What are my chances?

Sepulchure
Thu, 02 Feb 2017 22:23:08 +0000

I posted this a while ago in a different thread, but I feel that the people reading this thread might be more cynical and could help bring me to face reality.

In all seriousness, what’s a rough estimate of my chance of admission to Harvard? My application was geared towards physics.

GPA: 4.02 weighted (my school doesn’t record unweighted)
Rank: 1/160
ACT: 34 (33 Math, 33 Writing, 33 Reading, 36 Science)
Sat II: 800 Math II, 760 Physics
AP’s: I’ve taken 5 tests and gotten a 5 on all except one which was a 4, and I’m taking 4 more courses this year for a total of 9/10 that my school offers. One, Chemistry, was an independent study.
College Courses: I’ve taken courses in Science Research at SUNY Albany and in Precalculus, Calculus II, and Calculus III at Ulster County Community College.

Ec’s and Awards:
Coca Cola Semifinalist (finalists aren’t out yet), NMSQT Letter of Commendation, AP Scholar with Distinction, RPI Medalist (not sure how relevant this one is), Scholastic Art and Writing Honorable Mention, Scholar Athlete all 4 years, blah blah…

I participated in varsity track and cross country since 8th grade, and I’ve been to states 4 times. Also a team captain in both.
I’ve been a student in Isshin Ryu karate for 10 years. I’m currently a black belt and have placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in local competitions. I also volunteer for the dojo.
I’m a student member of the Board of Education and am currently on a committee to reform the guidance program.
I founded the Human Rights Club, which goes on field trips to amnesty-type events and raises awareness. I’m president of the Tech Club, and I learned to code on my own and made several video games which I presented to the school and during some of my interviews.
I write and edit for the school newspaper. I have a science column.
For three years I’ve helped freshmen integrate into high school by meeting with them every week for a year.
I’m an officer for NHS and I’m in charge of the school’s tutoring system (I recently made the process paperless). Also lots of volunteering through this.
I’ve been a stage manager and sound engineer for the school play for three years.
There are a bunch of other things too, like Math Team and Science Olympiad, that aren’t as relevant.

I conducted research in quantum optics with a researcher from Harvard for two years, and I wrote a paper and am registered to participate in the ISEF-qualifying competition near me. I submitted my paper/abstract to Harvard.

In addition to what I thought were good letters of rec from my teachers and guidance counselor, I also got letters from the Harvard researcher, my district’s superintendent (because we’re both on the board and I’ve worked with him) and from my cross country coach.

I wrote my Harvard supplement about how working at Harvard allowed me to think and learn at a higher level, and how it made me realize what I wanted to do with my life. I also had to spend a couple months self-learning quantum mechanics, multivariable calculus, and electromagnetism so that I’d be able to understand what I was doing. I wrote about that as well.

Honestly, my primary concern is that I don’t have great awards. How detrimental might this be on my apps?