Grade: Gap Year (Has been explained thoroughly and provided a clear narrative for the reason for and the personal growth experienced)
RACE/ETHNICITY: Hispanic (Male)- (first generation American)- (not first generation college)
Other: Income: >500k
Major: Economics (Course 15-3 Finance)
GPA: 95/100 ( 17 As, 2 A-, 1 B+, There where NO A+s at my school) (went to a boarding school, so academic rigor was higher than for most other schools)
My 10th grade GPA brought the overall down, because I was suffering from a serious medical condition which required hospitalizations and many day missed from school. I clearly specified this in the application.
STANDARDIZED TESTING:
ACT: 33
SAT II: Math 2 - 800, Spanish: 790, Bio-E: 530 (the last time I took anything biology related was five years ago in 9th grade. I’m really worried about this because although I have a clear interest towards econ/finance, it it MIT admitting into the university and not specialized undergrad programs. How much of a negative impact will this have on the overall application?)
AP Classes: 7 (Maximum I could take due to school class requirements, also had a spine surgery so missed all AP test this year)
I had the maximum course rigor allowed by the school’s prerequisites. 7-8 is the most APs anybody at the school takes
AP Lang: 5
AP Statistics: 3
APUSH: 4
APES: 4
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:
Counselor: I have no idea about this one.
Stats Teacher: 8/10 AP Lit Teacher: 8/10
Panamanian Politician that I worked with to setup business advising group (would be equivalent to a Senator): 9/10- “GLOWING”- “best ever”
Hospital Volunteering Mentor: 8/10- almost “glowing”
Essays: 9/10 I’ve done 15 supplements up to this point and I am confident when I say that these are the best I’ve ever written. I really poured my heart into these.
EXTRACURRICULARS: (not sure if they are good or average or really good. I honestly don’t know.)
- I played for the top ranked hockey prep school in the nation. I was selected to be on my District team (4 states) 3 times and was elected for my league all start team twice. I was also the captain of the team 11th and 12th grade. (9-12, 36 weeks, 45 hours) NOT RECRUITED NOR WILL I BE
- I currently play in a junior hockey league who competes in a high caliber league. I currently play with players ranging from the the ages of 18-21. I am one of the youngest in the league. (Gap, 42 weeks, 50 hours)
- I manage a stock portfolio worth about $8,000. I have had positive returns for about 2 years. (10-Gap, 52 weeks, 12 hours)
- Founded a business/ economics consulting class for entrepreneurial hopefuls in a poor area of Panama. In the extra info part I said how on family trips I noticed disparity in opportunity for people with lack of education, so I decided to use my queried knowledge to teach entrepreneurial hopefuls. I used a combination of previous class notes, power-points, youtube videos, etc. to teach about 10 students the basics of maintaining a successful small business. The senator I worked with wrote me a glowing LOR about how I am the “best” person she has ever worked with. I currently have plans to expand next summer. (10- GAP, 6 weeks (during break), 8 hours)
- I was the lead volunteer at a understaffed hospital in Panama. I personally helped create a lecture series/ program to teach rural citizens the basics of HIV prevention and early cancer detection. Managed the implementation, promotion, and even helped teach some of the classes myself. I also lead a group of volunteers in task such as patient comfort, physician assistance, and everyday hospital operations. My mentor for this also wrote me an excellent LOR, almost “glowing” (10-Gap, 6 weeks, 35 hours)
- After 11th grade, my Stats teacher personally recommended me to be the school Statistics advisor. We had a bio-medical program at our school the would conduct research project, and I would go in weekly to assist in the statistical analysis. (12, 36 weeks, 5 hours)
- Since 9th grade, I have been taking online non-credit economics, business, and finance courses. At my school, dual enrollment was not an option, so I went on Coursera.com and Harvard Extension School to self teach in my interest/ intended area of study. I have taken about 15 courses throughout HS. (9-Gap, 20 weeks, 8 hours)
- I have participated in nationwide summer hockey tournaments. At theses, the best talent from around the country would come and compete infant of college coaches. I have been selected for all-start teams of these tournament on multiple occasion. I got interest from D1 coaches, but due to the spine surgery I had, these talks never really materialized. (9-Gap, 6 weeks (other half of break), 15 hours)
- I volunteered as my dorm Spanish Tutor. This was not an official school position or paid, but many of my friends where taking Spanish so I would assist in homework and aid in exam prep. (11-12, 36 weeks, 4 hours)
- I volunteer as a hockey coach for toddlers who are learning to play hockey. My coach this year, host a program for learning to play hockey, and every three weeks (every class), I come in and assists in running drills and correcting technique. (Gap, 15 weeks, 2 hours)
I clearly specified in the application that most of my time was consumed by hockey which runs year round. I only had off for about 6 weeks in the summer, which I used to go to Panama.
Awards:
- Numerous hockey related all star selections and awards. (State teams and league all star selections)
- AP Scholar with Honor/ AP Scholar.
- High Honors for all HS semesters