Can I get into Harvard?

BKSquared
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:16:38 +0000

I agree with @skieurope, your high school record (grades and rigor) and test scores will be the most important factors in your application. If we just look at the latest available Harvard Common Data Set, close to 80% (or higher) of all matriculates scored higher than 700 for each component of the old SAT (add about 30 points for the new SAT) and 90% scored higher than 30 for the ACT composite. We can safely assume that a disproportionate number of students below those levels were athletic recruits (or students with other super hooks, like high dollar donors) or are incredibly spikey (e.g. published and nationally awarded writer with mediocre math scores).

Where I agree with @compmom is that there will be literally thousands (probably 10-15,000) students with the objective stat’s for roughly 2,000 admissions spots. How Harvard selects from that pool will come down to the subjectives, essays, LoR’s and EC’s (and how those tie together).

I would say though that being the “best” in your school (assume you mean academic record) with a 1500+ SAT score puts you solidly in contention, especially as a URM. It will come down to how you present yourself through your essays, LoR’s and EC’s – will Harvard or Princeton feel that you will make best use of the opportunities that school is going to offer to you and will you be someone who contributes positively back to the school?