Chance Me for SSP, WTP, or MITES

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

<p>SSP, WTP, and MITES are great summer programs. I will be happy if I get into any one of them (though I prefer SSP above all).</p>

<p>Can someone please tell me if I have a chance of getting into any of them?</p>

<p>Junior
Chinese, Female</p>

<p>I have straight A's. I am in the International Baccalaureate Program in school, and will most probably acquire the IB Diploma. I am number two in a class of about 450 (and is planning on reclaiming number one). I have straight one hundreds in my math and science classes. Actually, I haven't had a grade lower than one hundred in any of my classes.</p>

<p>I have won international awards in writing (chinese) and art. I have over 400 service hours and maybe even more by the time I am done with high school. I participates in all kinds of activities in school. I am in Fed Challenge, Knowledge Bowl, Mu Alpha Theta, German Club, Engineering Club, Varsity Band, and Chinese Culture Society.</p>

<p>I am the founder and president of the Chinese Culture Society. I am Fed Challenge Team Captain. I also have many other leadership positions in other places. I am accepted in the TN governor's school of science as a sophomore. I studied modern physics there and passed with the highest grade in the class.</p>

<p>I take Taekwondo and play Piano and Flute. </p>

<p>I have been preparing for the PSAT. As a sophomore, I got a 193 on the PSAT. This year I am aiming for at least a 213 to get into semi-finalist. I have done many, many practice tests, and my score changes from 228 to 208. It is mostly around 212-217. I am worried if I will get into the semi-finalist or not.</p>

<p>I am extremely passionate about science, especially physics. The idea of looking at stars in the dead of the night seriously excites me. And I really hope I will be able to do SSP. </p>

<p>Classes:
Theory of Knowledge
IB Music SL
IB Physics HL
IB Math SL
IB History of Americas HL
IB English HL
IB German SL</p>

<p>Past Classes:
Biology Honors
Chemistry Honors
AP Macro
Algebra I Honors
Algebra II Honors
English (all four years)
German (all four years)
Band (all four years)</p>

2

<p>You <em>are</em> the person who said on the SSP thread that you don’t think you’re grades are good enough, aren’t you?</p>

<p>“I have straight one hundreds in my math and science classes. Actually, I haven’t had a grade lower than one hundred in any of my classes.”</p>

<p>Right. Anyhow, there’s nothing you’ve said that would prevent you from getting into SSP. Well, the average PSAT for accepted kids is around 230, but I don’t think that’s a very important factor as much as it’s highly correlated with other qualities that they do look for. As far as I can tell (and I did SSP Socorro), the essays are extremely important; So is some form of math/sciency extracurricular involvement, whether it’s tutoring other kids or winning a category in ISEF (we had both); so are teacher recommendations.</p>

3

<p>Well, I thought my PSAT grades weren’t good enough. And since they look at standardized test scores, I didn’t think my grades were good enough.</p>

<p>I can handle the essays, but I don’t know about EC in math or science. True, I am in the engineering club and Mu Alpha Theta. But so far, the clubs haven’t been doing anything. I asked the teachers. They just said that they are working on it. </p>

<p>Though I might start a job in Mathenasium later in the year.</p>

4

<p>My only formal math/science EC was Academic Decathlon, and I was accepted just fine :)</p>

<p>I too believe that the essays are what really matter. My math test scores weren’t too epic, but I think my essays really made my personality and love of science shine through.</p>

<p>There will be people there who are USAMO, Intel, whatever other awards you can think of - but it is not a requirement for admission.</p>