URM's Chances Please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I'll cut to the chase...Do I stand a chance?</p>

<p>GRADES/NUMBERS:
GPA: 3.75+ unweighted, (the killer), 4.6+ weighted
Class Rank: School does not rank
ACT: 34 (36M 35E 33R 32S 9W) one sitting
SAT II: MathII: 800, Chemistry: 760, Physics: 770 </p>

<h2>SAT I: 2180 one sitting only</h2>

<p>COURSELOAD:</p>

<p>*Most difficult course load in the school.</p>

<p>*APs: Calculus BC, Chemistry, US Government & Politics, Statistics, Microecon, Macroecon, Physics C Mechanics, Psychology- all 5s (4 sophomore year, 4 junior year)</p>

<h2>*All IBs senior year (Full IB diploma student)</h2>

<p>CLASSES -
*calculus 3, differential equations, and linear algebra at my local community college and got A’s in all of them. (10th)</p>

<p>*Organic Chemistry 1 (15 credits lab/discussion/lecture) at community college and got a B (11th)</p>

<p>*Taking a class at NIH grad school on Clinical Pharmacology (12th)</p>

<h2>*Real Analysis and Number Theory with Stanford EPGY (12th)</h2>

<p>ECs (ones that I listed)-</p>

<p>Youth Group–(9-12: organized a bunch of charity events)
Cricket Club- Founder, Captain (9-12)
Young Republicans (9,10 member) (11, 12 co president)
Student Government Parliamentarian (12th: successfully lobbied for a bunch of reforms to the discipline code)
Martial Arts– (10 years: instructor)</p>

<h2>Tabla (Indian percussion) (7 years: instructor + Bunch of Regional awards)</h2>

<p>AWARDS (not too many):
*AP National Scholar (11th grade)
*Prospective IB Diploma?
*Maryland Distinguished Scholar Honorable Mention
*National Merit Commended</p>

<h2>*Few regional awards/school awards/ science fair stuff</h2>

<p>OTHER:</p>

<p>*Summer Job at a paper collating factory (Colorworks Promotion Inc.) to fund extra classes (10th).</p>

<p>*Research with National Cancer Institute this summer (250 hours) (11th grade summer)</p>

<p>*Started a countywide student-run magazine (editor, manager, etc.)</p>

<h2>*Independent research at UMD, with the possibility of publication early next year (too late for colleges though).</h2>

<p>SUBJECTIVES: Great essays and recommendations.
RACE: Asian Indian and Black (Reporting both)
SCHOOL: Prestigious. Sends a bunch of kids to ivies. 4 kids already got in early.</p>

<p>Will my 3.75 keep me out?</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

2

<p>you have a chance</p>

3

<p>Why do you feel the need to post "URM" in the thread header? If you want to be treated like an equal, act like an equal.</p>

4

<p>You're in .</p>

5

<p>"You're in," is an awfully dangerous statement to make... the OP definitely has a valid chance (maybe even a much better than average chance) but no one's a lock for admission...</p>

6

<p>You're qualified for the Harvard admissions lottery.</p>

7

<p>You have a valid chance.</p>

8

<p>I think a pretty good chance =) Your research and college-level classes look great. Why the low(er) grades though?</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
Why do you feel the need to post "URM" in the thread header?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Because I want everyone to be clear on exactly what they are clicking into when they enter this thread. I hate it when the headers are vague, and don't convey exactly what is going on. And what is this business of acting equal about?</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you want to be treated like an equal, act like an equal.

[/quote]
This bears the assumption that I am acting below equal, and need to chase my equality. Nothing in my original post or the header suggested any idea of me thinking I am inferior. I merely stated the fact that I am a member of an under represented minority, and I am.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Why the low(er) grades though?

[/quote]

My gpa took a hit first semester sophomore year because I was not used to AP rigor, and I decided to take 4 APs that year. There were no Cs, just a few Bs. My grades picked up second semester as I learned to deal with the rigor.</p>

<p>Thanks to all for the comments.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
Why do you feel the need to post "URM" in the thread header? If you want to be treated like an equal, act like an equal.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That sounds offensive. Why post in a thread if you have nothing better to contribute?</p>

11

<p>Asian Indian and Black?
Is that really URM?
The Asian Indian part neutralizes the advantage you get from being half-black, imo.</p>

12

<p>What if I did not report my URM status?</p>

13

<p>how does it neutralize? I don't understand... if colleges are looking for diversity, they are looking for more hispanics and blacks, and he is hispanic. Infact, he represents diversity within himself.</p>

14

<p>Well, I am black, but I am also opposed to AA in principle. </p>

<p>I am actually writing an essay about this. I was really influenced by Foucault, who wrote that race is a construct, defined in its modern sense by the discourse surrounding it. I believe race is (as Haile Selassie put it) "of no more significance than the color of [my] eyes". Race is not a definition and will not be the force guiding my achievements. This is why I abstained from the National Achievement competition and have never joined any organization that tries to put race out of proportion. Such endeavors put race out of its rightful place and context.</p>

15

<p>Just put that your race is black... If someone question it say that most people you have met think you are an African American. BTW being from URM increases his/her chance so it is a valid reason to specify on the heading</p>

16

<p>haha great one, taebubu.</p>

17

<p>Harvardite
[quote]
This bears the assumption that I am acting below equal, and need to chase my equality. Nothing in my original post or the header suggested any idea of me thinking I am inferior. I merely stated the fact that I am a member of an under represented minority, and I am.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Actually, I find your understanding of what I meant wholly backward. I think that everyone would agree that the ultimate purpose of AA is to eventually remove racial barriers caused by unequal youth environments and social mindsets. However, by emphasizing (put it in the title) that you are a URM and somehow inherently different from most other applicants in the pool, you are implying that by race alone, you are special. Therefore, you are working opposite the intentions of what AA, which is to make you equal like everyone else.</p>

<p>I find your argument and defensive interpretation quite vain. While you may oppose AA in words, to me it seems you want to be seen traveling the moral high ground while simultaneously exploiting your advantages.</p>

<p>There, I said it. Criticize me if you like, but I think it very true unless of course you just say you are white or asian.</p>

18

<p>Harvardite:
Whether or not you're seeking/exploiting affirmative action, I think you're fully qualified. Go ahead and put down that you're Black and Indian, though... if anything, omitting it to make a "point" about your race might appear tiresome to the adcom, which will probably not want to defend its diversity policy. IMHO, in this case less fuss is better.</p>

19

<p>I actually think that you have a really good chance given your SAT IIs and you ACT composite score of 34, which is exceptional (99th percentile). Are you from the Caribbean? I ask, because there are many Caribbean people who are of mixed Black and Asian ancestry, especially from Trinidad, Guyana, and Jamaica.</p>

20

<p>"Well, I am black, but I am also opposed to AA in principle. ...This is why I abstained from the National Achievement competition and have never joined any organization that tries to put race out of proportion. Such endeavors put race out of its rightful place and context."</p>

<p>But, based on your putting "URM" in your subject header here, I assume that you indicated your race on your Harvard app. If you didn't indicate your race on your app, there'd be no reason to indicate it here. Since you're opposed to AA, then why'd you let Harvard know about your race?</p>