Hi guys!
Thanks for reading this! I’ve sent in some applications already and have some more applications left to turn in, so naturally, I’m worried.
Background
State: California
School: Public
Sex: Female
Race: Asian
Rank: School does not rank
Courses/Grades
UW GPA: 3.972
UW GPA (10-12): 3.958
UC GPA: 4.29
Weighted GPA: 4.36
APs: Chemistry (5), Calculus BC (5, 5 for AB subscore), Chinese (5)
Honors: Chemistry, Pre-calculus, Chinese 4, American Literature, Physics
Senior Year Courses: AP Literature, AP Statistics, Physics Honors, Gov’t, Economics, Multimedia Design. Will self-study AP Physics 1 and AP Microeconomics. Will also take Computer Science classes online second semester.
College Courses: Multivariable Calculus (A) and The Art of Printmaking (A); both at Harvard Summer School
Testing
SAT (Taken only once): 2300 (770CR, 800M, 730W)
APs: Chemistry (5), Calc BC (5), Chinese (5), Literature, Statistics, Physics 1, Microeconomics
SAT Subject Tests: Math II (800), Chemistry (790), Chinese w/ Listening (780)
Sport (and sport-related stuff)
-International (FIG) caliber rhythmic gymnast (9, 10, 11, 12): NorCal state champion (9, 10, 11), Region 1 team member (9, 10), National Qualifiers 1st place team (11), 6th AA at National Qualifiers for lv. 9 Senior category (11), 2nd place at the largest international competition in the US (11), Trained and competed at 2 Olympic Training Centers and Karolyi Ranch
-Ballet Technique Classes (9, 10, 11)
-Assistant Coach (11, 12)- Coached beginners in English and with my limited skills in Russian. I have also judged at in-house invitationals for the past two years.
Work/Internships
-Harvard Student Agencies Tutoring High School Intern (12): Helps market the programs that HSA tutoring offers, writes blog posts for HSA tutoring
-Private Tutor (11): Tutored an 8th grader for Algebra 1 for pay
Volunteer Service
-Red Cross Club (9, 10, 11-Vice President, 12- President): In addition to volunteering at random events, the club has also raised money for the Measles and Rubella Initiative and for the Paris attacks in November of 2015
-Math tutor (12): tutor 4+ hours a week in classes from Algebra 1 to multivariable calculus
-EL Ambassador (11, 12): Helped students learn English and assimilate into American/high school culture
-EL Math tutor (11): Tutored an English Learner student in Algebra 1
-National Chinese Honor Society (10, 11, 12): Help students practice written and oral Chinese
Summer Work:
-Summer after 9th: Gymnastics camp at Karolyi Ranch, the USA gymnastics national team training center
-Summer after 10th: Intensive summer practices with a former Russian Olympian. I trained 5-8 hours for 6 days a week.
-Summer after 11th: Attended Harvard summer school, where I took and received college credit for Multivariable Calculus and The Art of Printmaking. While there, I volunteered at the Greater Boston Food Bank and also performed a gymnastics routine for the program’s talent show.
Essays/Recs:
-I think my essays are pretty strong. My common app essay is about my personal struggles in gymnastics and how I used cardmaking to alleviate stress. (The topics seem random but my AP Lit teacher, who is on the UCB admissions board, approved of it and said it made her want to tear up.) UC Essays are about how I helped some kids I tutored keep from dropping out, cardmaking, gymnastics, and personal issues.
-My rec letters came from my American Literature Honors teacher, who gave me the Most Improved Award, and my AP Calculus BC teacher, who has been aware of my efforts in math tutoring for the past three years. Both teachers are department heads for my school.
Intended Major: Applied Mathematics
Schools (in no particular order because at this point I’ll be happy if I get into college):
-Harvard (Early Action)
-University of Southern California (applied early before merit scholarship deadline)
-MIT
-Georgia Tech
-Carnegie Mellon
-Columbia
-Brown
-Pomona College
-UC Berkeley
-UCLA
-UCSD
-UC Davis
-UC Irvine
-UCSB
Thanks for reading this super long post! I would chance back but I have no idea what college admissions officers are looking for. However, I am willing to give out advice if wanted!