<p>What ECs did he participate in? What leadership positions did he hold? Did he have any unique attributes (other than his magnificent SAT scores, decent rank).</p>
<p>nishkid, what township do you live in?</p>
<p>whatever stats he told the colleges...</p>
<p>Master, I'm from Livingston, NJ.</p>
<p>As for EC's, this is what I know:
Math Team-all 4 years
Academic Team- all 4 years
FBLA-all 4 years, was Treasurer, and won in state competitions IIRC
National Spanish Honor Society-Board member, don't remember what position
NHS-Board I think
New Jersey Science League- Top 5 for Physics C, and I think he did other stuff too.</p>
<p>I know he has more, but I just can't remember all. I've also invited him to come here and respond to comments here, and he said he would do so later on.</p>
<p>FBLA??? What is that?? </p>
<p>The rest do look admittedly a bit standard - yes, impressive, but nothing that really makes him stand out of the pack. He looks like a "numbers" candidate (vs. a "special talent/athlete" candidate or a "well rounded" candidate) ...speaking of which, what are his GPA and class rank?</p>
<p>the NJ science league thing is pretty cool. that said, nobody can Expect to get into princeton.</p>
<p>I applaud this kid for standing up to our unfair system. People who are dismissing him as arrogant are typically the ones that are benefitting from AA currently and are just afraid of a system without AA. Let's face it, everyone who is logical has to acknowledge the fact that standards are all around higher for white/asians than blacks/hispanics.</p>
<p>sadly, im chinese and live in nj too. our ec's are almost identical</p>
<p>4yrs math league check
fbla (future business leaders of america) historian and placed in states, though i didnt "win" by placing 1st or anything check
nj science league top 10% plaque check</p>
<p>it is true that whites/asians are held to a higher standard. Although I think race really only tips the scales for you if the adcoms were uncertain about your case otherwise. </p>
<p>However, I still think he's presumptuous for thinking he should have definately gotten into princeton</p>
<p>dartmouth2010,</p>
<p>I by no means benefit from AA, and I think that his case, while understandable, is not necessarily on good grounds. I find this particular case nothing out of the ordinary. </p>
<p>I don't think that the problem is that his achievements aren't high. It's that they're not that exceptional considering who he's competing against. I wish him luck, but I think that there are some sour grapes involved.</p>
<p>reading this thread has made me incredibly angry</p>
<p>citygirlsmom, why are you blasting this kid for being arrogant when you brealy know a thing about him..he prob. worked damn hard in high school and he's wondering if maybe something unfair w/ the system..esp. now that ptons gotten rid of ED b/c it's bad for disavantaged..maybe it shows something</p>
<p>epiphany...u just seem really obsessed with telling asians they can't get in top colleges..kinda weird in my opinion </p>
<p>he's the first to stand up a system that's been injust for so many yrs. all i can say is that it took a lot of guts, i admire him, and good luck</p>
<p>I hope this sets a trend across the nation and other applicants finally rise up against these unfair policies. Props to him for getting the ball rolling</p>
<p>harvard2727,</p>
<p>I don't really see where epiphany has said that Asians can't get into top colleges. At worst, he's suggested that the typical approach is unrealistic. But that they're unable? I don't see.</p>
<p>The point here isn't that the plaintiff didn't work hard. That's assumed. It's whether or not he's exceptional within a large pool of exceptional applicants. The problem with admissions in the US, at least from the perspective of many people coming from places that are 100% meritocratic, is that there are many intangibles that may make the process opaque and less-than-simple. In Japan, for example, you either score high enough to get into Tokyo U. or you don't. Harvard, however, considers students based on a broad list of factors. </p>
<p>Unjust? Maybe. I don't think so.</p>
<p>I also found Epiphany's diatribe against Mr. Li very disconcerting...especially the labels he has handed down singlehandedly to Mr. Li without actually knowing all the circumstances surrounding his applications.."arrogant...misinformed"</p>
<p>In another related post, he wrote this to further his arguments against Asians...</p>
<p>" And what is also valued by colleges, as an aspect of leadership, is the quality of sacrificing one's own advancement for the good of a group, a common goal, a noble cause larger than one's merit, larger than one's test scores, GPA, & public or private awards. That is sometimes these days what is meant by leadership. It doesn't just mean being in charge (& thus standing out); it means taking responsibility to be the doer and the role model for an effort"</p>
<p>Leadership is what Mr. Li is demonstrating to us at this point of his young college career. Remember, he is now at Yale,,,he could have opted to just keep quiet and enjoy his new found status, yet he chose to speak up for those who may follow his footsteps...sounds like a Leader to me. </p>
<p>Maybe Yale did see something in this young man.</p>
<p>Nishkid has some pretty good points.</p>
<p>I think most people here are jumping to conclusions too quickly. It's interesting that some people are assuming that he was "nothing special" or just another "high numbers, no personality" Asian kid. In fact, I'm sure it's easy (and a bit reassuring) to assume that Li was just a numbers-only kid with no personality and a big ego. Conversely, some of the same people are assuming that the accepted girl was more qualified in other aspects.</p>
<p>Who are you guys to assume any of this? </p>
<p>People seem to be particularly upset that he brought in a fellow classmate to support his case. Keep in mind, he brought up the comparison as a last resort, this is obviously not just a one-case issue. It seems like a systematic attempt by colleges to control the Asian population at their respective schools.</p>
<p>I have to applaud this guy for coming out and speaking out. Contrary to most other posters here, I don't he's arrogant or conceited just because he spoke out against the system. I feel that the fact that he has the guts to go this far speaks volumes about his character; it suggests that he's vocal and willing to voice his opinions. He's obviously not doing this for personal gain, as this obviously isn't going to help him get into Princeton, and it may even hurt him come grad school admissions. I suppose we can't assume that either though can we? ;)</p>
<p>I think it would be wisest if we reserved our judgements until the guy explains himself more.</p>
<p>I'm assuming nothing, really, as I don't know all of his stats. However, the argument that our system is terribly unjust seems a bit stretched...</p>
<p>calejbound,</p>
<p>I don't see how that's terribly denigrating toward Asians. Please explain.</p>
<p>yes, i agree that we don't have enough information. Looking at the information that we do have, I would say that a lot rests on his essays. He doesn't have a lot of non-academic ECs, which is why I said he was a "numbers kid" (there is a thread on this site somewhere that cites some college official mentioning that the three kinds of kids who get into top schools are "numbers kids", "outstanding acheivement in one EC" and "general hardworking well-rounded type kids" - the last of whom I imagine get in on teacher recs and essays mainly)
There are enough numbers kids at this point that among that group you need to do something to make yourself stand out. I don't know Li's situation in this regaurd, but I think that it is possible he appeared to be a hard worker with insufficient chutzpah. (I'm not arguing whether he does, I'm arguing that it might not have shown up enough to the adcoms) colleges are not looking for people who will be successful in college, but people who will be successful after college</p>
<p>that said, i do agree that asains are at a disadvantage in college admissions. the article that was posted just a little while back alluded to actual numberical studies, which would support Li's argument more than anecdotal evidence he otherwise provides.</p>
<p>yup uclari, since japan's system is so much more unjust, our system is flawless and we should leave it as it is and stop complaining.</p>
<p>does the plaintent want to attend a school that accepts all its students on grades and scores alone? to me that would make for a very dull school, and would make the Ivys not as good as they are now</p>
<p>If that is his goal, he is ignoring the fact the people are more than just #s- there is personallity, passions, goals, interests, drives, likes and dislikes</p>
<p>they come from different places, read different books, have different points of view</p>
<p>if a school is supposed to accept every 4.0plus, 2400 SAT scored student that applies, you will most likely get a pool of kids that are so similar, what makes those schools so special will be gone, and the variety that is essentional for a wonderful learning experience is gone</p>
<p>I don't know the rest of the kid's application, but his EXPECTATION that every school he applied to should have accepted him is arrogant...what else would you call it?</p>
<p>I don't think that he "expected to get in" based on his 2400. I get the feeling that he feels that had he been white or African-American, his chances may have been better.</p>
<p>
[quote]
yup uclari, since japan's system is so much more unjust, our system is flawless and we should leave it as it is and stop complaining.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I never said that. I think there are plenty of ways our system can improve. But I don't think that it's (note the modifier) terribly unjust. I think that it's just as meritocratic in many ways as other systems (such as Japan), but allows for contingencies to overrule outliers in performance.</p>
<p>I don't think it's perfect, but I do think it's better than many others. Please, in the future, do not put words in my mouth. It's a tad rude.</p>