Chance me University of Washington and University of South Carolina -- Columbia

<p>Age: 17
Male
Asian (why do people even put this?)</p>

<p>State: California</p>

<p>Scores for SAT Reasoning, ACT plus Writing Assessment, and SAT Subject Tests:</p>

<p>SAT Reasoning: 1650 (planning to retake in Oct., Dec. will probably do much better)
SAT CR: 610
SAT M: 570
SAT W: 470 (LOL)</p>

<p>SAT Subject Test: N/A (planning to take in Nov. Chinese, Math II, USH)
ACT w/ Writing: 25 (planning to retake possibly Dec.)</p>

<p>European History AP: 2
US History AP: 2
English Literature and Composition AP: 3</p>

<p>3.555 weighted GPA.</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>President of KIWIN'S A community service club</p>

<p>I earned a National German Award for scoring an 81 on the Level 3 test. I am one the few who won the award</p>

<p>Piano Lessons for 10 years.</p>

<p>Held one job for a year and another for a month.</p>

<p>Major interested in: International Business</p>

<p>If this information isn't enough, WALL OF TEXT BEGINS HERE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>

<p>-----wall of text begins here-----</p>

<p>Well first off, thanks for helping confused seniors such as myself. :]</p>

<p>Here's a little information about myself:</p>

<p>I am currently 17 years old and I'm a Senior. My SAT and GPA aren't high, but I hope what I have done makes up for it. I'm retaking the SATs though :/.</p>

<p>Here's the information you have requested:</p>

<p>From 6th grade to 10th grade I attended a Chinese school to learn Chinese every Saturday from 9 to 12 p.m. I can speak, read, write Chinese decently. I can speak it pretty well and can hold conversations but my reading and writing is a little weaker.</p>

<p>I joined a community service club called KIWIN'S, a division of Key Club, sophomore year and by the end of sophomore year, I was Sergeant-At-Arms. In 11th grade, I ran for Vice President and I won the position for the 2009-2010 year. However, the president couldn't fulfill her duties because she was also Lieutenant Governor, so I became President. I have planned many events such as Rescue Missions, Relay For Life, Memory Walk for Alzheimer's, Habitat For Humanity (which helps build houses for low income families,) Kingdom Center Project (which helps renovates old motels for families who are in transitional housing,) and I am currently initiating an "R-Word" Campaign at our school to spread the information on how hurtful using the word retarded can be. I am also organizing for our club to work with the Special Olympics in my county. We are also planning to raise money for the California wildfires. We plan to volunteer in the disaster areas and we're trying to do whatever we can to help.</p>

<p>During the summer, I did take art lessons back in 9th grade. It really gave me a different perspective on art.</p>

<p>I earned a National German Award for scoring an 81 on the Level 3 test. I am one the few who won the award.</p>

<p>I worked at Boston Market for a brief period of time in November to help for Thanksgiving. I worked 13 hours in two days. Before that, I worked at my dad's office as a Computer Technician Associate for roughly 2 years. I would help repair and diagnose computers. I am planning to get a job after I finish SATs and donate all my money to a charity.</p>

<p>I have taken piano lessons since September 1999 and I recently stopped piano lessons in August 2009. I have been playing piano for almost 10 years. Even though I have quit piano lessons, I have still continued to play piano by myself. I achieved Level 8 in Certificate of Merit and I won silver and bronze at the Holiday Festivals. I also was awarded the Grand Piano Award from my teacher, one of two students who have achieved it. I also learned to play the guitar by myself and even though I'm still fairly new at it, I have been practicing the guitar a lot too.</p>

<p>Courses:</p>

<p>Freshman:</p>

<p>Eng 1H - B C
German 1 - A A
Geom H - C C
PE - A A
Physical Science H - B C
Geography - B/Health - A</p>

<p>Sophomore:</p>

<p>Eng 2H - C B
German 2 - B B
Algebra 2 H - C B
PE - A A
Bio Lab H (highest Biology offered, no AP at the time) - B B
European History AP - C C</p>

<p>Junior:</p>

<p>English 3 AP - B B
Pre-Calc H(UC Approved I think) - C, dropped to Pre Calc CP - B
Chemistry AP - C, dropped to Chemistry H - B
US History AP - B B
German 3 - B B
Visual Art - A A</p>

<p>Senior:</p>

<p>English 4 CP
Statistics AP
Econ AP
Environmental Science AP
Computer Foundations (school requirement)
Aide</p>

<p>Scores for SAT Reasoning, ACT plus Writing Assessment, and SAT Subject Tests:</p>

<p>SAT Reasoning: 1650 (planning to retake in Oct., Dec.)
SAT Subject Test: N/A (planning to take in Nov. Chinese, Math II, USH)
ACT w/ Writing: 25 (planning to retake possibly Dec)</p>

<p>European History AP: 2
US History AP: 2
English Literature and Composition AP: 3</p>

<p>The two proudest moments for me in high school would be winning the presidency for my club and joining KIWIN'S.</p>

<p>Joining KIWIN'S was my best decision during my high school life. It has introduced me to many friends and helped me do a lot of community service hours. I felt really good helping out my community and I chose not to really do a job and devote my weekends and time to KIWIN'S because seeing the happy faces I help is worth so much to me. Becoming president of KIWIN'S was another proud decision I made because I could put many of my ideas into effect and make the club better because the previous administration of the club didn't do so well. Many members left or gave up on it and I really wanted to bring them all back and show them why I joined the club and what KIWIN'S is all about.</p>

<p>My two worst decisions would have to have been when I took so many AP classes that my grades started to fall. During my sophomore year, My grade point average dropped tremendously and I was really disappointed in myself. During Junior year, I tried my hardest to earn better grades and actually qualify for CSF and my grades improved. Also, not studying for my first SAT was a terrible decision as I now have to do really well on the last two chances I have.</p>

<p>During high school, I had two deaths in my family. My uncle passed away with a heart attack in 2007, and my great grandmother passed away due to old age just recently in 2009. It affected me for a while because I was really close to them and the death was so sudden that I never got to say goodbye or say any final words. It put a lot of emotional pressure on me because I knew I would never be able to see them again or tell them anything they'd want to hear before they passed. When you go to sleep at night, you take for granted that everyone will be there when you wake up. The last thing you think about is death. A reason why I thought of the idea to do the Memory Walk for Alzheimer's, is because of the fact that the people you love can start to forget who you are and it really impacts you.</p>

<p>Colleges I'm interested in:</p>

<p>UC Santa Barbara
University of Washington
UC Berkeley
University of South Carolina, Columbia
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
University of Virginia</p>

<p>Majors I'm interested in:</p>

<p>I am interested in majoring in some sort of business. I am very interested in majoring in International Business or Finance/Banking and minoring in the one I don't major in. I would like to be one of those businessmen who travel around Asia, particularly Taiwan. I would wish to work for either a Taiwanese or American firm and do business between the two countries. I plan to study abroad to Taiwan and learn Chinese in college. When I graduate with the major, I intend to pursue a masters degree in International Business.</p>

<p>A legacy I would want to leave behind is a legacy that I have truly done something in my lifetime to help or change lives around me. I really hope my activism does something and affects the people I work with. I want people to remember me as a kind, caring, compassionate person who devoted a good portion of his time for others.</p>

<p>Questions from form:</p>

<p>Do you live in a small rural area or large city?</p>

<ul>
<li>I live in a small suburban town which is 45 minutes from both LA and Santa Barbara. We have a population of 66,000.</li>
</ul>

<p>What are the challenges or opportunities you found in your community?</p>

<p>-It was a challenge finding things to do. However, after looking around I joined KIWIN'S a club at my high school and community service has given me many opportunities to help those in need around me.</p>

<p>Are you an only child or do you come from a large family? Do you identify with one or more cultures?</p>

<p>-My parents were both born into a large family. In my family, I only have one brother, he is 15 years old. Everyone in my family is of Chinese descent who fled from China to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War.</p>

<p>Are you the first person in your family to attend college? How does your family interact with one another?</p>

<p>-No. My parents both have graduated from college. My family is very close. We do many things together like go to the beach, go on vacations, watch movies, and play games. I feel truly lucky that my family is very tight knit and not in shambles. Some parents forget their son or daughters birthday or some families don't eat at the table together or spend time with each other. My family is very important to me because no matter what we do, we will always love each other.</p>

<p>Make a list of four things that describe you
(e.g. athletic, a leader, first in my family to go to college, started a club, own my own business, etc.)</p>

<ol>
<li>A leader.</li>
<li>Ambitious</li>
<li>Hard-working</li>
<li>Caring</li>
</ol>

<p>Now ask a friend or family member to do the same thing:</p>

<ol>
<li>Funny</li>
<li>Well-planned</li>
<li>Caring</li>
<li>Selfless</li>
</ol>

<p>• What do you consider one of your strengths? What are you good at?</p>

<p>-I think one of my strengths is making people happy. Whether I'm telling jokes or doing community service, I always try to make the people around me smile. I'm good at caring for others before myself and I'm good at making people smile.</p>

<p>Bump10char</p>

<p>well first off, all of the things you’ve been through and the way you handled them are pretty admirable :slight_smile:
I would say that your community service are awesome. Make sure you list all of the events you organized as part of KiWINS.
Try to bring up those scores though! Although the average instate scores aren’t that high anyway, as a out-of state student you would need to improve them as much as possible. at the least try to get all of your scores to 600 level. </p>

<p>Based on your circumstances though, if you explain like you did here why your grades and stuff dropped in a personal essay, that would be really beneficial.</p>

<p>I’m applying to USC-Columbia too-first for the honors college and i’m from instate. im not entirely sure about out of state, but instate standards are not that high…
its a state school, so a majority of students in my high school either go there or Clemson. And since your Asian, like me, the whole diversity thing can work in your favor</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>^Similar to what the above poster said, I think that you have the credentials, in terms of E.C. Your scores are on the low end, but I think that if you can manage a 1200/1800+, then you’ll be solid, especially for USC at Columbia. I’m an in-state student for the program, but the standards for OOS shouldn’t be that much more stringent. Good luck with the admissions process!</p>

<p>Bump, University of Washington? And thanks for the reply guys :slight_smile: I retook the SAT on Saturday and I hope I did better than a 1650. :stuck_out_tongue: Oh, and thanks for reading all that. Hahaha.</p>

<p>Oh and perhaps Penn State?</p>

<p>I think your safe at University of Washington but i don’t think they have a strong international program</p>

<p>UCSB: slight reach
UCB: reach
SLO: match
UW: reach (OOS is tough)</p>

<p>It’s either International Business, Finance, or doctor.</p>

<p>I heard UW has a great medical program.</p>

<p>Bump10char</p>

<p>You have excellent extracurriculars, but your grades and especially your SAT scores are not great. Out of state at UW is far from safe with a 1650 SAT.</p>

<p>Well I retook the SAT. I’m really hoping I did better than a 1650. What would I need to be an OOS student for UW?</p>

<p>bump10char</p>

<p>What would be a good SAT score for these two schools? 1800+? 1900+? 2000+?</p>

<p>I got into UW out of state from California with a 1940 SAT. I think in general you have a good chance if you’re above 1900 and you’re a shoe-in if you’re above 2000 but that’s only a guideline.</p>

<p>Upppppppppppppppppppppp</p>

<p>bumpbumpbump</p>

<p>Bumpppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp</p>

<p>Bbump new score: 1860</p>

<p>I’ve bumped for like 5 days HELP A BROTHER OUT!?!!</p>

<p>well, get some backup schools. you really need to look at more backup schools. I mean it’s great and all that you did all that extracurriculars and all, but ask yourself, would you be able to succeed doing the level of work which is demanded at colleges such as Wash U or UCB or UVA. Then compare it to the people who are at these colleges because that would be who you are with for the next for years. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but the SAT averages of each is about 2100 or so and SAT II’s at about a 720. GPA is at about 4.2-4.3 and 3.8-3.9 unweighted. So the question is, how are you going to prove to the admissions and more importantly to yourself that you are ready to enter such an environment and thrive?</p>