<p>I'm an immigrant and I moved to US on March 2009, hoping to get into top colleges. My idea was I had better chance of getting into Harvard if I applied as an immigrant rather than an international student. I know I need strong extracurriculars and stuff but the problem lies in doing the extracurriculars. I can't take music or journalism to be a part of school newspaper or the band/orchestra since I have to take other classes to make up credits fo graduation. . My school doesn't have any science-related activities such as Math team or Science Bowl. I can't do MUN since I can't afford to pay the fees and all that. I'm not athletic so I can't do sports either. For the time being I'm just doing a bunch of clubs and honor societies and can't think of anything else. I feel very insecure about applying to Harvard since I don't have strong extracurriculars and I'm a junior so I don't have much time left.
BTW I'm an A student with unweighted GPA 3.9 and an anticipated IB Diploma candidate.
I have some leadership experience from my native country and I was in programming and quiz team. But here I can't do anything. I also can't do much volunteering or internships since my family don't have a car and metrobus is not a big option Please Help! Should I give up my dream of getting into Harvard?</p>
<p>What do you plan to do in summer? My advice is that find something you are passionate about that you CAN do during summer vacation. I think that will help you a lot. Remove CAN’T from your vocabulory. </p>
<p>Do something you care about, not what others advertise here on CC. You don’t have solve world hunger or make sun rise from west to get into a good school.</p>
<p>I’m applying to NIH Biomedical Research Internship program. Last summer I did an internship at a local medical center and summer school. I’m really interested in Math and Science but My school doesn’t offer any activities related to that.</p>
<p>Did you take AMC12?
Have you participated in [url=<a href=“http://www.usamts.org/]USAMTS[/url”>http://www.usamts.org/]USAMTS[/url</a>]?</p>
<p>I have registered for AMC12, and I haven’t participated in USAMTS.
Thanks, Maxxwell.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I’m trying to take advantage of everything available to me, but being a science person there really aren’t a lot of opportunities available in my school. I’ve contacted the Chemistry Olympiad committee to individually take the USACO and participating in essay contests like DNA day essay contest. I like other subjects as well, and I am a big fan of international affairs. I wanted to do Model UN but it’s so expensive! and even though I have to wait hours for the metro bus I try to be active as much as possible. What I’m really afraid of is whether Harvard will accept a non-over achiever like me. I mean, there are thousands of high school students working their butt off to make an impressive resume, I’d like to do that as well, but financially I’m not capable of doing a lot of things.</p>