<p>I'm currently a junior in high school and I really want to go to Harvard. The only problem is I didn't really want to until this year so I probably wasn't preparing as well as other people whose parents drill Harvard into their brains from birth to graduation... For example, I never did any sports. I do choir though; I'm in an advanced choir at my school and also in a writing club where I'm an officer and will be president next year (I want to major in Literature and minor in Music)
Also my GPA is 4.6. I don't know my class ranking is exactly because my counselor said the computer system is all screwy, but I'm in the top 1% of my class for sure. I'm taking 4 AP classes this year and 5 next year. This summer I'm going to do summer school at UC Berkeley... but will that look bad since I'm not doing Harvard's summer program? I'd like to but it's WAY too expensive. Also I have a job; I work for a magazine where I'm a writer and editor. For volunteer I only teach Sunday school so I don't have a lot of hours but over spring and summer break I hope to get more!
If I get a 2200-2300 on my SAT, which I plan on accomplishing at least, plus all of what I mentioned above, assuming I keep my GPA at 4.6 or higher, could I get into Harvard? I literally think about it ALL the time and will fall apart if I don't get it. I'm an over-dramatic 17 year old, I know. But Harvard is just soooo crazy competitive and my parents are neither Harvard alumni, nor super poor, nor dead, so it's all on me. No preferences or pity parties here, except maybe that I'm a minority female. What can I add to my resume/application now before I apply early action this fall that will make me stand out to the admissions officers? Any advice you have on what more I can do would help immensely, but please don't just be blatantly discouraging because I have enough of that going on in my head already, thanks darlings.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t it be better to go to a liberal arts college to study literature and music? Why Harvard?</p>
<p>@bodangles Harvard’s literature program is incredible, the first time I read about it on their website I fell head over heels in love and it’s the whole reason I got my eyes set on Harvard. And my minor in music is tenetive; I vacillate between music and psychology almost daily. </p>
<p>You know Harvard’s admit rate, so now that you know you will be applying there, it is time to pick your safety and match schools and a few more reaches if you like.</p>
<p>Sports is really only important if you are recruitable. Then it is really important. Otherwise it is just another good EC.</p>
<p>Going to Harvard’s summer program won’t help you get in there. Doing something with your summers will.</p>
<p>High performing URM is helpful. Female not so much.</p>
<p>You sound like you will likely be qualified.</p>
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<p>@BrownParent what do you think some good safety schools for me would be? Barnard and UCI are mine right now but I don’t really want to go to school in California so I’d take UCI off my list if I had another good one. But I don’t want to go to a super easy school you know?</p>
<p>Test scores and grades are good, but it takes more than that at Harvard. You have to be DIFFERENT. What minority are you? I’m not trying to be rude but if you are black/hispanic/native american, you are probably a shoo in.</p>
<p>Good GPA/class rank and interesting ECs. Is your job normally done by adults or is it some sort of teen magazine? It could make a big difference. </p>
<p>Yes you will! Your resume looks stellar! 
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<p>@BBanks most of the authors are adults, but I’m the editor of the magazines Teen Section. So I think it’s a pretty adult job. There’s only one other teenager I know of who writes, and I’m the only teen editor</p>
<p>Harvard needs kids with a certain mindset. That’s far more than a little this and a little that. Or endless thinking about it. It’s not choir leadership or a summer program. They will look at the sum total you present, whether you challenge yourself and how. They will look to see what you offer them, their class, their campus. What do you think that is? You and 35000 other applicants. Take a hard look at their website. </p>
<p>I think you should post in the College Search and Selection for inquiring about your match and safety colleges. Give UW gpa. Since you don’t have test scores that is a big missing piece. Post your PAST. There are just so many colleges with good lit. I don’t know much about music programs, so you can ask in your new post about the combinations. Likely there are plenty of LAC’s that will be good for you, it’s just a matter of doing the investigation. You can try to identify what features H has you would hope for in your other colleges. </p>
<p>Barnard sounds like a good possible match. Do not take UCs off your list. Apply widely to UCs, it is just one application, they are good colleges for CA students and can serve as safeties unless you family has enough money to be full pay anywhere you want. UCs are not easy, you can make your schedule as hard as you can handle because they have such depth.</p>
<p>“Harvard’s literature program is incredible, the first time I read about it on their website I fell head over heels in love and it’s the whole reason I got my eyes set on Harvard. And my minor in music is tenetive; I vacillate between music and psychology almost daily.”</p>
<p>You have a lot of time. Keep an open mind and keep looking. Many schools have great literature programs. Who are some of your favorite contemporary authors? Some of may be teaching undergrads at schools like Williams, Middlebury, Kenyon, Amherst etc… Seek them out. Email and call them to talk about your college plans. Do the same with Harvard. It will help you find the best fit, and help you craft the best essays and applications.</p>
<p>Can you visit colleges? Have you visited Harvard and met with some lit and music profs or students there?</p>
<p>I would make absolutely certain Harvard is the best school for you before you possibly forgo an early application opportunity at an even better school for you. In my opinion, a lot of musical chairs are taken up in the ED round and you could risk loosing a great chair by chasing after an uber-selective school like Harvard. But if you are thorough in your due diligence, and Harvard still seems the best for you, go for it.</p>