Chance a junior for MIT, Caltech, Harvard, Yale

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I'm an Asian male from California who goes to a competitive but small public high school.</p>

<p>SAT scores: 2150 (650 R 760 M 740 W) (12 essay lolwut... ironically, the essay was on affirmative action hurting asians) first time...retaking... want a 2200+... math especially sucks given what I'm going to say later.
PSAT: 230 (74 R 80 M 76 W)
SAT 2: 800 Math II, 690 Spanish (definitely not submitting), will take Chem and Bio in May.
GPA: 3.99 UW
AP's: Calculus BC 5 (freshman year), Statistics 5 (sophomore), Computer Science 5 (sophomore), Spanish Language 4 (sophomore), will take Chemistry, Biology, World History, and English Language next month.
Other stuff: took Linear Algebra summer between freshman/sophomore, Multivariable Calculus 1st semester of sophomore year. AMC 12: 132, 126 (2011, 2012), AIME: 9, 12 (2011, 2012) -> USAMO x2 (scored a 0 on USAMO last year though :(... hopefully better this year), probably national merit semifinalist and national AP scholar.</p>

<p>Junior schedule: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP English Language, AP World History, Orchestra, Independent Study in Math (real analysis/number theory/combinatorics, 1st semester), Abstract Algebra (2nd semester, at local university)</p>

<p>Senior schedule: AP US History, AP English Literature, AP Physics B (doesn't offer C), Math/Comp Sci off campus TBD</p>

<p>Summer Stuff: 2010: Linear Algebra, 2011: Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, hoping for Clark Scholars this year.</p>

<p>Recs: Asking from Stats teacher/math competition coordinator/independent study mentor... has mentioned me to be one of the best 2 or 3 math students in the school's history. Also from AP World teacher this year. Both should be excellent.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: </p>

<p>Violin (since age 5) - private lessons, won local awards for solo playing, been concertmaster of school orchestra since 2007 (I go to a 7-12 school), local youth symphony - concertmaster last year, winner of local youth symphony's concerto competition in 2009-2010 season and this year, county honors jazz band this year, chamber music - won local awards, recipient of a county wide scholarship for most promising young classical musician, pit orchestra for school musical for 3 years, play for many community/benefit events.</p>

<p>Writing - part of school's creative writing/poetry club since high school started, but haven't submitted any anywhere... might creep its way onto supplement for a school?</p>

<p>Volunteer Work - part of the student staff for a local music festival for 2 summers, also ushered those same two summers at a local Shakespeare festival. I've also tutored a bunch in math for free over the last 2 years.</p>

<p>The bulk of my spare time is dedicated to math, reading about stuff I find interesting (recently, feminism and capitalism), and writing.</p>

<p>Intended major: Math/Computer Science (maybe some Physics as well)</p>

<p>Colleges:
MIT
Caltech
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Stanford
UChicago
Brown
UC Berkeley
UCLA</p>

<p>Chance me and I'll chance you back!</p>

2

<p>Also, I’ve started on my college essay already. Runescape (what I did all day in middle school… no joke), Shor’s factoring algorithm, and serious personal issues have made their way into it.</p>

3

<p>Asian male from California</p>

<p>Without USAMO(2), you have no chances at MIT, Cal Tech, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Brown and Chicago.</p>

<p>Raise your SAT and get 800s on SAT IIs. You will get into some great colleges.</p>

4

<p>what is usamo(2)</p>

5

<p>How do I have no chance as an Asian male from California…?</p>

6

<p>What he means is that you are in a super competitive pool. There are thousands of highly qualified, high stats Asian applicants from CA for top colleges to choose from. Breaking out of the pack is tough and requires a creative application and unusual ECs. Didn’t that essay on AA give you a Wakeup call?</p>

7

<p>I was talking about discrimination against Asian Americans from an earlier age, not today. Also, I listed my essay idea and some other extracurriculars as well, but it seems you guys didn’t bother with them since I’m an “asian male”.</p>

8

<p>get your USAMO up, get all 5’s, aim for 2300+ (800 math 750 crit 750 writing), get some more distinct e.c’s and you will have a very good chance at all of them </p>

<p>MIT- doable if u do well in usamo
Caltech- see MIT
Harvard- reach, harvard is a reach for everyone so dont take it personally
Yale- pick up SAT’s, get some more E.C’s and i think u got a good shot
Princeton- semi reach, see yale
Stanford- semi reach, see yale
UChicago-doable
Brown- doable
UC Berkeley-yes
UCLA-yes</p>

<p>USAMO and SAT’s are crucial, if u do well on both, i think you will have a very successful senior year!</p>

<p>Another thing, I would get some more SAT II’s</p>

<p>gl mate, and btw runescape player here too. i was a staker XD, I would quit if you have not already</p>

9

<p>I think you have a good chance. But seeing that you are intending to go into math major, it will be extremely difficult for you since so many asians in the applicant pool have similar mathematic/ science strengths. However, it is hard to say because the application process is so unpredictable, so keep your hopes up! :)</p>

10

<p>Being an Asian Male from California does put you in a competitive pool. With the current SAT score and weakness of the ECs (where’s the leadership?), in a pool as competitive as yours, HYPS seem like a tough sell. MIT/Caltech may be more lenient given your exceptional math talent - try to do well on USAMO. See if you can find opportunities for leadership (say, of some clubs) as this is a quality nearly all HYPSers demonstrate in their ECs.</p>

11

<p>Serious personal issues do not usually make a good essay topic. An essay should tell the committee what positives you will bring to campus.</p>

<p>And honestly, while we’ve pointed out tat you’re in a highly competitive pool, unhooked white kids are not getting into these schools with your scores.</p>

12

<p>Waverly (and others), I’m just gonna do my best and what I think is right. I don’t concede anything at all about the validity of your statements because I’m probably less educated on the topic of college admissions than you guys. I’m going to be who I am, and if I come off as a “robot asian” this fall/winter, fine by me, but I’d love to see your reaction if I get into Harvard.</p>

<p>Thanks all for chancing.</p>

13

<p>Wed congratulate you and tell you your app must have been great.</p>

<p>Nerd, test me,I’ve been on an ivy admissions committee, you don’t wnt to come off as an Asian robot.</p>

14

<p>multivariable calc first semester sophomore year?</p>

<p>that’s crazy! I think if you bring up that SAT and do well in USAMO, you’d get into Caltech.</p>

15

<p>There are thousands of highly qualified, asian applicants that have the same stats as you, or better; some will have the exact same interests as you, and manage to do remarkable things. You don’t stand out. Make yourself stand out.</p>

16

<p>mathnerd,</p>

<p>You have USAMO(s).
Raise your SAT score and get great SAT II scores.
Write great essays and show your passion for math.</p>

<p>You will get into some great colleges.</p>

<p>Good luck to you!</p>

17

<p>scores low for both Caltech and MIT.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, every Asian male applies to the same top 10 schools you listed. They all have similar profiles. You should check out the results threads to see what happens.</p>