<p>Going to Harvard has always been my dream since I was in like second grade. I worked so hard to achieve it, but something unexpected happened. All was going well in freshmen and sophomore year, I had set the highest GPA in school history sophomore year and always had a 4.0. I was head design lead of a world championship robotics team, I was a fast-food employee who worked 30 hours a week to help my parents pay for my brother's college, and I helped build 50 or so turbines in India to help filter water for the needy. Anyways, what happened was that in junior year, my parents started to fight. A lot. My dad was abusive his whole life, but this started to affect me a lot junior year because he started to affect my studies. Anyways, he eventually kicked me out of the house in January. I was homeless until a few weeks ago, when my mom left my dad and found me. I was living in the fast-food store I worked at, which was an HOUR away from school. I had no idea how to get to school in the first place. I had to wake up at 5 AM and take multiple buses and trains just to get there. Often times, I would be late and this really messed up my grades. I ended up with a 3.5 UW GPA, and a 4.5 Weighted Average for that semester in high school. Not to mention, I also developed a serious stress ulcer ( I was coughing up blood) that whole time for a few months. I couldn't do anything to stop it; I had to keep working because my dad lost his job and if i didn;t send money, my brother couldn't continue going to college. My question is, should I even apply? I am not feeling good about what happened junior year, and I would really like to go to Harvard, but I am content with other great schools like Dartmouth. DO you think I have a shot at Harvard? (My test scores are well above their average, in case anyone was going to ask).</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your circumstances. Sure you should apply. I’m assuming that your guidance counselor and teachers will be writing about your family situation in your Secondary School Report (SSR) and recommendation letters and will make comments about how you have overcome the adversity in your life.</p>
<p>There is nothing that in itself will get you into Harvard – not even being homeless. What WILL make the difference is the story you choose to tell in your essays and what your teachers and GC say about you. Beyond that, no one can tell you how much of a chance you have, or make any suggestions, as we don’t know you. The best person to ask for suggestions is your guidance counselor and recommendation writers. You need to develop a close personal relationship with them, as their story about you is just as important as the story you tell.</p>
<p>I agree with Gibby. Tell your story, and keep your grades up. Overcoming adversity is a reflection of significant character. Thank goodness that matters!
Best Wishes!</p>
<p>There are many great schools out there, and Harvard, and Dartmouth, are two of them. But it really would help if you could look at other schools too and not get too fixed on one or two. </p>
<p>Why has Harvard always been your dream?Do you or your family know much about colleges available to you? Check out Loren Pope’s books: “Colleges that Change Lives” and “Looking Beyond the Ivies.” The former also has a website. If prestige is what attracts you, there are many other universities- and liberal arts colleges- that give that. But more importantly there are many colleges where you can get a wonderful education, meet great people, and thrive. Don’t stress about a few Ivies.</p>
<p>Harvard admissions is holistic. They want to assemble a good mix of students to be on campus, so it is hard to predict for an individual. Scores and grades aren’t the whole story by a long shot, they just put you in the pool. It is also about what you can contribute to the school and to others. By all means apply. You have a mixed story in which you are homeless and living in a fast-food store(which might indicate poverty) but your parent has property abroad which can pay for schooling. Make sure you portray yourself honestly.</p>
<p>You have a remarkable story. I’m sorry you had to go through that. </p>
<p>I always say, have a dream life not a dream school, meaning that there are a number of schools that can help you fulfill the dream life. Don’t fall in love with one. </p>
<p>I assume that you need financial aid and it’s very difficult to get unless you get into the small number of schools that offer aid to internationals. Nonetheless, you should definitely apply to those that offer good aid to internationals. </p>
<p>If you read the other thread, it seems this student will not need financial aid due to property owned by his parent, abroad. Homelessness does not always equal poverty.</p>