<p>Sorry, ignore my other thread. Anyone, post and I'll chance you back when I see your response</p>
<ol>
<li>MIT</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon</li>
<li>RPI</li>
<li>WPI</li>
<li>SUNY Binghamton</li>
<li>SUNY Buffalo</li>
</ol>
<p>Gender: M
Location: Long Island, NY
College Class Year: 2014
High School: Public
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>
<p>Academics:</p>
<p>GPA - Weighted: 4.60
Class Rank: top 5%
Class Size: 700</p>
<p>Scores:</p>
<p><strong><em>Note: I took the Nov 2009 SAT and, not to brag, but I think I definitely increased my CR to at least 740 and M to 800</em></strong></p>
<p>SAT I Math: 750
SAT I Critical Reading: 680
SAT I Writing: 800
SAT II U.S. History: 780
SAT II Math Level 1 (IC): 760
SAT II Chemistry: 790</p>
<p>AP Exams:
World History: 5
U.S. History: 5
English Lang: 4
Chemistry: 5</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York, School & Chamber Orchestra, Science Research Club, Judge for local Science Fair, SADD, NYSSMA Music Festival Participant, LI University Chamber Music Festival</p>
<p>Athletic Status - list sport and your level: None</p>
<p>Volunteer/Service Work: SADD - "Safe Halloween"</p>
<p>Honors and Awards: All County Honors Orch. Div. IV & V, Long Island String Festival Honors Orch., National Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Scoiety, National German Honor Society, AP Scholar w. Honor, Rensselaer Medalist Scholarship</p>
<p>College Summer programs: None</p>
<p>Senior Year Courseload:
-AP Macroeconomics
-AP English Lit
-AP Calc BC
-AP Physics C
-AP U.S. Gov/Politics
-Principles of Engineering
-Symphonic Orch.</p>
<p>Essay:
MIT: short ones were about love of roller coasters and wanting to design them, playing the violin. Long ones were about seeking the way my culture/heritage fit sinto my life, disappointment over not making all-state, and an offbeat one on creativity.
Columbia
Humorous approach on being Asian and coming from a town that is about 99.9% white. I talked about how many Asians tend to associate solely or mainly with other Asians and how growing up in a :white: town has influenced me in a good way</p>
<p>Supplements:
For MIT, I submitted a roller tycoon portfolio (for real LOL) to show my creative side. I think this worked well in conjunction with my essay about wanting to engineer and design roller coasters. Do you think I should submit it to Columbia too? I';m thinking not</p>
<p>Recs:
The one from my APUSH teach who is my current Gov teacher was amazing (I got to read it)
Didn't read my second rec but should be very good as I've had the teacher for two years now </p>
<p>Okay, so I have a few questions:</p>
<p>(1) Part 1 of Columbia's application asks if I have conferred with any Columbia staff or faculty/admissions counselors about the admissions process. Obviously I'm not going to email someone if I don't have anything substantial to ask but will I be looked down upon for not doing this?</p>
<p>(2) How does Columbia's interview system work? I know I can;t request one but for RD applicants like myself, will they only give you one if they like your application or is it by ordering of submission?</p>
you have as good of shot as anyone at these schools, especially with MIT I would say. You have a strong interest in designing roller coasters, and presented it in probaly the most creative way EVER! 
Although, honestly I have to say I have my doubt that they will actually take the time to go through it themselves. I know I was considering sending in a supplement to UPenn for clarinet and they told me that they would send it to the music dept. for evaluation, but it would likely not effect my decision unless I was a music major. But who knows! Maybe youll catch a profs eye.