Applying to Harvard . . .?

Question

I'm a 19-year-old high-school dropout, who dreams of attending Harvard. I'm attending a local community college and maintain a 4.0 GPA. I know I need extracurricular activities, which as yet I don't have (too m)any. Now, I have a few questions: Do I still need to take the SAT and ACT? Can a 19 or 20 year old even take these tests or are they for high schoolers? Am I, because I'm transferring, less likely to be accepted than a high-school senior? Do I apply any differently than a high-school senior?

I'm not too bad at writing, so I'm not worried about the essay.

Oh please. Forget the likelihood, I will get into Harvard on my own achievements, I have no doubts about that. I just want to know how I will do that.

Answer 1

I hate to be the bearer of bad news -- but things do not look good for you.

You are MUCH less likely to be accepted than someone who is applying as a senior. The Ivy League schools accept very few transfer students. Some (like Princeton) do not accept any.

Last year, Harvard accepted 70 transfer students. That is double their usual number, and they have indicated that they will only accept about 35 this year. They get hundreds of applications.

Most of the transfer student who are accepted at Ivy League colleges are not coming from community colleges. They are coming from top schools where they cannot study the subject that they want. For example, a student at Williams College who decides to study engineering will apply to schools like Harvard because Williams does not have an engineering school.

Cornell is the one Ivy League school that is more open to transfer students. However, I suspect that it is mainly the state funded colleges within Cornell (e.g., Agriculture and Engineering) that take most of the transfer students.

Your best bet for getting into a good university is to transfer to the best state university in your state.

In answer to your other question -- you probably WILL have to take the SAT.

Answer 2

I've wondered about the same thing I'm attending a CC a my SAT scores were not that good. However my advisor told me i would be good idea 2 take it again, that along with a solid essay, good grades would be hard not to get in...I'm applying to Emory and Vandy... most school dont treat the same way high shool seniors and transfer so you dont have to worry about that... good luck...

Answer 3

"I'm a 19-year-old high-school dropout"

That right there puts you a long ways away from your goal. I see both the SAT and ACT as necessary to get to Harvard (and damn good scores on 'em). Harvard doesn't care about someone who is in the chess club, they care about a guy who got a 35 on the ACT.

Chess club wouldn't hurt, though.

Answer 4

Yes, you'll still need to take the SAT. Anyone can take these tests, not just high school students. I think their site is http://www.collegeboard.com - you can register and pay for it there.