Should I even consider Harvard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

My case is kind of interesting. I do really well in school, and outside of school, but I don’t test very well. For example, to name a few:

  • Eagle Scout
  • Class President
  • ASB Vice President
  • ASB President
  • Intern at Congresswoman's office
  • Work at City Hall
  • Work at SF HQ of the FBI
  • 500+ Hours of community service through working with Sheriff's department
  • School School Site Council President
  • President of 3 clubs and Founder of 2
  • American Legion “Boy’s State” Congressional Delegate
  • Rotary Leadership Council Alumni with honors in Community Outreach
  • HOBY World Leadership Alumni & Counselor
  • National Student Leadership Conference: Business Administration
  • 13 AP Classes (All available-all passed)
  • Department awards in every subject
  • Varisty golf, varsity basketball
  • Speak 3 languages
  • Middle Eastern

I take PolySci classes at my local JC every summer, and volunteer with the Sheriff’s department. Obviously, I plan on majoring in Political Science. I have good letters of rec, a great counselor’s report, I interview really well, and will have some great essays.

My unweighted GPA is 4.0 (never received a B in HS) and for my Junior Year, I am pulling a 4.7 weighted. However, I got a 1980 SAT score and a 31 ACT score.

I worry that while I strive for these great Ivy league/Private schools, my SAT/ACT score will basically disqualify me. Should I be spending time working towards these goals, or stick to some schools more realistic to my test scores?

Any advice you have is much appreciated. Many Thanks!

2

Will your SAT/ACT scores automatically disqualify you? No. Are your chances better than the 94% of applicant that get rejected? Hard to say, your call.

3

Your scores make HYPMS a huge reach. Think more along the line of some excellent schools like Boston University/Boston College

4

See Harvard’s Common Data Set: http://oir.harvard.edu/files/huoir/files/harvard_cds_2014-15.pdf?m=1457640342, C9 data points.

Your ACT and SAT are both below Harvard’s 25th percentile, meaning that 75% of admitted students have higher scores than you. As @tdy123 suggested, your test scores make HYPSM a huge reach. To be admitted, you’d have to have something extra ordinary going on, such as being a recruited athlete, concert quality musician, Intel Science winner, etc.

5

If you are a junior, why don’t you study really hard and take the SAT or ACT again?

6

Yes, definitely take them again. They do tend to go up.
Also, many selective schools are now test optional (though for merit aid they may need scores). Look carefully at this list. http://fairtest.org/university/optional

Under B’s alone: Bard, Bowdoin, Bates, Bard, Bryn Mawr, Bennington, Brandies, and more…

7

Your ACT score is better than SAT… take that again and try to get it up to a 33.

8

I took my ACT three times and my score increased every time I took it. I definitely think you should try it again. Otherwise, I think you are doing pretty good.