What school do I have a chance at?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m into politics and government, so obviously an Ivy League school would be my top choice. Right now, Harvard is my dream school. I would really appreciate it if y’all would take a look at my qualifications here and see if Harvard is a chance, or other good PolySci schools you think I could get into? Thank you so much.

UC GPA: 4.3
Unweighted GPA: 3.97
Weighted GPA: 4.7

California Resident

Intended Major: Political Science
Intended Minor: Public Policy

ACT: C:31 [E:36 W:33 M:27 S:26 (something like that)]
SAT: 1980 [CR: 640 M: 660 W: 680 (probably won’t send)]
SAT II: USH: 690

AP Scores: US History (5), Psychology (5), US History (3), Lang/Comp (5)

Senior Year course load: AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Span 4, AP Environmental Science, AP Calc AB, Leadership

Few of my most important ECs:

  • Eagle Scout
  • Student Body President
  • Congressional Intern (CA-14)
  • City Hall Administrative Deputy
  • I work for the FBI (SF HQ)
  • Golf Captain (4 years), Basketball (2 years)
  • President of 2 Clubs, Founded 1 club (NHS, and got our school accreditted)
  • School Site Council President
  • Published political writer

Some other significant accomplishments in my field

  • California Boy’s State delegate (Model Congress)
  • Harvard University’s Pre-College Program student (Studied law)
  • Taken political science classes at my local JC every summer all of high school
  • Freshman class president, ASB VP, in several other clubs)
  • Several community service awards/award from mayor
  • 800+ hours of community service with Sheriff’s department (politics related)

Notes:

  • 1st gen American (Middle Eastern)
  • School counselor is a UC Berkeley Admissions reader, and I am writing some strong essays with her as my college counselor (will also have excellent counselor’s letter)
2

How’d you score a congressional internship?? If it was in DC that is amazing!! Obviously Harvard is extremely hard to get in to. The continuity between your application is really good and the ECs look great, but the test scores might come back to bite you. a 31 comp on the ACT is probably not good enough, and nor is the 690 on the US History subject test. I wish you the best of luck! Are you going to boy’s state next week?

3

@LAD2266 Thank you! The SATII I’m not really worried about, but it’s the 31 that I know could really bite me. I’m hoping I’ll be able to balance it out. And uep-we leave for SacState Saturday morning! Running for Supreme Court :wink: been practicing for the mock bar exam all week! Are you going??

4

I’m going to Boys State for California as well! See you there!

I would say your scores are too low for Harvard, and your ECs, while very good, aren’t enough to make up for it.

5

And GPA/APs/Course schedule isn’t something that can help a 31 ACT score?

6

Keep in mind that there are many other applicants to Harvard with WAY higher test scores. Save some money and check out Cal, UCLA, or UCSD, all of which have excellent poly sic programs.

7

@david_p yeah ill be there tomorrow morning lol I didn’t study for the bar at all… probably going to fail haha. How’d you study?