Asian Male
1st generation
Major is math or physics or engineering
GPA: 4.00 unweighted and about 4.6 weighted
Also took 10 classes at my local university (enough credits to be a sophomore) in Calc 1-3, Gen Physics 1-3, Thermo 1, Diff Eq, Lin Alg and Elementary Analysis got an A/A+ in all except Gen Physics II where I got an A-
Rank: Top 1% in a class of around 400 at a pretty competitive public high school
ACT: 34, only took it once and got a 29 on science LOL
SAT: Will take in August
Subject Tests: 800 on physics and math 2
APs: AP National Scholar 5s in Calc BC/AB, Stats, Macro/Micro, Physics 1 and Psych got 4s in Lit, USH and Comp Sci Principles
Awards
Gold medal in junior year and silver medal sophomore year in USA Physics Olympiad (Also had to go through qualifying exam which is top 5% of the F=ma exam)
4x AIME Qualifier (never made USA(J)MO rip)
Some AMC awards probably
2x National Science Bowl Qualifier
Won my state university’s math competition and placed high in other years
Other small university math competitions that aren’t that significant
ECs
FBLA Officer
Key Club Officer
Math Club Officer
NHS
Science Bowl Team (Obviously)
Quiz Bowl team captain, also won at my state university math competition the two years that I was captain.
Conducted research at my local university over piezoelectric materials
Volunteering at an organization called Yazda that helps Yazidis who are here because of religious discrimination from ISIS
Some other fluff that I won’t list here
Only thing that worries me is my essays because my writing isn’t that good. Hopefully will be decent with several months of writing and proofreading.
Great stats, I think you are in the running. That said, those tippy-top schools are never a sure thing even for the top students so make sure to have some safeties/targets you’d be happy with. Good luck!
I would check out youtube videos on ACT Science. There are some tricks to it.
I would apply to MIT and several Ivies. I wouldn’t be surprised if you got into top Ivies. As the other poster,implied, I would distribute some applications to lower level schools. You can’t be sure, particularly with ORM.
I feel like i did terrible on the science section because even though it’s just reading graphs, you still need to know some chemistry and biology and I don’t know any of that, so I did really badly. I got a 36 on every other section, so I feel like I can do better on the SAT (even though I feel like I got a little bit lucky with that 36 on reading).
Academics strong, EC’s are very theme related and strong, Yazda thing is cool and makes you unique, I think you will def get into ivies and top 10 schools, though for HYP, MIT your chances are def going to be above average (not a crapshoot), really comes down to your essays and personality (which is subjective im sure you know) and whether they’d want to pick you over the other smart asian male at STEM.
No one can state you will get into Ivies or other tippy tops.
The 29 is an issue. Work on it.
It will matter what you actually do with Yazda and how you describe that.
Try to know what qualities matter to your targets. The app and supp are a self presentation, more than just a resume. You need to try to show the attributes the targets like. Know how to do your best on any Why Us question, whether overt or couched in another supp question.
Thing is, your basics are very good. Now you need a handle on the app, how to use it, and make sure you choose the right teachers for LoRs. I’d say, besides the sci score, you need to stand back and try to anticipate what will help you get chosen, think somewhat like an adcom.
If you are offered an interview, take it. Know how to present there, too. Lol, don’t let the interview contact letter go to your Spam folder and remain unnoticed.
Your stats are looking strong. Like everyone else said bring up the 29 and you should be good to go! The EC are all relevant and strengthen your application. Being an Asian male might hurt though. Ivies are a reach for everyone but good luck!
You are a highly competitive applicant. Your stats and ECs are great. Write good essays, apply ED to a place you like, and you could get accepted to any of these schools
