South African attempting to go to Harvard

Student Lounge International Students
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Please excuse any typos contained in this post. I’m not posting from a computer.

I’m a black South African currently attending one of the most rigorous schools in the country where I have a full scholarship. I used to go to an under-achieving public school where I got an 89% average while the class average was 50%.

My current average is 91% and this puts me in the top 10% of my class, and in the top 0.0005% of all South Africans. My projected final result is 94-95%. I take the most rigorous course available (8 subjects) and note that my highest subject is English: 96%. School has sent quite a few people to the Ivy League as we take International equivalence exams.

In terms of extracurriculars (the US seems to place more emphasis on this than our universities; a much fairer system I believe!):

I’m a National Debating Champion
Achieved a 90% in the National Schools Moot Court
Colours for debating

Lead singer in schools musical. I went on tour to Joburg
Performed at the Barnyard theatre (nationally acclaimed)
Music colours

I’ve been interviewed by national radio on the importance of heritage and on involving youth in politics
I’ve engaged with various national ministers on how we can transform the South African identity 20 years after Apartheid
Spoke at the National Seminar on a journalist I shall not mention (for anonymity).
I was supposed to meet the president to submit a proposal and he also was interested to meet me after my discussion with a minister but that’s been postponed.
Offered to join the ruling party after Matric, but I’ve declined as I want to further my education.

I’ve founded my own community service non-profit group which offers free tuition and other things in my township community (equivalent to ghetto?)
Raised money for many initiatives as well
Founded the mentorship programme at school to help at-risk students
Hold political debates in community

I’m currently a school prefect (Executive)
Head of outreach
Member of the Students Rep Council for years

Achieved Gold in the National English Olympiad
Silver in the National Eskom Science Expo

I haven’t taken the SAT (Scheduled to take SAT 1 in June and SAT2 in October). I don’t have time to study, however, and I seem to score at most 1800 in the practice tests. I’ve been working to get money for the SATs and I also have to look after my baby sister on weekends.
I also can’t at noon because I arrive home at 19:00 everyday. I’m also very bad at Standardised tests.

I want to basically know if applying to Harvard is worth it assuming I don’t get an SAT higher than 1800?
Any advice for me as I will apply to Harvard EA and probably Yale, Stanford, and Princeton? [PS: my safeties are in my home country]

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Meant: to submit a proposal

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You sounded perfect until you got to the sat. If you can get that up above 2050 your chances will be much better. The sat is how they can compare you to all other applicants and any lower than 2000 for an urm will be tough

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We really can’t give you advice until you’ve taken the SAT’s. However, the international admissions rate for these schools is about 50% of the overall rate, so about 2-3%. With that type of rate, you would really need to present yourself as the best candidate from your country, which you would not be with 1800 SAT’s. Your GPA and activities are really strong, so strive for a higher SAT score.

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Thank you so much guys I appreciate your feedback

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My apologies for reviving this thread but it made more sense since this is like an update.

I have my SAT score: 1800 (Exactly as I’d expected) I’m going to take the subject tests and I’m aiming for 750+ on both. I’m almost at finals so rewriting SATs is impossible.

Since I last posted I have achieved a number of things, as listed below:

-Speaker at a national gala celebration
-Selected by the President of the Republic to do some important work nationally involving youth and education
-All-Africa Winner of an international competition. Essay on African politics
-Will be going to Europe for finals of said competition to compete in debate and speech for title world champ
-Will be getting SA national colours, hopefully, soon for national representation
-Written an International Equivalence exam and placed first in the country for Creative writing in an African language
-Published article in a well received country wide online newspaper

I’m still maintaining a perfect A average while taking a rigorous course and a reminder that my school and a sister school of ours have sent people to Ivy Leagues before.

@dvgbhs @skieurope

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Sadly, as an international applicant, your chances for admission to any top US university are about half of the overall acceptance rate. For a school like Harvard, that means the chances of a well-qualified international applicant are about 2-3%. With an SAT of 1800, your chances are very close to 0%.

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@skieurope Ahh this makes me very upset. Oh well

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Upset, yes, but true - your SAT scores are well below the range of accepted students at the Ivies, and especially as an international student.

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Actually, Harvard is very understanding for Black Africans who come from lower-income background, especially Black South Africans who come from a Township, when it comes to standardized test scores. They will factor your Subject tests more into the equation, all other things being equal - I would suggest taking a variety of subjects and not just “the usual” that many internationals take, ie.? Math 2 + 2 sciences - show you can do well in Literature, a Foreign Language, History… as well as in a math or science. Can you prepare and take 3 subject tests on the same day, and secure a 750+? (750 to 800 means the same thing for admission purpose).
A LOT will ride on your essay though.

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@MYOS1634 Thank you for your reply. You see that’s why I was confused. I see people who get in with lower scores but then here on CC the general consensus seems to be that I’m doomed. I agree on the subject tests! I read some wherever that Subject tests are very important.

And yes I can get 750 on three tests. I would love to get in EA because it would mean I don’t sign into any scholarship deal here that is binding so I have to take the subject tests in October. I have to take Maths though because I got 550 on the SAT Maths (640 W, 610 CR) to achieve my 1800.

I can take World History and, with time and prep, I could kill US History.

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*where

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My apologies for reviving this somewhat old thread but this is the last update.

I’ve come to report that I’ve been admitted under the Early Action programme. I tell you guys this because had it not been for someone like @MYOS1634 who encouraged me to apply, I would never have due to the negativity I received here.

I feel that there is a deep misunderstanding on this forum about the importance of SATs and the assumption that somehow some people will have a near 0% chance of getting in. After finding out that Harvard had really liked my application, I think this is not true.

If you feel that you are exceptional and are passionate (whatever that means to you, dear future Harvard applicant) please don’t think you stand no chance. Harvard is looking for people who are exceptional, and when they find them, one “bad” part of their application will not get in the way of acceptance.

Harvard is looking for world-class leaders who exhibit an x-factor that sometimes test scores fail to show.

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Congrats @ZAPrez! I think that sometimes the focus on the SATs misses the larger point: Harvard et al are looking for top students with drive and ambition. By your post you are a top student in your country. Your ECs are consistent, have depth and are demonstrably national level. There is legitimate reason to think that you have what it takes to be leader in your country- and Harvard loves that. Too many students see Harvard as a destination, it seems you see it as a part of a larger journey- and you will find lots of fellow travelers at Harvard. Congratulations, and have a great four years :slight_smile:

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@collegemom3717 Thank you so much for your support and for getting where I come from. What you have said is exactly the same thing the director of international admissions told my Education USA advisor when they chatted about me! Thanks again, looking forward to four years of harvard!!

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Congratulations. Harvard will blow you away – in a good way! As a friend who studied there years ago told me, “Harvard opens doors I didn’t know existed.” It has unbelievable resources for those who seek them out.

Make as many friends as you can. Get to know your professors. Look for ways to use your particular passion and skills to make an impact on campus. Oh, and also: enjoy yourself. University should be about learning and growing, but also about having fun.

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CONGRATULATIONS!!

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Congratulations! I wish the best for you! I am in the same situation where I am applying to a top college, but I have low test scores. I will know next week if I got in or not. If I may ask, what do you plan on majoring in?

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@katliamom thank you so much! I look forward to taking in the Harvard experience as much as I can. And boy am I looking forward to it. But I get to be on break till August thanks to the South African calendar and getting in EA!

@AcceptableName I think Government and African studies

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@ZAPrez , just found this thread now, and I have the echo what the others say. Congratulations man, you have a very inspiring profile and I’m sure you deserved that spot just as much as the next fellow. Every time I come across an international student with a captivating story and so-so standardized testing scores, I’ll direct them to this very post.
Enjoy Harvard, do your best and have fun! You’ve earned it. :slight_smile: