How hard is Harvard EA? Also chances

corinao · 05-04-2006, 09:16 PM

I was wondering how hard it is to get into Harvard EA versus RD. I don't think I have a stellar chance for any, but I would like to maximize my chances as much as possible. Any input is greatly appreciated

.

Also, chances?

Background: female, Romanian, immigrant, from Arizona (lol, if those help at all), large public school

Rank: top 10% (but kind of low rank because I moved and none of my credits transferred from 9th grade (btw, rank is 46/700+))
SAT: 2270 (800M, 730CR, 740W)
SAT II: 800 IIC, 730 Physics, and I'll take Chemistry and maybe U.S. History in October
ACT: never taken (should I take it?)

E.C: Math Club treasurer (11th), hopefully starting Mu Alpha Theta next year, tennis team and club treasurer (10th-11th), online math tutor, volunteer at a place for underpriviliged children (I just started, so I only have like 12 hours), on a city youth commission, other small leadership positions

I suck at competitions
AMC 12B: 119.5
AIME:4
a few small math awards
a few small writing awards (mostly essay contests), nothing major, though.

Research in bioinformatics, ISEF finalist 2006 (with a team project). Our mentor thinks our project is good enough to publish. Also, we got in touch with a prominent researcher in our field and she wants to collaborate, so that might be a plus.

Attended PROMYS 2005
Attending RSI 2006 - major hook, I guess

I feel like I'm missing some things, but if I can't think of what, I suppose they're not important

.

Assuming pretty good essays and at least one amazing rec, what should I expect for EA (and more importantly, how would that compare with RD)?

corinao · 05-04-2006, 09:22 PM

Oh, yeah I totally forgot about classes:
AP Calc BC (5)
AP Physics C (3

)
This year: Multivariable/Diff. Eq., AP Chem, AP Stats, highest level offered in French at school (7-8), AP English, APUSH. Also took Linear Algebra 1st semester at local state university and probably taking 2 more math/science classes next year.

bandit_TX · 05-05-2006, 09:01 AM

This is your best answer....
Official Harvard EA Decisions - Class of 2010

1moremom · 05-05-2006, 09:20 AM

Your stats certainly put you in the running. RSI is a nice boost and they will write a rec for you. I recommend that you really take some time with your essays. The math and science kids had a tough time this year in Harvard EA. (There was a thread in the Parents Forum in December.)

corinao · 05-06-2006, 01:30 PM

Thank you for the responses. So should I stick with RD for a better chance?

bandit_TX, haha believe me I have read that whole thread..it seems as if Harvard EA favors people with really high SAT scores.

marite · 05-06-2006, 02:16 PM

corinao:

You should apply to Harvard SCEA if Harvard is the place you want to attend the most. Both PROMYS and RSI are good boosts. The fact that you are a female prospective math major is also a boost, as is your nationality and your current location.

Another school that looks favorably on PROMYS and RSI alumni is the school down the road, MIT, to be precise. There are currently at least 2 MITers who attended PROMYS last summer.

The Ace is Back · 05-06-2006, 02:37 PM

You should go EA. That way if you get deferred you look more favourable in RD - not only does it look like you want to be there more than others, but also it shows that you got your act together earlier and are organized etc.

xjayz · 05-06-2006, 02:50 PM

If Harvard is really your first choice, you should most definitely apply for SCEA. It's definitely a great option and your test scores and grades are on par. You have definitely showed passion for something you really wanted to do.

Go for it! The worst that can happen is you will be deferred.

SCEA acceptance rate stays static around 20% while the regular action rates drop to about 5% or something like that to make it an overall rate of 9 to 10%. Statistically, you would obviously have a better chance SCEA.

Applications are already available for Fall 2007. Request an application!

twochickens · 06-03-2006, 01:21 PM

hey corinao, if you REALLY like mit, and you might just get the chance to find out some time soon, why don't you marry it??

see ya in boston

Grain · 06-03-2006, 01:31 PM

Wow Intel ISEF. When I was 16 I was given the choice to participate in either my country's Intel ISEF (which sends finalists to the US Intel ISEF) or this Sony National Science Fair. I opted for the Sony one and won 2nd place. I wonder if US universities care a lot about science fairs other than Intel, Siemens, etc. Sigh, now I'm in my A-levels exam year, so I don't have the time for science fairs.

xwang90 · 06-18-2006, 06:26 PM

corinao:
I agree with most of the posts, if you really want to go to Harvard, apply EA.
I heard that with RSI, it is 100% admissions into MIT anyway.

Also, I am currently a soph and I really want to do RSI next year. Was it really hard ot get it? Did you have to do anything special to be accepted?
thanks

tryin2Bcool · 06-18-2006, 06:33 PM

what is RSI? just out of curiousity

BurnThis · 06-19-2006, 03:25 AM

For a reality check, I went to the thread listed in post #3, then checked the deferred students to see where they ended up. The first few pages (I got bored with this experiment after a few minutes) showed students ending up at Dartmouth, Yale, Berkeley, Penn, Princeton, MIT, Oberlin and, yes, Harvard. I guess what I wanted to tell you is apply to Harvard if it's your first choice, but don't worry that if you don't get in there EA, you won't get in anywhere. I think it's pretty comforting to see that those who were disappointed with their Harvard EA experience, ended up doing quite well for themselves.

Northstarmom · 06-19-2006, 08:53 AM

The EA pool at Harvard is an even more exceptional group of students than is the regular pool (which itself has a pool of students that most colleges would be delighted to admit). That's why students who are EA deferred and eventually rejected still get into some top universities.

corinao · 06-19-2006, 03:29 PM

Thanks, everyone! I requested an application in May - I'm fairly sure I'll be applying EA. Maybe. I REALLY want to get into Harvard, so I was thinking that I could compile more awards/volunteering hours, etc. if I applied RD. My school hasn't had a Harvard acceptee in something like 6 years, though, but there're a few really amazing people applying every year. So I guess awards aren't everything...

xwang90, unfortunately the RSI acceptance rate to MIT isn't 100%. Close, but not quite. As for getting in...really, honestly I did not do anything special. Don't worry about it just yet, but keep an eye out for the RSI 2007 thread in High School Life