<p>It’s worth taking because only the ‘heavies’ take the Math II. Taking it shows intellectual strength. Doing well on the Math IIc is a real feather in your stats. Very worthwhile.</p>
<p>Can you start practicing now and get help on the problems you miss? </p>
<p>At the admissions level you want to play in, the Math I is considered the ‘baby’ test.</p>
<p>I believe you can change your test online…</p>
<p>“It’s worth taking because only the ‘heavies’ take the Math II. Taking it shows intellectual strength. Doing well on the Math IIc is a real feather in your stats. Very worthwhile.”</p>
<p>My daughter’s math teacher said the same thing, more or less. He said it shows confidence in your skills and talents.</p>
<p>Buy yourself a little present … Harry Bauld’s book:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_books/college_essay.htm[/url]”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_books/college_essay.htm</a></p>
<p>In your essay, show (don’t tell) a piece of you that is not reflected elsewhere in your application. Harvard invites you to submit an additional optional essay. Take advantage of that to show yet another side of who you are … perhaps you can showcase your communication/orator skills in one of the essays.</p>
<p>The Harvard admissions committee will read everything you send. Include it all, but elaborate only on the most important parts that you want to showcase. Can you include a copy of your winning speech? Or better yet, do you have a DVD recording of it?</p>
<p>I believe the Math I is fine if you are not looking to apply as a math major, but the Math II does indeed have a much better curve.</p>
<p>And do spend a lot of time developing a list of <em>many</em> dream schools and target schools. Don’t forget the safeties. You’re applying in a very crazy year for admissions. Look at a variety of schools such as WUSTL and Emory, not just Ivies.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Also, don’t overlook liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>Alright, it looks like the 2c is abtter choice, but I think I’ll take the Ic now nd the 2c in October, at which point I will have hopefully learned enough and have become skilled enough to do well on it. I’ll definitely try to get my hands on a copy of Bauld’s books, any other must reads?</p>
<p>Derrick:</p>
<p>Add Stanford and P’ton to your list, since they seem to find more ‘need’ for kids they really want. :)</p>
<p>I like Hernandez’ Acing the College App…</p>
<p>Is there another SAT II that you could ace? Math Ic is irrelevant if you have IIc. Math Ic is not a good look on a top application–and it is bloody hard to distinguish yourself because every senior in the country takes it as the easier route. You won’t have time to re-take it if you don’t score above 720. It will automatically be sent to all the schools with your other SAT scores.</p>
<p>Take the IIc in June and re-take it in October if you don’t score over 700. That’s a no-lose formula.</p>
<p>Check the accepted stats of Harvard admits. I don’t think you will see a ton of Math Ics. I could be wrong.</p>
<p>I meant relaxing. Take the easiest SAT II you can find. Write an essay with decent grammar.</p>
<p>It won’t matter. No crapshoot. You are already in. In fact, if for some reason you found yourself in Aruba with no opportunity to take the third SAT, I am willing to suggest with 99.44% certainty that they’d waive the requirement to get you. (Check the stats of accepted male AFRICAN-AMERICAN Harvard applicants with 800 Writing SATs - and totals over 2,200. I dare you to find me a reject. I think most of this forum is pretty silly.)</p>
<p>^^Is that a good message to send?</p>
<p>Actually, I admire the fact that the OP is putting himself up against all Harvard applicants…not only the AA ones.</p>
<p>This tells me more about him than his scores. :)</p>
<p>And your post tells me much about you, too, mini. :)</p>
<p>I see no reason why he should turn himself into a nervous wreck, or spend his time jumping through other people’s hoops when he has already successfully done that, and when there are so many more interesting, exciting, truly educational things to be doing out there, that could enrich his mind and his soul. </p>
<p>It may be admirable, but it is wrongheaded, and I am glad we are able to provide him with better information so he can live life to the fullest. (and if that involves Aruba, more power to him! :))</p>
<p>It’s not wrongheaded at all.</p>
<p>It’s just right and makes me happy.</p>
<p>His question was to “gauge his chances for admission to Harvard”. </p>
<p>Most of the advice was bad (he said quite baldly) because it didn’t honestly answer his question. (He didn’t ask you to gauge other people’s chances for admission to Harvard.) And hence, it would lead him to be “wrongheaded”. And that’s not fair to him - he deserves better from us.</p>
<p>Well, imo he has a better opinion of himself than you do of him, and it speaks well for him.</p>
<p>Sorry we’re talking of him behind his back. I’m done.</p>
<p>I appreciate the honest concern from everyone here, but honestly there’s no point in arguing over it. I am taking into consideration all the advice you guys offer me and forming my own opinions based on what I hear of course, so I put a grain of salt in everything I read here.</p>
<p>Besides, it’s not worth fighting over, I’m just looking for information! 
Thanks everybody, and as usual, I’m still reading avidly and taking everything in stride.</p>
<p>Derrick, There’s nothing in your profile that would keep you out of any college in America (assuming of course that you fulfill all the requirements like SATIIs). At the same time there’s no guarantee, especially for the more selective colleges, so my advice at this point is NOT to concentrate on where you can get in, but rather where you want to be.</p>
<p>Harvard #1. Okay, fine. The best advice we can give you now is to start formulating #2-8, including some matches and safeties. You look good. You probably won’t need the safeties. But it’s important to spend as much time on researching, visiting, evaluating less selective as you do on your dream school.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t retake the SATI, it’s fine. I’d organize your resume into three distinct areas as you mention and make them lucid and easily read packages.</p>
<p>And do look at other schools. I went to Harvard. It’s a good place, but it might not be the right place for you.</p>
<p>DerrickA</p>
<p>I expect you’ll have some wonderful choices. I agree with those who say to look beyond just the Ivies, look CLOSELY at each school, not just its name or reputation, to see what you truly want. And do build in some safety, even though you almost surely won’t need it.</p>
<p>OP asked for resume crafting advice etc.
You are well-accomplished, so I’d think in the direction of teacher recommendation letters that do more than re-list your dazzling awards (they dazzle).
I’d be interested, as a reader to know you through your essays and teacher recs what kind of person would I expect to meet? Are you kind, enthusiastic, reflective…what is your style of making decisions? (hint: the fact that you went to advisors as you did tells me you’re resourceful).
If you think about it, I could have 5 applications on a desk with equally dazzling accomplishments but I’d want to admit the 3 of those where I’d welcome spending time with that human being, working on a project together.
What are your group skills, along with the individual accomplishments here.
AND, what do you hope to gain at college. What role will higher education play in the next chapter of your life. Schools like to know that they have something to offer you, that you are teachable under their system and their shower of resources.
SO my suggestion is to think in terms of mutuality. You bring so much here, but say what kind of person you are (and have teachers verify it) and what you hope to gain at each school you apply to.
You are so talented that you should do much research on each school to express why you want each school, referring to specific programs/departments/focus of a major…because any of them could assume the other one will take you away. By writing about specifics (from websites and visits) on your application, they’ll know you are focussed upon them. If Harvard is your first choice, I think I’d have the teacher rec say so explicitly.
I don’t know top Ivies; I know some top LAC’s and how they tick. The other advisors here know more about Ivies.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks paying3tuitions (nice name btw) I’m definitely making what you just said the focus of my character rejection. Those are certainly some things I need to be asking myself. As far as all the urges to look into other colleges, don’t worry haha, I’m definitely not a gambler and God forbid I go Harvard or bust.</p>
<p>Also you have so many activities that indicate leadership, initiative (starting clubs), organizational skill and the ability to motivate others. Over the summer, why not reflect on your leadership style – how do you get others to work together with you to achieve a result or a vision?
Some leaders are bossy, some delegate well…there are all different ways, and no one right way, to lead.
Aanyway, just be thinking about it. To me, it’s interesting not only THAT you started new clubs but I wondered (as a reader) HOW you did it.<br>
It’s of interest because it is a window to understand how you might augment your surroundings at your college, and especially at the beginning how you’d respond to others’ leadership for the many clubs already in existence.</p>