<p>newyorka, his GPA is fine and his EC's are fine/decent.
his SAT's are the only weak area, and that's not bad either.</p>
<p>on the other hand Cervantes, AIME qualifiers are way too common and easy to get. I was sick+had allergies+had to leave early writing the AMC this year and still managed to qualify, it's not that difficult. piano awards are also all too common for asians. that said, I do believe those state and national awards are quite impressive.</p>
<p>I'm looking at the 630 CR and guessing there is a corresponding number on the ACT. That cancels Stanford right there in an unhooked applicant.</p>
<p>You math people know better than I do about the math ECs, but they don't look anything like the ECs of kids at my school who get into MIT/CIT. They've gone to RSI, won olympiads and science competitions like Intel, they've taken 6 advanced level math/science classes at good colleges, etc.</p>
<p>Looks like you have as good a chance as anyone else. Honestly a fair amount of alumni at MIT appear to have been admitted without any outstanding research. In my opinion the Intel competition can only be won with people who have access to advanced facilities--I highly doubt any of those experiments were done in their backyards; these are not available to everyone.</p>
<p>As for you're SAT, it won't keep you out. When I attended the MIT information session he made it clear that there is a miniscule difference between a 750 and an 800; I wouldn't concentrate on math, but study for the critical reading portion if you plan to retake it--I have the same problem lol.</p>
<p>And make sure you get interviews with the schools that offer them (I know MIT does)--this significantly increases your chances. 16% of those who chose to be interviewed were admitted to MIT as opposed to 6% of those who did not have the interview.</p>
<p>Yup, 27 on the reading section of the ACT killed my score :/</p>
<p>And thanks everyone for the input... but do you guys think it would be okay to just submit my ACT score and not the SAT?</p>
<p>^^ I think most colleges do. However, your rank will not be helped, but then again you took a very rigourous load of classes. You will have a 4.0 if they recalculate.</p>
<p>newyorka, I think you're being way too harsh. At my school all the people who got accepted to MIT and/or Caltech did not go to RSI, the international olympiads, or win Intel/Siemens and the highest math they took was Multivariable Calculus, which the OP did and more. Perhaps their scores were a little better higher but overall I judge both about the same.</p>
<p>you guys got to remember...</p>
<p>newyorka got her parents to pay for super pro advanced automatic get you in type advice from a counselor... and that she goes to a super elite private institute where money pays the way and we cant get great things like what she listed 6 advanced math/science classes for kids in her class who were there doing that....</p>
<p>Its like shes saying we all go to her high school and shes basing it off of that... </p>
<p>newyorka, your truthful, but your very narrow-minded... you do not take into account other subtexts... sure you might be a big fan of "base it all on the statistical facts of applicants"... then why dont we just say "Hey, drop the essay... drop the recs... seems like you guys dont need that"...</p>
<p>There are other qualities needed within an individual... I have seen people who have done great inventions with jack shiit grades in High School ( a friend of mine who is quite bored at school resulting in low grades in respect to his intelligence built his own engine for a car he was refurbishing with his father... father did the body, HE FIGURED OUT THE SCHEMATICS AND BUILT AN ENGINE USING PARTS FROM A METAL SCRAP DUMP....) this goes to show to some extent, some people might be very very different... and i think adcoms are getting tired of the usual applicant...</p>
<p>By the way newyorka,
ur a liberal arts major</p>
<p>Why are u chancing a person entering the natural sciences/engineering field??</p>
<p>Just my 2 cents... </p>
<p>By the way</p>
<p>You got a decent shot... my friend who got admitted to harvard says it takes confidence, great essays, and recommendations... you seem that you got the competitive stats, just get focused ECs and pour ur soul on applications... </p>
<p>NOT EVERYONE IS A ROBOT HINT HINT HINT TO NEWYORKA.... if they were, the imperfect people were the ones programming them....</p>
<p>One girl I know is going to attend MIT in the fall and her gpa was 4.67 and sat was around 2200. She is going into nuclear engineering. Good luck for ya</p>
<p>Ambitious, I study common data sets and scattergrams. Just take a look at the scattergrams I refered to posted on this board on Sushifureak's UC thread. They represent an average CA public school. </p>
<p>Continue to believe the myths if you wish, but for an unhooked candidate from anywhere, top schools are totally numbers driven. They look hard at the ECs, recs and essays after you pass their minimums. And their minimums, much to the shock of many, is not their 25th percentile.</p>
<p>And you're correct, I worked with one of the top counselors in the country and I learned the game from the best. You also seem to totally misunderstand what college counselors do. If they could get you in they'd make more than ibankers. All they can do is teach you the game and help you play what you have to your best advantage.</p>
<p>How is a 3.93 bad? (I'm new to GPAs etc) Thats like 1 A- in the last two years....</p>
<p>But I generally agree with newyorka on this forum. I'd rather as the OP be torn apart by newyorka rather then getting 100% 'you're definitely in rah rah' (Not saying you do it but it gives off the general vibe). Theres no harm in what newyorka's doing and in fact it can only spur him/her or harden him/her if the rejection letters come in. </p>
<p>This forum does need people like newyorka otherwises naive people like me (for clarity: not suggesting OP) would have thought we're certain for at least 1 or 2 Ivy Leagues whereas the reality is that someone like me won't even stand a chance...</p>
<p>Your AP calc BC in sophomore year is impressive...and that, along with your DE and MV calc courses will impress Caltech. Not so much Stanford and MIT, because they aren't as revolved around the courseload as Caltech.
If you can show passion in a few areas, then MIT and Stanford can be a shot. But at this moment, I see you making Caltech most likely (MIT and Stanford are still fair reaches for you, as they are for everybody). That is purely because your ECs are very similar to most other applicant's. I mean, dont feel bad, this is just the impression I get, but please correct me and explain your involvements, if you feel there is more depth.</p>
<p>Stanford and MIT are schools that seem to seek students who have a strong academic thirst (hence good GPAs etc)...but at the same time are willing to take risks to attempt activities and involvements that truly interest them. If you can portray that, then you will be a MUCH stronger competitor for MIT. Stanford, as you may know, has a very unique application. It is very personality based, and if you can portray a very 'human' impression (act humble, modest, and just human...dont try to impress them with your ECs and grades, instead impress them with your personality)...then you will be strong for Stanford too.</p>
<p>Please do explain your ECs in more detail...the tenure in each group, your positions held...and your true passions...They will all help create a more accurate picture.</p>
<p>I know this forum can be discouraging at times. I am trying to give you a very honest opinion, and if you need suggestions on how to portray your ECs better, or how to direct your applications, dont hesitate to ask. I just applied as an international for those schools and was lucky enough with my app structure/themes, and will be glad to share them with you. (just dont ask for my essays...haha)</p>
<p>Best of Luck!
PS: If you need any safeties suggested...let me know which field you are intrigued by or are looking to enter.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of majoring in Computer Science/Engineering, and my safety is UMich (in-state).</p>
<p>CMU is good for that. btw, its prob not my business, but i suggest applying EA for MIT and Caltech, and RD for Stanford.
(as for the ECs, do u wish to explain anything about your ECs for other people to chance you by...or do you agree with what most people have said?)</p>
<p>Yes I was planning on applying EA for Caltech and MIT. And thanks everyone for the feedback! :D</p>