<p>I am a new member of college confidential and, first, I wanted to tell you how great was this forum . I’m learning stuff everyday about Sat’s and most of all, I don’t feel like I was the only desperate applicant : to all of them : We’ll get our thick enveloppe !
So I wanted to expose you my situation since it is a bit unusual, though not exceptional, to, if you could just devote (is the term too strong ? ) some minutes of your, i’m sure busy lives, get some advises .</p>
<p>First, I am currently in senior year in an unknown french private high school (much more cheaper as the american ones, I can assure it). Well, my concern is about my academic . Since I’m in primary school, people always have considered me as a clever student, even if I think they were exagerating a lot. However, last year, as a junior, my grades fell and I even got the equivalent of B+ (I am using the french embassy equivalences) in scientifical classes . I know these results are honorable but my childhood dream is to attend Harvard and I know it may be very insufficient.
When I told my friends that I would try, they immediately told me that I was able to succeed but I think they’re overestimating my marks, and seriously underestimation other applicants (anyway, i just love them !) . For example, since 9th grade to 10th grade included, I was in the 5%top of my class, even the first I think, but since last year, (except during the first trimester where I did very well, an average of A+ and the worst grade was a B+ in sports), my grades fell to B+ for the worst (in biology and geology during the second trimester, and in maths during the third one).
For biology and geology, I think I can make up for it since i have been ranked (3rd) in an academical geology contest, and I was the first of my high school . But for maths I am afraid it ruins all the efforts I have been making for years (I could ask a teacher report to my former maths teacher, who actually taught me in 9th and 11th grades, but I’m afraid he just completely ruins my application) .
Another HUGE concern is my grades in the anticipated baccalaureat exam . I had an awful grade of 9/20 (I saw it was a B- :s) in written french (4 hours essay) but very good grades in oral french ( a 20 minutes presentation over french literature texts) 18/20, 18 at my TPE (a six months “research” project in groups, with a final essay and a presentation in june-we made a magazine, can I use it as a supplement material ?-) and a grade, my classmates, teachers and my counsellor said was outstanding, 20/20 in history and geography (4 hours essay, a map to do and a document to analyze). Because history is more weighted than other subjects, I received an average of 16,6/20 which I think is an A+. It is actually good but the B- might (will ?) spoil everything .</p>
<p>Another concern, yeah, I am very concerned, is my SAT tests. I’m taking 3 subjects (Biology E/M, Maths level 2 and World History) in a month only and I plan to intensely train during this two weeks holiday but I am afraid it’s not good enough to target a perfect score . I think it’s the only way I might be admitted right ? IceQube (this guy is a genius right ? 3 perfect score O_O) gave me advises and I plan to devote (the term is not strong enough there) 40 hours next week (OMG, if I survive this, I think I’ll survive everything)</p>
<p>Concerning extracurriculars, I am involved in my high school « aumonerie » for two years and we have organized a final year show. I’m also, since september part of a national association, as a volunteer, and I am tutoring a little girl. Furthermore, I am participating to a programm started this year with the retirement house located in my school (unusual I know) to read books to elderly people . Furthermore, I’ve practised classical guitar for five years (I was pretty lousy but my teacher liked me)+ 2 years in an “ensemble”. Concerning music, i was good in music theory (should I ask a report to my teacher ? He has always overoverestimated my abilities, that could help, couldn’t it ?). However, in France, extracurriculars are not that important, that is why I dread that my counsellor might not even mention my involvment in school extracurricular’s life.</p>
<p>What could help me is that I am currently being the only senior student in my school, and probably among a few hundreds in the country, to have that much classes considering that I am currently having 3 options, while we are limited to 2 for the Baccalauréat. Besides, my path (if you see what I mean), can be considered as unusual, and by many interesting since I was born abroad in a country that has faced HUGE difficulties (a genocide, nothing less) and my parents had to face so much when we arrived here in France. Nevertheless, I have scruples about talking about such a dramatic and tragic event, only, for college, even if my parents encourage me to do so, telling me that it is a part of who I am, of my story.</p>
<p>So, my question is, regarding this brief (not that brief I know), summary, do you think I even got a chance to be admitted to Harvard ? I’m dreaming of this since I am seven . Have I absolutely to get perfect scores to my SAT (what I mean is : will they be more indulgent with the english section because english is my second language ?) and, should I talk about my social background (including the events that have shook up my country of birth) ? Or would it be a pure making tool of, which I surely don’t want to do ?</p>
(12 ecrit/13 oral/16 TPE)