Should I SCEA to Harvard?

Harvard is my top school after a lot of thinking, and I feel like I should go for it. Obviously, my stats aren’t that impressive for Harvard, but they’re in the range. Should I take advantage of SCEA and shoot for Harvard? I already am applying EA to a couple of my targets and safeties, so I figured why not try. Anyway, I’d love some feedback. Thanks!

Race: White

Major: Physics

GPA: 3.91 UW/4.29W/4.57W under the UC scale. For some reason, my school doesn’t care about honors classes, so my weighted GPA seems little low-ish as 4.29, but under the UC GPA scale, it’s 4.57 weighted.

ACT: 34 composite (36S, 33R, 33M, 34E)

SAT: 1480 (Math: 750, English/Reading: 730). I’ll be using my ACT score instead because it’s better, so I guess this doesn’t matter too much.

SAT Subject Tests: I will be taking Lit, Math 2, and Chemistry this October, so TBD for now.

Class Rank: 17/603. This is Top 3% at a fairly competitive school.

AP Tests:
AP Human: 5
AP World: 4
AP Calc AB: 4
AP Calc BC: 3
AP Psychology: 4
AP Chem: 3
AP Lang: 5
AP US History: 4

Senior Schedule: AP Lit, AP Statistics, AP Gov, AP Physics 1, and AP Macroeconomics

Extracurriculars:

  • President and Founder of Political Discourse Club (12th)
  • DECA member and state competitor (9th-12th)
  • BETA member (11th and 12th)
  • NHS member (12th)
  • National English Honors Society President (pending right now due to boring and complicated reasons)
  • Interned at a business (don’t want to disclose name) for two summers between my 9th and 10th and 10th and 11th grade summers. I worked for about 120 hours total and worked mainly on electrical installation and wiring and general house stuff. Basically, I helped build houses and did the least liability work.
  • Tutoring and Mentorship (10th-12th) for two kids I know. Mainly helped them with Algebra, Geometry, and Pre-Calc but also science like Biology and Chemistry. I’ve sunk at least 150 hours in with them over the past 2 1/2 years, and I didn’t get paid as they are neighbors/family friends. Idk if this counts as volunteering or not, probably not, but I’m putting it on my app anyway because I spent too much time not to.
  • Youth Group Leader for VBS at my church (9th and 10th)
  • Mock Trial Competitor (12th)
  • Track and Field (10th and 12th due to injury 11th-grade year) I am pretty trash not gonna lie, but I did letter and compete in a few meets.
  • One of my short stories got published in a local literary magazine (11th). Idk if that counts, though.
  • Work at Publix about 20-25 hours a week (12th).

If you have 3.8+ and 33+, then you’re past the grade threshold and you’re “academically qualified.” If you’re qualified, that means you have a chance at any school. But it also means that your grades don’t count and other parts of your application will begin to have more power. So you’re qualified for Harvard SCEA, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get in.
If Harvard’s your top choice, then SCEA. But now that if you don’t have a legacy, aren’t a recruited athlete, or have some amazing hook, then SCEA will defer you as SCEA is just for Harvard to get its hooked people in first.
Also, if you SCEA for Harvard, you can’t EA to other private schools. So if I were you, I would just apply Harvard RD, as there is no benefit in applying SCEA if you don’t have a hook, and do EA non-binding to other schools, like MIT, Caltech (because you want to major in Physics), UChicago, etc.

Though Harvard doesn’t admit by major your strength (or lack thereof) in physics/math would put you at a disadvantage among SCEA applicants. I know a few last years SCEA admits were on national physics team while also in USAMO. I doubt you would find SCEA admit pursuing physics or math had AP Calc BC 3, ACT 33M and SAT Math 750 etc. Of course, you can always count on a great essay and if you have no other dream schools you can try your luck at Harvard, but the odds are long. Good luck.

You should be aware that Harvard’s Early Action program is restricted. You cannot also apply to another private college’s early action or early decision program. https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/application-timeline/restrictive-early-action

Yeah, I’m a way better writer than I am a physicist or anything to do with mathematics. Math has always been the area where I’ve struggled with the most, but that’s why I love it so much. As you could tell, my math scores aren’t that stellar comparatively. I wouldn’t say I’m bad at math, however, I have to try harder to do well compared to writing or English-related subjects. I still believe I want to go into a Physics field, however, I’ve also considered Psychology (basic, I know). Would there be any difference if I listed Psychology as my intended major rather than Physics?

Also, I’ve considered EDing to UChicago. Do you think that would be a better route to go as opposed to SCEA to Harvard?

Yes, I understand that it’s restrictive. I’d only apply to my top public schools if I did SCEA to Harvard - no other privates.

If you have Harvard as your top choice go ahead and SCEA, if deferred then I would go with UChicago ED2, but you won’t be outright rejected out of the SCEA round since your academically qualified to attend.

My opinion.

The most important factors are

  1. Are you academically qualified to go (depends on school (3.8+/32+ for most top schools, but the higher the GPA/scores the better)
  2. Are you hooked (athlete/legacy/URM/FG in that order, multiples would be super hooked)
  3. If not 2 then do you have anything that sets you apart (National competition placed/won, unique abilities/EC). If you don’t have 2 or 3 than forget about SCEA/REA at HYPS, give yourself the best shot by EDing somewhere.

I do know one person who didn’t have 2 or 3 above but made it in. She was deferred SCEA, admitted RD. Stats 35/4.0UW/4.5W/state champion in her sport although not a recruited athlete, plus numerous other ECs. You can see that just with this sample size of one how difficult it is to get in on the SCEA round