@iambrutus becoming a recruited athlete really increases your chances. It’s one of the best hooks out there. If you do track, it’s easy to see where you stand on being a recruited athlete. Look up the times for the track teams of colleges you want to be recruited to. If you can get close to those times, you’re recruited athlete level.
Merlion, you said that I have a lot of free time after classes so I will give anyone a broad overview of my schedule if that helps
8-1:45 Classes
1:45-2:30 Work in the school library (homework/independent research)
2:30-4:30 Generally Track Practice
4:30-6 Some more IR
The rest is usually unfinished HW/studying. This is what I generally do when I do not have Track Practice;
8-1:45 Classes
1:45-2:30 Library
2:30-4 A SERP (research program) meeting once a week OR IR
Do you think I should take on a heavier load?
Technically a 93% is a 4.0 GPA?
^ That is not my weighted average
No, a 93 is roughly 3.7.
If I were you, I wouldn’t mention this again. They probably have kids of their own and unless they earmarked the $10 million donation in your name, it can’t do double duty.
I think you should take on a heavier load if you can handle it. From the schedule you posted, your evenings seem pretty free (your classes at school also seem to end pretty early).
If anyone is “basically guaranteed” admission to an ivy league school, they’re no doubt one of only a handful of people and we’ve probably all read about them in the newspapers. You’re competitive, but please don’t let any one school turn into your “dream” college or allow yourself to believe anything gives you a lock on a particular school. Work hard, enjoy your high school years, and when the time comes apply to a range of colleges that you believe would be a good fit for you. Good luck.
One thing I’m not sensing in any of your posts is even the slightest hint of humility. Quite frankly, your attitude is quite off-putting. Someone should sit you down and teach you to not be so full of yourself. This attitude you have will not serve you well when applying to colleges or in life.
“Assume perfect SAT”
“Assume Intel semifinalist”
“Should I become a recruited athlete?”
“Assume Intel Semifinalist”
Thats funny. I was not selected as a Siemens semifinalist, but made Intel STS as a semifinalist. My friend, who is a Siemens Regional Finalist, did not even receive a “Research Report Badge” for Intel STS. Like applying to Harvard, unless you have done something truly exceptional(Like cure cancer or something like that), you have no guarantee that you will be selected.
@JustOneDad sure thing, I only mentioned it once to see if it helped at all…I will not say that again I guess.
I am receiving a lot of negative comments on my stats… I guess just assume that they are hypothetical and anonymous. I actually meant to put in try to be a recruited athlete so sorry about that. When I say assume, perhaps writing “assuming” would be a better choice of words. As for the “humility” you describe, you can’t really make that much out of a few posts without actually knowing who I am. As for the attitude that you describe mnm, I guess that we can all learn a little bit about life from things like misconceptions. I don’t want to turn this into a full blown debate, so let’s try to practice a little respect here mnm. That being said, all of you have given great advice when taken in the right light.
Again, I just want to reiterate that you should assume that these stats are anonymous, thanks.
@mnm11 I never said “Should I become a recruited athlete”, what I specifically asked was does becoming one increase my chances…
:-? I guess that this forum is dead?
No, you’re just being arrogant and asking ridiculous questions. Do you even have any reason why you want to go to Harvard over any other college in America? Truthfully, you seem like most of the other kids on this forum who have a pretty massive ego and just want to say that they can go to what many consider the “best” university in America. I think that this is exactly what college admissions try not to encourage – listlessly “achieving” and doing things for the sake of trying to seem unique and talented.
Even some of the other posters in this thread are counterproductive to actually trying to learn and become a better person through education. I feel like so many people here just go on an endless pursuit of high test scores, extracurricular activities, awards, etc. just so that they can list it.
Why not just do what you actually enjoy doing, and go to a college that you feel fits your personality and that appreciates your qualities? You’re a freshman in high school. You have no idea what kind of person you’ll be in three months, let alone three years. You think that you may want to study something in the STEM field and find out that you have a great love for something completely unrelated. I don’t understand why people do these things to make themselves appear “better” to colleges, when they actually hate whatever it is that they’re doing.
Slow down and focus on enjoying whatever experiences you have for the next two years. Try to become really good in whatever it is that you love or at least think that you love. Do things to better yourself and, most importantly, because you enjoy them. If you’ve spent three years in high school doing things that you really enjoyed, became pretty knowledgeable in those fields, have stats that are in the middle 50% for a college, and end up getting rejected, is it really the right college for you?
I wish you the best, but I hope that you slow down and take a second to appreciate everything that you’re doing. Wishing away your life is really a terrible idea – you end up feeling empty about everything that you’ve done when you get to the “finish line” and realize that everything you did was pretty futile. Good luck.
If you could raise your scores to 2100+ and polish your 3.9 W GPA, your chances will increase significantly. You also have to work on your class rank.
if you are indian, I do not think that you represent a minority. I mean how can 1 billion people be a minority?
Hope you can improve in the next few years 
Thx for not writing anything negative. The 1950 wasn’t as a junior so I think that I am in good shape.
@micmatt513 Let me tell you something; I LOVE DOING WHAT I DO AND I WILL KEEP DOING IT. True, listing may or may not be a good side benefit, but I absolutely love mathematics and approaching it from all angles. I signed up for these things because they bolster my intrinstic love of what I liked doing as a young child, not the other way around. Thanks for your advice, I found it very helpful.
And by the way, my highest grade is AP World History, my class rank in that AP Course is one of the top 15-20 students. And my second highest grade is English. For anyone that lives in NYC, I got a 98% in the US History regents, an 11th grade course that I took in 8th grade. I am not saying this to be “arrogant” it to brag, I am just saying this to show that I am good at things besides STEM areas.