Too much of a reach?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hey Guys, I'm a current Junior and was just wondering my chances at Harvard given my stats. I understand that my application is nothing spectacular but I would like to get somewhat of an idea of where I stand.</p>

<p>Pakistani/White Descent.</p>

<p>GPA:4.0 all 3 years and plan to maintain this in my Senior year.
Class Rank: #1. Medium Sized Private School.
I take the hardest classload my school offers
All Honors Classes in Grades 9 and 10
Grade 11: 3 AP's (US History, Chemistry, and Language and Comp.) and expecting 4-5 on all. All other courses were Honors.
Grade 12: 4 AP's (Lit, Bio, Physics, Calc) and other Honors Classes.</p>

<p>SAT I: 1400 or 2200 (740 M 660 CR 800 W)
SAT II: 770 Chem, 750 US History, 690 Math I (studying this summer for Math II and will retake math I as well)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:</p>

<p>National Honors Society-Member Junior Year, President Senior Year
National English Honors Society- President and Founder of School's Chapter
Varsity Soccer 9th grade, switched schools, and Team Manager 10th grade.
Varsity Cross Country 11th and 12th.
Varsity Track 11th and 12th.
Prospective captain for Cross Country Team.
Published in National Anthology of Short Stories for Young Americans
Play Piano and Guitar (13 and 6 years respectively)
Won two state wide Piano Competitions.
Organized Benefit Concert at School for Senior Mission Trip.
Teach Piano and Guitar Lessons as a source of Income to many students.
Organize regular Blood Drives at Church with Am. Red Cross
Organize Holiday Charity Book Drives with Barnes and Noble for needy children in the Atlanta Area.
Attending 2 camps this summer for a piano masterclass and running.
Founded Musical Education Club at school.
Tutor for AP Chemistry (paid)
Volunteer at Public Library
University of Georgia Academic Merit Award
Play guitar at weekly church services
I plan to compete in more piano competitions in my upcoming Senior year, and will try to put on another charity concert.</p>

<p>I will have great teacher recommendations and feel confident about how I will perform in my interview. My essay should be strong as well.</p>

<p>Thanks for looking at this. I am undecided about my major right now but would just like an idea of where I stand in the admissions process.</p>

2

<p>You’ll be a competitive applicant at many schools – Harvard will be a reach though. Your CR score on your SAT I will hurt you. Beyond that though, you have a shot – write some good essays, get good recs, and do well if you get an interview. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>If you got 800 W, you should be able to practice and bring up your CR score.</p>

4

<p>sweet, thanks. yeah I took AP Lang and Comp too and think I did good on it, so I think I just had a bad day when I took the SAT.</p>

5

<p>you are doing fine so far, very good shot. just that CR score will be a red flag</p>

6

<p>The whole thing about the CR score is bull. I know a regular non-URM non-God applicant with a 630 CR score that got into Harvard and other top schools.</p>

7

<p>gadad, I don’t think it works that way. I got an 800 on writing and 710 on critical reading. They’re two completely different skills, or at least that’s how it works for me. Although the second time I took the SAT’s I practiced just CR, and got a 750. You just have to figure out a way to analyze and absorb more of what you read in the passages in a short amount of time, and as far as the writing section goes, it’s a completely different set of skills.</p>

8

<p>“The whole thing about the CR score is bull. I know a regular non-URM non-God applicant with a 630 CR score that got into Harvard and other top schools.”</p>

<p>wow that’s reassuring then! Nevertheless, I’m still going to try and up the score. Don’t wanna take my chances haha</p>

9

<p>*bump…btw I got 5’s on AP Chem and US History and a 4 on Lang</p>

10

<p>how are you pakistani of white descent</p>

11

<p>dad’s pakistani and mom’s white</p>

12

<p>I’d give you a 30% shot. </p>

<p>NHS and NEHS are pretty useless as extracurriculars, and there’s nothing else in your ECs besides piano that just JUMPS OUT as impressive.</p>

<p>Retake the SAT and try to get above 700 CR. It’ll help your chances significantly.</p>

13

<p>Honestly… No one on here is an admissions officer so…</p>

14

<p>Just apply and see. No use asking other people.</p>

15

<p>Very true.I have friends who go to Harvard and every single last one of them till this day says “I have no idea how I ended up here”
and none of them are class valedictorians… or chess team captains or member of the national honors society. Just regular… everyday students who had nothing to lose so they applied</p>

16

<p>trico, have your friends at harvard ever discussed their essays? I’m sure they that though they are “everyday students” they must be eloquent and creative people as well. I was just curious if you know what they wrote about or if that had any passions in particular?</p>

17

<p>They have done more than discuss their essays… I’ve actually read them myself and to my surprise… their were even MISPELLED words in their essays.</p>

<p>People have some idea that they need to fit into some kind of box… or a certain student profile and this is not the case. </p>

<p>None of my friends whom I speak of are wealthy… they have no talent (with the exception of one who likes to dance) but one thing they all had in common is that … they applied ! that is it. There is no MAGICAL key to admission… their is no such thing as
“chancing”
or
“tell me if it’s a reach”</p>

<p>Just do the best you can, be yourself… and apply. You’ve got nothing to lose.
I have not though, seen their SAT scores… but they ALL tell me that “they sucked”
so I mean… I don’t know.
I know that you at least want to get a 600 on all of your subjects. When your profile looks TOO MUCH like everyone elses… then nothing makes you stand out. Please believe.</p>

18

<p>just an update! I got a 780 on math II and won third in a statewide piano competition.</p>