What are my chances of getting into Harvard?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Academic: I am currently ranked number 1 in my class and I am taking the IB diploma. I take Maths HL, Economics HL, Geography HL & Biology HL + English A Lit. SL and French B SL. I have a 7 in most of these subjects, except for English Lit were I have a 6. Note: My first language is not English, but Norwegian.
I've only taken the PSAT where is scored 2150, but that was a while ago and I will take the real SAT this December. I am predicted 800 in maths and about 750 in W & CR.</p>

<p>Outside school I do Taekwondo 5 times a week, I started when i was 7. I'm also in the Yearbook crew(editor-in-chief), MUN & Interact. Oh, and I volunteer at a local animal shelter and at a home for Alzheimer patients. I also play the saxophone, which I have done since I was 10.</p>

<p>The only problem are my grades from year 10 which aren't so great and I assume they will want to see. You see, in Year 6 I got sick. Really sick. And I spent almost 4 years of my life in and out of hospitals, isolated from school and social life. However, even though I was away from school 99% of the time I managed to finish Y7, 8, 9 & 10 with 'okay' grades in most subjects, except for in Maths, English and Humanities were I somehow managed to score top grades. Do you think these not-so-good grades will decrease my chances of getting accepted to Harvard?</p>

<p>As for a "hook" I have two: How being sick gave my a totally new perspective of life, and my baby brother. He was born deaf-blind and what we chose to call 'different'. I was only 7 when he was born and at that time I didn't really think of him as any different than other boys, that was until I was about 13 y.o(while I was at my worst and basically lived at the hospital) and someone from the year above me in school made fun of him and said that my mom should have taken an abortion. It broke my heart, how can someone say something like that? After that I started working with the deaf-blind's rights here in Norway. My brother means so much to me and even though he can't speak, walk or understand what I'm saying I love him to the moon and back.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Do I stand a chance? Or should I find another "dream school"?</p>

2

<p>I think you have a decent shot but as you know being a international applicant is extremely tough. You certainly have a compelling story. I am a little confused how you can be ranked #1 in your class despite having “grades from year 10 that aren’t so great”. Anyway, good luck with everything</p>

3

<p>Are you currently living in Norway now? And are you currently a senior? (You mentioned taking the SAT this December…that would be at a late moment as far as the schedule goes…) </p>

4

<p>Falcon1: The reason why my grades weren’t that great was because I was too much away from school and the school had a policy saying that if you missed more than x% of the classes you could not get top grades. I am naturally gifted when it comes to school and have always found it easy - so that’s why I can be ranked #1 in my class even after being away from school for so long:) </p>

<p>SouthernHope: Yes, I am currently living in Norway, but no, I am only in IB1 - and according to the career advisor at my school December is just fine for taking the SATs.</p>

5

<p>I think Harvard is a high reach as it is for also everyone in the U.S. I think you would be a great candidate for Princeton or Yale though</p>

6

<p>You’ll likely be a qualified applicant.</p>

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7

<p>I just wanted to say that your story really touched me. While I don’t have a disadvantaged brother, some of my friends do, and I can see from them how hard it can be at times. Best wishes for you in your application to Harvard. </p>