Sorry, I know these threads are super annoying but I’m just getting really depressed by seeing people with much better stats than me and want to know if I should even expend the energy.
White male
Born in Australia (hook?)
GPA
U: 3.88
W. 4.06
SAT: 2090 (will retake, was screwed over by the June 6 incident, expect above a 2200)
Yet to take subject tests.
AP Scores: two fives, APLAC and theory
ECs: violin, composition, languages (speak French and Japanese), bunch of other stuff, honor societies etc., awards here and there for various things, nothing extraordinary. I think for composition, a high level conservatory would probably accept me but I’m not sure what bearing that will have on an Ivy decision, if anyone knows anything about that.
Thanks, I’d appreciate anything anyone has to say. Might give me some clarity in this stressful time.
While your GPA is a bit low (in a recent survey of Harvard freshman, the average GPA was 3.9), your current SAT score is definitely too low.
In last year’s admissions cycle, Harvard didn’t accept one Under Represented Minority (URM) with below a 2100 SAT. Yale’s data is similar. If Harvard and Yale are not accepting US students who are URM’s with SAT scores below 2100, it’s improbable they would consider an international student from an English speaking country with those test scores (sorry).
On the other hand, if you can get your scores above 2200+, that’s another story. Ask again when you have actually achieved 2200+.
I appreciate this. I figured that was the case. I intend to raise the SAT score and maybe take the ACT as well. Thanks for your honestly.
Is being Australian any sort of benefit though?
Never know unless you try. As said above, you need to improve your GPA and SAT, but if you apply SCEA to either (do Harvard because Yale SCEA is bogus, IMO) you could stand a fair chance.
Btw, being from Australia isn’t a “hook”, but if you write about a unique experience growing up there it could be
Being born in Australia is not a hook in the least. I assume you’re a U.S. citizen now? Your test scores and GPA as well as “nothing extraordinary” ECs would suggest that admission to either Harvard or Yale is highly unlikely. But you can’t ride the train unless you buy a ticket so give it shot if you have the money to spare to apply.
Harvard (and many other US colleges) limit the number of international students to about 10% to 11% of their incoming class. With an incoming freshman class of about 1660, that means that Harvard recruits about 160 to 190 international students every year – and most of those students are from Canada. However, a good number of students come from Australia.
Currently there are 32 students from Australia at Harvard College (the undergraduate school) who are freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors. That means that Harvard admits about 8 students a year from Australia: http://www.hio.harvard.edu/statistics
I don’t know how many students from Australia apply each year to Harvard for those 8 slots, but I imagine it could be anywhere from 100 to 1,000 students. So Australian students who are interested in Harvard need to be at the top of their game – and so do their SAT scores.
I’m not applying from Australia, though, I’m applying as a domestic US student, but I meant a hook as more of an international identity. Does being trilingual help at all?
Are you actually fluent in French and Japanese or just learned them in school? It’s more accurate to say you’re trilingual if you can hold a conversation with an actual Japanese or French person instead of just taking AP French and/or AP Japanese.
How you learned them, unless from school, could be an interesting talking point, especially if you’re interested in something like International Business. Are you?
Not especially interested in international business per se, but I love international studies and linguistics.
Yes, I am fluent. I learned French in school and self-taught Japanese. I can more than hold a conversation. I am taking AP French next year but that’s just because why not? Not AP Japanese though, school doesn’t offer and there’s no point with AP French.
Do you have US citizenship, dual citizenship or a green card? If so, you would be applying to colleges as a legal US resident, in which case, your chances might be better – however, as I previously stated, your SAT score is currently too low for Harvard.
However, if you DO NOT have US citizenship, dual citizenship or a green card, you would be applying as an Australian citizen (even though you currently attending school in the US) and would be considered an international student for admissions purposes.
I don’t want to major in linguistics alone, maybe minor or double major. In any case, yes I’ve been to both france and japan, I intend to talk about my passion and ties to Japanese culture and language, as it ties into my music and the music I write. Anyway, I only want Harvard for the NEC double degree, although I would totally go to Harvard alone obviously.
Does Harvard value music supplements very heavily? I know they’d see me as a strong addition to their comparatively weaker music department for both violin and composition but I’m not sure of the influence that the music department has on admissions as far as candidates that they want.
I do have legal US status, which I know improves my chances. And I know, I get it. My SAT scores are low. I don’t agree with the concept of the SAT, or the college board, or the execution of it, and as I said all of my indicators said I would get a 2200+, my psat was a 220. In any case, I’m over it and trying again in October and we’ll see what happens. It’s not like I’m only counting on Harvard anyway! It’s just one of those things where you strive for it and pray that the crapshoot that is college admissions works in your favor.
Japanese music, now that’s something different. Do you have a good singing voice? You got a 5 on the APMT test, so I know you can write music. If you could compose a Japanese-esque musical piece complete with lyrics and submit it, it will stand out. I’ve heard good things about the H/NEC program. Tufts offers it as well, if you’re interested.
True story: Four year ago a wonderful tippy-top student I know (96+ GPA, 2250 SAT) at Hunter College High School in New York City (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_College_High_School) applied to Harvard. He also sent in a music supplement, as he had been playing the piano since the age of 5 and had performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Ultimately, he was waitlisted at Harvard and never accepted. However, he was accepted to Juilliard, where he ultimately enrolled and graduated, based upon the same music supplement. So, the student’s music ability was never in question. Therefore, I would say that a music supplement doesn’t matter. If Harvard is interested in a student from an academic standpoint, they will take that student, but a music supplement, no matter how wonderful, will not affect their decision and make them change their mind about a student.
I did this for a capstone last year! How funny! I premiered it at Yale’s Woolsey Hall with my school’s concert choir and symphony orchestra which I am concertmaster of, and I got some killer recordings too so they will have high quality music to listen to. And I’m in the elite singing group at school too.
And gibby, I’m applying to Tufts and Juilliard as well.
