<p>Thoughts? Thanks.</p>
<p>*I know a score isn't everything, but I am just curious if the score will hurt me. If it helps, my other ACT test would make it a 34 superscored, so although they don't superscore, they could look at multiple subsections....</p>
<p>I don’t think a 32 on the ACT will be frowned upon so don’t worry.</p>
<p>Yeah, also I’m pretty sure that if you send both they will look at the best sections on each, so technically superscore. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1305027-official-harvard-university-2016-rd-results.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1305027-official-harvard-university-2016-rd-results.html</a></p>
<p>If you look through the 2016 RD results above, students were accepted with an ACT of 29 (post #72), a 31 (post #106), a 32 (post #119), but the majority of accepted students have higher scores. So, while your score will not be frowned upon, it is just one part of the applications process. BTW: your teacher recommendations are far more important than your test scores.</p>
<p>That is true, but you also have to consider that there are far more high scores than low scores. The majority of people also got accepted on that thread.</p>
<p>^^ Yes, the majority of students were accepted on that thread, but their test scores were probably NOT the deciding factor.</p>
<p>Not sure if we are disagreeing or agreeing, thanks for the feedback though.</p>
<p>^^ Not sure either. Here’s what I know to be true: if you have a 29-32 ACT, which is at the low end of Harvard’s range, to be accepted you must also have a “WOW” factor somewhere else in your file – an extracurricular activity, teacher recommendation, essay – something that makes the Admissions Committee stand up and say “Wow, not many other 17-18 year olds do THAT!”</p>
<p>^^ Isn’t that true for applicants with higher scores (i.e. a score in the 33-36 range)?</p>
<p>So you are saying that 32 will slightly hurt me since it is at the top of the 29-32 range, but it likely won’t make or break me?</p>
<p>@azahra3: While students with higher tests scores need “Wow” factors as well, I imagine that students with lower test scores need more of them. </p>
<p>@wallrus75: I’m NOT saying a 32 will hurt you. I am saying that you will need to provide Admissions with multiple reason(s) to admit you over other students who have 35-36 ACT. You have a higher burden of proof, so to speak.</p>
<p>Gibby, would you be willing to look over my essays?</p>
<p>Well, yes- generally speaking, if you are an average applicant with good but not amazing EC’s, a 32 will hurt you. And i believe Harvard does superscore; a 34 superscore is okay.</p>
<p>Here is my academics and ECs if that would help</p>
<p>32 ACT, 34 superscored (I know they don’t superscore, but many look at highest subsections)
800 math 2, 750+ on a science SAT II</p>
<p>3.9 GPA unweighted , private school</p>
<p>More than the most rigorous class schedule (4.5 years of english, math up to Calculus 3 and AP stats, 3.5 years of humanities (school plans for everyone to get 3, I doubled up…), 5 years of science, 3 years of span (up to span 4, only thing that I didn’t do 12th grade))</p>
<p>ECS:
Entered Siemens competition (math project… not many of them accepted :/), giving presentation at a section math conference, submitting paper to journal.</p>
<p>More than 100 hours of volunteer hours per year. Elementary school Engineering tutor, tutor of the state finalist (x2) for the engineering competition… translated popular educational videos over internet to spanish (100 hours+, maybe it will make up 3 years of spanish…?)… and some other things.</p>
<p>Competing in an international college engineering competition as the only qualifying high school team</p>
<p>Leadership in 3 major teams (no sports due to required after school commitment) the teams are national forensic league teams and math league, leadership in NHS</p>
<p>A lot of tutor experience and soccer referee</p>
<p>I have other ECs and volunteering, but I don’t find them worth posting here.</p>
<p>@wallrus75: Here are my thoughts on essays: </p>
<p>Seasoned Admissions Directors, at Harvard and other selective colleges, will be reading your essay looking for glimpses of your “character.” That’s an old fashioned word; it means the way you develop your inner qualities: intellectual passion, maturity, social conscience, concern for community, tolerance, inclusiveness and love of learning. </p>
<p>You should share your essay with the teacher’s who are writing your recommendation letters, as Admissions Officers look for your teachers to reinforce and confirm the “character” projected in a student’s essay. You want everything to be in sync. My opinion, whatever it may be, is not going to matter as much as your recommendation writers. </p>
<p>If you don’t want to share your essays with your teachers, you should show them to several adults in your life that you know, admire and respect. Ask them: “Does this essay convey who I am?” “Does this sound like me?” That is really critical. Your essay should sound as if you are standing in front of an Admissions Director reading it out loud. I once heard Peter Johnson, an Admissions Director at Columbia, give this tip on essays: “Your essay should be so specific and so personal that if it fell out of your backpack at school, and didn’t have your name on it, that if a classmate, who you knew you well, happened upon it laying on the floor of your school, s/he should be able to read it, immediately know it was your essay and return it to.” As I don’t know you, I can’t really comment on your essay with those kind of specifics that are needed for a successful college applications essay.</p>