Chances of getting into Harvard? Everything else is fine except for the SAT score?

Question

What are my chances of getting into Harvard (and other ivys) given my criteria? Everything else I have is ok except for my test scores because my school does not really prepare its students to be test takers. I'm a bit discouraged because I heard that schools won't even look at my other stuff if my test score isn't high enough. Should I even be hopeful at all?

I have 4.1 GPA.
Taking the most challenging classes at my school
C u m Laude Society
lots of community service
sports
Great recommendations
talents in music (made DVD and CD)
ACT: 29
SAT II: 670. 680. 640.
SAT I: low-mid 600s.

Answer 1

I graduated from high school with a 4.3 GPA...got a 2100 on my SAT...got 800's on two SAT II's and 750 on a third one...took seven AP exams and got 5 on all of them except one where I got a 4.

I went to 4 different high schools in 2 different countries (Israel and Taiwan, I went to international schools).

I wasn't big on extra-curriculars but I did do varsity soccer, filmmaking club which made a film about cancer research and the Terry Fox run. The reason I was not involved in extra-curriculars so much is because for the first two years of high school I had no opportunities to (didn't speak the languages of the countries I was living in).

I was rejected from Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

No one from my high schools got into any of those universities (I had the second highest GPA at graduation).

My point is: getting into any of those top Ivy League universities is damn near impossible. If you have high caliber grades, the next thing you need is LEGACY (which means someone in your family went there), or you need to do an extracurricular so unique that it separates you from the pack (MUN and Key Club won't cut it).

This is the sad truth about those universities. Demand is WAY WAY higher than supply. If you feel like spending $70 per application and you think you may have a chance, go for it (I did). But remember, there are other universities out there that are just as good. I am being tested in physics at the University of Toronto and I'm happy.

I hope that helps. Sorry if it's a reality shock, but it's the truth. These universities only accept 10% of the people who apply, all of whom are just as qualified as you (or more so).

Answer 2

What you have to remember about the Ivies and Duke and Stanford and the rest of the top schools, is that they get 1000s of applications that look just as good as yours. What really could make the difference is what is special about you. What have you done that really makes you stand out from the crowd?

If you have a really outstanding "something", then they will overlook that low SAT to get you. I know two kids who were Freshmen at Harvard last year. Each of them won a National Science competition. Each of them was a soloist for the regional orchestra. One of them spoke four languages, the other three languages. The were both class officers, debate team stars, and had a host of other distinctions. That's the way it is at Harvard. If you don't have something like that, then you dont belong there and wouldn't be happy.

Answer 3

Probably not great with those SAT scores. You might want to retake them - colleges can't trust schools not to inflate grades and put everyone in honor societies. They use SATs as one form of standardization - something that's the same for everyone, across the board.

Answer 4

Apply anyways. I heard Harvard doesn't weigh the SAT as much as other universities.

Besides what do you got to lose?

Answer 5

Is that SAT score per section? If so, it's not that bad. Apply anyway, if you don't get in you can still get into a good school.

Answer 6

you should be fine Harvard requires an interview and your counsler is required to send a school profile with each transcript so dont hesitate to apply

Answer 7

Your resume is not spectacular, so I'd say your chances are very very slim.

Answer 8

Well there's always community college.