Do you believe a 4.0 GPA and a perfect SAT or ACT score is enough to get you into Harvard?

[Adaeva]

North Allegheny's Owen Prem earns perfect score on SAT, ACT college entrance exams

In the class of 2021 4,055 students received a perfect ACT score. https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-many-people-get-a-34-35-36-on-the-act-score-breakdown The number of SAT perfect scores is a secret but it is estimated to be several thousand.

12,000 applicants to Standford had perfect 4.0 GPA. Harvard has admitted 1,954 applicants to the class of 2026. Clearly, Harvard has far more applicants with 4.0 GPA and perfect SAT or ACT scores than applicants admitted.

[Chazmatazz269]

Nope. Elite skools have an abundance of excellent students from which to choose. So they examine extracurricular activities closely as well, and applicants often have to write an essay selling themselves to the admissions board. There are also legacies and financial contributions to consider. It’s widely thought highly inappropriate for skools to weigh those last two, but it’s beyond naive to pretend that they never do.

[SamIam96]

Grades and test scores are not enough. You have to show that you are an exceptional person with the potential to be a world leader. Think of Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg. You may not love those individuals, but you have to recognize their achievements. They look for candidates with that level of potential.

[SamIam96]

Thank you for the MHO.

[Soulfist]

No, maybe if you are a congressman's son or related to the royal family, you will get into Harvard University. It's no longer merit-based. They only want rich or famous people in it.

And if you do get in, you won't be able to take certain classes because you dont know prince Andrew. And it's not worth it because you won't have access to all the classes.

Now, if you're talking about Harvard extension school, which you get by completing academically rigorous courses, then yes. That boy has the intelligence to get in and get a good education. He will have to work hard for it, but it will be worth it.

In my opinion, it's better to go to merit-based schools like MIT or Columbia. That would be worth that boy's time more than Harvard. He might get into Harvard university but won't get the full benefit because he might not have the connections or know people in power. He won't have access to some of the education.

Harvard extension school is better because it's not filled with rich snobs and people actually had to prove they deserved to be there. Harvard university would be good if you are from a rich family and know people in power.

MIT or Columbia would be better for him. MIT is much better, anyway.

[Adaeva]

Interesting.

[Soulfist]

@Adaeva You're an overachiever. So you're going to be rich anyways.

[Adaeva]

Based on my SAT which I recently received, Harvard is out my reach. Instead I plan to attend Reed College in Portland, OR; Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, CA; Davison College NC; Or Earlham College, Richmond, IN. Reed College, with a very strong Chinese major, will be my first choice. However, they all offered a Chinese major including a year study abroad program in China. I believe China is a rising economic power and a strong Chinese (actually Mandarin) language background would offer great employment opportunities.

[Soulfist]

There is always grad school. And coming out of high school, it's super hard. You're competing against everyone: college transfers and high school students. When you just keep your grades up at the 4-year and transfer to an ivy league.

I know a guy who went to a community, and he applied for the NYU CCToP and got into nyu. A girl
I know applied to Columbia University and got rejected after high school. She went to a state school, maintained a 4.0 got into Columbia GS.

Grad school is definitely hard to get into. But many people drop out, get bad grades or give up, so you will have an easier time getting into grad school.

You have fewer people to compete with because many people give up after they dont get into their dream school and do poorly in college or give up.

It's still going to be very hard, but fewer people to you have to compete with.

And you are smart enough to get into Harvard extension school. You have to obtain a B+ or higher in 3 courses to get in. It's tough. But no essay, just the three difficult classes.

[Soulfist]

Undergrad, you have to compete with all the high school students and college students.

But in grad school, many people dropped out or had to take care of their families. It's fewer people.

Again still insanely hard. But it's not as saturated with people. So your chances are better. So dont be upset.

Look up MIT micromasters. MIT professors teach it. So you can get used to ivy league coursework.

And the micromasters count as college credit towards a master's degree.

[SnowedIn]

Is it enough? No. They're looking for other things. Leadership. Well rounded. Clubs. Volunteer work. Sports. Music, theatre, art. Community involvement. Civic engagement. Etc. You can have a 4.0 or perfect SAT/ACT but without something else to distinguish yourself from the thousands of other 4.0s you won't get in.

[dustybiker]

That want people that won’t embarrass them too. Appearances are everything.

[exitseven]

no, they are looking for a specific , member of a protected class. and if you are Asian you will be rejected for that/

[Jennz6]

I’m thinking about the political situation of getting into Harvard?

[Adaeva]

On October 31, 2022, the U. S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases about the consideration of race in college admissions: SFFA v. UNC and SFFA v. Harvard. These two cases were heard separately over the course of the day. Expect the Court’s decision by June 2023 and audio recordings for both the UNC and Harvard cases are now available on the Court’s website.

[NachtjaegerSS]

I would like to say "yes" but in the woke world, a white girl with good scores are a dime a dozen.

[OddBeMe]

Seeing how Harvard and other Ivies have entire boards to discuss applicants, I would say it’s more than just numbers.

[LiamJHayden]

Not nearly enough, unless maybe the person is a legacy.

[JohnK123]

Uh no- lmao Ik people who got a 36 on ACT and had a 4.56 and still didn’t get into Harvard

[msc545]

Not enough. You need to not be white it helps a lot to be a "legacy".

[anon15]

I had an almost perfect test score 35 and got scholarships so it’s possible. Never applied to Harvard but my gpa was too low

[dolemite89]

not if ur white, you need to have wealthy parents that can donate to the university

[BeMuse]

I know people that got in with less...

[BJP21]

You can go anywhere.

[Preeti161101]

No idea 💡

[In_Trance]

It is definitely not