Where Do I Stand?

Applying to College
1

<p>Freshman:
-B in Latin
-B Algebra 2 Honors</p>

<p>Sophomore:
-B in Latin
-B- in Geometry Honors</p>

<p>In my high school career, these are the only grades I have that are not A's or A-'s. </p>

<p>I really want to go to Harvard University. I was reading some interview online that someone had with Amherst College, and the admissions officers were debating over several students and their applications, and talked about how "this boy or this girl had gotten into a slump sophomore year and gotten 2 B's, and even a B- [GASP*]." </p>

<p>I worked really hard to keep up my grades because I do, perhaps, too many extracurriculars. </p>

<p>Mondays: Tutor from 3:30 - 5:30
Tuesdays: Club A from 2:30 - 5:00
Wednesdays: Club B from 2:30 to 5:00
Thursdays: Club C from 2:30 to 5:00</p>

<p>Then throw in 4 events of Science Olympiad to train from December to March.
Then throw in Varsity Swim Team during November to February after the club meetings for 2 hours.
Then throw in School Newspaper copy-editing, one week each term (fit it in somehow).
Then throw in 2 Saturday meetings a month for Outside Club D.</p>

<p>All of these clubs I have very high leadership positions. Two of them I am President.
Science Olympiad & Swim Team (6 years) I may become Co-Captain but high chance I may not get chosen.</p>

<p><strong><em>Will top colleges take into account that I do a lot of outside work? Or will they just disregard me for grades that don't match up to their standards. I know that I may seem pathetic, whining over 4 B's, but I am actually serious.</em></strong></p>

<p>I'm in a National Top 30 Public High School, and GPA weighted will be 3.94 [Class Percentile Top 12%].</p>

<p><strong><em>A lot of my classmates have a 4.1 to 4.2 GPA, but many don't have the extracurriculars to go with them. However, the top 50 kids in my school will be getting into the best of the top colleges, so I'm just really unsure on where I stand compared to them.</em></strong></p>

2

<p>Colleges will take all the work outside of school that you do into account. There is a section where you list the extracurricular activities you do and how much time, roughly, those take up. Because it's very difficult to get into Harvard, even for the brightest students, I wouldn't count on getting in. I would focus on colleges that you have a better chance of getting into and on keeping grades up, because academics should take precedence over extracurricular activities.</p>

3

<p>Why focus on Harvard? They turn down more than 90% of applicants when 80% or more are highly qualified for the school. It's just not a game that favors anyone without a strong legacy or national standing in a respected extracurricular.</p>

<p>Of the three kids accepted to Harvard from our HS in the last 10 years, all were nationally ranked in a sport or science competition. Mere mortals, such as last year's valedictorian with a 35 ACT, did not fare well. Neither did my son's friend, nationally ranked in a minor sport with a 34 ACT.</p>

<p>The biggest favor you can do for yourself is to find a school where you fit in and would be welcome. It's easy to pick a highly ranked school; the hard part is coming to grips with who you are and what choices are realistic. Start with your safety school(s), concentrate on match schools and low reaches, and you'll have a nice set of acceptances when the time comes.</p>

4

<p>The thing is around 30 kids from my school get into Harvard University every year so it's a different story than most people.</p>

<p>I would be ranked 45/381ish. Some kids don't have the extracurriculars I have, but they have the grades. Many will have a higher GPA by .2 more.</p>

5

<p>truthfully, that is not very time consuming.. I do 3 sports, 2 of which take 20 hours a week, I have done over 300+ cs, have had many jobs, and have had to take care of my disabled father. With your stat's and w/e ec's, I suggest you look at more realistic schools</p>

6

<p>30 kids get into Harvard every year? Unless you live in Cambridge and they're all staff kids, that's impossible. Andover and Exeter are lucky if they get 10 or 12.</p>

<p>Honestly, your class rank alone will be a problem at ivies without a hook.</p>

7

<p>I do think your GPA and class rank is too low for Harvard. However, it's not low enough to throw you out of the game. Try to bring it up.</p>

<p>Also, make the highest SAT/ACT score you possibly can and strengthen your extracurriculars to the max. These two elements will probably have to be what you rely on to get you an acceptance.</p>