HS Junior Looking for a Reality Check

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>Hey, I’m a high school junior, I’ve started looking for colleges recently. I like to think I’m above average, but I don’t know how I fall into the guidelines for application to top-tier schools, or how I measure up against others. If you all would look this information over and let me know your thoughts, it would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!</p>

<p>Please see the following:</p>

<p>(MOSTLY UPDATED FOR NEXT YEAR)</p>

<p>Stats:
GPA: ~3.7 UW (We don’t weight)
Rank: Top quarter- Be advised that most people above me take a schedule consisting of maybe 2-3 ag classes, gym, history, etc.
ACT: Projected 30-34</p>

<p>Other stats:
AP: 1 (only offered by my school)
Dual credit/College: 5-6</p>

<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: Rogersville, Missouri, USA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Male</p>

<p>Other Factors/ Extra-Curriculars:

  • NHS for 2 years
  • 2 year soccer letterman
  • Policy Debate (we’ve been in finals of all but one tournament this year, if that helps. Spend >20 hours a week on it. I also plan to debate in college.)
  • Web design with HTML/PHP/CSS/Javascript/MySQL (I’ve done work for 2 bands, myself, 2 web start-ups, etc.)
  • Graphic design with Photoshop/Illustrator (For same projects)
  • Popular music blog (7th grade to last year; averaged thousands of visitors a day; mentioned by Rolling Stone; mentioned by Vh1’s Best Week Ever multiple times; interviewed bands of varying prominence, such as: Of Montreal, The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell, The Walkmen, The Subways, etc.; Reported on concerts; Was on promo-list of all major record labels)
  • Freelance writing for larger music sites (7th grade to freshman year)
  • Freelance writing/reporting for Filter Magazine (7th grade to freshman year)
  • Volunteer for 2004 John Kerrey Presidential Campaign
  • Founded Citizens for Seinfeld (A community group dedicated to increasing the number of Seinfeld re-runs aired in our area; ~50 members; we got what we wanted; the TV station wanted me to do promos for the re-runs for them but my mom wouldn’t allow it.)
  • Co-Founder and President of first/only Young Libertarians high school group in Missouri
  • Heavy involvement in Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign
  • Precinct leader for Ron Paul 2008
  • Involved in Campaign for Liberty
  • Freelance reporter for American Citizen Press (Paper in Pittsburgh, KS)
  • Interviewed Mike Huckabee for ACP
  • Obtained press credentials for and reported on Bill Clinton and Sarah Palin rallies (Fun fact- Palin had a bloody finger and shook my hand, and thereby got her blood on me. Ew.)
  • Literature club, Future Teachers of America, Home-Ec club, yada yada yada
  • Volunteer at Ghost Ranch in NM
  • Sound system operator at my church
  • Un-finished novel
  • (Possible/Probable) Student Council President
  • Various other work experience
  • Maybe more, I can’t think of anything else</p>

<p>Sorry if some/most of those things are of little relevance, I just don’t know exactly what is and is not considered, so I thought I would throw it all out there to the more knowledgeable CC community. I know my grades/test scores are a little low, but I feel like a have a number of potential “hooks”. </p>

<p>Obvs I’m looking for specifically my chances at a place such as Harvard, because I know several people who went and loved it, but I’m also looking at Northwestern, Wake Forest, UC-Berkeley, Emory, and Dartmouth.</p>

<p>Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated. I just want to know where I stand!</p>

2

<p>Oh, and 5 years of Spanish, a musical, and a play. Thanks!</p>

3

<p>While I won’t chance you because I’m a Reed fan and know nothing of Harvard’s ridiculously high standards beyond their ridiculously highness, I will say that I sympathize with you on the small school in Missouri filled with ag classes and next to no APs. Being from Missouri myself all I can say is make sure you take every advanced class possible and pray it’s enough.</p>

4

<p>your GPA is a bit on the low side. </p>

<p>Also, I would not put things like: founded Citizens for Seinfeld or operated the sound system at your church. </p>

<p>You have done a ton of stuff, but think of it this way. If you were a person on the admissions board, would you want someone telling you: “Well, I went to China, and Tibet, and India. And I drive my little brother to school. And I read Hobbes.” </p>

<p>Think about your focus. Maybe the whole music thing.</p>

5

<p>dont mention the church at all^^</p>

<p>but I really think we need some testscores to chance you at all! SATs, APs, ACT, IB? classrank?</p>

6

<p>You interviewed Of Montreal?!</p>

<p>I know I’d let you in.</p>

7

<p>there is a concrete score behind the “projected 30-34” and that is a 29 that i got during my sophomore year, but i don’t really count that as valid in my mind because my girlfriend had kept me up until 3:00 am the night before the test and i could hardly stay awake. so… if that helps.</p>

<p>and, yeah, i’m trying to think of some synergy between the music to politics to debate… thoughts?</p>

<p>and re: of montreal- yes, kevin barnes is the coolest guy ever</p>

8

<p>Based on what you have stated above, Harvard seems like a “reach” for you. I say this because friends with similar/higher stats and prominent extracurricular activities were outright rejected.</p>

<p>It’s interesting - I’m a hardcore LD debater myself (only tried Policy once) and I build websites with HTML, PHP, MySQL, and CSS as well. :)</p>

9

<p>You’ve got one of the more interesting lists of ECs that I’ve read in a while. I loved your “Citizens for Seinfeld” - it might make a good essay topic. You’ll need your GC to emphasize that your schedule is “among the most difficult” and put your grades in context. Some will depend also on what sort of standardized test scores you end up with. Harvard is a long shot for everyone, but you can’t get in if you don’t apply.</p>