<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>