what are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Okay, I know my SATs are no where near where they should be but I've run out of chances to take them. Harvard's a major reach school for me but what do you think my chances are, if any?</p>

<p>I got a 1980 on my SATs (690M, 630V, 660W)
I did terribly on my SATIIs with a 500 French, 530 Math IIC, 730 Biology
I got a 4 on the AP Bio test</p>

<p>I think I have a 3.6 unweighted GPA and a 3.7 or higer weighted. At my school, GPAs can't exceed 4.0. My average is about a 95 which is probably a better GPA at other schools.</p>

<p>I'm not sure about my ranking because my school doesn't use it. Junior year I know I was one of the top 8 in the class because we were featured in the graduation but I don't know about now. My guidance counselor marked top 10% on my applications, though.</p>

<p>In my junior year I took AP Biology (online), Honors English (AP didn't fit in my schedule), and AP US History. This year I'm taking AP Lang&Comp, Honors Gov. and Ec., AP Chemistry (online), Honors Calc, and Honors French V. I'm also teaching myself Spanish because Honors Spanish V is the same period as Honors French V. The only AP classes I didn't take were AP Physics (I took physics junior year though) and AP Lit&Comp (because of scheduling).</p>

<p>My credits are as follows:
Science:6
Math:5
Foreign Language: 8 (4 French, 4 Spanish)
English: 4.5
Social Studies:4.5</p>

<p>My ECs are:
NHS - 9 to 12
SNHS - 9 to 12
FNHS - 10 to 12
Senior Class Treasurer
Lit. Magazine - 9,12 (Co-Editor-in-Chief)
Yearbook - 9 to 12 (Section Editor & Staff Writer 9,10,11; Chief Financial Officer & Senior Editor 12)
Newspaper - 9 to 12 (Staff Writer 9,10,11; Editor of Entertainment Section 12)
Track and Field - 11
Model United Nations - 10
Environmental Club - 10,11,12 (unofficial treasurer)
Reading Olympics - 9,10
Middle School Book Club - 12 (Founder; ran for 7th and 8th graders)</p>

<p>Also, neither of my parents when to college and I've written 3 novels, though none have been published. I'm also teaching myself to play piano, violin, and clarinet. I don't know if any of this would help my chances but maybe.</p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

2

<p>Sorry, but zippo.
Scores alone disqualify you.</p>

3

<p>Ok, thanks. Just making sure.</p>

4

<p>re en kam
dont worry. people with 1200 on the old sat have been admitted to harvard in the past. there are always exceptions. maybe you could be one of them :)
what i mean to say is, though you dont have exeptional scores or ec's you just might get in. who knows. the admission people at harvard are in short: unpredictable.
so apply. no harm in trying. and yeah, good luck.</p>

<p>i almost forgot: dont give a damn to what anyone says. especially stuff like:
"Scores alone disqualify you."
(its pure rot)</p>

5

<p>Unless you are a minority or poor then I dont see it happening for you man. However, its a crapshoot. Apply, if you dont u have a 0% chance of admission, if you do, then there is still a small chance</p>

<p>Final: APPLY</p>

6

<p>I didn't actually list all of my ECs and everything and I left out all community service and awards and stuff. I don't know if I'll apply thought just because the application fee. My mom's already spent so much on them already, I'd feel bad having her spend 100+ more (app fee, sat sending fee, etc.) for a school I have no chance in.</p>

7

<p>You should go for it. Who knows, you could get lucky - especially if you write a brilliant essay.</p>

8

<p>You have a chance. Your SATIIs are very low, and it looks a little strange that you've taken so much French and still did poorly on the test. But your SAT is fine, even though it's lower than many applicants. Make sure that your grading system is explained, and choose wisely for your recs. Write a fantastic essay and a supplemental one to highlight your writing and make your application stand out from your scores.</p>

<p>Why are your scores lower? If you can, see if your GC or a teacher will mention the reason or, at least, say that they don't do you justice. </p>

<p>Although I'm not sure on the procedure, you can get a fee waivor. Ask your GC about it.</p>

9

<p>From what it sounds like, I think he would qualify for a fee waiver.</p>

10

<p>I have no idea why my French SAT is so low. I went into French 1 in 9th grade and got moved to French 3 in 10th grade. I had a French exchange student and my teacher says I write really well. But for some reason when I sat down at that test, I couldn't read it. Well, I could but not fast enough. That's probably what the problem was. I had to skip the questions with long passages because I didn't want to get stuck halfway through with some verb I didn't know or something. My French teacher did write one of my recommendations though. Do you think that would kind of make up for the terrible score?</p>

<p>And from what my GC said, my essays are excellent. But she also got confused when I tried to explain the GPA problem to her which was basic averaging math, really. So I don't know how good my essays really are.</p>

11

<p>Dude, just apply. Fashion your application very well (read A is for Admission) and just do your best. No worries. Why arent u taken French AP this year?</p>

12

<p>we don't have it at my school. only honors french 5. i was taking ap spanish online but (because of the fact that we changed teachers each never and none of them taught) I wasn't at the right level so I'm teaching myself. My GC talked about that and I'm hoping that my taking some iniative in that area might help. I don't even get credit for it or anything, which is kind of annoying.</p>