A Chinaman's Chance at MIT, Caltech, and other top colleges

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, everyone. Thanks a lot for reading my post.
I came to the States 3 years ago from Shanghai, China, and I frequently g back for volunteering and visits.</p>

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>SAT I: took it 3 times, most recent one: 1560, 760 V 800 M
SAT IIs: Math IIC 800, Physics 800, Chemistry 790, World History 800, US History 760, Writing 740
APs: calc bc 5, chemstry5, physics c mech. 5, physics c e&m 5, world history 5, us history 5(projected score; they lost my free-response section!!!), english language and comp. 5 </p>

<p>GPA: 4.36 weighted, 4.0 unweighted, ranked 2nd in class,
College courses: have taken/am taking/will take 6 math courses at Pomona, Harvey Mudd colleges. Engineering Physics at Citrus College
Use all resources available to me at my public high school, courseload difficult.</p>

<p>ECs:
Math Club co-president, science club president, JETS Varsity captain (1st in S. CA, multiple choice score best in history; free-response sucked though--15th nat'l), currently organizing Science Olympiad, Physics Bowl/Olympiad teams at my school(not many ppl interested...) Bio research at Keck Graduate Institute (now)
Speech and Debate team treasurer; won many awards in congress, policy debate, thmatic interpretation, duo interpretation, etc.; represented team and the USA in a trip to Azerbaijan in 4/2004.
School tutoring for four years
Full-time volunteering last summer: China Shanghai International Arts Festival, shanghai int'l piano competition, and Shanghai Business Daily; worked as a translator, interpreter, organizer, and editor.</p>

<p>Essays for MIT: discussed my experiences being a Communist Young Pioneer(controversial, but decided to take the risk) and how that shaped my life.
my experience in Azerbaijan (a basketball game, in which I discovered another side of my debate coach, an admirable man). creation: taking a shopping cart as my evidence box carrier at a USC debate tournament...conciese, neat short answers...don't have the time to list them all.</p>

<p>Thx a lot everyone. What are my chances?</p>

2

<p>you are so in</p>

3

<p>hey you do debate. and you went on a trip to Azerbaijan. explain it for me.</p>

<p>i also do debate in state and nationally. as well as public speaking. and that shopping cart experience i think is uniquely policy debate.</p>

<p>i never thought id find a policy debater floating in the forums.</p>

4

<p>haha, man. you're right. my main event is student congress, but I have been doing policy for two years.
and to clarify the Azeri trip: the US State Dept.'s Debate Exchange Partnership Program selects two h.s. in the nation to go to Azerbaijan. Our h.s. was selected, and 7 kids and 2 coaches went. we had a good time there too. everything is so different there; cakes, tea, party every day, almost hooked up with a girl there--girls there are good btw.
thx for replying</p>

5

<p>wow... and you came to the US three years ago? did you study English in shanghai?</p>

6

<p>this is going to sound weird, but aside from doing policy debate I also do congress.</p>

<p>what tournaments have you gone to</p>

<p>this is like a debate/forensics reunion of sorts</p>

<p>btw- your stats look amazing (near perfect AP scores, strong academic record), debate is extremely helpful for college esp. if your committed to it and good at it</p>

7

<p>answer to kinetic: I have been studying english in shanghai since 3rd grade. but what they taught couldn't be compared to the level of difficulty here or in India, where English is popular. I attended the Shanghai Foreign Language School, a prestigious public school in China(top 10 nat'l) and it was then when I accelerated in english. However, most of my improvements were made in the U.S. through daily conversations and Speech and Debate,
which brings me to answer Seven Nights: I did Congress for all four years--that suits me better because I can actually speak slowly and not worry too much about my accent. I picked up policy in sophomore year and did it in junior year too(during those two years, I concentrated on policy but also participated in other events). Policy was especially challenging to me at first, but with the help of my partner and my coach, I could speak much faster and express what I think in English much more glibly. Policy, in a way, helped me improve my english greatly.
Thanks a lot, everyone!</p>

8

<p>I have been to USC, Long Beach, Citrus Belts, State quals and state finals, never qualified for nat'l though--not good enough...thx, seven nights, for your post.</p>

9

<p>btw if your considering applying to the schools you are applying to (MIT) they know (well the adcoms about debate- more than you would think they know). i suggest not writing your essay about moving a shopping cart bc you only did policy for 2 years. i would suggest congress since its something you have actually shown dedication and commitment in.</p>

<p>btw what tournaments did/have you gone to</p>

10

<p>oh, nice point, seven nights. unfortunately, I already sent my app yesterday. I don't think they know I've been only doing it for 2 years though. Hopefully my other essays will atone for this flaw. I will definitely consider your point in future apps. Thanks!</p>

11

<p>the big ones I have gone to are posted in the one before your last post. I have also gone to numerous league tournaments like Damien, Yucaipa, Redlands, and of course, Claremont--my city.</p>

12

<p>my bad i didnt see them.</p>

13

<p>see i wish back in cali to debate. i am no longer there. i miss my fond memories with my debate squad. best of luck in your apps</p>

14

<p>Thx so much, seven nights! California is indeed a good place for debate and life, but I wish you a good life wherever you go.</p>

15

<p>if u get accepted into MIT then you find youself in my hometown. the boston area is so amazing, beautiful, and just well amazing</p>

16

<p>So guys, what are my chances, based on the info in the very 1st post, at:
1. MIT (EA)
2. Caltech (EA)
3. Princeton
4. Harvard
5. Yale
6. Stanford
7. Harvey Mudd College
8. Columbia
9. U Penn (not Wharton)
10. Cornell (architecture)
11. Northwestern
and
12. Duke
?</p>

17

<p>bumpbumpbump</p>

18

<p>I need help, guys...throw your criticisms at me, please.</p>

19

<p>So guys, what are my chances, based on the info in the very 1st post, at:
1. MIT (EA)
2. Caltech (EA)
3. Princeton
4. Harvard
5. Yale
6. Stanford
7. Harvey Mudd College
8. Columbia
9. U Penn (not Wharton)
10. Cornell (architecture)
11. Northwestern
and
12. Duke
?</p>

20

<ol>
<li>MIT (EA) - You fit the criteria perfectly, however, it's still a reach.</li>
<li>Caltech (EA) - Same as above.</li>
<li>Princeton - Same as above.</li>
<li>Harvard - Same as above.</li>
<li>Yale - Same....</li>
<li>Stanford - Same..</li>
<li>Harvey Mudd College - You should get in</li>
<li>Columbia - You should get in</li>
<li>U Penn (not Wharton) - Again... you fit the criteria, however, it's still a reach.</li>
<li>Cornell (architecture) - You should get in</li>
<li>Northwestern - You should get in
and</li>
<li>Duke - You should get in</li>
</ol>

<p>Shanghai, best of luck. If what you said is true, then you're quite the scholar.</p>