Advice for HYPS? (should this belong in this forum?)

<p>Hi, I'm a Korean-American junior in a fairly very competitive school (many in Ivies) who wouldn't post this...except I'm really lost in where I stand. Any help would be appreciated. Since this is a list that my counselor recommended, I would really appreciate any other recommendations of school in the northwest.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.94 UW (will drop significantly due to junior year...)</p>

<p>PSAT: 231</p>

<p>SAT: 2400</p>

<p>SAT II: 770 Biology E, 800 Korean (will take more next year - Chemistry, Math II, and US History - hoping for all above 750?)</p>

<p>AP: sophomore year - European History 5
junior year - Calc BC, US History, Biology, Statistics
senior year - Masterpieces, Physics B, Government, Macroeconomics,...there was suppposed to be more...</p>

<p>E/Cs (main weaknesses):
~200 hours of community service in a hospital (clerical work - 2 summers only)
Math Team 10th grade, hopefully 12th grade
Science Olympiad 9, 10, 11, 12
Tri-M Music Honor Society - 9, 10, 11, 12
All County violin - 9, 10 -- just once a year
LISFA (orchestra) - 9, 10 -- just once a year
School's rock orchestra - 9, 10, 11, 12
Habitat for Humanity - 10, 11 (treasurer), 12 (president?)
Foreign Language Honor Society - 11, 12
National Honor Society - 11, 12
Columbia Science Honors Program - 11, 12 -- once a week
I'm going to be honest and say my essays and my recommendations won't be anywhere excellent...</p>

<p>My dream schools used to be Columbia/Brown but for some reason, I really want to try for HYPS now... I know my EC's are pretty bad and unfocused, but honestly I couldn't do a lot of the things I wanted to do because my parents didn't let me (until SATs are done) or because I couldn't afford it. I probably should've worked harder in the clubs then..but too late ><. </p>

<p>Would it change ANYTHING if I started volunteering like crazy or start a charity/fundraising that I always wanted to do? Junior year's done in a month...I guess really no time for anything to matter?</p>

<p>Based on your previous posts, you already know that yout thread belongs in this forum :)</p>

<p>You definitely jumped over the first hurdle, but your ECs don’t really seem consistent.
Also, you seem like a stereotypical Korean *not that it’s bad: but in HYPS pool, you need to differentiate yourself from the others.</p>

<p>Good luck! *Are you a 2015er?</p>

<p>Yeh I’m a 2015er. I knew I can ask to be chanced but i wasn’t sure if I could ask for advice to help my chances rather than actually be chanced… And I’m def a typical Korean except for the fact I didn’t do any research…</p>