Chances for Homeschooler at Top Universities

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi everyone! I know this is a bit early (I'm a rising junior), but it'd be nice to know if I'm on track for these colleges:</p>

<ol>
<li>Columbia University</li>
<li>MIT</li>
<li>Brown University</li>
<li>University of Chicago</li>
<li>WUSTL ED</li>
<li>Rice University</li>
<li>Cornell University</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon MCS</li>
<li>NYU</li>
<li>Boston University</li>
<li>University of Michigan Ann Arbor</li>
<li>University of Colorado at Boulder</li>
</ol>

<p>Since I'm home-schooled, my college-prep tutorial doesn't have "honors" classes, but everything is at that level or above. Here are the classes I have taken/will be taking:</p>

<p>9th Grade:
-Biology with Lab (tutorial)
-Precalculus/Trigonometry (tutorial)
-Literature 9 (tutorial)
-World History (tutorial)
-Latin III Poetry (private tutor)
-Bible (local competition program)
-Chess/Piano electives (1/2 credit each; private tutors)</p>

<p>10th Grade:
-US History (tutorial)
-Chemistry with Lab (tutorial)
-American Literature (tutorial)
-Wellness/Personal Finance (tutorial)
-AP Calculus BC (Art of Problem Solving)
-AMC 10 Preparation (1/2 credit; Art of Problem Solving)
-Latin IV Prose (private tutor)</p>

<p>11th Grade:
-WOOT (Art of Problem Solving)
-Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra (1/2 credit each; MIT OCW Scholar)
-College Biology (self-studied at a much higher level than AP Bio)
-Human Anatomy and Physiology (tutorial)
-ACT/College Prep. (1/2 credit; tutorial)
-US Government (1/2 credit; self-studied at AP level)
-AP Macroeconomics (PHC Prep. online)
-AP English Language and Composition (PHC Prep. online)
-Choice of Sport (don't know about this yet, but it's required for graduation)
-AP Latin</p>

<p>12th Grade:
-AP Psychology (self-studied with MIT OCW Scholar supplement)
-AP English Literature and Composition (PHC Prep. online)
-AP Statistics (unknown source)
-Art History (unknown source)
-AP Physics B (MIT OCW Scholar and supplement)
-College Chemistry (self-studied at USNCO level with AP supplement)
-AP Computer Science (Art of Problem Solving)</p>

<p>The way things are going, I'm probably going to have a 4.00 GPA. As a note, everything that is self-studied will still have tests and exams and graded homework. I don't just get an A for completion. Also, my umbrella school does not weight grades.</p>

<p>As for testing, I would have already qualified for NMSQT last year, but since sophomore scores don't count, I'll be retaking the PSAT this year. I'm aiming for a score in the range of 225-235. I also got a 29 on the ACT in 7th grade (with no preparation whatsoever), so I am hoping to get a 35 in that by the end of junior year. Below, I have listed all of my standardized testing goals, all of which I believe are rather reasonable:</p>

<p>Expected Scores/Goals:
PSAT: 230
ACT: 35
SAT II Biology M: 800
SAT II Math 2: 800
SAT II Literature: 760
AP Calculus BC: 5
AP Biology: 5
AP Macroeconomics: 5
AP Latin: 4
AP English Language and Composition: 4</p>

<p>I didn't list the AP scores for my senior year, since they won't be listed on college applications, but I might take the SAT II Chemistry or SAT II Physics tests before college applications time rolls around. Hopefully I can get a 780-800 on both of those as well.</p>

<p>Current ECs:
-Paid position teaching chess at local elementary schools
-500+ volunteer hours at local chess camps
-Head of chess team that placed 4th in state
-My own chess team placed 4th last year, and will probably get 1st in 2014
-Worked on research project studying hydrotropism with top professor in the field
-Various preparation activities for USAMO (AIME level)/USABO
-Attending PROMYS this summer
-Earned over $10,000 via chess (if this counts for anything...)</p>

<p>Future ECs:
-Mathematical research project at PROMYS
-Continuation of chess-related ECs
-Teaching chess to underprivileged via local rescue mission
-Next year, I will probably apply to a few science-related camps, including RSI, SSP, Clark Scholars, HSHSP, etc. Most likely, I will attend such a program and prepare a research project for the Siemens Competition. If not, I may attend PROMYS and do some individual research.</p>

<p>Current Honors/Awards:
-State Chess Champion (this is not scholastic)</p>

<p>Future or Hopeful Honors/Awards:
-NMSQT Finalist (this is a pretty sure thing)
-USABO Semi-finalist/Finalist (Already, I think I'm pretty confident I can make semi-finals, and I think I actually have a shot at the finalist camp, simply because I am extremely devoted to this and have good memorization skills.)
-Siemens Competition Semi-finalist (This is the "realistic" goal. Honestly, I'm hoping to be a finalist, but I'm not sure that is going to happen)
-I may also enter some essay competitions next year (the Atlas Shrugged contest looks interesting...), but I'm not sure I'll have time.</p>

<p>Recommendations:
-They'll probably be pretty good...when I got accepted into PROMYS, the program director seemed very impressed with the recommendation.</p>

<p>Essay(s):
-They will certainly be well-written. I've outlined a couple of ideas based on the topics, and, although they are not extremely interesting or abstract, they really stress my intellectual curiosity, which is something that my teachers are likely to comment on in their recommendations.</p>

<p>Background:
-Nothing particularly stands out here...caucasian, male, not first-generation, etc., but I AM home-schooled, which at least provides a different perspective on college admissions. I'm also extremely passionate and competitive, which helps with some of those competitions I mentioned above.</p>

<p>College Plans:
-I'm planning to pursue a pre-medical track in college, so WUSTL seems like an extremely good choice for me. I will probably apply there ED, which would also give me a heightened chance of admission. However, I wonder if this means I should not apply to a few of the more competitive schools on my list (e.g. Columbia). If I were rejected/deferred from WUSTL ED, it seems unlikely that I'd be accepted at an even more competitive university. Any thoughts on this?</p>

<p>Am I on the right track for these colleges, and would anyone mind chancing me (if it is possible at this early stage)? I've read plenty of posts against chancing (e.g. No</a> Chance | MIT Admissions), so please don't tell me about that. If you say I'm drastically underprepared for these colleges, I'm not going to not apply to them; I'll probably just try harder. Also, if you do think these colleges are out of my reach, could you offer some suggestions on how to better prepare myself?</p>

2

<ol>
<li>Columbia University - Low Reach</li>
<li>MIT - Reach</li>
<li>Brown University - Low reach</li>
<li>University of Chicago - Reach?</li>
<li>WUSTL ED - Match/Low Reach</li>
<li>Rice University - Match</li>
<li>Cornell University - Low Reach</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon MCS - Match/Low reach</li>
<li>NYU - Match</li>
<li>Boston University - Match</li>
<li>University of Michigan Ann Arbor - Safety</li>
<li>University of Colorado at Boulder - Safety</li>
</ol>

<p>Btw, do you have the same username on AoPS?</p>

3

<p>I am so jealous right now. Any college bar MIT is a Low reach/Safety/Match. MIT is definitely a reach for anyone. I Suggest trying to take AMC 12 ASAP! Also, You should try to take AP Physics C in 12th Grade.</p>

4

<p>@Wombat: You really think WUSTL Is a low reach for me? I was hoping the fact that I was planning to apply ED would make it more of a match. The more I read about it, the more I feel like it is a perfect fit for me. If there’s anything I can do to improve my chances there, I will definitely do it!</p>

<p>@JJoy: I already took the AMC 10 B this year and just barely missed the AIME cutoff. So far, I’ve been getting just above the cutoff for AMC 12s on the practice tests I’ve been taking. I may have forgot to add that I’m aiming for USAMO qualification, but I’m not positive I’ll make it past the AIME. As for Physics C, can someone elaborate on the differences? I already self-studied a non-AP physics class in 8th grade, if that helps.</p>

5

<p>AP Physics B Is a science course that studies Newtonian Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Mechanics, Waves, and Motion. It is basically an easier version of AP Physics C. AP Physics B to AP Physics C is like AP Calculus AB to AP Calculus BC.</p>

<p>In addition, you were going to take AP Physics B senior year (2014-2015). But they are replacing Physics B in 2014. The last year it will be administered is 2013-2014. After that, there will be a far inferior version of AP Physics B called AP Physics 1. I suggest you take AP Physics C: Mechanics in your junior year ad AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism (notoriously known as the hardest AP Physics class), senior year.</p>

<p>As for missing out on the AIME, there were kids in my schools who were in AP Calc BC in 10th grade and missed it by a longshot (Made scores in the 80s). With some practice, you’d definitely make it.</p>

<p>P.S. I have an AoPS account (JJoy1).</p>

6

<p>Ok, thanks for that. Someone told me that Physics B covered more material than either Physics C, so I suppose I will take Physics C.</p>

<p>I might end up either doing AP Physics C: Mechanics or AP Chemistry over the summer, so that I can do 2 AP sciences during the school year.</p>

7

<p>P.S.: Since you’re great at Math, do AP Physics C: Mechanics over summer. Try taking AP Chemistry during the school year instead. </p>

<p>Also, how does one apply for PROMYS? I am intersted in it, but their website doesn’t specifically state what I need to do in order to apply.</p>

8

<p>Actually, it’s too late for this year. Next year, just click on the application, which is here:
[Applications</a> | PROMYS: Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists](<a href=“http://www.promys.org/program/applications]Applications”>http://www.promys.org/program/applications)</p>

<p>Thanks for your help! :D</p>

9

<p>@DiscipulusBonus: Do you know how they select a student? Is it by their level of math? By next summer, I will have completed Pre-Calculus.</p>

10

<p>Oh, that’s not really much of a factor. Pre-calculus is definitely enough. The application consists of a few essay questions, and 10 math problems (which require proofs). You also need to provide a recommendation and a transcript. However, how you solve the problems is by far the top factor. They are looking for good thought processes.</p>

11

<p>Are the problems difficult? If it is possible, can you provide an example of one? :)</p>

12

<p>They are fairly difficult, but you don’t have to solve all of them to get accepted.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I’m not sure I have any of them, and the application isn’t available online anymore, but I can tell you that one of them involved finding every very prime-like (not divisible by primes less than 15) number under 90,000, and approximately how many there were under much larger numbers.</p>

<p>Back on topic, though, what do you think my chances are at WUSTL, and is there anything else I can do to improve them? (Entering a research competition (and doing well) is the big one I thought of…)</p>

13

<p>You have very good statistics. Your ACT and SAT II are impressive. Also your ECs look pretty good. You seem to be pretty devoted to your ECs. I want to tell you that if you would make a wiining essay for college this would bust your chances. Good Luck!</p>

14

Excuse me for reviving an old thread, but where did you end up going? (:

15

@JadeAriane He got into Brown ED so he’s probably going there. Please do not revive old threads.