<p>@IvyApplicant,</p>
<p>“Just out of curiosity, what do you think my chances are for Harvard:”</p>
<p>Very, very low. Much lower than the standard answer of 5%. </p>
<p>Median SAT score of admitted students: ~2235. Median GPA: 3.9+ unweighted. For the class of 2018, the lowest GPA of any admitted students was 3.4. Typical class ranking: Top three students in the class, or top 1% - 2%. Involvement in multiple extracurriculars. Letters of recommendation that state the student is one of the teacher’s best students. Ever. In his or her career. Essays: homeruns.</p>
<p>Median grades and test scores are even higher for upper-middle class ethnic Asian applicants.</p>
<p>On test scores and grades, you’re scraping the very bottom of the range. Your SAT II score is ordinary, your ACT score is less impressive than your SAT, and your AP scores add little to your objective measures. In the information that you’ve provided, there’s nothing to compensate for the weakness in your objective measures. Your extraordinarily low (for Harvard) GPA would be mitigated if your school was extremely competitive and notorious for tough grading, but top quartile isn’t what Harvard is looking for.</p>
<p>By the way, as others have mentioned, you have no realistic prospects at Stanford or MIT, either. That’s why folks looked at your post and said, “■■■■■.” No one who understands admissions at highly-selective schools to any degree at all is going to list Stanford OR MIT as his or her safety. It’s a ridiculous assertion.</p>
<p>Your objective measures should get you into a decent state school, and some better private schools, but not likely top tier. You don’t have a realistic shot at Harvard.</p>