<p>I'm a junior, but I am applying to GT this year, as I have exhausted the math/science curriculum at school.
I haven't taken any APs yet as that is not allowed until Jr year, but I will take
AP Calc BC (easy 5)
AP Physics C (both parts, should get a 4+)
AP Physics B (if I can on top of C, should get a 5)
AP Biology (Should get a 3+ considering I haven't taken a biology class)
AP Chemistry (Should get a 4 or 5)
And I have taken Computer Science and Statistics at my local college.
I have a shot at being on GT's Putnam team. I started practicing for the AMCs my sophomore year. At the end of the year, I scored an 8 on the AIME and was the first USA(J)MO quallifier in a 50 mile + radius. (I live in rural TX)
As for GPA and such
class rank: 1/156
GPA: 4/4 UW or 4.88/5 W</p>
<p>SATs: not sure exactly yet, but 800 on math for sure, 640+ Reading (probably like 670 or 680), 590+ Writing (Probably like 650+)
I used 640, 800, 590 as that was my freshman SAT.</p>
<p>SAT II:
Math 2: 800, easy
Phys: not sure, probably 700 since I don't know much EM yet</p>
<p>I should have stellar recs; my math teacher says that I am a "1 in every 25 year kid and the best he's ever taught".</p>
<p>ECs are great:
Class President, Fr., So.
Key Club Pres, Jr.
StuCo Parliamentarian Jr.
TMSCA state champion in Math, Number Sense, and Calculator Fr. So.
Computer Science Team Captain Fr. So. Jr.
Assistant teacher at Metroplex Math Circle in UT Dallas
USAJMO qualifier, 1 time
AIME qualifier, 2 time
Newspaper Copy Editor, So. Jr.</p>
<p>So, I guess chance me for admission/presidential scholarship.
Thanks :D
Wish me luck!</p>
<p>I promise you in real life that I am not. This just appears so, as I am trying to present myself all the way. I actually was quoting for an example of the true rec. But I am sorry that I did come off that way.</p>
<p>The reason he got that impression were comments like “AP Calc BC (easy 5)” and “800 on math for sure”. </p>
<p>While this may be accurate, there are different ways to present it: </p>
<p>“800 on math for sure” vs. “I had an 800 Math freshman year, so I’ll probably have something similar this year”. Also, there’s no real reason to post probably AP scores since you won’t have the scores until after the admissions decision.</p>
<p>As far as admission, my sample size of junior admissions are pretty limited but there’s not much more you could have done so it seems pretty clear-cut to me.</p>
<p>As far as PSP chances, that’s highly dependent on your interviews. Your GPA + SAT make you a pretty obvious candidate to get a local interview from an alum, but from that point forward, it’s all about the interviews.</p>
<p>I really apologize for the scores thing all. I do not want to be seen as pretentious/cocky; I was trying to make it clear that I would score that, even though I haven’t taken the tests yet, though I could have been more humble.
Thank you BanjoHitter; I was highly worried that I would not get accepted due to low SAT Cr/Wr and because I do not have any AP/IB tests on file to prove my abilities, as well as no talent that I can clearly demonstrate beyond mathematical problem solving ability and editing skills.
Once again, I do apologize for the cockiness displayed in my initial post.
I have a few questions (for now lol):
How many kids are selected for PSP interviews?
Do stats like scores, etc. matter after selection?
And, how many ‘rounds’ are there to becoming a presidential scholar?</p>
<p>shrig, I think I can help you with your questions - and one more word of advice: it doesn’t matter how you WANTED to come across, it’s how people INTERPRET what you write, so you’ve got to be careful with your wording. I fully agree with the previous comments - you came across as pretty arrogant … ^^</p>
<p>Every year, about 600-700 applications are considered PSP semi-finalists based on their application. This selection is made public around mid Dec., I believe.
These candidates then have to go for an interview (locally) and submit additional teacher-recs.
About by the end of January, the finalists are selected based on the additional information (about 100 finalists in total).</p>
<p>These 100 students are then invited for the so-called PSP-weekend (2 days in March in Atlanta, filled with interviews, information sessions, etc; parents have their own program).
A week after this weekend, GT makes their final decision - some of the students get a full-ride, some about 2/3, and the rest about 1/3 (of the sum of tuition + room & board). In average over the last few years, about 60-70 students usually accepted & enrolled. All the ones invited for the PSP weekend are considered Presidential Scholars (PS).</p>
<p>As a father of a PS, I got to know many PS at the ‘signing day’ and I was impressed with the quality of the selected students. There definitely were some that I’d consider ‘nerdy’ in one way or the other, but most of them were well-rounded young people who stood out of the usual crowd with their personality & accomplishments outside of the classroom.
Grades are one thing, but those will get you only to the level of semi-finalist. Nobody talked about ‘grades’ during the PSP weekend, but I sure got the impression that all of them were pretty intelligent …
I know from my son that not all of them actually had ‘perfect’ scores (you can find the statistics on the GT homepage), but he confirms that all of them are self-driven, curious, tolerant, interesting & friendly people … all traits that the interviewers probably are looking for.</p>
