard, as well: [Epilogue:</a> After Colleges Accept You | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/after-colleges-accept-you]Epilogue:”>After Colleges Accept You | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)</p>
<p>"I think I may be able to offer you a few unconventional thoughts about admissions by pointing you down the road past the admissions process to the date when you will be holding admissions offers in your hands, whether from Yale or other great colleges.</p>
<p>I say “other great colleges” for a reason. If you are in fact a realistic applicant for Yale, it is virtually certain that you are going to be admitted to a number of strong, quite selective colleges. After all, we are all looking for students like you, with talent, achievement, and high aspirations. If you happen to be in the midst of the application process right now, you may be anxious about where you will be admitted. You may feel as if everything depends on which colleges admit you, or whether a certain one does.</p>
<p>After years of experience, however, here is what I know, virtually to the point of certainty: almost nothing depends on exactly which strong college admits you. Everything depends on what you decide to do once you get to a strong college, and how well prepared you are to take advantage of the infinite opportunities you will find there."</p>
<p>“Good luck with your applications, good luck with your decision, and most of all, good luck engaging the fantastic college opportunities that are waiting for you.”</p>
<p>Thank you! I really just wanted an outside opinion. And I take no offense to that commment about WV, its true. Thanks for the advice!
PS, I’m a junior and have yet to get my scores back yet, I’m just looking ahead so I can plan visits over the summer</p>
<p>Thank you! I really just wanted an outside opinion. And I take no offense to that comment about WV, its true. Thanks for the advice!
PS, I’m a junior and have yet to get my scores back yet, I’m just looking ahead so I can plan visits over the summer</p>