Should I even try? Do I have any chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

Hello everyone!
I was wondering if you could please help me out as I am considering to apply to Harvard as a pre-med student. However, I am an international student (specifically from Bosnia and Herzegovina) and we don’t have a lot of volunteer or work opportunities, and we don’t have any science clubs, hence there are no competitions in Bosnia so I also have no rewards in that field. Although it is really hard to get any volunteer experiences in hospitals or work opportunities (as the unemployment rate is 44.3%), I have managed after many attempts to get some. I am also an IB student and I will take the SAT in November, and SAT Chemistry and Math level 2 in December, but here are my stats so far:

  • 44 predicted grade (Bosnian A HL 7, English B HL 6, Bio HL 7, Chemistry HL 7, Math SL 7, Business and management SL 7, 3 TOK EE)
  • top in class
  • playing piano for 9 years and give tutoring classes in piano in my school for 2 years
  • completed ABRSM piano grade 8 with distinction
  • member of a choir for 3 years
  • playing tennis for 10 years, however I participated only once in Open RTC Barcelona 1899 in 2013 during high school, so no rewards
  • tennis coaching for 3 months
  • school captain at our table tennis club, also have participated in 1 national competition
  • delegate at Model UN once
  • 1 month summer school in Vienna, 2 week summer school in Salzburg where I received B2 German level certificate
  • volunteer experience in DHL
  • 2 and half months volunteer experience in a hospital
  • 1 year work experience in a private company
  • plenty of other volunteer experiences at different charities and projects

I know I’m just well rounded and do not stand out in some particular area, but I would mention in my essays the situation in my country and how hard it is to get these volunteer experiences, so should I even try with Harvard?

2

Go to: http://www.hio.harvard.edu/statistics. From the pull-down menu select STUDENTS, HARVARD COLLEGE (the undergraduate school) and BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA.

There are currently two (2) students from your country enrolled at Harvard who are either freshman, sophomores, juniors or seniors. That means that on average Harvard accepts about one (1) student every other year from your country.

Harvard doesn’t publish how many students from Bosnia & Herzegovina apply each year – I wouldn’t think it would be that many – but Admissions is fully aware of of the situation in your country and has admitted student’s in the past. So, bottom line: No one knows what your chances might be. The only way to find out is to submit an application. Best of luck to you!