What are my chances of getting into Harvard? (Brownie points if you give more tips!)

Like everyone, you have a 5% chance of getting in to Harvard. That’s the reality.

So, apply! but also look at other schools. every single student in the world- yes, including Malala Yousefa!- needs to apply to more than one college, b/c nobody can take a Harvard acceptance for granted. So, put Harvard in your ‘will apply’ column.

Then go look for colleges that you can afford, that do well on med school acceptances*, and where your stats put you in the top 25% of admitted students and whose acceptance rate is >25%. Then look for some that you can afford and your stats put you in the middle 50% and whose acceptance rate is >25%. Then look for some where your stats put you in the middle 50% and whose acceptance rate is 10-25%. THEN look at colleges that are under 10% admissions rate. That way you will have a realistic range of colleges that you like, that you can afford, and at least some of which you will get into. I promise you, ALL of them will have a core of students like you- who are “intelligent AND talented” as you put it- who want to learn and achieve. The “Ivy League” was created as a sports league by a group of old colleges. The students at any of the top 50 (arguably top 100) colleges are comparably smart and talented.

Also, don’t rule out “Liberal Arts Colleges” (LACs) which can be a wonderful experience for an intellectually motivated student. They can prepare you exceptionally well for med school, without the ‘weeding out’ pre-med classes that some universities are known for, provide you with great research opportunities (b/c there are no grad students to get the good jobs), fellow students who are smart and really engaged with learning, and professors who are really involved with their students.

Also, you said that you are interested in neuroscience, but you might also check out cognitive science.

*Another poster gave a link to good colleges for getting in to med school: look at those.