Chance Another HYPSMC Wannabe

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello guys, I'm new as you might have noticed.</p>

<p>Stats:
GPA 4.00 UW; no clue what weighted is
SAT1-780M/790W/740R
SAT2s-780BioM/800World History/800Math 2</p>

<p>All Grades were A's, No A-'s or A+'s
Frosh Class Schedule
PE
Govt.
Algebra 2
Geometry
Physical Science
Challenge Lang. Arts
Band
lol other boring classes I can't recall....</p>

<p>Sophmore Classes
Trig
Math Analysis
Chemistry 1
Biology 1
AP World History
Challenge Lang. Arts
Basic Computer Proficiency
I might have left out a few classes however, they aren't of any significance. I listed the important ones.
Rank frosh through sophmore year: 3/480ish</p>

<p>After sophmore year, I left my original HS to go to a selective public school on the grounds of NW Missouri State University. I only took college classes there.</p>

<p>All Grades are A's
Junior Schedule:
First Semester
Calculus 1
Gen Biology
Gen Chem 1
Composition
Second Semester
Multivariate Calculus (Self taught Calc 2 over winter break and tested out)
Microbiology
Gen Chem 2
Composition 2
Applied Clarinet
Symphonic Band
Western Civilization</p>

<p>Right now I have 38 college credits, by the end of senior year I should have over 80.</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
First Semester
Genetics
Differential Equations
Spanish (finally a foreign language haha)
Physics 1
Govt. (again I know)
Applied Clarinet</p>

<p>ECs:
Band-Freshmen/Sophmore/Junior/(conflicts w/ spanish so I can't take it senior year)
All District Band Freshmen and Sophmore Year
All State Honorable Mention Sophmore Year
Solo Rating of I at State Sophmore Year
Clarinet Lessons-5 years
Quizbowl-Sophmore Year, varsity letter
6 years Shotokan Karate</p>

<p>DUE to the fact I switched to a new school my EC's changed quite a lot. Sadly I couldn't participate in All State Band or Solo Contest. But I could do a lot of sciency things I couldn't do at my old school like:</p>

<p>Founded Biology Club-Junior Year
Founding Member of Science Olympiad-Junior Year, will take a major leadership role next year
I won a 1st and 2nd at regionals and a 2nd and two 3rds at state.
First Robotics-Junior Year
Founding Quizbowl Team-Senior Year
Math club
Planning on taking leadership role in martial arts club--
*Planning on continuing summer research with a professor at my university
*Significant possibility of having research published
*I can receive a wonderful letter of recommendation from my research mentor/professor for CalTech, he went there as an undergrad and wants me to apply.</p>

<p>I know my lack of leadership doesn't look good at all. And I want to know whether I should have taken APs even though I have a lot of college credit.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Wow dude, that's a crapload of courses you took. um you seem to have done a lottt of things. and finding a club or w/e i heard it somewhat shows leadership</p>

3

<p>I know some of the HYP's require 4 years of a foreign language...you might want to write them a special note about why you didn't when you apply</p>

4

<p>My analysis: Your courseworks look fine, good classes (wish my school had such good classes). Your EC's are a bit weak though. I can sense some passions for your ECs, but I don't see proof of it through awards and stuff. Starting some clubs is great, it shows the leadership and the willingness to take initiative, but they don't add on to your EC cridentials. Research may be the biggest part, but I'm did a very similar thing to what you are describing, and I think even though it's a great experience, looks great for college, and is fun, don't count on it as a hook or anything. Getting published will look good, but since your with a proffesor, he'll have his name on the paper too, and the publishing won't be nearly impressive enough. The rec letter sounds good though.
Chance HYPSMC: H -High reach
Y- High Reach
P -High reach
S- Reach
M - High Reach
C- Reach (assuming letter is really really good, and if the proffesor is well-known enough to hold any weight, what university are you researching at?)</p>

5

<p>Well it actually isn't that many. Gen Chem 1 and 2 are really just like AP Chem I think. Haha and Applied Clarinet and Symphonic Band are only 1 credit hour and are guaranteed A's. </p>

<p>I left out some stuff:
I tutored microbiology ~50 hrs and will continue to do so into senior year.
First generation college</p>

6

<p>I don't know if they "require" but I know that a lot of them recommend two years. I was hoping that 1 year of a foreign lang at a university would make up for it. Is that accurate?</p>

7

<p>Ha, it sucks to triple post BUT in response to cgar, my professor isn't very well known. I'm researching at St. Louis University. </p>

<p>As long as I'm triple posting, I might as well add that 3 (out of a class of 35) kids from last years class were accepted into MIT. This year's class size is quite a bit larger at 73. I don't know if this information is useful, but what the heck.</p>

8

<p>Well either way, research is still VERY good, I was just thinking that if he was well-known and CalTech had good relations with him, a letter could be a god-sent aid to you :)</p>

9

<p>True, but research without something tangible, won't do me much good w/ CIT. It would just show them that I didn't waste my summer and that I have a science focus, which is par for the course with CIT applicants. Haha I didn't mean that to sound negative. Of all of the schools CIT is the biggest reach I think even w/ the rec letter.</p>

10

<p>To be frank, its always a a long shot with the usual HYPSMC stuff. At a point, acceptance just comes down to a small amount of luck.</p>

11

<p>You have the possible GPA, SATs, and EC's (well these could be stronger) for applying. </p>

<p>I'm tempted to give you the "After a certain point, Ivies are all up to chance", but that wouldn't be much help.</p>

<p>I'll say that because of your EC's, HYPM will probably be a no. However, since you're first generation I might be wrong.</p>

<p>S and C are better possibilities, just make sure you keep excelling in your ECs and get that research published during your senior year. Good luck!</p>

12

<p>I see, is college credit a big bonus or not so much? I'm curious because it's kind of a big rumor at my school that it is. Also, would it help much if I took physical chemistry senior year?</p>

13

<p>After a "deep" analysis of your ec's (your stats were already great, btw), I think you really have a great shot since you took initiative in founding so many clubs...that always looks good. but for the application I'd focus on one area, like music or something.</p>

14

<p>you got a letter in quiz bowl?</p>

15

<p>Yeah I lettered in quizbowl. Haha believe it or not, quizbowl is a varsity sport regulated by MSHAA (the same org that runs missouri football and all other sports).</p>

<p>I keep forgetting things BUT I also:
Attended Missouri Scholars Academy--it's a governor school for gifted students as a rising junior
I played in several community bands/church bands
I won the "Outstanding Band Member Award" freshman and sophmore year--although I'm not sure if these are even significant, it does show passion for music</p>

<p>With my EC's I planned to show how coming to the my new school allowed me to enrich myself in the sciences. I also planned to let music be a major focus of my application.</p>

<p>And does it look particularly good to universities that I taught myself Calc 2 (equivalent of Calc BC) between first and second semester?</p>

16

<p>You put too big of an emphasis on your schoolwork and classes.. though taking all of these courses is very impressive, you focused too much in that area, while weakening yourself in another. They also want to see your passions, motivations, interests, and characteristic traits as well. Your EC's somewhat show some passion w/ science with your accomplishments in SO / research, but that really isn't enough for HYPS. However, that only means you're disadvantaged statistically. There're many other factors for admission such as essays / recs/ more.</p>

17

<p>Calc II is not Calc BC</p>

18

<p>True, Calc II =/= Calc BC. I just added the little phrase in parentheses to explain that it covers generally the same topics as Calc BC.</p>

19

<p>thanks for the analysis guys</p>