Some questions about the college acceptance process...

[JoeFahey]

My parents recently told me about Harvard's new program where they are trying to move away from favoring rich families. According to them, if your household income is less that $60,000 a year, then you can get in for free if you are accepted. This really got me excited. I am a Junior in High School, and my parents make a little less that $60,000 a year. I have been trying to work on a good resume, but I never imagined that this offer from Harvard would be made. I have a 3.89 G.P.A, and I am in the top 5 in my class. (Hopefully 1st or 2nd by senior year) I have taken every A.P. course, and advanced class I could prefered to the regular classes. I will also be an Eagle Scout within the next year hopefully. I have been a very successfull treasurer for my class for every year so far, and most likely the rest of my high school career. I am going to be running for the position of a City Council student rep. This job means that I go to every School Board meeting for the town, and basically act as the respresentative for our school, and bring up issues of my fellow peers. I have been on the high school golf team all my years here so far. I am an active member in student council. I have participated in the Youth and Government program at our school. Where we spend a few days at our capital, and act as different positions such as senator, and representative. I could probaby name a few more things, but that is basically it.
What kinds of things are they, or any other college going to be looking for in particular. From what I'e gathered, they want a well rounded student, who participates in a lot of activites. Is this assumption correct?
What kind of advice could you give me on building a good resume? If you bothered to read some of the stuff about me, is there anything you would suggest I change or try to improve? And do you really think it is realistic for me getting accepted into Harvard with their new system?

THANKS!

 

[QurazyQuisp]

We'd need to know what kind of school district yours is. If it's not known for being an amazing school district, you could be 1st your class with all those and a 4.0 and harvard still won't accept you.

 

[axelfox]

Good luck with that. It rejects 9/10 applications.

 

[JoeFahey]

I also have another question. At our school we have a program where if you take certain classes/adv. classes, you graduate in distinction in whatever the set of classes you took were about. I have the option to take some computer classes and some math classes to graduate in distinction in computer science, or whatever they call it at our school. Are things like this worthless? Would a college prefer not to see a student who is expeptional in one thing, prefered to being someone who took a more well-rounded approach?

 

[AgentEL]

SATs?

 

[Ika]

The Eagle Scout part will get you big points with Harvard.

Basically, with super-selective Ivy League schools, it's not so much the numbers that matter as the qualifications and character of the applicant. The more you push yourself, the better chance you have of getting in. If you have a great personality and do lots of things (especially leadership), you'll be in great shape. I missed out on the leadership part and hopefully I won't get burned

 

[JoeFahey]

Originally posted by: Aflac
The Eagle Scout part will get you big points with Harvard.

Basically, with super-selective Ivy League schools, it's not so much the numbers that matter as the qualifications and character of the applicant. The more you push yourself, the better chance you have of getting in. If you have a great personality and do lots of things (especially leadership), you'll be in great shape. I missed out on the leadership part and hopefully I won't get burned

Thats why I hope I get elected to represent my school for the school board.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey

Originally posted by: Aflac
The Eagle Scout part will get you big points with Harvard.

Basically, with super-selective Ivy League schools, it's not so much the numbers that matter as the qualifications and character of the applicant. The more you push yourself, the better chance you have of getting in. If you have a great personality and do lots of things (especially leadership), you'll be in great shape. I missed out on the leadership part and hopefully I won't get burned

Thats why I hope I get elected to represent my school for the school board.

Because everyone knows that highschool kids give a rats ass who is on the student council and the elite level leadership qualities one would need to make those tough decisions to complex problems that the whole of the student body so much depends on........

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey

Originally posted by: Aflac
The Eagle Scout part will get you big points with Harvard.

Basically, with super-selective Ivy League schools, it's not so much the numbers that matter as the qualifications and character of the applicant. The more you push yourself, the better chance you have of getting in. If you have a great personality and do lots of things (especially leadership), you'll be in great shape. I missed out on the leadership part and hopefully I won't get burned

Thats why I hope I get elected to represent my school for the school board.

leadership is often overrated.. all the popular type kids in my class were doing the so-called "leadership" activities.. they were hardly model leaders though

not to dissuade you from applying and doing stuff that will help your application.. just giving my take on it

 

[Savij]

Kick ass at the hardest classes you can take. Rage like a madman on the SATs. Take part in some sports or extracurricular activities to round you out. Congratulations you?ve just guaranteed top 30 college admissions. Ivy League is still not guaranteed. You?ve got to have things that really make you stand out against the top student in every other high school in the country. Keep working at it, and apply when it?s time, but make sure you have your back up schools just in case disaster strikes.

Oh and your parents are completely wrong about Harvard?s admissions changes. They no longer accept early admissions applications since they felt those favored wealthier candidates. I don?t know where people are pulling the $60k number from. I?ve also seen 40 and 80k thrown around. Plan on paying some, working a good bit and taking a lot of loans.

Edit: Do something other than the student gov. that every other candidate will have on their application. Go start your own organizatoin to feed homeless pigeons. Start an organization that tutors innercity braindead parakeets. Start and do something a little diffrent from the ordinary. Take the innitiative. You'll get extra points if it's something that brings about change to a real world issue instead ot the usual highschool doesn't have enough candy breaks or save the cute puppies at the shelter stuff.

 

[maziwanka]

keep your hopes up and work hard.

even without the program, im sure you'd be able to get some nice scholarships and good rates on your loans.

best of luck bud!

 

[musicman64]

Consider volunteering a few hours a week for your last two years of high school.

Even two/three hours a week at a local soup kitchen/shelter would do wonders.

 

[JoeFahey]

Originally posted by: musicman64
Consider volunteering a few hours a week for your last two years of high school.

Even two/three hours a week at a local soup kitchen/shelter would do wonders.

We are required to have 48 hours of community service to graduate. I have already gone far past this.

EDIT: And thanks for all the advice guys!

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Remember that almost every Congressman/Senator/Judge/Mayor has a son or daugther who is applying to Harvard (obv. not at the same time, but you get the point).

Unless you spent 2 years saving starving African children and then wrote a 400 pg book about it, you are not going to stand out to the Harvard admissions committee.

I am not trying to discourage you -- you are on the RIGHT track. But keep in mind that your chances of getting admitted are not good regardless of your GPA, SAT, or activities.

I knew SEVERAL people with 1550+ SAT and 3.8+ (out of 4) GPA who didn not get in Harvard.

That said, your grades and activities WILL ensure that you get in somewhere good.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
Remember that almost every Congressman/Senator/Judge/Mayor has a son or daugther who is applying to Harvard (obv. not at the same time, but you get the point).

Unless you spent 2 years saving starving African children and then wrote a 400 pg book about it, you are not going to stand out to the Harvard admissions committee.

I am not trying to discourage you -- you are on the RIGHT track. But keep in mind that your chances of getting admitted are not good regardless of your GPA, SAT, or activities.

I knew SEVERAL people with 1550+ SAT and 3.8+ (out of 4) GPA who didn not get in Harvard.

That said, your grades and activities WILL ensure that you get in somewhere good.

Wow, those people with 1550+ and 3.8+ must have had NO extracurriculars, becuase Harvard's average SAT is 1450-1500 last I checked. Or they had no social skills and it showed in the interview.

OP, you are definately on the right track, you will be interviewed locally by a Harvard representative (alum most likely) if you get far enough, make sure you present yourself well (dress and speech).

Make sure you apply to lots of other schools, you will get a lot of great offers and great scholarships. Seriously weigh the advantages/disadvantages of Ivy league debt vs none and whether the degree is worth that. I am not saying it is or isn't just saying consider it. For me the full ride at the "lesser" school was better becuase I needed to be close to home. And good luck, I think you have a great shot, but like others said, its very tough so don't be discouraged if you don't get in.

Also, consider Yale/Dartmouth/Standford/Rice, all great schools.

 

[GoSharks]

To be honest, you have nothing that stands out enough to get you into Harvard. Everybody else that wants to get into a Top-15 school will have similar attributes. To get into Harvard, you will need more than everybody else.

 

[bonkers325]

send the admissions officer money. lots of it.

 

[BrownTown]

people with 1500+ SAT and 3.8+ GPA are a dime a dozen. You might think your doing good if you have these both, but they arent gonna get you into any of the top 10 schools by themselves (they got me into the top 20 though ). You need some sorta cool thing nobody else had. All the people I know who get into top 10 schools had some sorta special thing to put down to differentiate themselves from the masses of other people. I think its something like 500 people with perfect 1600 SAT were rejected by Harvard my year.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
Remember that almost every Congressman/Senator/Judge/Mayor has a son or daugther who is applying to Harvard (obv. not at the same time, but you get the point).

Unless you spent 2 years saving starving African children and then wrote a 400 pg book about it, you are not going to stand out to the Harvard admissions committee.

I am not trying to discourage you -- you are on the RIGHT track. But keep in mind that your chances of getting admitted are not good regardless of your GPA, SAT, or activities.

I knew SEVERAL people with 1550+ SAT and 3.8+ (out of 4) GPA who didn not get in Harvard.

That said, your grades and activities WILL ensure that you get in somewhere good.

My bro turned down a top 2/3 Uni for Maths but went to another top rated Uni.

He did naff all for counciling and all that stuff. He does sports but I think more importantly he interviews and tests well. They gave him a good grilling over tests and other iq type of games.

Dress smart, confident and well spoken. The interview will be make or break and a lot of people faulter at interviews. Good luck!

Koing