Chance Me: UW Seattle

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Washington
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<p>Hello Everyone,</p>

<p>I am in a "form" of a dilemma as of right now. My story is actually long but the best way to put it in simple words would be this -- I was born in NYC to a family where both my parents have not even attended High School (highest education is equivalent to USA 7th grade) and NO ONE in my family has ever attended College. My mom is very ill with heart operations and has taken steroids in her heels that has done nothing well but made her condition worse and my dad works day and night as a cab driver. I do not want to reveal my families income but it is ~26,000 and has remained like that for the past few years. That being said I have had a MAJOR hard time trying to gain influence to excel in school, and in fact I had to work during my Junior Year to help my parents meet ends meet to help pay off our bills and such. My parents just a week ago moved to Washington State (King County) and we moved here for the sake of both my mom (health wise) and my dad (hopefully getting another restart at his career). I am currently a Junior in High School, I will first start off with my accomplishments in High School then explain my career choice of mind and give a summary of my "dilemma" </p>

<p>In school Achievments:
-Currently hold a 92.89 AVG (My New HS Converts this to a 2.29?!)
-I have always started off with the hardest courses in my High School - AP Computer Science (Freshman Year) AP European History (Sophomore Year), AP Biology (Junior), AP English (Junior), AP US History(Junior), Planned courses include <em>Cambridge Physics 2, Chemistry 2, Economics, English Lit., AP Stats + AP Calc. AB</em>
-Electives include JROTC (Fresh. Year), Spanish (3 years - will not take Senior Year)
-Section Leader of my band class. (At my old HS -- will not join my band in my new HS)
-Performed for my School, and Graduation with my schools band and many community performances (Old HS)</p>

<p>Deeper info on my EC's (Clubs):
-I had led a USFIRST FRC team and made another robotics team to participate in FTC competitions.
-Made my Schools first Math Team (participated in statewide math competition, and the biggest on -- Moody Mega Math Challenge)
-President of my Schools Science Research Team - We had ranked 4th in our City this year
-<em>Will form a Robotics Team at my New HS and be Leader once again</em>
-<em>Will try my best to start a M3 Team at my new HS</em></p>

<p>Outside School Achievements:
-Part of a Community Service organization, with over 100 hours of community service--- ---Played Golf - (I know this is nothing but I was actually in the top of my state until I left)
-Have over 250 hours of community service (including a talent show that raised $900 for Sudan,)
-Used to be part of my Schools Geek Tech Team (It broke down because the teacher who ran it retired) (OLD HS)
-I currently know HTML and CSS, LabView, Java
-Knowledge in 3d design and machines
-Internship with NYC Department of Transportation as a Computer Engineer
-Internship with CUNY City Tech as a Mechatronics Research Intern.
-Started Year Long Internship with Boeing (Mechanical Engineering related)</p>

<p>Awards:
-Ranked 2nd place in a annual Bridge Building Competition (Received a Medal)
-I submitted a website for my Robotics Team, ranked 2nd place (Recieved a Medal)
-Inducted to my schools English Honor Society
-Part of National Honor Society
-Part of Spanish Honor Society
-US FIRST Deans List Finalist (2011)
-Led my Robotics Team into 20th rank out of 66 (Highest in School History
-Bezos Family Foundation Grant</p>

<p>Plans for the Summer:
-Most likely attend my 3rd Internship as a Network Engineer
-Finding a Job (Minimum Wage)
-Settle into Washington State</p>

<p>PSATs - 199</p>

<p>SAT - 1490 (Very low, I know. I will retake them of course)</p>

<p>SAT II - I will take Math 1, Biology, History</p>

<p>Index : * * = Plans for New HS</p>

<hr>

<p>My list can go on forever honestly, but I feel from "major" and "impressive" activities and experience's I have accomplished, these are the ones that fall into both range. As I have mentioned I have moved from NYC To Washington State (And yes, I moved during my Junior Year) credit wise, I am beyond ahead of everyone and therefore will be doing an early dismissal. Now to explain my situation with my family and myself, being in a situation where both my parents are bolstered with such consequences (for my dad working all day long, not even seeing his face 6 times a week / for my mom seeing her in such great pain trying to hope for soon relief from all her stress) and our economic problems which later encouraged me to work at a local McDonald's trying to add some layer of protection to our income. I feel that my achievements have helped me standout as my awards, internships and items I equip is very strong for the fields I wish to apply for - My main field I want to apply for is Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Comp Sci. or econ. Even though I have moved here I find it no excuse to not do anything like I had done in my old HS, so I have started a Robotics Team (just recently got approved from the school district) and a team for the annual M3 Challenge.</p>

<p>Regarding my grade conversion, my NYC transcript does not translate to the 4.0 scale at my new HS. Would this become an issue or can I just send in both transcripts? Because I certainly feel a 92 average should hit around the 3.7+ range. </p>

<p>Oh, and please do excuse me for any typos or run-on's (I assume I have MANY) due to the fact I was in a rush and typing from my Kindle Fire...I'll make sure not to do that again. -- Also, if any more explanation si needed I will gladly explain the unclear statements.)</p>

<p>I really appreciate your response!!</p>

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<p>let me spill my story and maybe you will find some relevance in answering your questions.</p>

<p>I had a 3.8 highschool gpa, mediocre ACT score and tons of extra curricular. I myself, just like you took the hardest classes including all AP and honors.</p>

<p>I was rejected admissions from the UWS freshman year for one reason. My personal statement sucked.</p>

<p>Instead of making it a goal to show UWS everything you have accomplished and your various strengths, you want to generalize your accomplishments into one area, and then expand them into other fields to seem well rounded.</p>

<p>UWS wants unique, well rounded applicants which seems like an oxymoron.
You need to sound your best in all areas, but set yourself apart in one.</p>

<p>Honestly, I feel GPA, classes, and tests scores take the very back seat in UWS’ admission processes because of three main factors.</p>

<p>Firstly their “hella” large pool of applicants. Their “wholeistic approach” to reviewing your app just means they look for any reason to deny people admission.</p>

<p>Second, High schools suck at accurately representing peoples grades and often inflate GPAs. I looked up all the valedictorians from my high school on UWS’ annual deans list and not a single one of them was on there.</p>

<p>And third, the united states education system is starting to resent “standardized tests”.
Many people feel that some have testing anxiety, ADHD, ect that drastically detract from the accuracy of these tests, while others are unnaturally good at taking tests and sometimes guess correctly, ect. I personally think this is a load of bull but its why there is a personal statement. Also many feel the SAT and ACT are “racist” to some degree. thats why they added a writing section.</p>

<p>Basically, you want to make your personal statement the best part of your application. Use all the words, hit all the areas, and make it flow well, and dont be afraid to play on the Pathos.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t feel safe about your app until you think your personal statement by itself could get you in with garbage grades and test scores.</p>

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<p>^^^looks like one of the best posts here^^^</p>

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<p>@vevenaneathana: a couple questions

  1. Do they take level of interest into account? I’m wondering because this is the place i’ve wanted to go to ever since I took the visit.
  2. I have similar stats to you GPA-wise, with an above-average SAT, quite a few APs and Honors, and a few extracurriculars, a couple at which I excelled (when I was on a team) and a couple I just did because I enjoyed, even if I wasn’t the best at them. If I had a good personal statement, but maybe not wonderful, would that be a reason for rejection? Also, how does the supplemental, activity logs, and optional essays come into play? Thanks.</p>
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<p>My son was in robotics like you and got into honors. I think you are a shoe in. Just make sure to do a good job on your essays!</p>

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<p>Oh…you need to raise your SAT score though…study really hard an retake it. You can do it! I think you would need a lot better score!</p>

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<p>@UDUBHUSKIES
Sorry to take so long to get back to you. My new apartment doesn’t have wifi yet so I gotta make runs to starbucks for the time being.</p>

<p>1A) Everyone who applies to UW seattle shows they’re interested in the campus. What’s important is that you show you’re passionate, passionate, and I say again passionate about education and your major.
Have your stuff together, and sound like you know what you want and how youll get it. This shows true interest and will put you ahead of most other applicants (especially if you’re a freshman!). </p>

<p>2A) It would not be a reason for rejection, but it would not be a reason for acceptance.
like I said, you’re applying to a highly competitive school, and anything you don’t do well on your application is going to stand out.
Its simple, do your best on all parts of the application and you will have the highest chance of getting in. But like I said before, the personal statement is your bread and butter. It should be the strongest piece of your application and unlike your GPA, you can start over, correct it a million times, and make it perfect.</p>

<p>As for “supplemental, activity logs, and optional essays”, I fail to understand what you are referring to?
Is this the part of the application that refers to extra circular activities in high school? Its been a long time since Ive done the freshman app.
Hopefully someone else who knows more about it can help you.</p>

<p>Without a doubt though, the personal statement should be your highest priority.</p>

<p>Im open to any other questions.</p>

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<p>I know my SAT score is at the low side, and will be working to raise them. In the meantime do my 3 Internships including Microsoft, NASA, NYC DOT nor awards and leadership in Science Research team and FIRST Robotics put a huge factor? Including I am considered a minority and have a family whose income is well below the average. All of my internships were beyond competitive to get in themselves, and so I am looking at using all my personal statements to “Stress” about how hard it was to juggle all my extracurrics and family. It really was hard to work a part time job, lead 2 clubs functioning throughout the year with competitions ever week and juggling bunch of AP courses. More insight would be great!!</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

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<p>@rsharma, I encourage you to read my original response again.</p>

<p>the trick to getting into UW is not to tell them everything you’ve done well in life. It is to show a passion or personal devotion that consolidates many of your accomplishments into a mission statement or purpose in order to communicate to UW you belong there.</p>

<p>Like I said before, SAT’s are not that important and people get into UW all the time with bellow 1000’s. Raising them shows you’re slightly devoted to meeting their expectations but would not go very far in an admissions processes.</p>

<p>All of the things your keep reiterating, your minority status, your time management skills with extracurricular activities, your internships, and AP courses would leave admissions asking, “So what”, or “why is that important”.</p>

<p>Actions dont speak very loud by themselves, such as you gaining 200 points on your SAT. The trick is to collect all the things that make you unique, the experiences that have helped define you, and the responsibilities that have matured you and weave them into a holistic, broad, but very direct essay that communicates a mission statement / passion / devotion to a carrier path via UW.</p>

<p>For high school seniors, the personal statement is probably the hardest part of the application to perfect. You have never had to be this resolved, absolute, and convincing in your life, and honestly you are probably applying to a school that will continue to define you for the rest of your life. Being a husky means a lot.</p>

<p>I feel that if you apply with the same aggressive approach of building creditably through “fact barrageing”, your essay will feel flat and without depth. With your grades and SAT scores alone, you do not have a very good chance of being accepted.</p>

<p>However, if you perfect your personal statement, I think you have a lot going for you. A person like you, with a perfect personal statement could go as far as gaining you acceptance alone.</p>

<p>good luck.</p>

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<p>Hi vevenaneathna, I have PM’d you. May you possibly look at when you can? Much appreciated!</p>

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<p>“Inbox contains 0 messages.
You have 0 messages stored, of a total 50 allowed.”</p>

<p>try again?</p>