Do you think Harvard would accept me if I apply?
965040
Dear luka85,\nasking  this question means nothing.  If we say "yes" and you don't get in, does that mean that we have mislead you? What we say will be only an opinion. Only Harvard can truly give you the answer.\nThe only way to find out is to APPLY to Harvard
460832
Unless you got a close relative who went to Harvard or Yale...its unlikely you will get into either...Go for Princeton..still a long shot...
964515
Of course it is.  My aunt graduated with a theater degree and ended up going to a prestigious law school in California.  True, you probably won't get into Harvard or Yale, but any decent school will accept you if your grades are right and you have the right amount of references and extracurricular activites.
887047
There's some interesting answers here. I'm a current student at Harvard, so I'll try to elaborate.\n\n1) What about everything else? Scores don't get people into Harvard. Promise, talent, and passions do. I know people with rather low scores that got in because they are the best in what they do, and people with perfect scores that didn't because they had nothing else that was interesting about them.\n\n2) GPA. What's it out of? If it's out of 4.0, is it possible at your high school to get higher than a 4.0 through Honors or AP classes? If it's an unweighted 3.9 / 4.0 (all As = 4.0), then that's a great GPA. If it's a weighted 3.9 / 4.0 (AP and Honors As = 5.0), then it's decent. If it's out of 5.0, I'm not so sure about Harvard...\n\n3) SAT. What's it out of? 2400? 1600? If it's out of 1600, that's great score, well within the average range at Harvard. If it's out of 2400, I'm sorry...unless you have some spectacular extracurricular accomplishments, it will be extremely difficult to get in. \n\nGood luck, and feel free to update the question so I can provide you with a better response.
731897
It seems as though you are an excellent, all around student and individual and would have a good shot of getting into any of these schools.  Therefore, what is the best school for you?  \n\nThere are a many questions that you'll need to ask yourself:\n1.  What subject do you want to major in when in college?  Are there a few? - Make sure that any university that you attend has all of the different majors that you are interested in.  That way, if you try one out and find out that you do not like it, you have the other options.  Also, is the major a good program at the schools that you want to attend?\n\n2.  Do you want a big or small university?  Many times small university are look down upon because they may not have the name of a Harvard or Yale.  However, big and small university are great.  The biggest question is... do you want and/or need attention from your professors?  Bigger university professors may not be able to give students individual attention that so many students need.  Smaller universities are able to give a lot of personal attention, allowing students to contact professors any time with questions and/or advice.\n\n3.  Location, location, location!  Will you like the location that the university is in?  City versus College town?  Weather... do you want warm weather where it never snows or are you okay at a university that it snows much of winter?  \n\n4.  Does the school have the extracurricular activities that you are interested in?  Academics is not all that you are at a university for... college is all about the experience as well.  Will you have the opportunity to get involved and are the activities that you want to participate in available on the campus?\n\n5.  Do you like the campus and university?  This you'll never know until you walk onto that particular campus.  If you can, try to visit any school that you are really interested in.  College admissions representatives are paid to tell you have great the university will be.  In addition, all of the papers and viewbooks that you get from the universities will show nothing but pretty pictures.  However, you'll never know if it is the right place for you until you step on the campus.  You'll probably know within the first 5 minutes of being on the campus if you'll like it or not!  All colleges and universities do campus tours - just call the admissions office and they'll set it up for you.\n\nGood luck!
188182
All those things are important: grades, standing, SAT scores, extracurricular activities. But there are a lot of students who do outstanding in all those areas and are not accepted to Ivy League schools. I've been told by someone who reviews applications at a well-known Ivy that what they look for is something really unique in addition to those qualificaitons -- They look for students who are passionate about something.
872653
you have a pretty good chance. i was on my high school basketball team and it was because i put a lot of effort and time practicing.  good luck...
683433
Harvard, definitely. The opportunities that degree and department will offer and the doors it will open after graduation can't be underestimated.
796443
University admissions consider many factors when going through the acceptance process. Your GPA (which by the sounds of it is 3.0-3.5) is certainly one of them, but they also consider the difficulty of your classes and the difficulty of your high school in general. Other factors include ACT/SAT scores, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs or volunteer work, and your written essay.\n\nI'm not sure what your definition of a "good" school is, but if you perform consistently for the rest of high school, Ivy League may not be in your prospects (unless your parents have money but that's another, very sensitive subject), but you can certainly get into a state or private institution with a pre-med program. In order to get into what I think you would call a "good" university, you may want to raise your GPA (a 3.5, I think, would be a good goal to set). Remember, this would be your GPA by the end of your junior year, because applications are submitted in the first semester of your senior year.\n\nIf you feel you cannot get better grades in the future, and would like to get into a "good" school, try to add in some volunteer work, become a leader of a school organization, participate in activities that interest you and that you can become very involved with, and when it comes time for ACT/SAT (which is much closer than you think), study study study! There are many guides in your local library or bookstore than can help you improve your grade in these tests simply by helping you become familiar with the format.
593969
I was accepted to Harvard, but couldn't afford it!\n\nGPA 4.0\nACT 29\nI don't remember what my SAT score was (I took both ACT & SAT).
596679
First, fly to Logan Airport. Then you can take the blue line to the red (Alewife), and get off at Harvard Square...\n\nIf you want to get into Harvard, you'll need extremely good grades, very good SAT scores, extracurriculars with depth and breadth, good writing skills for the essays, and a little something extra. \n\nRemember, all students applying to Harvard have all of the above, so you need to be able to explain what is special about you - have you done something spectacular, or different? Are you extremely skilled at something? What sets you apart - and use the essays to talk to those things.
888318
Of course! You still have 3 and a half years to bring your GPA up, and along with your GPA colleges also look at your SAT's, extra curricular activites etc. Usually, if your GPA is lower than you've hoped for, then if you do really, really well on your SAT's (and vice versa) most colleges will accept you (along with other factors that affect their decision). \n\nAt my interview with my school they were more concerned about my progress in high school as a whole, as for me, my first and second year were my worst and I improved as an upperclassman. \n\nHope this helps...Your life isn't over :)
1068088
depends on the school... you probably have to be over 3.0 to have any chance and id say a 3.2 or 3.3 minimum to have a good chance. some schools (drake university, ohio state, and maybe some others) have guaranteed admission programs that are really nice, you could look into those. id contact the admissions office or browse the website and see if you can find a class profile at the college you would like to attend, and get the actual numbers as they can vary greatly school to school
247059
Yes, about, if not, as difficult as getting into West Point. Statistically speaking, your chances at getting into Harvard or MIT is greater than or equal, to getting accepted to the US Naval Academy.
459135
I couldn't really tell you without more detail, but at least you have a variety of outside activities.  There's no real magic formula for Harvard, so you'll just have to apply and see what happens.  They look at other things like your GPA, essay, etc. also.\n\nThere are very few people who you can just say, "Yes, he/she will get in."  Possibly Intel STS winners/parents with millions in donations, etc.  Most are sort of on the borderline and they have to analyze the situation closely.\n\nGo down your list of accomplishments.  Ask yourself.  How many other people applying to Harvard will match or be better than this?  You need to distinguish yourself from others.  For example, 4.0 GPA.  I guess, it's 2350+ SAT now.  How many others have those?  Tons.  Same with a few of your other things, which I'm sure you can figure out.\n\nOn your writing, emphasize how you're different from other candidates.  I don't remember the topic, but usually you can write about one of your experiences that makes you special.  Maybe one where you were able to make a difference somewhere without sounding trite.  It's not easy, but it's not that hard either if you have the qualifications.
893902
Yes, colleges re-weight GPAs to try to set them on a level playing field, based on the schools they're from, the rigor of the level (Honors, AP, etc.), etc.  \n\nSATs and SAT Subject Tests are more standardized. Harvard definitely wants the latter.\n\nYou'll want a high GPA, to have taken some of/the highest level courses in subjects, shown passion for and leadership in a few extracurricular areas.  Additionally, it could be there's something else that really sets you apart that is something they're looking for...e.g. lacrosse, oboe player, interest in theater.  You never really know.  \n\nCertainly, if you're interested in Harvard, you should take a tour and try for an admissions interview (if they grant these.)  Perhaps you can review your qualifications and ask if there's anything you can/should do to boost your chances of acceptance.\n\nSuggest you not get obssessed with just one school. There are many fine colleges and if you don't get into one, you'll get into another of equal/close "value and prestige."  That is, assuming you're in the right ballpark re: your credentials to date.\n\nBest of luck to you.
880567
I did not quite understand the ins and outs of your situation, but if you are determined to go to this particular school, perhaps you should make an appointment to see the chair and ask his/her advice about what you could do to better your chances of being accepted.