STATS:
Female, Asian, freshman (class of 2021)
International applicant
International school with GCSEs + IB 2-year diploma
Intended bio/biochemical/bioengineering major
GCSEs are rated on a scale of 9 to 1 under a curve – about the top 3% of students get a 9, with the 50th percentile being a 4/5. I am predicted 11 9s (bio, phys, chem, English lang + lit, mathematics, further mathematics, business studies, history, design technology, native language).
On top of this, I’m externally taking APs:
- Biology (took this as an 8th grader, 5)
- Chemistry (A+ in course)
- Physics 1 (sophomore year)
- US History (sophomore year)
- Calculus AB (sophomore year)
- Computer Science (junior year)
- Calculus BC (junior year)
- Physics C – most likely Mechanics (junior year)
- English Language (junior year)
- Macroeconomics (junior/senior year)
- Statistics (senior year)
- US Gov (senior year)
This schedule is subject to change. I might be taking some earlier or later but I am aiming for about 9-12 APs total – I might omit some, but I’m definitely interested in taking as many STEMC-based ones.
GRADES:
GPA: school doesn’t do GPAs, but I’ve been getting straight-8s (equivalent to a lower A+) and 9s minus two 7s at the very start of the year (equivalent to an A) and a 6 in technology (about a B).
CLASS RANK: 2/128, top of the year in biology, chemistry, native language, and business
ACT: 35C
IBs: Will be taking HL bio, phys, chem and SL native language, English, and history. I can’t predict how well this goes but I’m aiming for 40+. My school has 45s every year (about 3-4 students get a 45 out of 120 with the average being a 36).
AWARDS:
National History Day finalist, 2015
2x AIME qualifier + BMO qualifier
CEMC honor roll, AMC top 1%, UKMT top >1% (qualified for Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad 1x), plus a bunch of other similarly ranked maths awards.
Nationally recognised awards in biology – made it in nationals as a primary and middle school student (top 100 nationally) but didn’t make it in the IMSO or the IJSO. I didn’t participate in my national olympiad for the past 2 years since my school wasn’t eligible, but now that my school can enter, I’m planning on doing so and AT LEAST getting a medal in nationals – it would be my absolute dream to advance to the IBO.
Gone to two international math olympiads (got nothing last year, advanced to finals this year in June) – no IMO, but still recognised enough to make this list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mathematics_competitions
Published author (although not technically) – published two books when I was 8, breaking a national record (which is now held by someone else) and making two top national newspapers.
MENSA member – is this even an award?
Currently coding an app related to medicine and health and will be starting a coding job for my cousin who’d like to start a startup.
EXTRACURRICULARS:
Leadership positions: I’ve been a member of RoundSquare and the student council at my school (search up RoundSquare) and will have an executive student council position in sophomore year. I am also active in my school’s GIN club and have set up fundraisers and events for all of the committees mentioned. I’m currently handling multiple projects (graphic designer for posters around school, club to raise awareness on endangered animals and wildlife conservation, project helping a local cancer hospital raise money for a new pediatric intensive care ward, breast cancer research funding). Worth mentioning that I might be shaving my head to help raise funds for the cancer hospital project.
MUN/debate: I’m active in my school’s debate club and MUN, although I’ve never been to a conference before. I’m hoping to go to at least one MUN conference to get a better idea of what MUN is about.
Research: I will be interning at a biomedical institute in May and (if all goes well) be doing research in a molecular biology institute that does work on sickle-cell disease and blood cell diseases starting this summer. Research opportunities are very sparse in where I live, so I’m not counting on this one, but I would absolutely love to publish my own research papers. I’ve also helped out in research in a local animal clinic – my activities here were based on feline medicine, which I got super passionate about since my cat died of FIP.
Language: fluent in four languages, self-taught.
Writing: I was part of the school newspaper team for two years until it got closed – I like writing opinion articles in my free time, but my articles aren’t published, so this isn’t really an extracurricular. Nothing remarkable.
Volunteering: I’ve volunteered for multiple nonprofit organisations (fundraisers, visiting locations etc) ever since I was young, mostly based on education and healthcare in rural areas in my countries. I’ve taught kids in orphanages and run-down schools and built pop-up schools for children whose schools were lost in a flood along with an organisation. I also help run local camps and have helped as a junior counselor in an international camp in Austria when I was 13. Am also active in my local youth group that takes care of the environment in my area. We raise funds for the local church and community centre and host cleanups around the area. I also volunteer a lot for school programs and events and help out for plays.
Music: diploma in piano + grade 4 violin.
Chance me for Ivy Leagues, MIT, Stanford, UCs, Johns Hopkins etc? I’m trying to make my national awards in biology and research most prominent in my resume. I’m not a legacy, a student athlete, or a first-generation. My parents were both first of their families to go to college – we are an upper middle class family now and I’m not eligible for financial aid.
