Ravenbelle

Hey guys, I'm from NZ and wish I discovered CC earlier!!

I received a letter from Harvard congratulating me on my "academic achievements" encouraging me to apply. The large envelope contained a viewbook and Common application form too.

Does this mean my SATs are good enough to pass their "threshold" ??

The more I look through the forum the more I think that it's probably marketing coz I only got 2070 =(
SAT Subjects were US HIST: 700 & LIT: 770

coureur

There is no set threshold for SAT at Harvard, but 2070 is a little on the low side. Not impossible but a little low. You are right that the letter probably represents mostly marketing rather than any specific interest in you. They send out many thousands of those letters

Ravenbelle

phew ... "not impossible" that is jst the little speckle of hope I need!
Thanks coureur =)

xAAAx

i think they send it to all NMSF

mifune

70,000 or more receive the letter but there are only 15,000 NMSF's or something around that mark.

Ravenbelle

I'm from New Zealand so I can't be a NMSF =)

mifune: did you get that number from
Online Extra: How Harvard Gets its Best and Brightest ??
Coz I've read that too and its 3 years old ... and I hear H significantly decreased its mailing budget this year?
Plus the article says ---> " The first phase begins in the spring, when Harvard mails letters to a staggering 70,000-or-so high school juniors—all with stellar test scores—suggesting they consider applying to America's best-known college"

And I think we can all say my test results arent "stellar" =P

compmom

Your scores sound okay to me, and since you are from New Zealand, your presence would increase geographic diversity, so I would think you would have a chance, depending on some other things (like what your interests are).

Ravenbelle

cheers compmom. I'm quite confident on the interests side with my drama (performed publicly on the Globe Theatre in London and numerous national drama awards) blah blah ... and my AS-levels are extremely good.

hehe I'm jst too scared to start a "chance me" thread =P

mifune

@Ravenbelle: Yes, that is where I saw that statistic.

187

It's probably just a marketing ploy. I and my friend (along with several others in my school) got it. At the time they sent it, I only had a 2160 and my friend only had a 1900. And we're in SoCal.

Ravenbelle

@ 187: =O that really puts things into perspective...

EAO1227

2070 is not too low, depends on what else you have-its one of the many things they look at. But you can take them again if you want, they take your top score in each category so if you are worried do them again, can't hurt you.

Ravenbelle

lol jst got another invite to apply ... but this time not a formal package from the Dean of Admin & FA but a little email from Minority Asian students groups.

They really do like their marketing ...

Ravenbelle

I have to sit one more subject in Dec. But I think i will resit the SAT reasoning in Jan and Rush the tests to them ... heres hoping!!

An0maly

^ I got that letter from the Asian group too. It's ironic how we're considered minorities for statistics and such, but don't get URM benefits during admission.