Applying as a Junior! (MIT, Caltech)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Yeah so I'll be applying to a few top colleges as a junior this year. I think I have a decent (eh) shot, and I was wondering what you guys thought.
Also, I've only done things for 2-3 years because I'm only a junior. Would that hurt me?</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>Basic info:
Gender: Male
Race: Asian
School Type: Charter, lots of competition
Intended major: Mathematics</p>

<p>School stats:
GPA: 3.99 W, don't release UW (my freshman grades are not too good, like a 3.5, but I got a 4.0 sophomore year so upward trend?
Class rank: ~14/250</p>

<p>Test scores:
SAT: 2280 (800m/730r/750w/11essay, taken once)
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 760 Biology M, 770 Physics
AP: 5's on 7 tests: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Physics C Mech, Physics C E/M, Statistics, Biology, Environmental Science (AP Scholar w/ Distinction)</p>

<p>Courses:
Overall course load: Very rigorous. Took Calculus AB 8th grade; Calculus BC freshman year; Statistics, Physics C, and Biology sophomore year (self'd APES)</p>

<p>Current Schedule:
AP English Lang
Chemistry
Modern Physics
AP Economics
Calc 3/Diff Eq. (weighted as an AP course)
US History
Latin III</p>

<p>Awards:
AP Scholar w/ Distinction (2011)
USAJMO Qualifier (2011)
Individual Finalist in Princeton University Mathematics Competition (2011, just recently actually :D )
2nd place individual/team in state math league (2011)
State winning team in Science Olympiad, gone to national competition (2010, 2011)
Many individual gold/silver medals in state Science Olympiad (2010, 2011)
State winners in JETS TEAMS Engineering Competition (2010, 2011)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Math League (3 years, currently Captain; I help organize meetings and competitions and such)
Science Olympiad (3 years, currently on school's A team which almost always wins states every year)
JETS TEAMS Engineering Club (3 years, currently Captain, help organize and prepare and such)
Classes in Classical Hindustani Vocal Music (Been going for almost 10 years, perform at yearly concerts as well as other events like the state's IndiaFest [featured in newspaper])
Classes in Classical Carnatic Vocal Music (~8 years, perform at many events I'm too lazy to list)
Winter Track (2 years)
Cross-Country (1 year)
Science Ambassadors (2 years, though I forgot to sign up this year and will do it in the spring. Pretty much tutor underprivileged children once a week)</p>

<p>Summer Activities:
IDEAMath (2010)
PROMYS (2011)
-At PROMYS, I got one of the highest midterm+final scores! (not that I mentioned it on app, but...should I? ._. )</p>

<p>Volunteer work:
Volunteer at Veterans' Affairs Hospital (past 2 summers, most likely going to this summer. I go twice a week)
Treasurer of Youth Group (2 years, I help manage funds and organize many events)</p>

<p>Work:
I work at a Kumon-esque place, where I once a week tutor children in math. Been working there for 2 years.</p>

<p>Applying to:
MIT (EA)
Caltech (EA)
Harvard
Stanford
Princeton</p>

2

<p>I would say you have great chances of getting in. Admission officers will understand that as a junior, you’d only had 2-3 years of high school to do things, and your extracurriculars and academics are both really great. You show a very strong, clear focus in math/science, so that lines right up with your major, and the courses you took are very impressive as well.</p>

3

<p>I think you’re making a mistake applying as a junior. You are on a great track, but you need to carry it home. You should be applying for RSI this summer and doing an Intel or Siemens project. You should raise your CR score, note that even MIT and Caltech have a VERY high average even for CR. Bring your rank up. Show more leadership, especially outside of academics if possible, take some AP tests outside of math/science.</p>

<p>The problem with applying before you pull together the package is that admissions committees hate to change their minds. If they reject you this year theyll probably do the same if you try again next.</p>

4

<p>i think you have decent chances at MIT and Cal Tech.</p>

<p>any reason to apply as a junior?</p>

5

<p>If you’re sure you want to graduate this year, and you get deferred EA from Harvard and MIT, APPLY TO SOME SAFETY SCHOOLS. They don’t even have to be real safety schools, but some places not top 10. I went to RSI, applied to 5 schools, and was rejected by all of them except my “safety” (UVA). It was not a fun experience.</p>

6

<p>*MIT and Caltech, rather</p>

7

<p>@Quiksilver: Oh, thank you! Of course, admissions are always weird (as I just see with the poster above me). But yeah, thanks!</p>

<p>@Waverly: Yeah, I’ll be applying for RSI this year. I’ll most likely do Siemens/Intel next year (should I not get in), as I’ll most likely go to PROMYS next summer and do a research project.
The thing is though, it’s hard to bring my rank up. My school doesn’t report it, and everyone above me gets the same grades. Because I messed up a bit in freshman year, I can’t really be first.</p>

<p>(to 20more also) I also have some reasons I want to apply. I really want to go to college - like, the idea of college appeals to me (taking classes mostly in what I’m interested in). High school just feels like the same old “go to class, memorize book, get good grades” routine. I agree Waverly, I should do research, but opportunities here are a bit limited (during the school year at least).
Also, if I don’t get in, I’ll apply next year. I talked to my counselor/other college admissions people and they’ve told me the opposite: applying more than once (not transfer) is good for your app. Of course, other people have told me the opposite, so I’m not sure. But I figure I have a decent chance, and I really want to get away from high school.</p>

<p>@WaitingForGodot: wow, that’s insane. rsi and you still didn’t get in?!? (also i think i just saw you on the aops forums :P) but that sucks :confused: i don’t have any safeties simply because my safety is staying in high school an extra year. the school won’t let me graduate early (i have to fulfill requirements in another way should i somehow get accepted).</p>

8

<p>bump10char</p>

9

<p>Junior, your counselor is wrong. Applying a second time is not your best strategy. Give it one great shot. RSI will help a lot as will another year with strong ECs and leadership. You have a much better chance after senior year. Bite the bullet and use all the extra energy to get some national level honors and awards.</p>