Chances for an uncertain junior

compmom
Mon, 19 May 2008 07:48:51 +0000

You should definitely apply. Harvard is focused on “economic diversity” and trying to reach out to high schools that never send kids to Harvard or other elite schools. Our high school is similar, actually…

Harvard does admit kids with a lowish SAT II (our daughter was one) but it would be good to do a little better on the subjects in which you are strong. They recognize that people have different strengths. Your SAT’s in reading/writing are great, so take humanities SAT II’s and study a little bit. But the SAT II"s also can reflect poor teaching. In our school, the kids know they have to teach themselves for the subject tests, and for the AP tests, because of the quality of the teaching. So they don’t cram, they teach themselves all year (maybe two out of 80 kids do this, but those who want to learn, do, even if it is with no help).

It looks like you are a person who is very motivated to be helpful in your community and have a genuine interest in local history (from the museum work). Two hundred hours must mean you really love it. This summer and in the fall, just follow your interests and deepen them.

There are lots of great schools out there looking for students like you. Apply to Harvard and to other schools, and understand that the whole process has a random quality and is not an evaluation of who you really are. Loook at books like “Beyond the Ivies” and “College that Change LIves” to make sure that Harvard is what YOU really want, too!