<p>I have a really great intention to apply for Harvard but because of the opportunities that they offer there. I can't deny the fact that I want to get in because it is prestigious. I am currently a sophomore in high school. I am top of my class and received all As. I take honor classes and I have currently surpassed students at my level in mathematics. Im doing Calculus on my own right now, because my school doesnt offer anything beyond Geometry for sophomores. The school I attend is quite a disappointment. My family is not doing financially great; thus I was forced to attend a mediocre public high school in my area. The school certainly does not offer as many extracurricular activities as I have hoped. Also, the school I currently attend is an ART school. I am passionate about art, and I am majoring in visual art there. I have won many contests for my artworks. My school is not academically-focused, as you can see since its an art school. Would going to an ART public school effect my application in anyway?
I want to attend Harvard because Im really interested in architecture. I suppose Yale isnt so bad either. Also, as I have said, my family isnt financially stable, and Harvards financial aid is based on blind-need, meaning that I can go there for free for four years. I guess you are wondering what extracurricular activities I am doing. As my school isnt offering many, Im doing all that they have to offer: yearbook club, mock trial, Bible study, Student Council, NHS, basketball team and film club.
I have an intense interest in languages, thanks to my Aspergers. I can speak, read, and write in Russian (native speaker), German, Latin, and Spanish. I am in the citys chess club, and we have made to the state championship. I am an active participant in my community. I volunteer at the animal shelter, senior center, and local university medicine programs and I tutor for summer math at my school. I also tutor children at the library every week. I work four days a week as well.
Based on my researches on the school, my application definitely wont stand against other applicants. They say that you have to have a particular talent or passion, such as in music, sports..etc. What about art and design? Im talented at these areas. Also, I have heard that going to a public school would decrease your chances; especially going to one that is not rigorous in the academics. So if you dont think I would qualify, what do you recommend me doing to increase my chances? Not gaining admission into Harvard wont kill me, though. So, what are my chances? Im supposing the responses would be a resounding no. So I should rather ask what I need to do in order to improve my chances of getting in. Thank you all so much for your inputs and responses.</p>
<p>“I want to attend Harvard because I’m really interested in architecture. I suppose Yale isn’t so bad either.”</p>
<p>Harvard (and Yale’s) undergraduate programs DO NOT offer degrees in architecture, those are graduate programs. I would suggest that before you post more inane threads, such as this one, you spend more time investigating what programs Harvard College offers.</p>
<p>gibby - you are always so knowledgeable about the Ivies and I find your comments most helpful. This kid is a soph. and doesn’t sound like he has a lot of support from school or home on how to prepare himself for the college application process. You are right - he needs to do more research on the schools - but what he is really asking, is there anyway he can be Ivy league ready with the resources he has available to him. </p>
<p>To the op - maximize the opportunities that you do have. Do you have a guidance counselor at your school that you can work with to help you with SAT prep? While the SAT is only a portion of the application process, it is the starting point. Without good scores, more than likely your EC’s won’t even get looked at - but you don’t have to have perfect scores. Good scores do not equal a perfect score - I cannot stress that enough. I see kids on here that stress over whether or not they should go for a 2400 because “they only got a 2300 the first time they took it”. That is wasted effort in my opinion.</p>
<p>@Links2: I apologize for my earlier snarky comment.</p>
<p>“I am top of my class and received all A’s. I take honor classes and I have currently surpassed students at my level in mathematics.”</p>
<p>You are doing well in school and as skatjmam pointed out, you need to also to well on your SAT/ACT. After you have taken those tests and have your scores, please post again.</p>
<p>Actually, Yale does offer a B.A. in architecture. My cousin obtained his B.A. in architecture from Yale a few years ago. Go to [Undergraduate</a> Architecture Major | YSOA | Yale School of Architecture](<a href=“Home - Yale Architecture”>Home - Yale Architecture) for a description of their great undergraduate program. And Harvard is in the process of initiating an architecture concentration (major) for undergrads. This fall, for the first time, they will be offerring a track in architectural studies in the Graduate School of Design for a select group of Harvard undergrads. Go to [New</a> undergraduate architectural studies track to be offered this fall | Harvard Magazine](<a href=“http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/06/undergraduate-art-and-architecture-track-begins-in-fall]New”>http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/06/undergraduate-art-and-architecture-track-begins-in-fall) for the details of this new program.</p>