Does my DD have a chance at Harvard?

[Anonymous]

better chance than me

[Anonymous]

I know several kids at Harvard now and two who just got in. All are either legacies or sports recruits. Have her become one of those. Or, you could become a well known billionaire.

[Anonymous]

No kid should be having their heart set on Harvard.

Unless have a hook, the odds just simply are not good.

-- Mom of 2023 grad who did all the things a rejected / waitlist at all Ivy applied too (on IQ tests he is a genius too)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s a Freshmen and has had her heart set on Harvard since she was in 7th grade. She’s very bright. Straight A student, involved in band, student council and tennis. But her school isn’t the best and her father and I are geniuses.

Her guidance counselor says she has a chance if she works hard but can public school kids get into a school like that? She’s in a SAT prep class and a volunteer program to help prep for applying.

because it sounds good? i know a young person who was all set on Harvard in middle school. ended up at UMDBC. and now doing very well!

[Anonymous]

You need to redirect her. Tell her Harvard is not all it's cracked up to be espec. for UGs. The profs for the most part are focused on their research and not committed to UG teaching. Better to shoot for grad school there and get a better UG education elsewhere.

But agree with those who say without a hook miniscule chances.

[Anonymous]

She should apply, just like everyone should apply to one or two reaches. But she should also apply to plenty of great schools that she is more likely to get into, and be encouraged to take those applications seriously, as odds suggest she will be attending one of them.

[Anonymous]

You need an SAT or ACT score before this is even remotely a serious question, one worth answering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to redirect her. Tell her Harvard is not all it's cracked up to be espec. for UGs. The profs for the most part are focused on their research and not committed to UG teaching. Better to shoot for grad school there and get a better UG education elsewhere.

But agree with those who say without a hook miniscule chances.

This. It’s better for grad school than undergrad anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s a Freshmen and has had her heart set on Harvard since she was in 7th grade. She’s very bright. Straight A student, involved in band, student council and tennis. But her school isn’t the best and her father and I are geniuses.

Her guidance counselor says she has a chance if she works hard but can public school kids get into a school like that? She’s in a SAT prep class and a volunteer program to help prep for applying.

Straight As and super high SAT/ACT is just the bottom floor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s a Freshmen and has had her heart set on Harvard since she was in 7th grade. She’s very bright. Straight A student, involved in band, student council and tennis. But her school isn’t the best and her father and I are geniuses.

Her guidance counselor says she has a chance if she works hard but can public school kids get into a school like that? She’s in a SAT prep class and a volunteer program to help prep for applying.

Straight As and super high SAT/ACT is just the bottom floor.

Valedictorian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t to sound rude, but is she interesting? She so far only participates in things that most high school students could do. You want Harvard? You need to show that you are exceptional and a leader in your community. Id beef up her extracurriculars and make sure she’s a favorite amongst teachers

+100. OP has listed the minimum to even get an app read. Your child has to be interesting and compelling. None of her passions show once in a lifetime passion or talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can public school kids get into a school like that?

In 2019 the Harvard Crimson reported that 63% of students came from public schools so apparently, yes public school kids can get in.

There are 24,000 public high schools in the US. There are roughly 1900 spots available at Harvard. Nearly half of admits come from private school applicants - and it's a small pool of private schools. So maybe 1000 spots are available at Harvard for public school students. Now throw in all the hooks - athletes, first generation, low income, legacy and so on. Then be mindful that Harvard strives for 50/50 gender balance.

The odds of a random unhooked smart girl from a random public high school in anywhere, America getting into Harvard are astronomically small. She will need an extraordinarily impressive EC in addition to the academics - 4.0 UW, 1550+ - to even have the application read. And it will still likely be a no.

Harvard is not a meritocracy. I would gently broaden her horizons and explain that the US is blessed with lots of great universities besides Harvard. Because otherwise she's going to have her heart broken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can public school kids get into a school like that?

In 2019 the Harvard Crimson reported that 63% of students came from public schools so apparently, yes public school kids can get in.

There are 24,000 public high schools in the US. There are roughly 1900 spots available at Harvard. Nearly half of admits come from private school applicants - and it's a small pool of private schools. So maybe 1000 spots are available at Harvard for public school students. Now throw in all the hooks - athletes, first generation, low income, legacy and so on. Then be mindful that Harvard strives for 50/50 gender balance.

The odds of a random unhooked smart girl from a random public high school in anywhere, America getting into Harvard are astronomically small. She will need an extraordinarily impressive EC in addition to the academics - 4.0 UW, 1550+ - to even have the application read. And it will still likely be a no.

Harvard is not a meritocracy. I would gently broaden her horizons and explain that the US is blessed with lots of great universities besides Harvard. Because otherwise she's going to have her heart broken.

Here are you again - subtracting categories but not taking into account their overlap and the fact that you are removing competition, too.

You take away all the private school spots, and they you say there are 1000 for public school kids, fine. But then you keep subtracting athletes, legacies etc as if none of them go to a private school. Sure, take away 1/2 spot for males, but then, you are only competing with women. So you are basically taking away all those IMO gold medal winners etc.

Not saying it's easy or anything, but you keep posting this calculation and you constantly make the same mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:better chance than me

It’s, “better chance than I.”

[Anonymous]

A lot can change in the 5 years between 7th grade and 12th grade. Ask any parent who went through the admissions process pre-pandemic with one kid and post-pandemic with the other kid.