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im a junior now and id like to know how im doing and what more i can do to assure ill get into harvard ed with financial aid
Foreign Born Hispanic Immigrant
in inner city - ghetto- hispanic school in miami

psat - (55v, 68m, 60w) - 183 (sophomore)
psat - (72v, 74m, 69w) - 215 (junior)
taking math2c, physics, writing and sat1 this winter/spring
sat 2 chemistry - 670
perfect scores on stupid statewide FCAT test
lots of outstanding, honor roll, topten, and superior student awards (too many to name)
3.821/4.804 GPA

9th grade
3 honors courses (a's)
cisco ccna certification

10th grade
4 honors courses (3a's 1 b)
2 ap classes (a's)

ap chemistry (03') - 4
ap enviro (03') - 5

15th place in precalculus at nationals mu alpha theta math competition (summer 03)
15th place in history of math at nationals mu alpha theta math competition (summer 03)
3rd place in history of math at state level (spring 03)

really dedicated to mu alpha theta (math honor society)- vice president/fundraising director
member of :
anchor community service club
french honor society
eco-hawks (ecology club with community service)(historian)
science honor society (treasurer)
secme (science + engineering/mathematics)
engineering/robotics club (historian)

competing at US First robotics competition this year

this year im taking
grades are 1st grading quarter

ap art history - A
honors american history - A
ap calculus ab - A
ap english lang - A
ap human geography - independent study
honors french 3 - A
ap physics b - B

and im doing a 2 year science research internship at the Diabtes Research Institute at UM (univ of miami)

atheletics - swimming (varsity) and water polo (varsity) im also a member of the miami springs aquatic club

bilinugal - low income, single mother family background
excellent rec's already
600 hours of community service

one last thing, how much more of an advantage will early action have over early decision considering i dont have enough money to say early action and then not be able to pay for tuition

thanks guys

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 02:51 am: Edit

You have a chance at Harvard.
I am an alumna interviewer.
I don't understand your EA/ED question.
Since $ will be a consideration, I don't suggest that you apply anywhere that would bind you if you apply ED. While one can use financial considerations to get out of ED, I would doubt that GCs and teachers are going to focus on students who decide to apply for regular admission after getting an ED acceptance.

Since you're Hispanic, immigrant, bilingual, low income, and have stellar MAO experience, you would be an attractive candidate to many colleges, some of which offer merit as well as need-based $. I strongly suggest that you not focus just on Harvard, but also look at the various other colleges that not only might be delighted to have you, but may offer you full rides.

While Ivies give full rides, since all of their aid is need-based, unless your mom can't afford to pay anything, you may be able to get more lucrative scholarship packages elsewhere. Some may even included travel abroad, mentors for research, specialty dorms, etc.

Certainly, you should be able to get full rides plus possibly some extras at most Fla. public universities. Since it looks like you're going to be a National Hispanic Scholar plus probably a National Merit Scholar, you'll also qualify for full rides from the various universities that offer those for NHS & NM.

Check around the boards because some nice person posted a long list of colleges offering excellent merit aid to National Merit scholars.
Good luck!

By Miamiman (Miamiman) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 07:39 pm: Edit

wow thanks alot for that info.
i think that'll be all the advice i need.
but anyways,
bump!

By Miamiman (Miamiman) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 07:40 pm: Edit

my question again was whether or not early decision gave a bigger boost to the chances you have of getting in as opposed to early action.
thanks again northstarmom