Think I'm Screwed for Harvard >_>

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>To put it frankly, I think I’m screwed. </p>

<p>Here’s the profile. It’s long and complicated, so I apologize ahead of time:
Asian non-citizen, 14yrs old, no connection to Harvard whatsoever
Public Highschool ranks no.1 in state.</p>

<p>Stats:
SATI: 2400
SATII: physics 800, math 800, literature: TBA in Oct.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.98UW, W is about 4.6 (??)
IB Full Diploma Candidate
Currently taking Calculus3 at a competitive university
Class Rank: 15/420 (~ish)</p>

<p>EC’s (here goes…):</p>

<p>Clubs
National Honor Society, president
Piano Club, founder/president
Environmental club, president
Rocket club, captain
French Club, treasurer
Local Youth Symphony, piano soloist for four years</p>

<p>Special Projects:

  1. Organized school’s home-coming picnic<br>
  2. Organized school fundraiser for Si-Chuan earthquake<br>
  3. Organized children to learn piano at local church</p>

<p>Environmental Projects:

  1. Initiated and led trash pick-ups around local city with Enviro club
  2. Lab and Data analysis at a local competitive university
  3. Organized trash pick-ups in Campus with Environmental Club every Wednesday after school, with net collection of 300 or more pounds each week of plastic, paper, and aluminum
  4. Trial work on some of the tallest mountains in America with preservation organizations</p>

<p>Misc.:

  1. Organized recitals for nursing homes with Piano Club
  2. Organized French Club Food-Culture activities</p>

<p>Awards and Honors:
Academics:

  1. Boettcher Scholarship (currently candidate)
  2. An award given from local university to one student in each high school
  3. President’s Award for Educational Excellence<br>
  4. Creative Communication’s Young Poets Contest<br>
  5. Best Project Award in summer camp</p>

<p>Music:

  1. A couple of local and state first-place in piano
  2. A regional finalist for a national piano competition</p>

<p>Finally, reasons why I think I’m screwed?

  1. I’m an Asian girl. If anything, I think that lowers my chances since Harvard is so popular with Asian peoples…
  2. My teacher rec’s will probably be so-so, I think. Although my counselor loves me, I haven’t really made much of an effort to impress my teachers (I know, I regret it)
  3. I haven’t won any national/international prizes in ANYTHING
  4. I have random stuff (like french club and rocket club O_o)</p>

<p>Yup…</p>

2

<p>I don’t think you’re screwed at all. If I had you stats, I could go probably to any school I wanted and I am asian too.</p>

3

<p>You are 14? Am I reading this right?
I think your resume is great. Good shot at Harvard.</p>

4

<p>Yup, I’m 14~but I’m turning 15 in October, so that’s how it will end up in my apps, unfortunately. </p>

<p>I’m also applying to Yale early O_o</p>

<p>Anyways, I just think I’m on unsteady grounds, because my school is literally in the middle of nowhere, and the last time Harvard took a kid from my school was almost a decade ago…</p>

<p>Thanks for your advice!</p>

5

<p>make your essay unique imo (yes easier said than done i know)</p>

6

<p>Did you skip 2-3 grades?
Maybe your immaturity will put you at a disadvantage. HA.</p>

7

<p>I do not think you are screwed for Harvard. First, your stats are marvelous. Second, your school is in the middle of nowhere? So is my son’s, and the past two years, we’ve sent some kids to some outstanding schools. Harvard, like other places, seeks diversity, and that can come in the form of location.</p>

8

<p>Take a year off to do something life-changing and re-apply in 2010.</p>

9

<p>I think your attitude about being “screwed” because of your nationality is your biggest problem here. I don’t think your ethnicity is going to be an issue at all in Harvard admissions.</p>

10

<p>No one should be going to college at 14-16…</p>

11

<p>So? I’m Asian, my scores are 140 points less, worse ECs than you, lower GPA, do the most random stuff…</p>

<p>and I’m going to apply… and I don’t lose any sleep over it. </p>

<p>You’ll do fine. I’m sure you’ll get in and I won’t at the “Official Harvard Results thread” 6 months from now</p>

12

<p>Thank you for your advice and opinions! I really appreciate all your time and thoughts~</p>

<p>I don’t think my age should affect my maturity level, although I do agree that immaturity on my part could greatly affect my standings even if I somehow manage to get into Harvard >___< </p>

<p>But does anyone think that my age will hurt my application in anyway? Or would it be beneficial? My teachers and counselors have written their recommendations talking (in part) about my maturity level, but would it still hurt my application?</p>

<p>On the other hand, after rechecking my transcripts I found that:
GPA: 3.83 UW
Class rank: 20/414 (barely top 5%)</p>

<p>Now that will definitely hurt a LOT, I think.</p>

13

<p>What? You’re 14? …</p>

<p>I’d say you’re prob. in at Harvard. Great stats and EC’s. </p>

<p>How the %#*@%) are you 14? I know people who are 20 and applying in my class…</p>

14

<p>Um, #1 public high school? You’re not screwed, I cant believe im saying this but:</p>

<p>Harvard: In
Yale: In
Basically any other college or university : In</p>

15

<p>I think you have a great chance 'cause of your age and amazing academic ability, but the fact that your sn is “ivychan” (in conjunction with the fact that your aspiration seems to be no more than to attend an Ivy League) worries me a little bit as to your maturity.</p>

16

<p>i know i could sound rude but you can be rejected by harvard…
harvard is where even those who get 2400 on sat1 are rejected
they see your potential</p>

17

<p>I think your stats give you a great chance for Harvard. I mean, no one’s every guaranteed a spot, but I think your chances are a lot better than most. Not to mention the fact that it sounds like you have plenty of experiences to create an engaging essay.</p>

<p>I don’t think your age will affect your application (after all, you have the course load/GPA/ECs to prove that you can function accademically in a challenging environment.) I think the major question is are you ready to move away from home, live in dorms, etc, at fifteen. Different people mature at different ages. If you don’t think you can handle that right now, taking a gap year is deffinately an option. I entered an early college program at sixteen through my high school (so, I didn’t really graduate yet…just took a ton of college courses…) I really didn’t have any problem, but then again, I was still living at home, etc.</p>

18

<p>****. I thought I was young at just having turned 16. </p>

<p>Do you have friends? Not trying to be mean or anything, but there is a three to four year gap between you and your classmates…</p>

19

<p>"To put it frankly, I think I’m screwed. "</p>

<p>to put it frankly, ur a dumbass for saying that despite your record</p>

20

<p>A lot will depend on your essay(s) and recommendations. Your test scores are good. Your e.c’s need to be fleshed out in your essays. Your class rank is puzzling- why are you not at the top? </p>

<p>Your age is young- you might want to consider a gap year (or two).</p>