London to Harvard?

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>Hello, I’m Essie Blanc, and I would very much love to go to Harvard. Here are my statistics and a bit of biographical information and extracurriculars, along with a brief summary of my essay.</p>

<p>I moved to Manhattan two years ago after living in London my entire life. In London, I attended Francis Holland School and received a silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which you can look up; it’s basically an award given to complete a programme of activities involving service, physical, skills and expedition, but I moved from London before I could qualify for gold.</p>

<p>I am upper class; my father is an anesthesiologist and my mother owns and manages a relatively large takeaway chain in London as well as being an investment banker. She read Art History at St. Andrews and came to America to do her MBA at Harvard. </p>

<p>I speak English, French, German and I am almost fluent in Spanish after studying it in school. My South African grandmother is teaching me Zulu, although my progress has not been very promising thus far. I am one quarter Indian (as in India), one quarter South African, one quarter English and one quarter French (It’s pretty crazy).</p>

<p>I recently took the ACT and scored a 35 and received a 2290 (750-800-740 CR-M-W) on the SAT, which I know isn’t great, but I am thinking of retaking it.</p>

<p>In London, I played netball (which is basically basketball), swimming and tennis. I continue to do varsity swimming and varsity tennis in Manhattan and my coaches have informed me that I’ll be captain in tennis and junior captain in swimming. I also do athletics, which encompasses both track and field and cross country. Athletics are not school sanctioned, and I am a member of a running group. I will not continue these at the college level, only recreationally.</p>

<p>I did ballet in London and took summer courses at the English National Ballet School. For one brief, silly moment, I was advised to and considered studying at Royal, but decided to work on academics and athletics instead of full time ballet (and my mother told me I’d be barmy to do it). I am about 80 percent sure I won’t continue ballet as my schedule is quite ridiculous, but I really did love it, and would take the opportunity in a heartbeat if I ever had some free time.</p>

<p>In terms of community service, I started a library at my church in London and am the chairperson of the library committee, along with one of my close mates. I also have started volunteering at the Humane Society of New York. I tutor students in math at the primary school and help coach their swimming program, which I really enjoy.</p>

<p>This is becoming very long so in terms of extracurriculars, I play piano, I’m part of the schools book club, have been involved in the theater program for a while. I also sing in the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.</p>

<p>I take advanced classes and I will have done 8 AP/A level classes by the time I graduate. My GPA is a 3.9. </p>

<p>My essay is centered around the origins my name: Essie, but in a way that it weaves in my culture and exposure to language and diversity. It’s fairly simple, but my English teacher liked it.</p>

<p>My guidance counselor had a very stern talk with me about spreading myself thin. I genuinely enjoy every activity I do, and I never did any of the above with college in mind. My schedule is very very packed, but I put hard work and passion into all of my activities.</p>

<p>I know admission is a case-by-case basis, but if you have some idea, whether it be a ballpark range, percentage, a simple yes or no, or an anecdote, please let me know!</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Essie</p>

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<p>since when is a 2290 not a good sat score</p>

4

<p>I’m not saying it’s a bad score. But it’s not stellar in a pile of outstanding Harvard applicants.</p>

5

<p>Er…if I were you, I’d ask a moderator to edit out your personal information from this post. Have you no sense, woman? (and I mean that in a playful manner)</p>

<p>(I love your name!)
(god, what is wrong with me - I think it’s the milk, it’s filled with estrogen, I hear)</p>

6

<p>I agree with your counselor. You are spread too thin. Even your post makes your life sound frenetic. You have a shot like many others with strong scores, grades, ECs. Nothing is wildly different. Good luck and delete your name!</p>

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<p>I’m thinking it’s not her real name…</p>

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<p>Blanc is not my real last name, but Essie is my real first name.</p>

9

<p>A hint Essie: in the US it would usually be bad form to describe yourself as “upper class.” There is, of course, the functional equivalent of an upper class in US society, but most members of that social class would not use the term. </p>

<p>No matter how high or low they really are, a large majority of Americans would say middle class if they were pressed to classify themselves.</p>

10

<p>I agree with Coureur. In the US, to display yourself as “upper class” is in bad taste, perhaps unlike a class conscious society like UK or where I emigrated from - where it’s used as a badge of honor. In the US, the “upper class” would like to pass off as “commoner”. Either way, most people just don’t care about it.</p>

<p>Your excellent ACT of 35 should suffice. Harvard only wants either one (ACT or SAT I), plus the SAT subject tests (check their website). Take two or three SAT subject tests, do really well - score > 700 -800 and you should be done with testing. The 25th/75th ACT score for Harvard enrolled students is 31/34 (research this). If Harvard Admissions Committee finds you otherwise qualified - after a holistic review of your application, ACT of 35 or SAT of 2390 is unlikely to keep you out.</p>

<p>Even with a perfect score on the standardized tests, there is still no guarantee you’ll get into Harvard - as they routinely reject the vast majority of applicants with perfect scores who apply. For the class of 2016, Regular Decision (RD), percentage admitted = 3.8% of applicants. The number was somewhat higher for Early Action (SCEA) - giving a combined or final admission rate of 5.9%. The over 94% of applicants ultimately rejected included thousands of stellar candidates, many with perfect score(s) on any or all of these: ACT, SAT I, SAT subject tests and / or APs.</p>