Chances for Harvard

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>Harvard has pretty much been my dream school from when I was in 5th grade. So here are the stats! Please honestly chance me! :) I'm in the class of 2013, but I'm just being paranoid!</p>

<p>GPA: 4.3 (w) 4.0 (u)</p>

<p>Classes taking (in Junior Year): AP Physics, AP Chem, AP Calc, AP World, AP Lang, Spanish 4 (all 5-point)
Senior load: AP Bio, AP Music Theory (fine arts, aha), AP Poli Sci, AP Lit, AP Spanish
SAT: 2300 (800 W, 770 M, 730 R) **will take again this year
Awards: USAMO Qualifier (9, 10), ARML National Honors, 11 on AIME, 144 on AMC, Regional Piano Winner (Bach Festival)</p>

<p>ECs/Work Experience</p>

<p>Junior State of America: (was the National Co-Director of Communications soph year, first underclassman ever to be on National Cabinet), Montezuma Leadership Summit Attendee (60 kids out of ten thousands), now am the Congressional Youth Advocacy Board Coordinator
Intern at the California State Senate
Member of the American Outreach Dream Committee at the county party
Member of the API Democrats of Orange County
Member of the California API Caucus
Field Organizer for Barack Obama for America
Was Field Organizer for Janice Hahn for Congress (we won!)
Regional Field Director (California) for the No Labels political think tank
Was an international liaison/patent examiner at a law firm in Shijiazhuang, China (in the summer, I worked abroad)
ARML Southern California Co-Captain
Math Club President
Executive Vice President of Orange County Math Circle (an organization that teaches kids math and competition)
Played piano for 13 years, entering concerto competition (fingers crossed!), and will have passed level 10 by the end of junior year
Trilingual: Chinese, Spanish, English</p>

<p>Demographics
High income (100,000+)
Asian-American
Large public school ranked 8th in country
Parents divorced</p>

2

<p>any chance that you’ll make math camp this year?</p>

3

<p>I don’t know…I’m focusing more on humanities, so i think I’m just going to qualify for USAMO…</p>

4

<p>For admissions purposes, it may make sense to try qualifying for camp. If you make it, you’ve essentially signed your own admission letter, and for a USAMO qualifier in 9th grade it should be possible.</p>

<p>Also, lol @ qualifying for the USAMO and not getting an 800 on the math SAT.</p>

5

<p>ummm wow you’re amazing? if harvard doesn’t accept you then… they’re just… really stupid…</p>

6

<p>It doesn’t make sense for you to focus on humanities rather than math. Put more emphasis on your strengths. I advise you to try going for the summer math camp.</p>

7

<p>I’m focusing on humanities because I REALLY love public policy and political activism. I plan to go to a good law school to become a lawyer in IP law. </p>

<p>AHHH math camp is super hard to get into…especially because my proofs are horrendously bad…!</p>

<p>What would you say to focus on given this situation? I really want to extend my political horizons for junior year! What programs?</p>

8

<p>Of course Harvard’s your dream school…you’re asian. But it’s every other Asian’s dream school and coming from SoCal, it’s the toughest demographic for an acceptance into a school like Harvard. But you have some accomplishment and activities. USAMO is pretty nice, but you also have involvement in politics which sets you apart from others. Given that you have a good essay, you have a chance…but coming from your background, the decision is somewhat arbitrary.</p>

9

<p>all depends on where you live. and the asian concentration in your area/state/region.</p>

10

<p>Wow…I think that’s amazing…how could you not get in?</p>

11

<p>i hope you don’t get in because you said you’re taking the SAT again, you’re obviously not right in the head :D</p>

12

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<p>It’s actually a very good idea for OP to retake; a 2300 is good but a 2400 will improve his chances at Harvard quite a bit, and he (like every applicant) needs every advantage he can get.</p>

<p>OP, I think you have good chances, but since Harvard admissions is random to a degree, don’t count on it.</p>

13

<p>Wow, that’s amazing. And I agree, take the SAT again if you have time. Also, whatever you focus on, make sure you do it damnnnn well, unis want depth (but at the same time, well-roundedness, which you have already, so maintain it) :)</p>

14

<p>How did you score a 144 on the AMC and an 11 on the AIME but only get a 770 on the Math portion of the SAT?</p>

<p>To put it into perspective, the SAT Math at this point should be as easy as first-grade long division for you</p>

15

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<p>I know brilliant math students who have gotten 1 or 2 wrong on SAT math. The problem is precisely that it’s so easy - one careless mistake = no 800. For the same reason, more people get 800 on Math 2 than Math 1.</p>

16

<p>Thanks everybody for the comments! If there was anything (within my reach), what would you say to do? More internships, more programs?</p>

17

<p>Bump。。。10char</p>

18

<p>Math research might be a good idea. Is there a local university where you can find a mentor for an science fair project?</p>

19

<p>There’s UCI, but I tried last year and got no response. Is there a standardized way to do this? </p>

<p>I mean, I want to focus on humanities since I love it, but many people (including mom) want me to take the math road…I’ve been doing math for like 13 dark years…</p>

20

<p>While the general refrain of “follow your passions” is a nice thing for admissions officers to say, it isn’t really true - if you really want to get into Harvard, you would be well advised to follow whatever is likely to win you the biggest awards to maximize your chances of admission. In many cases talent = passion, but not always. Since you clearly have aptitude for math, that means pursuing math at the moment - feel free to dump it in college if you hate it, but for you the smart money’s on math. You can continue pursuing debate/politics on the side, but its doubtful that you will be successful in that like you are in math.</p>

<p>As to finding a research mentor, I do have a bit of experience in that area. The first thing to do is mass email professors at your local university - most won’t respond, but a few might. If those don’t pan out, go on the departmental website, find out when each professor has office hours, go to their office at that time, and talk to them. Introduce yourself as a high school student that is interested in math and that has qualified to the USAMO twice - you would be surprised how many people who ignore you by email are willing to work with you once you meet in person. It just takes persistence - this year I talked to 15 professors before I found a guy willing to take me on, but the opportunity has been awesome. Just be proactive and remember - KEEP TALKING! Many professors, particularly those in math, aren’t the most social people in the world, but if you carry the conversation you will carry the day. Research is awesome & free money, so there’s no reason not to do it if you’re talented.</p>

<p>(I came to know my mentor for my ISEF project last year by random chance, but that was highly unusual.)</p>