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I'm planning to apply early decision to Harvard and I am doubtful I will get in. What do you guys think:

Rank 5/639 in very competitive school
SAT I :1600
SAT II 790 Math, 740 Chem, 670 Writing, which I will retake.
GPA 109.3 (we don't convert it into a 4.0 scale)

most of my ECs are not very different from the avg. high school student:
President and founder of the French club
Fundraisng Committee Leader for the senior class (I know it sounds ridiculous, but there is a great deal of work. We are organizing fundraising concerts and talent shows, which require a lot of time and effort, because they are strictly student directed)
Math Club....almost all my life :-)
Academic Team
Drama Club

I do plenty of work in graduate math research. Last year I presented my project at the International Science and Engineering Fair, and next september I will be presenting at the American Junior Academy of Science as the Female Delegate of my state. (This is the most important meeting for high school in the US: There is only 100 students presenting among real scientist)I plan to publish my work, as well.

Besides that, I have some other awards in french competitions. I can already speak fluently
Italian(14 years speaking) and french. English is actually my third language, as I was born in a foreign country. I have been in the states FOR ONLY TWO YEARS. Will this hurt or increase my chances of admission. Do you guys think I have a chance, or should i apply regular decision, in the hope my application will be stronger.

By 80drofnats (80drofnats) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:30 pm: Edit

Although a 109.3 GPA is the most retarded/inflated thing i've ever seen, ISEF kids with 1600s and 4.0's probably get in at about a 90% rate, just make sure you do justice to your math ability in the application, focus on it as the main thing by far, and maybe contact the math department to try to get them to tell the admission committee that they want you.

By 80drofnats (80drofnats) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:31 pm: Edit

Oh and i didn't notice that you said female, make sure you apply as a math major and you're definitely in.

By K0w (K0w) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 02:05 am: Edit

what's ISEF? Anyways, nice recs. Should be a strong candidate

By Hiamerica (Hiamerica) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 09:29 pm: Edit

chs264, the american junior academy thing you were talking about. it says a poster submission. what is that? can it be on paper, how do you go about doing that? i finished research and is now on paper. do i ust transfer it onto those huge cardboard presentation boards or something. I have my abstract ready too.

By Chs264 (Chs264) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 04:40 pm: Edit

Hiamerica, have you ever participated in local science fiars, (excepet for the state academies of science?) Well, some of them need you to give a poster presentation, like a board. I think it should be the same thing here...except that in this case you do not have to bring the board, it's already there. You should bring the material though, (i think).
This is my first time for the AJAS, too, so i do not know that much about it. The guidelines of what you should have on the board are most probably on www.ajas.org
which state aare you represeting?

By Shjanama77 (Shjanama77) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 06:35 pm: Edit

how do you get an 800 verbal and a 670 writing??? i think verbal's harder...but maybe that's just me!...you have great stats considering you've only been here for 2 years!
good luck!

By Chs264 (Chs264) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 11:36 pm: Edit

writng test...I completely took it unprepared... I spent a whole summer working on the SAT I. (when I took my PSAT in 11th grade, my verbal was only a 54:-(

By Randomthinking (Randomthinking) on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 06:16 pm: Edit

Depends on your essay. Based on your stats, you definitely have a good chance, but not so stellar that the adcoms will be wowed. So it comes down to how you come across as a person, and hence, your essay.

If you have a decent essay, I'd give you about a 60 to 65 percent chance getting in.

By Qwert271 (Qwert271) on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 06:53 pm: Edit

I assume that italian is your native language so you are eligible to take french sat2 which if youre fluent should be another easy 800 and since your sat2s arent already all 800s it could help.

By Chs264 (Chs264) on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 04:11 pm: Edit

italian is NOT my native language...it is just something I started learning when I was two, because my father really liked the langauge (random reason, i know) Anyways, thanks for the idea, i might consider taking the test