Chances for 2012

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>GPA UW: 3.91
Class Rank: 17/396
Male
Race: White, Russian immigrant
School: Public, NC
SAT I: 700 M, 700 CR, 730 W
SAT II: 800 US, 740 MathII, 770 Chemistry
Junior: AP Computer Science AB, AP English, AP US History, PreCalculus, Physics HN
Senior: AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, AP Macro/Microeconomics, AP German, AP English, AP Government and Politics, AP Psychology</p>

<p>ECs:
Key Club
National Honors Society
Chess Club (officer, insert Russian jokes here, will continue to play chess competitively if Columbia has some sort of team)
Young Democrats (president next year)
German Club (president)
Global Awareness Club
Academic Team (captain)
Work 15-20 hours a week at a local grocery store</p>

<p>Let me elaborate on a few things. I work not because I like having spending money, but because I have no other choice. As soon as I turned 16, I understood that I would have to get a job, no questions asked. I’ve been at the same place for two years now and I don’t plan on leaving until the Fall of '08. I’m living in a single parent home, father pays no child support (actually, I’m not entirely certain that he’s still even living); ergo, working is a necessity, not following the common misconception that people my age work to buy expensive clothes and whatnot.</p>

<p>My essay is going to be, for lack of a better term, extremely emotional. The story of “losing” my father has never failed to evoke a great deal of emotion in people…</p>

<p>I fluently speak three languages (Russian, Ukrainian, and English). I have some degree of mastery over Polish and Georgian, to the point that if you were to drop me in the middle of either of these countries, I would be perfectly fine.</p>

<p>Do your worst.</p>

2

<p>Ok being quite frank if you were any other applicant Harvard is a reach defintely because students with significantly better rank and SAT II’s also get rejected from Harvard. However considering your circumstances what you’ve achieved is very remarkable and shows great character and strength within you as a person, and to be able to maintain a challenging course load is equally impressive. I don’t think it would hurt to apply, but just keep in mind if only scores are taken into context you are a reach. But good luck anyways.</p>

3

<p>Improve your SAT Is, your IIs are fine-maybe the Math should be revised, aka you should retake it. That’s all really :)</p>

4

<p>Just from a quick look it seems like you have an average chance at Harvard. Of course at Harvard an average chance is less than 10%, but that has way more to do with the selectivity of the school than you. I guess for Harvard your class rank and SAT scores might be low, but saying that being 17 in a class of almost 400 and having a 2100+ SAT score is “low,” once again reflects more on Harvard than on you.</p>

<p>Anyway, take tests over again if you think you can do better, but do not stress out over them. Your application will be VERY competitive at a number of very good colleges - basically you have a great chance at everywhere but the top few schools.</p>

<p>Definitely apply though because it can’t hurt.</p>

5

<p>how long have you been in the country?</p>

6

<p>If I were you I won’t write about me losing my father for my essay. It’s up to you.</p>