Chance me for HPYSM!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I would like some feedback on my profile (sorry, only 2 out of 5 from HPYSM). (I know I appear cookie-cutter asian, but this profile reflects my true interests)</p>

<p>Schools I am considering:
Caltech
Carnegie Mellon
U Chicago
Duke
Emory
John Hopkins
UNC Chapel Hill
Princeton
Stanford
Vanderbilt
UVA
Washington U in St. Louis</p>

<p>Asian male (no! - LOL)
Highly competitive HS, not ranked
4=honors, 4.5=AP
GPA: 4/4.093
PSAT: 229 (69 CR)
SAT: 800M, 760 CR, 760 W (2nd sitting)
SAT II: 800 Math II, 780 Biology M, 780 US History, 780 French, 750 Physics, 730 Chemistry</p>

<p>Freshman year
Biology 2 Adv. Topics
English 9
Principles of Technology
French 2
Computer Science
PE
Algebra 2/Trig</p>

<p>Sophomore year
AP Biology (5)
Precalculus
World History/Geog II
English 10
French 3
PE
AP Music Theory (5/5)</p>

<p>Junior year
AP US History (5)
AP French Language (5)
AP BC Calculus (5/5)
English 11
Physics 1
Principles of Composition/DNA Science I
Neurobiology/Physiology of the Arts</p>

<p>Senior year
AP Physics C
Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra
Neuroscience Research
AP French Literature
AP English Language
AP Government
Geosystems</p>

<p>Additional Classes
Biology 1, French 1, Algebra 1, Geometry, World History/Geog I</p>

<p>Activities/Honors
NIH Summer Student - Neuroscience
School Science Fair - 2nd
Co-founder & -president of Neuroscience Society
Co-treasurer, co-president of French Honor Society
NHS, Adapted Aquatics Volunteer - 2 hrs weekly for approx. 2 years
French Tutoring - 1 hr weekly
Maryland Brain Bee - 4th
Odyssey of the Mind - State 3rd, 2nd, 1st; Worlds 17th, 8th; Ranatra Fusca award; planning/judging of school's Spontaneous Invitational
8 applied music credits at local community college
1st place, piano at local community college, honors recital performance
Solo concert (>1hr) at local community college
Finalist (2X) at International Young Artist Piano Competition, 4th
Selected to perform at Governor's Executive Mansion at community college scholarships fund-raising event
International (15+ pieces) National Guild Artist Diploma
1st place original skit (2X) & 1st place dramatic interpretation at regional Foreign Language Tournament
7th, 5th, 4th National French Contest
Varsity & year-round club swimming - 4 years, captain senior year</p>

<p>Recommendations: Fine on humanities, maybe not so on Math/Science
Essays: Not sure</p>

<p>Thanks for your feedback.</p>

2

<p>What's your unweighted GPA?</p>

3

<p>Chicago requires a rec from a math/science teacher. </p>

<p>You don't give any idea of what you're looking for in a school or what you want to major in, and of the schools on your list, Chicago stands out at the most devoted to the liberal arts, with an extensive core curriculum and no pre-professional options (eg. business, engineering).</p>

4

<p>Unweighted = 4
Weighted = 4.09</p>

<p>What I meant was that I have a limited number of my best math/science rec.</p>

<p>Major = tentatively biology/neuroscience or whatever is closest.</p>

<p>Thanks for your feedback.</p>

5

<p>^I heard that if you want to go to a math/science school like MIT, put your major as ENGLISH or PHILOSOPHY and it'll increase your chances of getting accepted.</p>

6

<p>College admissions officers know that students pick unpopular majors for an easier admittance.</p>

<p>The main problem for MIT is that the applicant is an Asian male.</p>

7

<p>You better hope JHU admission officer doesn't read this or you have a close to 0% chance :) you spelt Johns Hopkins incorrectly which I heard was a huge pet peeve.</p>

8

<p>your extracurricular activity is so perfect-moduled for asian students. You should have to focus on what you really like to do. </p>

<p>"NIH Summer Student - Neuroscience
School Science Fair - 2nd
Co-founder & -president of Neuroscience Society"
if this is all you have for neuroscience, admission officers know you haven't paid great attention to your intellectual interest. So, you have to cover this up in essay.</p>

<p>Why don't you write an essay about NIH summer student experience and show the officers your passion into it? Then you can safely get into any one of the universities you mentioned above.</p>

9

<p>you have to be careful for your piano and swimming area, because most of the Asian applicants do just the same as you do. But, linguistic part is great. So you have to elaborate on that part more specifically to show yourself.</p>

10

<p>I guess the easiest way for Asians to increase their chances, from reading CC threads, is do really non-Asian EC's.</p>

<p>Stay away from the music and math and science. Go for philosophy or windsurfing or something really random</p>

11

<p>You are a well-rounded candidate with varied interests. However, I think your application would be much better if you showed that you were extraordinary. Shoot for the IMO, IPhO, ICO, IOI, ILO, ISEF, or Westinghouse! Don't do things for college; do them because you love to!</p>

12

<p>probably as good a chance as most
Only you'll need a good science rec for neuroscience major</p>

13

<p>Thanks all for your outstanding comments.</p>

<p>I realize that my profile is unmistakably asian, but I would just like to say that I only do activities I like, which happens to be quite a spread. =D</p>

<p>I realize that my application lacks any major national competitions, and this is a major problem. I plan on submitting my summer project to ISTS and ISEF, if possible. Although I have tried to pursue these prestigious competitions before senior year, nothing has materialized... </p>

<p>Regarding the science/math rec, I am limited to six from my best teacher recommender, and plan on submitting NIH mentor recommendations where possible. Although I do have a secondary science/math rec, it will probably end up being reserved for safeties/schools I care less about.</p>

<p><em>Johns Hopkins</em> I will remember that from now on. Thanks.</p>

<p>About my many of my passions (like neuroscience), my only regret is that I did not discover it earlier. I do plan on submitting my paper and/or abstract whenever possible.</p>

<p>Additionally, I plan on writing at least one essay on Odyssey of the Mind, as it is a major passion of mine, and is much less common in the asian population. =D</p>

<p>Thanks all!</p>

14

<p>Anyone else? Please?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>