Chance at UPenn, Duke?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Well...first post here. I've been reading this site for a while, but just registered. Sorry if i'm doing this incorrectly</p>

<p>So..basic info about myself.</p>

<p>Asian American</p>

<p>SAT: 2170 (720 r, 730m,720w)
-planning to retake it oct. 10th, I think i can score above a 2300 or at least a 2250
SAT II's:
World History: 760
Chemistry: 800
Math 2: 770
PSAT(don't remember it too well) ~ 206</p>

<p>County's grading scale:
94-100=A
90-93=B+
84-89=B
etc
County policy not to rank, so not sure about that -- but i'm probably top 10% of the class
Overall GPA(unweighted) = 3.74</p>

<p>Grades(unweighted) (I didn't do so well freshman and sophmore year, was pretty immature back then...)
9th = 3.57;
10th = 3.64;
11th = 4.0;
12th = (pretty good chance of getting straight A's)</p>

<p>Math:
Geometry honors: B+
Algebra 2 (summer course): A
Precalc. honors: B+
AP BC calculus: A
AP Computer Science A: A</p>

<p>Science:
Honors bio: A
Honors chem: A
Honors physics C: A
AP chem: A</p>

<p>AP Exam Scores
AP CS: 4 (not sure what happened...)
AP WH: 4
AP AB/BC calc: 5
AP chem: 5</p>

<p>Other possibly relevant courses:
Spanish 2-3(where i got my B's), AP World History (B+), usual core classes(took all honors first two years, but switched to regular for humanity courses 11th/12th grades)</p>

<p>Current courses:
AP macro/micro econ, Multivar. calculus/matrix algebra, AP stat, AP bio, AP Physics C, english 12, government</p>

<p>Extra curriculars for Science
-Science Fair (ISEF) every years, won a bunch of awards on the regional/state level
-Science Olympiad for since 10th, went to nationals last year, and got some awards at
state level
-Chem olympiad - qualified for national exam
-Summer student/intern at a research facility over 09-10 summer for 10 weeks (going to submit my project from there to Siemen's and Intel STS, and probably ISEF too)
-Member of science honor society since 11th(Trying to make a site for them to help organize the blood drive, right now.)
-Participated in some other competitions (brain bee, science bowl)</p>

<p>Other Extra curriculars:
-Did a bunch of math competitions, probably around 5 or 6 (didn't win much though...)
-Co-president of amnesty international
-Member of Math and National honor societies, key club
-(soon to be) founder/president of chemistry club
-model UN since 9th, and webmaster since 10th
-Co-president of Chinese student association
-AP scholar, I think.
-Robotics, officer
-Computer Science Club, co-president</p>

<p>Misc:
-Did a bit of volunteering in my chinese school(where i went until 10th grade), raised some donations to the red cross following the sichuan earthquake
-Attended some educational and leadership camps over the summer
-I'll add more as I remember</p>

<p>Any commentary is appreciated, and I'll add any necessary information necessary so long as it's not too revealing of my identity. </p>

<p>Also, if anyone has any recommendations for what I should write in my essay and info sheets for my counselor/teachers, that would be appreciated. Would it be best for me to apply to the liberal arts/science or engineering schools, and what other colleges might I want to look into?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>bump?</p>

<p>Also forgot to mention i did piano until 9th or 10th grade for 6 years, and</p>

3

<p>Congratulations on being perfect. <em>scowls</em></p>

<p>Just kidding. :D</p>

4

<p>I’m applying Upenn too - as a BME major.
Your EC’s are quite impressive.</p>

<p>write about your math and science interests. It’s very evident that you have a passion for the math and sciences</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the complements and advice,</p>

<p>I want to write about math and science, but I’m also concerned about trying to convey to the colleges that i had matured the summer before junior year, to explain for the obviously low grades my first two years. Or, is this not advisable to put in my college essays?</p>

<p>Another concern I have is that I might not appear very well rounded, with all my focus in only math and science (I was originally planning to take AP gov this year, but the internship prevented my from finishing my college apps over the summer.) I have heard that this might be particularly detrimental for me, since my application reads like a typical asian male, but without the higher test scores and GPA.</p>

<p>I hope you get into Upenn. I can try to chance you back, but I doubt my advice will be very meaningful due to my lack of expertise.</p>

6

<p>It is always advisable to explain your application’s shortcomings in the essay or interview.</p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>I’d have to really disagree with this. It’s always advisable to use your essay to demonstrate the positives.</p>

<p>In all honesty, immaturity is not a good excuse for not doing well for half of high school. These schools are flooded with applications from kids who’ve done well all 4 years and they only have room for a fraction of them. You’re asking them to accept you based on one good year. It’s unlikely they will.</p>

<p>Your best shot at these schools is as a transfer. A strong senior year, higher scores and a good first year at the best college you can get into will make you a strong candidate then.</p>

8

<p>Both of those schools use the common app. There is a specific section allocated for situations like this. It says something allong the lines of “any extra information about yourself yadda yadda yadda…” That’s where you write about your first two years of not-so-great-grades.</p>

<p>A personal statement is where you shine. Admissions is most likely not going to want to read a personal i-wish-i-did-better essay. UNLESS that whole maturing process was extremely fundamental to who you are today, I would stay away from that topic.</p>

<p>In terms of the whole well-rounded thingg. I’ve been told by many ivy reps. They accept the well rounded student and the phenomenallly lop-sided student. I’m not familiar with math competitions. So I have to ask you…Are your math acheivements significant enough to place you in the phenomenally lop-sided portion of the applicant pool?</p>

<p>I am a 17 year old senior prolly just like you. not to be blunt or anything, but don’t completely trust my advice. I just reiterated advice that was given to me.</p>

9

<p>You’re obviously an incredibly smart, “typical” asian (hah… im asian too. no worries) but i think it would be best if you didnt write about the maths or sciences in your essay because it seems like its all you focus on. colleges can definately see that already in your resume and activities and scores and stuff. So maybe pick another topic that shows more of your other interests. Or if you do math and science, take it in a unique manner thats not just “showing off” your science and math-ness
but sounds like you’ll get in to an ivy for sure!!</p>

10

<p>I see, thanks for the advice again.</p>

<p>I’m going to have to spend quite a bit of time on my essays, I guess. I’ll try to tweak them to show more ‘facets’ of my personality.</p>

<p>One of my teacher recs is coming from my history teacher, so I’m hoping that might make me more well-balanced. I was going to originally go with two math/science teachers who really like me, but my brother (who attends a top 3 school) advised me against it, and only allowed me to choose one. </p>

<p>Final question (Or at least, I’m trying to), what other schools should I try to look into that are a better match for my resume, but still a top school? I’ve also been looking at Cornell, Brown and Johns Hopkins, but I feel they might also be pretty far reach schools for me.</p>

11

<p>Better chance at Duke than UPenn, but all in all, you are a very strong applicant to a lot of really good schools. Don’t limit yourself to only those two. Any school should be greatful to have you. there is not enough room for all the qualified students at these highly ranked schools, though. It is obvious that you have matured because your grades and test scores have been so strong lately. make sure you have a strong senior year and write a really strong essay.</p>

12

<p>wow! ISEF.</p>