Another typical Asian chance me...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm an Asian male, currently a rising junior, wondering about my chances of getting into Stanford, MIT, HYP (actually don't really care about Yale and Princeton), Columbia, and UPenn.</p>

<p>GPA is 3.98/4.6 (one B freshman year in English). No rank. SAT is 2340, M:800, CR: 750, W:790. I just took SAT II Literature and Math, plan on doing Physics in October. Probably a "low" score (650-750) on the former, and close to perfect on the latter.</p>

<p>I'm on track to get an IB diploma with these IB courses:
IB SL Economics
IB SL Sociology
IB SL Chinese
IB HL English
IB HL History
IB HL Math
IB HL Physics</p>

<p>I have 5's on AP US Govt/History, AP Calc, and AP Computer Programming AB (Self-studied), and I've taken these this year:
AP Physics C, both of them
AP Economics, both of them
AP Euro
AP Lit
AP Psych (self-study)
AP Stat (self-study)
I'm not sure about my senior load, probably going to self-study Bio/Chem. Truthfully, because of IB, there aren't many more I can take without self-studying them.</p>

<p>I'm school winner of AMC 10/12 for 9th and 10th grade, but our school didn't do the AMCs this year, since the teacher which organized it pulled out literally the day before. Also made AIME since 8th grade (not this year, for obvious reasons). I was on the Montgomery A team that got 5th place national in the ARML math competition last year. Couldn't participate this year because of lacrosse. So basically good at math, maybe top few in my grade in Maryland but def. not nationally. My economics team placed 3rd place in Maryland this year. </p>

<p>I played lacrosse since freshman year, but its mostly been a fun rather than competitive thing since our school team is pretty bad.</p>

<p>Over the summer, I've worked at a lab (sort of an internship), worked at a computer repair shop, and volunteered to make websites. I plan on doing some more lab interning and volunteering this summer.</p>

<p>The main issue is that I don't have any leadership roles (not very typical Asian of me...), though I can BS some if necessary. I mean I feel that being president of a bajillion honors societies is kinda stupid and just to improve a resume, since people don't do much in most extracurriculars especially the BS ones people advertise as being founders of. Mostly I pursue my own interests independently, like math (have to go to another school to do most competitions), and electronics (hence the computer job, I also build stuff on my own time).</p>

<p>I live in MoCo and go to a school that's fairly competitive (we had 3 accepted into Stanford this year), and both my parents went to college, so I really don't have a hook for any of these schools. My dad is like a leading researcher in nuclear physics and postdoc'd at MIT, but I don't think that counts as a hook.</p>

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<p>You seem obsessed with the whole “Asian” label and it’s really annoying. </p>

<p>If you really want to subject yourself to Western stereotypes you should realize that many ignorant people see you as a follower, a smart computer-like person with very little creativity or leadership skills. </p>

<p>So not having any leadership roles is actually “very Asian” of you. </p>

<hr>

<p>But yeah, you have very strong chances for MIT considering you’re very gifted in mathematics. </p>

<p>I’m willing to assume they’ll overlook your weakness in English/Literature considering you’re going for a math specialty anyways. </p>

<p>You still have a strong chances for UPenn but you should realize that they’re sort of liberal-arts oriented and they don’t really forgive bad grades in English but you’re doing really well too.</p>

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<p>you have gotten ONE B in english? and the rest are A’s?</p>

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<p>Asians that play lacrosse = awesome!</p>

<p>where’s MoCo … Montgomery in NJ?</p>

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<p>Yeah, one B. It was freshman year, and I go to a liberal-artsy high school that focuses on English. That’d be Montgomery County, Maryland. And Precognition, I’d argue that the stereotype you describe is more of a nerdy FOB stereotype than the usual overachiever Asian one.</p>

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<p>Nope, that’s pretty much the portrayal of Asians in this country. </p>

<p>Don’t subject yourselves to “us and them” thinking and realize that you’re an individual with your own thoughts, opinions and actions.</p>

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<p>I agree with Precognition. You’re an “overachiever” probably because you have pushy parents, not because of any overwhelming talent of your own. Most people can do well in high school and most can get into HYPS – with effort and resources, though.</p>

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<p>Most Asians have no leadership roles?</p>

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<p>I agree. It definitely is.</p>

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<p>That is not low at all even though it’s not your strength compared to math and science. Try a different humanity subject?</p>

<p>By the way, do not give specific information about your school on an anonymous website :).</p>

<p>orrrly, from where did you derive the impression that the OP has “pushy parents” and no “overwhelming talent of his own”? Qualifying for these math competitions takes a lot of talent, and the OP sounds as though he has a true passion in math and science. </p>

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<p>Sorry to disappoint, but many with the resource and has put in a great amount of effort are rejected from these schools every year. They have incredible stats and profiles, but becaue there is only a limited amount of space for an incoming freshmen class, most who deserve to attend cannot as a result.</p>

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<p>gcj0000, I’m not sure if you’re aware that there are countless summer programs out there for those interested in math and science, and several are even free if you’re admitted. They are very selective though. I think you sound like a great fit for those opportunities, so do look them up in the Summer Program forum - not only can they be incredible experiences, on the practical side, participation in those programs may help you make up for the lack of leadership in school. Also, I like how you worked at a computer repair shop and volunteered to make websites - have you thought about taking this one step further and maybe create a running website for a non-profit organization? Or get a legitimate job as a computer programing person or work over the summer to repair computers? Take risks, go out of your comfort zone to pursue those activities that normal high schoolers dare not attempt.</p>

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<p>You sound like the type of person who may be interested in these:</p>

<p>[PROMYS[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://www.txstate.edu/mathworks/]Texas”>Mathworks : Texas State University]Texas</a> Mathworks : Texas State University](<a href=“http://www.promys.org/]PROMYS[/url”>http://www.promys.org/)
[MIT</a> Admissions: Summer Programs](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/summer_programs/]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/summer_programs/)
[MIT</a> Admissions: Science Fairs, Olympiads, Etc.](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/science_fairs_olympiads_etc/index.shtml#summer]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/science_fairs_olympiads_etc/index.shtml#summer)</p>

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<p>

Ah, so that explains the sub-10% acceptance rates. What a profound revelation.</p>

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<p>lol Reading comprehension? Obviously, not everyone can get in at once. I meant that the kids who don’t get into these schools usually don’t have the resources and don’t try as hard as the kids who do. Say what you want to make yourself feel better, but give a kid wealthy parents and make him study for hours every day, and he too can get a perfect SAT score and become valedictorian.</p>

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<p>

You are obviously clueless and/or misinformed concerning the quality of the HYPS applicant pool.</p>

<p>

Right, because there are only 300 kids in the world that study hard and have wealthy parents.</p>

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<p>lol Sorry, go ahead give yourself a pat on the back for studying every day and taking piano lessons while your friends played video games. Do you really think they would be that much worse off if they were in your place? Stop trying to maintain your superiority over other people like the other posters on CC and get over yourself. Getting good SAT scores is great. I did really well, too. But think about it, you’re not even a senior yet and you have 2000 posts on a message board about getting into college.</p>

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<p>

I don’t play piano and am on XBL quite extensively.

I’m maintaining my superiority by pointing out the logical fallacies in your statements?

I’ve learned quite a bit about the admissions process and helped many other students through CC.</p>

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<p>They weren’t so much logical fallacies as they were your inability to understand what I posted. Sorry, dude, I didn’t know you were on XBL “extensively” lol. I’m just saying, a little humility goes a long way.</p>

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<p>

Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is essentially what you said.
1.) Anyone can be an “overachiever” and do well in high school; anyone that does these things gets into HYPS
2.) Anyone with wealthy parents that studies for a few hours a day can be valedictorian and have a perfect SAT score.</p>

<p>I think the fallacious logic in those two statements is fairly obvious.</p>

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<p>I never said “anyone” can get in, and I never said “a few hours a day” would do. Learn how to read. I’m just saying, as someone who goes to a pretty good school and has friends in both the ivy league and state schools, it’s obvious to me that intelligence and talent doesn’t play as big of a role as you’d think. I have friends in state schools who are some of the most dynamic, intelligent people I’ve ever met, but didn’t get around to working hard in school. That doesn’t mean they weren’t Asian enough. lol</p>

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<p>If you want to nitpick, here’s your exact words.</p>

<p>

If you know anything about the quality of the applicant pools at HYPS, you would understand that that statement is false.

I doubt that there are only 300 students (perfect scorers in any given year) who meet the criteria of having wealthy parents and studying for many hours a day. Furthermore, if there are two kids with wealthy parents and that study extensively at one school, which probably is quite common, only one can be valedictorian. Either way, your assertion is ridiculous.</p>

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<p>Wow, just wow. I take that back; some people just can’t understand simple statements, even when those statements have been thoroughly explained to them. Have fun, man.</p>