Advice for a Canadian?

neuro_hopeful
Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:07:21 +0000

Harvard is definitely my dream school, but of course I’m not counting on getting in. I’ll give some of my stats so maybe someone can tell me how I can improve, and if I have a chance at all. I am a Junior btw.

I’m thinking of also applying at Stanford, Cornell, and maybe Columbia. I was also considering MIT and CalTech.

Grades:
Were relatively low.
Freshman- 90% overall average.
Sophomore- 92% overall average
Junior- Expected around 94-96% overall average (yes, i really just started trying this year)
P.s. our school is probably one of the worst schools in my city for lowering marks. it’s really impossibly to have anything beyond a 97 average.

Tests:
Obviously I haven’t taken them, but I’m doing my best to study alot. Expected scores:
Sat Reasoning: 2200-2300
Sat Math 2: 750
Sat Biology: 750+
Sat French: 800 (should i take w/listening or not?)
AP Bio: 5
(should i take more APs?)

ECS:
Were kinda scattered. I need advice here.
*Co-President and Founder, Earth Rights Club (supporting the environment and human rights)
*Editor and Science Columnist, Albatross (school paper)
*Semester exchange to France
*MedQuest- week-long program, job shadowing doctors, learning how to do MRIs, etc
*Deep River Science Academy- 6 weeks at a research institute, doing real research with respected Canadian scientists (i chose molecular biology) I earn two high school credits for this (since Im already taking two bios this year, I probably will only get one Physics credit)
*IMPACT conference- two day conference in Toronto, meeting with top business executives from around the world
*Member, Enrichment Committee- Planning workshops for younger kids to learn about various subjects (this year we’re teaching history and physics with superheroes, ninjas and pirates)

Volunteer:
*Volunteer at the Canadian Cancer Society, planning fund-raising events (i havent personally done anything yet, but im starting in a week)

Work Experience:
*Part-time at Roger’s Video, about 10-15 hours a week (about 5 months now)
*Part-time at my parent’s Chiropractic Clinic, about 5 hours a week (more in the summer) (for about 5 years now)
*Worked part-time at the Sarnia Library for about a year, maybe 10-13 hours a week

Misc.:
*Fluent in French, taken French Immersion since kindergarten
*Enrolled in the gifted program for intellectually gifted students in the 98th percentile.
*Blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do (no other sports unfortunately)

I expected REC’s to be really good, since I’m on good terms with almost all my teachers, and all the school staff know me because I get involved alot. I am also good at writing personal essays, but I can’t know how good.

Any advice, ideas, suggestions? Do I have a chance? What other school would be good for me?