<p>I live in NJ. I have around a 3.1 GPA and a 2100 on the SAT. I’m thinking about enrolling in the Harvard University Summer School, which would entail me to spend my time at the university from June 23 to August 10th. This is a HUGE commitment. This will be the biggest commitment I have made given my age of 16 years old (rising junior). This opportunity seems like it would be a great asset to me in the future and I believe that this opportunity shouldn’t be missed. Attempts at dissuading me to attend have been made because my parents fear of the extensive time staying at the campus and me being so far away from home, but i’m quite frightened myself. I’m planning to either become a stock market analyst or a doctor. Being a doctor is my passion but I am extremely good at the stock market simulators and i’ve even had assets exceeding 80,000 $ within one day of simulation trading (maybe this will help with my admission to this program, given that many other applicants probably have astounding GPA’s.) I have also gotten a letter of recommendation from my mathematics teacher to attend a summer credits program because I have a 99 in AP Calculus BC and i’m a sophomore. Also since i’ve almost exhausted the math programs that my school offers, I might even consider going to college senior year instead wasting my time doing absolutely nothing stimulating, and I’m hoping that this program will completely exhaust my brain with mathematics because i’m in a top 20 boarding school (explaining why my GPA is so horridly low) and even their math programs aren’t enough for me. </p>
<p>In advance, I apologize if I come off as arrogant. I’m simply stating these “accomplishments” so one can see if these culmination of activities will allow me to meet the prerequisites of such a prestigious program.</p>
<p>In this rant, my questions are:
Will I be accepted?
Do you think that I should spend the entire summer away from my parents (being that I attend boarding school during the school year)
Even though i’m extremely capable of moving up in the business ranks, should wealth be more important than attaining something that you TRULY love? (Help others)
If I should stay in New Jersey for the summer, what mathematics classes should I take and where? Because it is REALLY bothering me that I will not be taking math at my school for the next (two?; early college) years and I would really appreciate if someone would help me with this problem.</p>
<p>In advance, thank you so much for the help. I appreciate any eloquent responses.</p>
<p>RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE ==> Applying to the SSP:
As of April 20, 2012, we have begun waitlisting applicants who require on-campus housing. We remain able to accommodate qualified applicants who can commute to classes.</p>
<ol>
<li>As you are from NJ, even if you applied today, you would be placed on the waitlist unless you can supply housing on your own.</li>
<li>If you want to apply to expand your knowledge and experience Harvard, then do so, BUT IT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF ADMISSION to the college.<br></li>
<li>SSP is not summer camp. It’s a normal 14-week Harvard semester crammed into 7 weeks. You will have 100-400 pages to read every week, papers due practically every class. Sorry to be blunt, but with a 3.1 GPA, I’m not sure how you would do.</li>
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<p>Honestly, Avery, I don’t expect you’re going to like my answer, but I think you should do something unrelated to math during the summer. </p>
<p>I think you should do something that is reading- and writing-intensive. I apologize up front for being blunt, but the post you’ve written here sounds badly overwritten, except for the spots where unidiomatic expressions or usage errors make it sound just badly written. If you’re setting your sights on Harvard or someplace similarly selective, you’ll need to become a better writer.</p>
<p>As for Harvard Summer School, it isn’t terribly competitive, and attending it isn’t particularly helpful for college admissions. I mean, it’s something productive that you could do with your summer, and in that way it would be a whole lot better than wasting your summer playing video games or watching reruns of Boy Meets World or Law & Order on the TiVo. But it isn’t really more helpful than any other productive thing you could do with your summer. So:</p>
<ol>
<li> Yes, I think you’d be accepted.</li>
<li> That’s totally a family matter, and it doesn’t matter what outsiders think.</li>
<li> Huh? What does this have to do with your summer plans, or with anything in this post?</li>
<li> I don’t think a math class is what you need.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Most students get accepted, but it sounds like you might be too late for this year at least if you need housing. (And agree it’s not competitive, not prestigious and won’t help you get into Harvard). A 3.1GPA is unlikely to get into Harvard in any event.</li>
<li>This is a family matter, but if my kid were in boarding school, I’d want to see them in the summer.</li>
<li>Wealth is overrated. Do what you love and that you can feel good about. </li>
<li>I don’t know why you can’t take math during the school year, but I think summers are best spent working or volunteering. That said, my oldest did take a computer graphics class at Columbia the summer after his sophomore year - he commuted to the class and worked the second half of the summer. The following summer he used his programming skills full time.</li>
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