Hello,
I would like to apply to Harvard early action of this year. I’m a current junior and interested in Harvard, as well as a variety of other universities. I would really appreciate your guy’s thoughts on my chances and what I can do to improve my chances. Here are the activities that I have done throughout high school. Also, apparently there is a racial bias towards Asians and being a South East Asian myself, what can I do to make myself stand out?
Currently number 8 for class of 453 students, my ranking should be higher once a credit that I was missing gets transferred into the school system. I’m in the IB program at my school and the lead representative for it at my school.
9th grade
Film Club
Varsity Tennis
Board member for my local library in children’s and teens department
School Science Fair Winner (could not proceed to regionals because the lead science teacher did not submit needed paperwork before deadline)
Blogger
10th grade
Superintendents leadership program
Joe Berg Science (a prestigious local program)
Board member for my local library in children’s and teens department (Was able to effectively bring in renovations to the library by presenting a proposal to the city’s office)
Film Club
Varsity Tennis
Chess Club
School Science Fair Winner (could not proceed to regionals because the lead science teacher did not submit needed paperwork before deadline, second time in a row)
11th grade
Junior Class president
Guitar Club
Mu Alpha Theta
National Science Honor Society
National English Honor Society
National Honor Society
Beta Delta Sigma Math Honors
Students Activities Coordinator
Founder of Multicultural Club
Co-president of Multicultural Club
Board member for my local library in children’s and teens department
Founding Quidditch Club currently
Varsity Cross Country
Varsity Tennis
Film Club
In my high school pageant
A board member of a local program that organizes events for terminally ill children
And that’s it. My gpa is unweighted- 3.85 and weighted- 4.63. I have close to 400 hours in volunteer and I also bellydance and paint. Additonally I have been a blogger for close to 4 years and it is about fashion, health and motivation (its currently taken down because of some payments needing to be done for it and is under construction as well) I will be taking my SAT’s this year. Thank you so much for your thoughts.
It’s pretty difficult to chance anyone who hasn’t taken the SAT yet. Also, it’s impossible to chance for Harvard in general- it’s a reach for everyone.
Your GPA looks a little low to me, but it won’t keep you out of Harvard if the adcoms see something in you that they like. Try to raise that GPA if you can, but also look into other schools. Perhaps all your ECs are hurting your unweighted GPA. Remember that it’s important to focus on quality over quantity. Also, it might help your chances not just at Harvard, but at other schools also if you talk to college coaches about your varsity sports and get recruited. Good luck!
Thank you so much As for GPA, what range would you recommend? I may be able to get my weighted GPA to 4.9 because of my classes. Would the fact that I have been in full 3 years of IB(2 years of pre, and 1 year in ib) help in anyway?
There are approximately 30,000 high schools in the US. Something like 34,000 students apply to Harvard. About 2000 are admitted. Based on what you have provided, you have excellent credential to get into a competitive college. You appear to have done all the right things to build the correct resume to get into a good college. (from me that is not a compliment, by the way) You have participated in a ton of ECs, and done the requisite volunteering. Is there anything about your credentials that screams Harvard? No. Is there anything that makes you different from tons of students or appears to suggest you are destined for greatness? No. That’s ok, welcome to the club. There are very few people so extraordinary that their credentials scream “Harvard” and there are a hundred times the number of students who think they are “just that good” than really are “just that good”. Who are the people destined to change the world? That is who Harvard wants to fill its seats. It isn’t who does all the right things and gets perfect grades. That’s ok though. There are hundreds of great colleges out there. Pick others!
Go through your list of ECs, as there are only ten spots on the Common App to place them, and pick the ten that you are most interested in or proud of. You list film club and varsity tennis throughout all four years, are you especially fond of those? If so, put them on your application. Pick the ten you are most passionate about, not the ones you think will look best to Harvard.
They will be looking for similar things: excellent GPA and test scores, standout ECs that demonstrate passion and commitment. The advice above will help for all of those schools. I am not familiar with the subtle differences in each one’s admissions criteria.
As for GPA, what range would you recommend? I may be able to get my weighted GPA to 4.9 because of my classes. Would the fact that I have been in full 3 years of IB(2 years of pre, and 1 year in ib) help in anyway?