<p>I just got my SAT in and I got a 1750. AP US History was a 3 and my ACT was a 26. Is this way too low for Harvard? If so, what similar schools might I consider?</p>
<p>It is most likely too low. Unless every other part of your application is absolutely amazing, don’t count on it. Take the tests again and focus on RD. I am applying to Yale SCEA with a 34 ACT.</p>
<p>Ouch. That’s less than 600 per section average. Yes, I would think those scores are quite low. Choose the college based on your interests and liking for the surroundings, not on how prestigious it is.</p>
<p>I’m not choosing Harvard for its big name. I like the vast resources and inclusive feel of the school. Does it help that I’m salutatorian and competed and placed in state and regional events? I also started a club and am a URM. Yeah, math was a 530 which really sucks</p>
<p>What did you compete in? What’s your GPA? How many APs have you taken? Harvard won’t admit or reject you purely on a SAT score. If you have very focused ECs and a visible passion, there’s always a chance. There’s no formula. But consider: I too am salutatorian, captain of Science Olympiad (went to California state competition last year), started a club for girls with eating issues and my family’s from Singapore. We’re creepily similar to thousands of other applicants across the country, and Harvard will use SAT scores in the first round of differentiation.</p>
<p>Any big university will have resources and an inclusive feel. Have you looked at Tufts, Indiana University, Iowa University, places like that? My first choice is actually IU because I’m not exactly swimming in cash. Second choice Wellesley, third choice Yale. IU totally has that inclusive feel, and with all those students the college was forced to provide resources. Take a look at lower-level places.</p>
<p>Those are good options. I really like Harvard’s house system. Do you know of any schools like that? Yeah State Science Olympiad and FBLA regionals. Community Care Committee Prez-3yrs. Girl Scout-2yrs Science Club-2yrs VP and Prez. FBLA-Parliamentarian and Treasurer. Those are my most important things also I have NHS and Student Council. GPA is 3.95 unweighted 4.5 weighted. I’ve taken one AP and one Community college class, chemistry. Taking 5 APs now</p>
<p>sorry but how are you salutatorian with a 530 math?</p>
<p>APPLY! You never know!!! Get stellar, and I mean STELLAR recommendations that highlight your insight as well as unique direct praise. Work with your teachers here…you are almost demanding a rejection (this is to anyone) if you do not review the letter with your teacher/counselor and make sure it brings out everything about you. Yes, this is unfair to have teachers that do no allow this. </p>
<p>If you are a URM, tell how (if it applies) you have been a leader in your community : a liaison between your school and your community, and your culture and your community. Have teachers that will write about you embracing and empowering your culture. Harvard is looking for world leaders and activist so if you present your self as a unique and “once in a life time for your school” leader I am sure that they will over look your scores. However, every other part of your application needs to be STELLAR. This is the way I am going! </p>
<p>To be brutal:</p>
<p>You have few APs PRIOR to this year…
How many have you taken Vs. # offered by school
Have you taken a diverse amount of courses (remember Harvard = liberal education)</p>
<p>Are you “first in the history of your school” for anything?</p>
<p>Have you taken online courses (love for learning)</p>
<p>Have you exhausted everything your school has offered?</p>
<p>What are your SATIIs?</p>
<p>What is the avg SAT ? ACT in your school!?</p>
<p>It may be too late now for you but I have done my research and all my letters of rec highlight these “technical advantages” that will illuminate you in context of your school. Get your teachers to mention these things. </p>
<p>If you are your school’s FIRST hispanic salutatorian…then SAY it (have teacher say in in rec)!</p>
<p>I hope this helps…research pays off! 
Hopefully we can both get in!</p>
<p>They don’t get all the SAT scores until several weeks after the test date (IE. Middle of Nov), it’s impossible for them to use them as part of their early elimination.</p>
<p>Somewhere in all the higher level maths, Calculus and what not, I forgot a lot of basic stuff.</p>
<p>I have taken all the APs my school offers plus a class from a community college and convinced a teacher to offer me correspondence AP Spanish. I’m the first hispanic salutatorian and one of the first to apply to the Ivy League (my school is five years old). I think my classes were pretty diverse; I took whatever interesed me. Yeah I also took 2 years of Spanish online. I did take advantage of everything at my school, but there’s no way to express that in the app. Do you know where to find out what the average SAT and ACT scores are? My school doesn’t know.
BTW, gregunit some time after Calculus I lost track of all that stuff they put on the math section.</p>
<p>okay. You need to have your teachers mention it. I gave each of my teachers a recommendation “guide” and as annoying as it sounds it worked…they really all came out stellar. I know it sounds like i am gloating but I am just so happy over the result. Try your best to get an English teacher. Have the teacher each zone in on different aspects of yourself. For example, my spanish teacher expressed me as a “fervent Hispanic leader that my school’s has had…and the liaison between the hispanic culture and the community and the liaison between my school and the community”. My englidh teacher zoned in on what drives me and what my passions are. My counselor gave insight to my personality and in depth deiscussion of my impact on Durant and the BETA club. </p>
<p>***All teachers gave indisputable and unbeatable praise with a few statement about BEST student for…or only student in history of school…or things that portray me as a furture world leader.</p>
<p>This is what Harvard really wants to hear! Serriously, I think if you have stuff like this a stellar transcript anf ECs they will overlook your modest test scores. Just try top do around their level of SATIIs because that is course content…not biased reasoning.</p>
<p>Ooh, I just thought of something. If you don’t get in on the first round, and they’ll take updated scores, you can take the SATII Math2c. You’ll probably do well if you’ve taken Calc. See, I got a 720 math on the SAT and it nearly killed me, so I studied my brains out for the SATII and got a 780, so I’m hoping that will demonstrate that I’m competent. Then you don’t have to sit through another 4 hour test [ugh]</p>
<p>That’s really smart. That’s what I’ll do. I understand Caculus well.</p>
<p>I would say that it iyour chance is not great, although you certainly do have a chance. I agree with what Apfreak has said. Have you thought about schools such as Washington U (St. Louis) or U. of Michigan?</p>
<p>do they just reject out outright for a low satI? although i didnt do as bad as agnodice (sorry), i got a 2000, which is still pretty low. it’s a lot better than my 1800 the first time i took it. im really confident i’m gonna do better for this week’s test, but it would be a shame if they threw away my paper the first second they see it</p>
<p>dont listen to these ppl… you have poor chances at this school so save your money on application fees and apply to other colleges. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PPL APPLY TO HARVARD???</p>
<p>A lot! I bet they make a lot of money from application fees, but I already sent it in. Does the fact that I trying Early Action help any?</p>
<p>OK guys, being nice is one thing, but I think that being honest is a little more important. Yes, agnodice, a 1750 is quite low for Harvard. </p>
<p>She asked, so she should be able to handle the truth.</p>
<p>Have you considered Union College in New York? They also have a “house” system, although it is primarily social and academic for the freshmen; there’s a residential option for upperclassmen. We’ve seen these houses and they are truly gorgeous.</p>
<p>Whether or not you apply to Harvard, you need to focus on coming up with a realistic list of schools that will include safeties, matches, and reaches.</p>