Chances for HYPSM, Ivies? Will Chance Back! :D

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I am valedictorian at my high school (well, my overall class rank is 1), and I have taken challenging courses such as AP Physics and Chemistry. My GPA is 99.1% (translates to a 4.00 of course).</p>

<p>These are my test scores:</p>

<p>ACT- 36 (2nd time- my first try was a 35)
SAT- 2380 (only took it once)</p>

<p>*Note: I got a 10 on every essay I took for these tests. I guess my writing sucks :/</p>

<p>I am part of my school's varsity chess team, varsity golf team, and also won my school's music club award last year and my school's chemistry award this year. </p>

<p>I have played the violin for 7 years, and have won many local and state competitions while also playing First Violin weekly in the state's most prestigious orchestra (MYSO). I am the main violinist in my school's music program. </p>

<p>I also led a science team that became the state winner in the Siemens We Can Change the World Competition (we led a service campaign in the local area asking teachers to utilize digital technology to save paper).
This year, I was additionally part of the SMART (acronym, I forgot what it stands for) team, a club focusing on studying biomolecules and modeling proteins through digital interfaces.</p>

<p>Also, I spend many service hours serving at my local church (playing in the church orchestra) and teaching underprivileged kids the violin throughout the school year. This summer, I am working about 70 hours at a local clinic run by the Cardiology Associates of Wisconsin (oops, gave away my state :P), working twice a week as a Kumon class instructor, and also volunteering at my local library for the second straight summer. </p>

<p>Random Awards:
1st in State for National Spanish Exam (Spanish II 2010)
10th in State Latin Convention
State Finalist in Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge
1st place Midwest Conference Chess Tournament
Bach Double Concerto Competition Winner
WSMA Exemplary Soloist 2 years
Most likely a National Merit Semifinalist (223 on the PSAT)
Sidhu Scholarship Winner
Five Star Scholarship Winner ( these are school scholarships )</p>

<p>*Another note: I was not First in Class every year, since I was Second in my junior year, if it matters.</p>

<p>*I am an Asian guy also, so that probably doesn't help me either.</p>

<p>*I come from a smaller private school, only 100 kids in my grade</p>

<p>Please let me know what you think of my chances at getting accepted by Harvard/Yale/Princeton/Stanford/Caltech/MIT and the lot! I'd really appreciate it, and I'll make sure to chance you back :D</p>

2

<p>Even though you’ve probably read this, I’ll post it again just to make sure:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Beyond saying that you’re qualified academically, it’s difficult to “chance” you. At this point, all you can do is focus on your essays, which typically are the things that tip an applicant from the “competitive” to the “accept” pile. When you sit down to write them, focus not on getting in but rather on representing yourself authentically. The essays that stand out really are those in which a student’s voice is apparent, so discuss something about which you care deeply in a writing style that reflects your own voice. Also, you should try to highlight one or two sincere “passions” that you have and indicate how you’ve engaged in/developed those passions.</p>

3

<p>Academically you seem sound, but beyond that I don’t know if you are a robot or a person with genuine passions…</p>

4

<p>bump! :smiley: thx for the input</p>

5

<p>going to agree with the above posters
can you elaborate on your extracurriculars? whats your intended major</p>

<p>from the info you provided + your awards are fairly impressive but nothing astounding for the above reasons</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1515027-chance-me-ill-chance-you-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1515027-chance-me-ill-chance-you-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Thx for your feedback, math64! I’m interested in the science field, and I’ll make sure to craft my application to reflect my heavy involvement in the field, such as SMART team, leading the science team, winning the chemistry award, etc. I also got an 800 on the physics SAT subject test and 790 for the chemistry. However, I also want to show my interest in music as well, since I am passionate about that. </p>

<p>So, more more information about music, I have participated in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra for three years, going on my fourth. I am in their most advanced orchestra, which just had an international competition in Austria last summer and won second place. I am NOT the concertmaster, but one of the first violins (hopefully a better chair this year :D). I also participate in WSMA (wisconsin school music association) state competitions, and I won the Exemplary Soloist award, the most prestigious prize in the whole competition. 200,000 kids compete, but only 400 get this award. I also was selected to participate in the WSMA honors music program last summer, although I am too busy with work this summer to have gone to the camp again. I additionally won the Bach Double Concerto competition two times in a row, and as a winner, allowed me to play with the professional Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, which is internationally renown. As I mentioned before, my school is smaller (only about 400 total kids), which has made me the primary player. I play in school concerts, and my music teacher rewarded me with the music award. I hope this clarifies the music aspect!</p>

<p>The science team that I led was student-driven – I formed the team and directed the entire process. We researched ways to save planet resources, and decided on reducing paper usage in the community. We presented to teachers in the area, and even got featured in Milwaukee news articles and news stations. When we presented our work to the Siemens competition, we won the state prize :D. My passion to help other people has driven me to pursue other ventures as well, such as volunteering at the library, volunteering to teach underprivileged kids, volunteering to play the violin at my local church, tutoring kids at Kumon, and working at my local clinic. I hope colleges can see that I don’t only care about myself, which is why I want to help other people in the science field ! :D</p>

7

<p>bump again :D</p>

8

<p>You obviously have great academics but I don’t see so much extracurricular-wise. Except for the violin, nothing stands out. I have to agree with marinozai about that it might come off as ‘being a robot.’ Still, your perfect ACT/near perfect SAT may be able to counter all of that!</p>

<p>Chance me for similar schools? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1522760-chance-top-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1522760-chance-top-schools.html&lt;/a&gt; Thanks!!</p>

9

<p>bump :D</p>

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<p>I agree that you seem “like a robot.” If what you’re saying is true, you’re gold. The only reason that I am hesitant is that it seems impossible to do all of those things unless you half-ass almost all of them. You pretty much have to write about an extracurricular that you are passionate about and what you have done to improve it and what the activity has done to improve you.</p>

<p>In short, I think that you have a chance with these schools, but you have to shine with your essay(s).</p>

11

<p>Hey, I think you look really good for these colleges. Maybe one potential fault is that you have no variety sports, but I think martial arts makes up for that. Just remember, these colleges are always crapshoots. </p>

<p>Chance me back :D</p>

12

<p>hmmm varsity golf :smiley: for 3 years</p>

13

<p>@frostyy thx for your input! fyi, i do not “half-ass” my activities-- isn’t that kind of shallow to just do something to look good on the application ? :smiley: I put my passion in what makes me happy, and try my best. Some things I’m good at, others I’m not. I will make sure to write my essay about using my talent in music to help others, so hopefully that will be nice :D</p>

14

<p>lastspartan, you are clearly an incredibly smart guy who deserves to go to any school you apply to. You have worked really hard and I really can’t imagine there’s anyone better than you.</p>

<p>The only thing I now realize from reading these forums is something that you also know which is that there are like 9 others of you for every you, so all anyone can tell you is that holy crap yes you are up there. I wish I had anything close to your resume, mine is probably half of yours, but if I had your resume I wouldn’t have had time to do anything else. I am not even sure how much sleep you get.</p>

<p>Anyway, man, good luck. You have worked hard enough to be happy where you end up.</p>

15

<p>Okay you’re academics are amazing
But yeah like others have said, I don’t see anything that would make top schools say “we MUST have him”
You’re perfect academically but I don’t see what differentiates you from another stellar student</p>

<p>BUT after reading your post on your passion for sci, I think it would be a good idea for you to maybe take your passion more outside the classroom. You mentioned volunteering, maybe get more involved in that? You need something to show that you take these passions seriously and that you’re more than just a number</p>

<p>All that said, you have a good chance at the schools you’ve mentioned. All still reaches though, like they are for everyone, but still way better than the avg person </p>

<p>Chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=1518169[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=1518169&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>You are awesome. Your Stats are great, your ECs are also great, and your leadership is also great. Your chances at the Ivies, Techs, and all the other Top Schools are pretty solid. Your scores put you into the Top 25% range of all the schools, and your ECs keep you there.</p>

<p>Your only weakness is the lack of any focus. Have strong volunteer base, or a strong EC that you diligently maintained.</p>

<p>You’re all over the place, which some may find good or bad.</p>

<p>Otherwise, good luck!</p>

17

<p>I think you are academically qualified and your decisions will come down to how candid you write your essays</p>

18

<p>Yeah you’re pretty much good in my opinion. Lots of really strong ECs.</p>

19

<p>Solid stats for grades and sat scores. Wow I envy your test scores :slight_smile: But yeah i looks like you have much more achievements than extracurricular activities. I would say all the schools you are aiming for are reach but its that way for every applicant. Glad to help out a fellow asian CCer out! :D</p>

20

<p>@justin do you mean more “academic” achievements than activities?</p>