<p>Why do you want to go to Harvard for biology?</p>
<p>Harvard and Columbia have a lot of funding for research.</p>
<p>If I wrote my extracurricular activities, “Why Harvard,” and “Why Columbia” essays on research and internship opportunities, would that actually hurt my chances as I am Asian?</p>
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<p>I would think that someone making a Lehigh professor’s annual salary would have a high EFC.</p>
<p>My father’s salary is actually quite low compared to that of other college professors. My mom doesn’t work.</p>
<p>^Then I would definitely be sure to also apply to some schools that would give you merit scholarships. You’ll want to be able to compare financial aid packages, just in case you don’t get into your schools that would otherwise have provided middle class aid.</p>
<p>Are your parents EXPECTING you to go to Lehigh for free and live at home?</p>
<p>My parents don’t expect me to do anything. Which school I go to in the end will be my choice. The reason that I am considering Lehigh is because if I don’t get good financial aid, I don’t want to burden them too much (trying to be responsible, hehe :)).</p>
<p>Re the issue of having run out of courses to take: since you seem to live near Lehigh, and it seems that you are allowed (by them) to take courses there, wouldn’t you be able to supplement what your hs offers with a a few Lehigh courses?</p>
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<p>Are you talking about outside scholarships? Big ones are few and far between, and “hoping” is a poor substitute for planning. I’ve already addressed the issue of significant merit awards above. I’m not sure what you mean by getting an “internship”. Freshmen are not all that likely to land paying research jobs at top schools. Some of the summer government or quasi-government based internships have a minimum age requirement of 18, so early graduation could be a problem there.</p>
<p>Okay, I appreciate all the financial advice (it is very important after all), but I also would like some more advice as to how I could make my application better, convey my personality, etc.</p>
<p>My main ECs are: Math League student representative (2nd place at 2 competitions), Chinese Club founder and president, Science Fair Organization president (3rd place, states), Science Olympiad (silver medal), Odyssey of the Mind, Teen Advisory Board president, Youth Group leader, volunteered over 300 hours at hospital, research in biology lab at Lehigh University, church pianist
Would it be better if I removed the other ones from my list? Which other ECs should I get rid of?</p>
<p>If I wrote my extracurricular activities, “Why Harvard,” and “Why Columbia” essays on research and internship opportunities, would that actually hurt my chances as I am Asian?</p>
<p>My school does not let me take classes at Lehigh University, only the local CC, which pretty much offers all the same classes as my school but with college credit (I don’t need this). Plus, you have to pay for the CC courses.</p>
<p>I am going to be applying for many scholarships, of which I’m pretty sure I will get at least a couple.</p>
<p>As to your last question about your essay answers, I would think that an essay that focused on incoming grant money - and equated that to undergraduate research - would not be a winner (that’s because undergrads at Harvard won’t be doing a lot of meaningful grant-funded research, and the adcoms know that).</p>
<p>I would think that you could find a lot of schools that offered better undergraduate research opportunities than that lot, but perhaps more science-minded parents could weigh in on that.</p>
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<p>Yes, indeed. That is an excellent point. </p>
<p>Even if you are of the opinion that you are quite mature compared with your fellow students (and I don’t doubt you are), the adults considering your application will be looking behind the club memberships, the competitions and the exam scores to find that independent, self-directed student who will flourish at their school and hopefully add something to the mix.</p>
<p>By the way, why are you convinced your SAT I score will be at least 2300? Are you basing that on the PSAT qualifying score? Do you have an SAT I score at this point, but you are hoping to raise it?</p>
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<p>If you could only tell an admissions officer two things about you, what would they be? “Science loving ‘WHAT’”? </p>
<p>That could help us help you decide what you should focus on in your application. We really don’t know which aspect of your personality YOU want to convey.</p>
<p>Those WHY XXX essays are looking to see if you have done your homework on their university and talking about the specific research opportunities available to undergrads is fine. Talking about specific research done in this or that department that interests you would also be fine. You’d probably be very happy at schools like CalTech which make $$ available to undergrads for research opportunities.</p>
<p>OP has excellent stats. I think it is reasonable planning to shoot for those reaches. Her worst case scenario is to go to Lehigh for free, which is a a great backup. If I were her parents I would advise her to go to Lehigh unless she is able to get into those top top schools. Why go to Barnard when she could go to Lehigh for free?</p>
<p>I agree with some posters here that she should make herself stand out by listing as many non Asian ECs as possible. Every Asian starts a Chinese/Japanese/Asian Club. My nephew, an Asian, is going to be a goalie on a varsity soccer team instead of track or tennis.</p>
<p>How about I right the “Why” essay on a research program I would like to participate in such as SURF?
[SURF[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://globalhealth.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k16925&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup74284]Funding”>http://globalhealth.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k16925&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup74284]Funding</a> Opportunities HIGH : Harvard Initiative for Global Health](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/surf/]SURF[/url”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/surf/)</p>
<p>But l like Barnard a lot better than Lehigh: the location, the research opportunities, plus it’s on the same campus as Columbia (I’ll be able to take classes there too). Does any know about the financial aid policy there? It’s a LAC, so it shouldn’t be too bad, right?</p>
<p>OP, I’m sorry to hear you attend a high school that does not allow its top students to attend a local university. Don’t get me started on public schools that shoot themselves in the foot while simultaneously limiting the educational opportunities of the tax-paying families on whom they rely for support.</p>
<p>I live in a college town, and the public schools long ago figured out that the best way to squelch the establishment of private schools and the early departure of top students was to give free rein to students to take courses at the public flagship in town. Many students take advantage of that option.</p>
<p>So, you have my sympathy, even my empathy (I despised my own high school).</p>
<p>I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think Barnard is included in the lists of schools that claim to meet EFC. If I am correct (might not be) that means you might be offered a financial package that leaves a gap between your EFC and the financial aid offer. (Keep in mind that the offer may well include loans.)</p>
<p>EDIT: Looks like I may be wrong. According to this list, posted a couple of years ago by another cc poster, Barnard is included in schools that meet 100% of their calculated “need”.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/405782-need-met.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/405782-need-met.html</a></p>
<p>Okay, thanks. I’m only going to go to Barnard if they give me a LOT of financial aid. I’m guessing they won’t be giving me much need-based aid, but I’m still hoping for some merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Barnard does not give merit aid, only need based.</p>