My RD Harvard Chances

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>Here are my stats:
Caucasian Male, Rural Wisconsin, small, uncompetitive HS (no one has ever gone to Harvard - the best we’ve had is Northwestern and West Point)
ACT of 35 (36 in Science, 33 in Math, 35 in English, 34 in Reading, 10/2004)
SAT I of 1460 (730 each, 11/2003)
SAT IIs: US History 770 (6/2003), Biology-E 780 (6/2004), World History 670 (6/2004), Literature 640 (oops) (10/2004), Writing about 750 (I find out on Friday) (12/2004)
GPA: 3.967/4.000 unweighted
Class Rank: 2/97
Current Year-Long Classes: AP US History, Pre-Calculus, AP English, Spanish III (most advanced foreign language class at my school), Adv. Biology
Current Semester Classes: Speech, Sociology (Sem 1), Native American History, Psychology (Sem 2)
I also signed up for Physics but I go to a small high school and I had to pick between Physics and AP English due to schedule restraints.
Extracurriculars:

  • This year I founded an opinion-based student newspaper that we distribute twice a month - it is usually about 8 pages (four sheets) long.
  • Forensics (11, 12) - Silver Medalist at state
  • Quiz Bowl (9-12) - Captain
  • Drama - Lead role (Summer 2004), supporting role (Fall 2004)
  • Track (9-12) - nothing special (I put 9-11 on the app, but I decided to take it again this year)
  • Student Council (11, 12) - Officer
  • NHS (12)
  • National Young Leaders Conference (Nov 4-9, 2003)
  • Volunteer Group (11, 12)
  • Junior Prom Committee (11)
  • One of eight seniors selected to go on a four-day trip to an Indian reservation
    Honors:
  • National Merit Semifinalist
  • Highest ACT score (35) in my school’s history (no one has ever gotten a 36)
  • High Honor Student each year
  • Student of the week, twice
  • Two Kiwanis Award</p>

<p>For my rec letters, I had my AP US History and Advanced Biology teachers write them.</p>

<p>I wrote my essay on Topic 6 (of your choice) and wrote it on how my interests and aspirations developed (my interests are cities, urban planning, transportation, travel, public policy), relating stories from when I was younger.</p>

<p>I wrote my CommonApp short answer about how Forensics, in addition to improving my speaking skills, actually allowed me to really form friends. Before the state competition, I got along with most people but really didn’t have a life outside of school, and the state competition (particularly the bus ride back from it) inspired me to really go further and become friends with people (my academic performance didn’t suffer, either). My actual answer was much more eloquent than that, but it’s after midnight and I don’t feel like rewriting it here.</p>

<p>In High school I’ve had straight A’s, except for an A- in Yearbook (I got assigned the Student Council page after all SC meetings were done for the year, so I wasn’t able to really get pictures in time), and three A-'s in Spanish classes (Span I: A-, A-), (Span II: A-, A). For my core academic classes I’ve had straight A’s.</p>

<p>My parents both went to state colleges in Minnesota, but not to grad school, if Harvard looks at that.</p>

<p>I don’t know if I’m forgetting anything else that was on the application, but I think I included everything.</p>

<p>What are my chances of getting in?</p>

2

<p>Your chances are as good as anyone else - that is, the same probability of winning the lottery.</p>

3

<p>Nobody has a clue anymore.</p>

4

<p>I would say you need a hook, but I think the small town thing might be it–your class schedule isn’t very competitive (not taking calculus, etc). In other words–it is important to demonstrate to Adcom that you’re making the absolute most of your school.</p>

<p>Don’t count your chickens before they hatch (lol! farm joke!), but I think you have a chance, definitely!</p>

5

<p>That’s the thing with my school: I probably have the hardest schedule of any senior at my school. Other people are in Calc but they won’t have AP English, or something. One kid does have all three AP classes but then only has Sociology on top of it - the rest for him is Phy Ed, Work Study, and Study Hall. Plus, the AP Calc class at my school isn’t very good - last year, everyone got a 1 on the AP test, except for a 2 and a 3.</p>

<p>At the same time, other high schools have much better classes than mine, and my schedule seems weak compared to them.</p>

6

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<p>Clearly, nobody had a clue in the first place.</p>