<p>What can I do to make myself a stronger candidate? I'm a rising Senior, so I don't have much time left.</p>
<p>Basics
Asian/M/Sister goes to Harvard/Dady went to Stanford/High Income Bracket
unweighted GPA 4.49/4.5; Ranked 1/431 (fairly competitive school. not much success w/ Harvard, but sends ~3 kids to Princeton each year)
National Honor Society Member
SAT I: Math 800, Critical Reading 800, Writing 730
SAT II: Math Level II 800, Physics 800, World History 800
AP: Physics C (Both Sections) 5, World History 5
AP Scores Incoming: Chemistry, Calculus BC, English Language and Composition , U.S. History
Senior Year AP Courseload: Econ, English, Statistics, Biology, Chinese, Government Politics</p>
<p>Academic Honors
US Physics Olympiad Semifinalist 2012
US Chemistry Olympiad Semifinalist 2012
AIME Qualifier 2012
AMC 12 School Winner 2012
ARML State Team A Qualifier (didn't attend) 2012
1st Place, local Math League 2010
MATHCOUNTS National Finalist (MIDDLE SCHOOL 09)</p>
<p>Activities/Leadership
Captain, Debate Team 2012-2013
Captain, Math Team 2012-2013
VP, Interact Club 2012-2013
PR, Student Gov't 2011-2012</p>
<p>I haven't done anything important in these clubs. For senior year I plan to take a more active role.</p>
<p>Volunteer Piano, Nursing Home/Hospital
Volunteer Speaker, Cub Scouts/Middle-schoolers in Town Hall
Volunteer, Meals on Wheels/Local Library</p>
<p>Total volunteer hours not that much, like 30 hrs. I wanted to do something epic in volunteer work this summer (half for colleges, but more for fun) but all the programs rejected me... lol.</p>
<p>Extracurricular Honors
2nd Place Local Piano Competition 2012
2nd Local Piano Competition 2010
1st Place Local Symphony Orchestra Piano Competition 2010
Performed Lincoln Center because of competitive international audition for prestigious charity organization (MIDDLE SCHOOL 09)</p>
<p>2-time All-State Orchestra Member
3-time State Debate Varsity TEAM Champion (Team = 2 people). Ranked top 5 individual speakers twice, should I even mention this?</p>
<p>I was really good at music in middle school, but slacked off in high school. I also got tendinitis in high-school from playing video games, I'd probably talk about the tendinitis but not the video games part (I was addicted bad). Should I mention my middle school stuff from 2009 (it's within the year range), it includes performing everywhere with an International Charity Group and winning a bunch of competitions?</p>
<p>Recommendations/Essays
I'm expecting to write OK essays. I'm not a passionate guy ATM, but I'm excited about life lol. I haven't done much = problem.</p>
<p>Recommendations are a problem. I got positive responses from all my teachers. My English teacher said I had stellar class participation and beautiful writing, but I don't think I'm top few in her career (not even top in this class). She gave an EXTREMELY enthusiastic response. But is my recommendation good enough?</p>
<p>Math teacher said I was top few in career (but he hasn't taught for very long). He praised my thinking skills as graduate-level, said I was his most honest student, good people's relations, but said my work ethic wasn't great. His response was extremely positive and we have a good relationship. But work ethic kills me, I didn't do the homework and was blatant about it, I showed I was interested in math and asked him stuff after class, but it doesn't cut it. Can't ask him, right?</p>
<p>Chemistry teacher said he'd be happy to write it. Not a very enthusiastic response, although he did say he'd be happy. I think the recommendation will be so-so. I'm probably top few in his career, was the only guy in the class who actually cared about Chemistry, only guy who respected him, but we never seemed close.</p>
<p>So I'm expecting a strong rec from my English teacher, but she won't be able to say top few. Math teacher can write an outstanding rec and agreed I could see it, but work ethic is exactly what Ivy schools want and what I don't have. He's coaching math team next year, will he change his rec if I work hard as captain next year? Chem teacher will write a strong rec, but it's not going to be outstanding in any way, shape, or form.</p>
<p>What I'm asking</p>
<h1>1: Do I even have a chance at getting into Harvard?</h1>
<h1>2: How do I improve my chance?</h1>
<h1>3: Should I apply EA, or wait RD until Senior year teachers to write my recs and get more accomplishments?</h1>
<p>Also, what are my shots at MIT, Princeton, Stanford?</p>