<p>This is what college apps stress makes you do: create chance threads.
Right now, I have completely no idea where I stand. Please chance me for HYPMS, and if you're knowledgeable, please suggest particular schools that would be a good match for me. Thanks!</p>
<p>STATS:</p>
<p>SAT: 2340
SAT MATH II: 800
SAT CHEMISTRY: 800
GPA/Rank: N/A
(All As so far)</p>
<p>NOTABLE CLASSES:</p>
<p>Organic Chemistry I & II
Advanced Topics in Chemistry/ Directed Study with PhD Chemist (only student in the class)
Multivariate Calculus
Linear Algebra
Biochemistry
Advanced Mathematics Problems</p>
<p>RESEARCH:</p>
<p>Chemistry Research - Research with PhD chemist; synthesizing new compounds that can detect tumor cells and improve imaging quality.</p>
<p>Chemistry Engineering--Research with PhD chemist; modifying biofuel</p>
<p>AWARDS:</p>
<p>USNCO High Honors (Top 50 in the Nation)
2 X USNCO Semifinalist (Top scorer in state)
JETS TEAMS Best in State (engineering competition)
JETS TEAMS Top 50 in Nation
Chemistry Honor Student (2 student/school/year)
Psychology Honor Student (2 student/school/year)
Presidential Service Volunteer Award Silver Medalist
AP Scholar with Distinction
National Merit Semifinalist</p>
<p>EXTRACURRICULARS:</p>
<p>250+ volunteering:
1. Teen Court prosecution/defense attorney
2. Library Children's summer program
3. Teacher Assistant at Chinese School</p>
<p>Involved Key Club Member (Key Club Vice President)
Member of JETS TEAMS
Academic Team (Captain)
Chinese Club (Sophomore Rep.)</p>
<p>Someone please respond and be honest! It would help if you can also point out which one (HYPMS) would suit me best based on my stats.</p>
<p>Straight A’s, near-perfect SAT I, perfect SAT II, research, some very intimidating EC’s (at least to me), and a large amount of volunteering?</p>
<p>Don’t stress. </p>
<p>By the way, being interested in chemical engineering (based on your research and JETS, I assume that’s an interest) should eliminate Harvard and Yale. I’d say MIT, Stanford, and Princeton are the best for ChemE. I think they’d all be good for chemistry or biology by themselves, but I’m not sure.</p>
<p>Thanks, Dispatch! Anyone else? Am I an average applicant, and is HYPMS unrealistic for me? Again, I’d appreciate honesty.</p>
<p>91 views and only one response? :)</p>
<p>1) It depends on what part of the Midwest you are from. If you are Chicago, there will be a number of kids with similar stats to you and applying to top East Coast schools. If you are from a smaller city or rural area, you will have less local competition, particularly with your stats. which will help your chance of admission. </p>
<p>2) Don’t forget that you can also go to great schools that are not HYP, etc. Northwestern and Hopkins have great u/g science programs, as does Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, etc. Also, check out some of the top East Coast LACs and the Claremont Colleges. Good luck, Londondad.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m from a smaller city/suburb. Not anywhere near Chicago or any big cities.</p>
<p>My counselor has been recommending some lower schools, but people have told me that counselors usually try to aim you lower because they want to make sure you get in so that it looks good for them. Yet I’d like to be honest with myself and I’d like others to be honest with me too, that I way I can be ready for that rejection letter.</p>
<p>Of course, I’ll definitely look at some of the other schools, but most of them don’t have EA. Right now, I think I look a lot like the “average applicant”… I mean, a lot of people have great scores and everything.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who replied. It means a lot to me and takes off some stress. I just don’t want to waste my 75 dollars applying EA to the top ivies.</p>
<p>Solid chance, you’re a good candidate.</p>
<p>Your unusual focus on chemistry makes you an unusually strong applicant for these schools. You will probably be admitted to at least 1 of HYPMS, so long as your recs and essays are up to snuff.</p>
<p>Please be careful with what your college counselor tells you and take it with a grain of salt. You are right, many college counselors try and “dumb down” kids’ target schools so they can later brag that everybody got into their “first choice”. Also, counselors from large public schools try and get the smart kids to spread around their match and reach schools so the kids don’t all compete for the same schools. This might be good for the school’s placement results, but not for the individual students.</p>
<p>^^ yeah, I’m just worried about how that would affect the rec, though.</p>
<p>You’re an amazing candidate, but there are loads of amazing candidates out there, too. HYPSM are reaches for everyone. Your counsellor is right - do apply for HSM, but do get some safeties on your belt.</p>
<p>You are definately above average for applicants, but it’s never a sure thing. I love how people always say that the average applicant has a 4.0 and 2400. No they dont. 25% of the kids get under a 2100 SAT. a 2340 puts you at like the 70th percentile.</p>
<p>wow…is 70 % percentile too low for HYPMS? Would it be beneficial to get the score higher?</p>
<p>Your score is fine. Any increase in score you make will not be worth your time.</p>
<p>You have a great shot at any school. I think you stand a great shot at Princeton, Stanford, and MIT.</p>
<p>Thanks for your kind words.</p>
<p>Do I stand a chance in the early pool, or should I wait until regular round?</p>
<p>Obviously you “stand a chance,” but I think it would be advantageous for you to apply Early Action to MIT, and maybe even UChicago, because then you have a lot more options. Unless you are inclined towards one of Harvard, Yale, Stanford, or Princeton in particular, Single-Choice Early Action is not advisable because it’s very restrictive and limiting, which is not something you’d want or need unless one of them is literally without a doubt your top choice that you would most likely matriculate to if everything financially checked out. Also, while all of them will find your interest in chemistry appealing, I believe MIT especially would find it highly compelling. If you do go the MIT + UChicago + Other School Routes, I suspect you will get into * at least one * of the first two that I mentioned. For HYPS, I’m not 100% sure where you would stand, however.</p>
<p>Are there any weaknesses in my application that I can work on?</p>
<p>I’m glad that everyone can see my focus in chemistry…it really is something I’m passionate about. Would I really have a better chance at MIT? It seems like the more super science-oriented students would apply there early (like the ones w/ international olympiad medals, etc). </p>
<p>I am doing research and my project is near completion. I really would like to do the Siemens competition, but I heard that your project has to be super complex (the kind that takes like years to do) in order to be a regional finalist. I don’t know if mine would make it, and if not, I would be wasting a lot of time since the apps are really intense. Would it be a boost if I enter Siemens and make regional finalist? I think it would be a lot easier if I could publish. Anyone know the relative weight of each in admissions?</p>
<p>Btw, my intended major is chemical engineering. I know MIT, Princeton, and Stanford are very good for engineering, but I also heard that Yale wants to attract more science students. I’m not sure if I fit the “type” that they want.</p>
<p>MIT is one of the few schools that truly provides no significant preference to early applications, so don’t worry about an early versus regular application - it won’t help your admissions chances there. You are correct about Yale wanting science students, but overall your profile is sufficiently strong that you really shouldn’t worry about the strategy behind applying to Yale SCEA versus Princeton SCEA. Apply to the school you like better.</p>
<p>What schools are you leaning toward and why? Take away all the strategy and gaming because it won’t work.</p>