Could I Get a Reality Check?

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>I am a current junior, so everything about second sem. Junior year and Senior year is speculated. So I understand the difficulty of getting in and everything, I was just curious about my chances. Sorry for posting another “Chance me” thread. I just am wondering if I am completely off base on thinking I may get into Harvard. I have wanted to go there since I was four, probably because that was the only college name I knew. Now I want to go there because what is the point in not trying to compete with the best. (not saying Harvard is the best, but it is seen that way)</p>

<p>Major: Molecular Biology (I hope to be a reconstructive plastic surgeon)</p>

<p>White Male/Asian Family (projected essay topic)
4.75 WGPA/ 4.0 UWGPA
top 5/roughly 500 (no numbers available, school doesn’t believe in comparing kids; taken from knowledge of classmates)
IB student
SAT I: 2080 (I know it is horrible, I was in a rush, and it was just bad, but I also know that I can get it up to at least 2300 if I study)
SAT II not taken yet, going to take Physics and Bio, both expected high because they are my best subjects.
ACT will take 4/12</p>

<p>Freshman year
English 1 H
Bio H
Geometry H
World History H
Latin 1 (award of excellence)
Orange County Academic Decathlon(it was an actual class)</p>

<p>Sophomore year
Euro AP (5)
English 2 H
Algebra 2 H
Chem H
Latin 2
Ceramics</p>

<p>Junior year
Bio AP
Physics AP/SL
US AP
English HL 1
Latin 3
Pre Calc H
ToK spring sem.</p>

<p>Senior year
English HL 2
Bio HL
History of the Americas HL
Math SL
Latin SL
ToK fall sem.</p>

<p>EC
-Weekly volunteering at neurological damage recovery center helping rehabilitate residences
-One year Post Anesthetic Care Unit volunteer at UCI Medical Center
-One year Operating Room volunteer at UCI Medical Center (watched 20+ surgeries)
-Either another year Operating Room volunteer or a different part of the hospital if I chose at UCI Medical Center during Senior year
-Schutzhund protection dog sport helper(the person that takes the bites and helps train dogs, actually takes efforts to not jam a dog’s neck)
-two years as prosecuting attorney on mock trial team (three if parents let me continue next year)
CSF(if that even counts for anything)</p>

<p>Work
-Server at Banquet Hall
-Tutoring six different children concurrently, two slightly autistic</p>

<p>Leadership
-Key Club vice president and Lt Governor of D04E(president of twelve schools)
-FAST(families and students together) team leader at UCI Medical center</p>

<p>Extra courses and random things
-I have helped run two parades by conducting the flow and order of floats and acts (completely stressful, especially when no one speaks English)
-Summer UCLA mock trial and public speaking camp (first place award)
-eight week Toastmasters public speaking seminar
-Art appreciation course at community college because I knew nothing of fine art
-moved from Oregon to Southern California at beginning of HS
-Will be taking Calculus over the summer since I cannot take it next year (IB requirements)</p>

<p>Last notes
-Low income family <$50,000(in Orange County)
-First gen student
-I will be paying for all of college if that matters</p>

2

<p>bump please</p>

3

<p>Everything on this thread looks really good except for your SAT scores, but hopefully you can get that up. I think your a strong canidate for Harvard, but the acceptance rate is 6%, and might get lower next year so its pretty much a lottery…</p>

4

<p>Thank you very much. I understand, I really have to improve upon it.</p>

5

<p>As a “white male/asian family” member with a SAT I of 2080 you have a very long and high road to climb. My advice: forget about Harvard and look at the “Little Ivies” – see: <a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ivies[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ivies&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>I said negate the SAT score, that is not a problem. What is your implication with the “white male/asian family” references?</p>

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<p>^^ See: [Do</a> colleges redline Asian-Americans? - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/08/do_colleges_redline_asian_americans/]Do”>http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/08/do_colleges_redline_asian_americans/)
[U.S&lt;/a&gt;. News - Affirmative action in college admissions? Supreme Court to hear case](<a href=“http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/21/10466979-affirmative-action-in-college-admissions-supreme-court-to-hear-case]U.S”>http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/21/10466979-affirmative-action-in-college-admissions-supreme-court-to-hear-case)
<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/2/23/supreme-court-affirmative-action/[/url]”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/2/23/supreme-court-affirmative-action/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-12-03/asian-students-college-applications/51620236/1[/url]”>http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-12-03/asian-students-college-applications/51620236/1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>“white male/asian family”</p>

<p>My name is Travis Cardoza. I am 100% white. Half of my family, my step-family, is 100% Taiwanese. They have practically adopted me. I cannot understand my grandpa half of the time. </p>

<p>So now, as a WHITE male with all of these stats plus a BETTER SAT score, would I have a chance to make it into Harvard, or am I crazy for attempting.</p>

<p>Sorry if there was any confusion. Thank you for the articles though.</p>

9

<p>I’d give you a roughly 6% chance of admission. </p>

<p>So much is random / subjective; just do what you think you need to do to have a chance, the fact that you are on this forum is a very good sign.</p>