Chances at top schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m a rising sophomore (class of 2024) and I’m kinda short on information since I’m an international student, so I just want to ask you guys what I can do to get a better resume!

SAT: Didn’t take it yet lol

GPA: Not sure, but our high school has the hardest curriculum in Korea, so I think my weighted GPA would be very high

APs: Calculus BC, Physics C Mech, E&M, Chemistry - 5

Major Prizes:

  • Qualified for USAMO in 10th (AMC 12: 139.5, AIME: 9 messed up lol) but couldn’t take the exam because I’m international :frowning: but I still have the certificate
  • Going to IYPT 2018 (It’s an international physics olympiad, I personally think its prestigiousness is just under the IMO and IPhO)
  • Several grand prizes in national science fairs, including a ISEF affiliated fair

ECs:

  • Founder/Captain of school physics debate team
  • Editor of school paper
  • Vice Captain of school soccer team
  • Wrote a paper about analytical physics that got published
  • Writing another paper about Point Cloud Reconstruction with the help of a professor that’s probably going to be on a SCI level journal
  • Studied 2 years about making start-ups, registering patents, and 3D printing at a University.
  • Registered 2 patents
  • Got 2000$ government funds for my research in making a non-electric seismograph
  • Got selected for a government-funded excursion visiting CERN and other European science landmarks
  • 150+ hours of social sevices helping making and delivering meals for the elders in poverty

Race/Ethnicity: Korean

Sex: M

Intended major: Math / Economics / Physics

Schools: In
Harvard
MIT
Princeton
Stanford
Caltech
UC Berkely
Yale
Chicago

I’m kind of worried because my ECs don’t really have much compared to other international students, but since I go to a dormitory school, it’s really hard for me to do anything else than study with my books…

2

You’re only a rising sophomore… I would suggest just keep on doing what you’re doing and aim for a high score on the SAT/ACT. Also, get more leadership positions and start brainstorming college essay ideas. All I can say is that since you’re an Asian international applicant, getting into top schools is going to be way harder than US citizens/permanent residents.

3

Ummmm, even though this is irrelevant, but can you tell me how you did so good on AMC 12? This was my first year of math contests, and I got a miserable ~70 on AMC 10. Mind guiding me a bit?

4

Aim high, but there isn’t enough information here to make a good judgment if your GPA and SAt are high and you keep these trends with EC’s you’ll be competitive.

5

For me, it was best if the problems I solved were somewhat harder than my level, but you have to have enough patience to sit it out. If you put in about 3 hrs a day for about 6 months, you’re gonna get a much higher score (possibly an almost perfect score) on the amc. Just solve, solve, solve :slight_smile:

6

do you have an AoPS account? If so, what is your username? Also, what problems should I be doing?

7

My aops account is kingofgod, but I don’t really use it. If you’re on the amc level, i advise you to start with some aime problems

8

Which numbers should I do? Also what should I do when I get a problem wrong?