chance at harvard

psykomantium
Thu, 13 Jul 2006 05:52:49 +0000

What are my friend’s chances from NYC HS?

GPA: 90.6/100 (school scale: 3.7/4.0 unweighted) JR YR AVG: 88.0/100 with elective language, 2 AP classes, Honors Precal and Regents Physics
SAT: 2400 (800M 800CR 800W) IIs: 700 Bio-E 800 IIc 800 US Hist
PSAT: 224
AMC-10, AMC-12 Scholar, AIME 05,06 Participant
Natl Honor Society/ARISTA, Natl Spanish Honor Society
Natl Society of HS Scholars
AP Scholar (5’s on US Hist Eng Lit Comp Eng Lang Comp Envio Sci)
ECs: 100s of hours volunteering at nyc hospital; spearheaded successful student-led lobbying effort to bring a NEW LANGUAGE OFFERING of Arabic 1&2, totaling $15,000, 100% Average in Arabic, 94+ Language average; President of religious clubs, brought Islamic forums to school, coordinated Medical Ethics Symposia, 5 biology electives, charity fundraisers in school
Recs: Will be pretty strong, science-based

Senior courseload: AP Bio, AP BC Cal, AP US Govt, Tech, Ballroom Dancing, Lunch

My friend also has some potential hooks: disabled father, lived on welfare since 2002 (before HS), very low income (probably at poverty line) URM, grew up with endocrine disorder [more of a pity card, but hey life was rough for this kid], told me he plans to mention poverty and living conditions in Secondary School Report as well as essays.

I really hope he gets into Harvard Class of 2011. What do you think?