Should I even apply to Harvard?

ACT: 34 (plan to retake)
GPA: 3.7 / 4.0
APs: AP Physics I, AP Physics II, AP Language and Composition A, AP US Government & Politics, AP US History, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, AP Calc AB, AP Euro History
SAT IIs: 800 Physics , 800 Math II , 790 US History
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Application: ED to Harvard

Extracurriculars:

  • Educational YouTube Channel // Founder & Blogger // 3hrs/wk // (11th-12th) Provided to my city elementary students as a second resource, intiate weekly lesson plans, self-record and publish math tutorials in the 6th grade level. I did this since many of the city's teachers got fired, and wanted to impact the students in need of a second resource to improve their understanding and grades. Super passionate about educational standards worldwide and plan to pursue a political science degree to change that.

-Anthology Collection // Published Poet // 2hrs/wk // (10th-12th)
Write Free verse and other genres of poetry. I am actually a published poet, and have published several works on TeenInk.

-National Econmics Team // Founder & President // 2hrs/wk // (11th-12th)

Founder and president, chairman and as well as the team consulatant. Started the club since kids in school wanted to learn about macro and micro Economics, but was not provided in the curriculum. Wanted to provide them this chance to learn about it and compete as well.

-Mock Trial Club // Junior Office Representative // 2hrs/wk // (11th-12th)
Junior Office representative; assist students in state competition case; formulated and planned ideas for club fundraisers.

Summer Programs:

-Harvard Pre-College Program
Received a rec letter from one of the profs there, not sure how much it is worth though. Selected from international pool as well as us students. Took a class in intro to criminal law and procedure.

  • Teen Docent from LSC //35hrs/wk for 4 wks Maintained facility protocol, educated kids in all fields of science, led groups, enforced proper workplace conduct, managed several teams on Solar Eclipse Day, which, I actually find an accomplishment considering the multiple thousands we had to control.

For this summer,
Either TASP or Upenn’s LEAD Summer Program, or another prestigious summer program, depending on what happens.

Should I even apply ED to Harvard?

Harvard does not have ED.

Harvard does have restrictive early action: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/application-timeline/restrictive-early-action

REA gives you your best shot. Your GPA is a bit below average but 34+ is in range. Kick butt in the classroom this spring, and if you love Harvard and can afford it, go ahead and apply early.

It will be a reach, but your chances are better applying REA than they would be by simply applying RD, where the admit rate is something like 3%. Sure, athletes and some legacies get in early, but not enough to fully account for the 15ish% REA admit rate – five times the RD admit rate.

Just make sure you have apps ready to go for some other schools too, chosen according to your preferences and affordability and comprising a mix of reaches, matches and at least one true safety.

If you get straight As this semester and first quarter of senior year, then yes. Make sure you send those grades in to Harvard as well

What do you mean by “I am actually a published poet”? Are you self- published, or do you have a publisher, or did you submit to a magazine etc?

Is there something more interesting or useful you could do this summer (including a job)?

Thank you guys for the replies! Regarding publishing i submit poems to a website called teen ink, and they publish my poem there depending of course if the like it or not. For this summer, I plan on doing a summer program + a job as well. Also, @prezbucky, what is the average GPA? Thank you all!!

See C11 Data points on Harvard’s Common Data Set: https://oir.harvard.edu/files/huoir/files/harvard_cds_2014-15.pdf

and

http://features.thecrimson.com/2017/freshman-survey/makeup-narrative/

Have u already been accepted by TASP? It is highly prestigious and would be a great boost if u r selected.
Good luck.

@skieurope, are those stats based off of ED or RD ?

Total

Do you guys know of any website or material that could reonvert an UW 4.0 GPA to a W 4.5 GPA? My school’s system is hard to understand.

Thank you for that info @skieurope !!

Pointless exercise. There is no weighting standard amongst US HS, and if a college wants you to convert (which Harvard does not), it will give instructions.

Oh thank you so much for that info!! @skieurope! My GPA, right now in my transcript, is a 4.20. So, was I wrong to conver that back to a 4.0UW? Or will Harvard only see that 4.20, which I think is weighted?

If your school only shows weighted on the transcript, then no, you do not convert to UW. For Harvard at least, you just report the number on your transcript. The readers know how to compare transcripts to other schools, if needed. Additionally, they will look at the entire transcript, not just the GPA

Harvard will see much more than the 4.2; they’ll see your entire transcript, from which they’ll judge your course rigor and understand how well you performed in all your classes.

Oh, thank you so much. So, according to that percentages you gave me @skieeurope, I will be part of that 88%?

No. Those percentages refer to UW GPA.

Oh ok

So that means that I will be part of the 9% of those admitted to that class?