Another Asian Male looking at Ivies

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>CHANCES PLZ</p>

<p>Race:Asian
Sex: Male
High school: Highly competitive math and science magnet school, used to be #4 in nation (From a class of 20-30 people, usually 2-3 go to Ivies or MIT/Caltech, another 2 or 3 go to top 10 colleges, another 2-3 go to highly ranked schools like georgia tech or vandy, the rest go to state schools)
Current Location: ALABAMA (LOL ONLY ADVANTAGE IMO)
Possible majors: Biology and/or Economics</p>

<p>GPA: 3.74 (unweighted) - SLACKED OFF freshman and sophomore years (but straight As in junior year (except for 1 89 in english...but who cares about english?))
4.3 weighted - high weighted GPA (compared to classmates) due to number of AP classes (will have taken all but one (computer science) out of 14 available AP classes at my school)
Class rank: We don't "officially" rank, but due to the competitiveness of my school, i'm around the top 25% in terms of UW GPA, I think number 2 in terms of weighted GPA.</p>

<p>ACT: 35 (will retake in September)
- English: 35
- Math: 36
- Reading: 34
- Science: 35
Writing: ?</p>

<p>SATs:
Feb: 2220 (reading 680 math 800 writing 740)
June: 2350 (reading 800 math 770 writing 780), considering retaking
cumulative: 2380</p>

<p>SAT IIs: Biology M- 800; US History - 800; Chemistry: 780</p>

<p>APs: (just got this year's scores like a second ago 6x5 this year :))
Environmental Science - 5
Biology - 5
Stats - 5
Calc BC - 5
European History - 5
US History -5
World History -5
Art History - 5 (YES, I DO LIKE HISTORY!!!)
Chemistry - 4 </p>

<p>I'm a National AP scholar, and will qualify for Siemens AP scholarship (probably will win cause I'm in Alabama)</p>

<p>PSAT: 216, didn't really study (most likely national merit, since I'm in AL) </p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities</p>

<p>Math Team
- 4 Years; Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
- various trophies
- aime qualifier in 9th grade (always missed by 1 question during 10th and 11th grade)
Varsity Quiz Bowl
- responsible for reboot after old coach retired
- 3 years, soph - JV, while others are all varsity. Co-captained junior year, and will be sole captain next year
- Qualified for state plus 2 or 3 other trophies.
- 1 individual trophy
Varsity Chess Team
- Part of the original team
- Captain in 11th and 12th grade
- not many tournaments, mainly in-school chess club. Did win 1st place at 2 tournaments
Mu Alpha Theta
- 10th grade inductee
- secretary - during junior year
- nothing next year (lost election for pres) </p>

<p>Summer:
Debate camp (1st place x 2 during in-camp tournment) for the past two years. Did research for my dad (who owns a microbiology lab). Volunteered at local zoo (100 hours or so). Went back to china sophomore summer, so didn't do much that summer.
Will be applying for Intel research scholarship with current research.
This year, taking 2 classes at local 4 year college (Cal 3 and Genetics), will take 1 class each semester during school year.</p>

<p>Next year's courses: Since I already exhausted all my AP classes, I can only take 4 APs next year. Only APs I can't take is Studio Art and Computer Science (haven't fufilled reqs). </p>

<p>Any other interesting facts? Yea...I blame all of my bad grades (mostly high Bs) during freshman and sophomore years on World of Warcraft addiction. My essay is gonna be on how I overcame that addiction and improved my life (i still play ALOT of video games, like 1-2 hour per night during school nights). I was seriously addicted (like sleep at 3am, play 4-5 hours a day). Should be a fun essay</p>

<p>I skipped a grade (3rd grade) </p>

<p>Recommendations:
I'll get one from my Latin teacher who absolutely loves me. My Bio teacher is more neutral towards me, but I really like him.</p>

<p>RATE MY CHANCES PLZ: FREE E-COOKIE TO ANYONE WHO DOES</p>

<p>Colleges: Really want to pursue a degree in either biology or Pol Sci/Economics ---> Wanna be a patent lawyer or researcher
1. UPenn or Duke (early decision, haven't decided which one, any advice?)
2. Wash U in st. Louis
2. Vanderbilt (semi-safety?)
3. Northwestern
4. U Chicago
5. Emory
6. Cornell
7. Harvard, Yale, Princeton (HYP) - parents want me to apply, but i probably won't stand a chance
8. UAB early medical school acceptance programs (safety)
9. University of Alabama (safety)</p>

2

<p>do duke for ed, you would have a much better chance than upenn</p>

3

<ol>
<li>Duke IN</li>
<li>Wash U in st. Louis IN</li>
<li>Vanderbilt (semi-safety?) IN </li>
<li>Northwestern NO</li>
<li>U Chicago IN </li>
<li>Emory IN </li>
<li>Cornell NO</li>
<li>Harvard, Yale, Princeton (HYP) - parents want me to apply, but i probably won't stand a chance NO</li>
<li>UAB early medical school acceptance programs (safety) IN</li>
<li>University of Alabama (safety) IN</li>
</ol>

4

<p>Eh, what's so hard about Upenn ED as compared to Duke Early Decision?
I think there is only a few percentage point difference...right?</p>

5

<p>Don't retake the SAT, you'll just look like a freak..</p>

<p>You already have incredible stats, and I am sure you will get into Duke even RD, so go ahead with the Penn ED.</p>

6

<p>Please don't retake the SAT. It's just sick.</p>

7

<p>eh...i lost 30 points on my math, and i'm kinda ****ed at that. If I retake, I think I stand a real chance of making a 2400.</p>

8

<p>nice job, but AP scores for this year shouldn't be out yet...</p>

<ol>
<li>UPenn or Duke (apply DUKE ED and you will get in, more of a risk for Penn)</li>
<li>Wash U IN</li>
<li>Vanderbilt (semi-safety?) IN</li>
<li>Northwestern IN</li>
<li>U Chicago IN</li>
<li>Emory IN</li>
<li>Cornell IN</li>
<li>Harvard, Yale, Princeton REACH</li>
</ol>

9

<p>You DON'T need a 2400. Colleges consider 2350+ a 2400. You have 2380 superscored for crying out loud lol!</p>

10

<ol>
<li>UPenn or Duke -- only apply ED if you LOVE the school, but id go w/ duke</li>
<li>Wash U in st. Louis - IN</li>
<li>Vanderbilt - IN</li>
<li>Northwestern - REACH</li>
<li>U Chicago - Prolly IN</li>
<li>Emory - IN</li>
<li>Cornell - IN (i got in w/ less test scores...haha)</li>
<li>Harvard, Yale, Princeton (HYP) FAR REACH</li>
<li>UAB early medical school acceptance programs- easily IN</li>
<li>University of Alabama - easily IN</li>
</ol>

11

<p>duke ED would save you alot of trouble.</p>

12

<p>eh, the Vagelos LSM program at UPenn looks like the perfect program for my future...</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

13

<p>I don't think you'll get in. You seem "dry" to say the least.</p>

14

<p>yea...chances everything is basically a crap shoot for top ranked colleges :(</p>

15

<p>"alot"</p>

<p><em>A lot</em></p>

16

<p>Your ACTs are incredible - don't take them again
But you need to do something that can make you stand out - and don't make it musical - no offense but Ivies see too many asians who excel in math and music
Do something different like photography or whatever you'd be good at that can set you apart</p>

17

<p>sigh...too many overperforming Asians and too few spots in Ivies</p>

18

<p>Before you write an essay about World of Warcraft I would make certain that a few other people see it. I don't imagine that adcoms read a lot of WoW essays. I'm sure there's a good reason for that.</p>

<p>Write a great essay, get the BEST recommendations you can find (not necessarily from the teachers YOU like the best) and you definitely have a chance for HYP.</p>

<p>Why not? You're interesting. You have as much of a shot as anyone.</p>

19

<p>god, I feel so stupid</p>

20

<p>Eh, I dunno, WoW has been a significant part of my life during freshman - junior years. I was pretty involved in raiding, and overcoming the addiction was quiet challenging. Moreover, there was a definite correlation between WoW playing and my low GPA, and I think i might be able to explain it away.
I'll definitely get my GC and english teachers to read it. But i think it's gonna be a somewhat unique essay (after all, that's what colleges are after, right?)</p>