What Chances Do I Have At Harvard? How Do I Improve?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am still starting HS in the fall and here is my planned schedule and stuff...</p>

<p>Grade 9 </p>

<p>Computer Essentials (CP)
Freshman English (H)
Art I (CP)
Art II (CP)
Physical Education (CP)
Geometry (H)
Biology (H)
US History I (H)
Spanish 2 (H)</p>

<p>Grade 10</p>

<p>Sophomore English (H)
Health (CP)
Physical Education (CP)
Chemistry (H)
AP US History
Spanish 3 (H)
Advanced Art I (H)
Advanced Art II (H)</p>

<p>Grade 11</p>

<p>AP Microeconomics
American & British Literature (H)
AP Calculus BC
Physics (H)
AP World History
Spanish 4 (H)
AP Studio Art - Drawing</p>

<p>Grade 12</p>

<p>AP Spanish
AP English Literature
AP Statistics
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
(maybe math mentor?)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars
- Cross Country, Basketball, and Rugby team
- maybe Class President?
- American Red Cross Club
- Science Olympiad Team
- Varsity Math Team</p>

<ul>
<li>National Honors Society</li>
<li>National Art Honors Society</li>
</ul>

<p>And I plan to volunteer at my father's practice, shadow a doctor at the hospital, maybe start a tutoring program, and anything else that interests me and comes my way</p>

<p>I want to be a neurosurgeon and hope to attended Harvard College and Harvard Medical School.</p>

<p>What do you think I should do other than this? I do not have any awards cause I am just starting High School but I plan on receiving a National Merit Award and a National AP Scholar Award. </p>

<p>Opinions?? I really want to get into Harvard. Its been my dream since 3rd grade when everything, including my passions, fell into place. I really do love science, art, and math. And don't worry, I have a social life, or at least the social life my parents approve of.</p>

<p>So my questions...
What do I add?
Where do I volunteer?
Does this give me a reasonable chance of being accepted to Harvard?
How hard do I have to work?
And finally, How do I find my hook if I enjoy many many activities?</p>

2

<p>Neat chances!! what is your SAT score? chance be back??
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1524813-please-chance-me-your-choice-school-ill-chance-you-backk.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1524813-please-chance-me-your-choice-school-ill-chance-you-backk.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>@Heythere7 I haven’t taken the SAT’s yet, I’m still an incoming freshman lol but I plan on taking them soon.</p>

4

<p>But my GPA throughout middlr school in everything has been 4.0. I’ve been a straight A/A+ student my whole life and if I have a weighted grade and through the four years of high school continue with my straight A’s, the weighted GPA would be 5.02.</p>

<p>I still haven’t taken my SAT or ACT or any other test like that. But I am confident enough to day that their range would be from 710-800. I think my true question is if all of my grades and such live up to the highest expectation, and they will cause of family, school, and personal pressure, what hook or EC should I pursue?</p>

<p>I will start 9th grade at the end of August…</p>

5

<p>A word of advice: don’t volunteer for things or sign up for certain extracurriculars just because Harvard “wants you to.” Colleges–even Ivies and other great schools–don’t care what you do; they want to see that you’re passionate about your activities. So do things you genuinely care about. Also, they value quality over quantity (e.g. lots of dedication to a couple of sports and one club is looked upon far more favorably than spotty involvement in 10 sports, 10 clubs, and 10 charities).</p>

6

<p>Oh I love working at the hospital and with my father, I have since 7th grade and I don’t think I’ll ever stop. I have run cross country since 6th grade, basketball since kindergarten and I finally have found a rugby team! I really want to be a part of the clubs I have chosen and when I am part of something, I’ve always been known to have made a change to it. For exampl, 7th grade year I was on tv for leading an iPad initiative at my school. To be honest, my guidance conselour thinks I am insane to do so many things but everything I do isn’t for college admissions, as a matter of a fact, it isn’t influenced by colleges.</p>

<p>I really think what I want to know is what does Harvard expect from a potential student and is what I’m doing enough or too much?</p>

7

<p>Quit worrying about college. Enjoy high school. Don’t build yourself up for Harvard, just do the best you can and submit your application after the next three years. Even with all your doing, you may very well be rejected.</p>

8

<p>@chiclanda</p>

<p>I will, I promise! I just don’t want to be the girl who didn’t have anything impressive when I come to apply and worry and start doing things just for the same of adding to my application.</p>

9

<p>You’re a rising freshman. Don’t make this sort of post until you’re at least a rising senior.
I know that right now you’re thinking, “I NEED to go to Harvard.” However, that’s completely false. Don’t build your application with this mindset. You will ultimately fail. Unless you’re one of those kids who make it IMO or such, you will not succeed if you think like this. Of course, I’m not trying to discourage you from pursuing your interests. But just keep my advice in mind.</p>

10

<p>Lol “5.02” you so silly.</p>

11

<p>You don’t need to be worrying about college admissions and chances until you’re at least a junior. Truly. I was just like you in that my parents wanted me to be thinking about college when I was in 6th grade. To this day I don’t know why I did; there certainly is no point. The only things you need to be mindful of during your first couple years of HS is maintaining a good GPA, being top of your class rank, and SAT scores. Other things will fall into place if that is really want you’re motivated in. You will join clubs as they come and run for student government if it interests you. You may even apply for research internships during summers here and there. But those things come from being genuinely interested, not from forcing yourself into it.
Best of luck to high school. And enjoy yourself, while not straying from your goals.</p>

12

<p>@thelaststar</p>

<p>My GC took the curriculum I wanted, assumed I was to receive an A and found the weighted GPA via how my school does it. An a in a CP course is 4, honors 5, AP 5.5… Everything is weighted. And that is only if I get straight A’s</p>

13

<p>@psmusic</p>

<p>I understand but I am only trying to see what people who have the highest chances do and really it’s more of how much pressure my family has built on me Over the years. Of course going to Harvard is a goal but it is not all that motivates me. To be honest it is the smallest factor as to why I pursue what I pursue. </p>

<p>@crstlang</p>

<p>Thank you, I will keep those factors in mind.
Not many people see that everything I do is because of genuine intrest. Nothing will be done because I think so and so college will like to see it.</p>

<p>Why is everyone making a big deal as to see my class choice rigor and asking what improvements I can make. I only ask what do other students do that I haven’t heard of. </p>

<p>Many of you would not understand what position I am in…</p>

14

<p>Well disregarding the entire “your too young to be worying about college thing”, heres what i think. Every EC you have listed there is incredibly generic. There are plenty of kids who shadow doctors/become class president/do NHS, etc. While those are still important to get involved in, they wont set you apart and they wont soley get you in. Honestly just find something different and unique that you enjoy and just pursue that to show you really are passionate about it, and dont do it with the intention of using it for college. As far as grades go, academically you should be fine if you get A’s and a 2200+ SAT, but remeber that these days good scores/grades will get you nowhere if you dont have the EC’s to compliment them. </p>

<p>Also remember that at the end of the day you could do your best and have an amazing resume and still not get in, its really a lottery and unfortunately thats the way it goes.</p>

<p>Just as a side note, take into account that not all EC’s/hooks have to be related to what you want to do, i know two kids who got into harvard. One was a musician (just naturally good) and the other plans on doing medical school but was an amazing BMX rider, and thats what got him in, he was no different than everyone else who applied and weaker in some areas but he was really dam good at BMX and that really set him apart from everyone else.</p>

<p>Food for thought. Also just remeber to enjoy highschool…</p>

15

<p>Thank you nermfwaja</p>

<p>Problem is, I can’t think of any unique EC around MA. There probably are some but I honestly don’t know where/what/when they are. I’d prefer something either art, sports (xc,bball,rugby), math, or science related. I’ve been trying to find something, but I’ve run out of ideas where to look :confused: </p>

<p>Do you have an idea?</p>