Chances for Princeton (SCEA), Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I am a rising senior in a public school in a NY suburb.
I will apply to Princeton selective early action and the others regular decision.
I will most likely major in Biochemistry or Biochemical engineering. </p>

<p>I am an Asian-american (Korean American to be exact) male from a low-income family.</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA - Weighted: 4.55 (AP = 4.76 for A+, Honors = 4.66 for A+, Regular = 4.33 for A+. It is impossible to take all APs or Honors in my school)
Class Rank: 1st decile, either 3rd or 4th in class.
Class Size: ~300</p>

<p>Standardized Tests
ACT: None yet. Hoping for a 33+
SAT: 2150 = 800M, 670CR, 680W
I've been getting ~2300 on my recent practice tests so I will take it again.</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests:
SAT Bio M: 780
SAT Math II: 800</p>

<p>APs:
AP World: 5
APUSH: 5
AP BIO: 5
AP Stats: 5
AP Microeconomics: 5
AP Physics B: 4
AP Lit: 3 lol </p>

<p>I will not self report the Physics and Lit scores</p>

<p>Senior Year Courses:
AP Calc BC
AP Chemistry
AP Lang
College Government
Astronomy Honors
Orchestra Honors</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
1) Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) Co-President
2) National Honor Society Corresponding Secretary
3) Varsity Spring and Winter Track and Field (only seniors are captains)
4) 121 hours of community service at local hospital + 15 hours of school volunteering + 10 hours of volunteering at animal shelter
5) Math Magazine editor, publisher, and writer - magazine received silver medal at Columbia University Scholastic Critics
6) School newspaper's writer, assistant publisher, and hopefully Editor-in-Chief
7) Equestrian Club
8) Job at Kumon center
9) Tri-M (Music Honor Society)
10) Orchestra Club
11) Performed with Area All State and All-County Orchestras
12) Accepted into Columbia Science Honors Program (very selective)
13) Performed representing Korea at school's Cultural Night
14) elected Treasurer of my grade in middle school</p>

<p>Honors and Awards:
1) Gold Medal at the Greater New York Metropolitan Math Fair
2) Math Modeling Competition (International) Meritorious recognition
3) 1st place in school for ASMA (National Math competition), Math League, and Log contest (national). Advanced to states for Math League
4) Silver medal in Regional competition for National History Day. Advanced to State competition
5) AP Scholar with Distinction
6) NYSSMA (State Music competition) for Piano and Violin. A+ for both instruments. Violin-reached All-State level
7) 1st place in school for New Jersey Science League Biology 2 Level
8) 2 Varsity letters and 10 medals (7 silver, 3 bronze)
9) John's Hopkins CTY award thing (should I even include this? I got it during middle school)
10) 3rd place in county and 1st in school for Math Counts competition. Advanced to states and was ranked 81st.</p>

<p>Recommendations:
1st teacher: Precalc teacher. Very good.
2nd teacher: IDK yet. Decent
Counselor: Generic with some good points.</p>

<p>Essays: Decent - Good</p>

<p>Interview: scariest part. I suck at keeping a conversation going if you're not a friend haha</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>I think you should improve your SAT or ACt Score by a lot. Also I wouldn’t let your pre-cal teacher recommend you because colleges want teachers who teach AP subject you are interested in majoring. Also I feel there’s something really big lacking (something you need for iVYS to help you stand out in the pool of applicants). You need to have done something extraordinary to really catch these colleges’ attention. Just my opinion.</p>

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<p>Don’t listen to tryhardalay regarding teacher recommendations. Choose a teacher that you feel would vouch for you best–knows you best. You shouldn’t pick a teacher simply because he taught a higher level class to you. That’s what your transcript is for. Regarding extracurriculars, I think you’re doing awesome. If you make your extracurriculars show up in your essay or on the application, there’s no need to qualify for IMO or anything like that. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thank you both!
As Newdle said, I’m choosing my precalc teacher because she’s known me for 4 years and is the Department chair of the Math dept in my school. Her getting a PhD from Harvard is a bonus also.</p>

<p>I know my EC’s arent the best and there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of people like me, but it’s what I’ve got and I can’t really change anything unfortunately :frowning: </p>

<p>Instead of writing about my EC’s for my essay, I was thinking about writing about some personal experience related to my major. For example I made my own aquatic ecosystem and raised chickens from the egg. Do you think that’s OK? Or would it be better to focus on one EC that fits me best?</p>

<p>Thanks again</p>

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<p>@HPClee‌
That’s an awesome essay topic. As many people on CC will tell you, it’s how you tell it, rather than what you tell. In my opinion, you shouldn’t write about ECs, but somehow imply in your application that those connect to your passion: aquatic ecosystems and raising chickens :)!!! If I were you, I’d dedicate your most important EC (or one that shows another perspective of you) to the short-essay extracurricular question. </p>

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<p>Thank you!! @Newdle</p>

<p>For these shorter essays (150 words), are they looking for content or style of writing?
I was planning on writing a school report styled essay for the shorter ones and for the 2 long ones I was planning on focusing on style</p>

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<p>“should I even include this?” No, you shouldn’t. Middle school is ancient history. Unless you did something really extraordinary in middle school, don’t mention it. That also goes for participating in Mathcounts and being treasurer in middle school. Think about it. These schools have IMO winners and kids who are running successful businesses applying. </p>

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<p>Alright thanks @mathyone !
What is IMO btw?</p>

<p>Also, do my chances get lowered if someone else in my school is applying to Princeton SCEA as well?</p>

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<p>@HPClee‌
IMO = International Math Olympiad
It’d be awesome to have on your app (almost a guaranteed acceptance), but it’s by no means necessary.</p>

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<p>Ah thank you. My school stopped Math Olympiad after 6th grade and we had AMC but I never qualifiied for AIME :(</p>

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<p>Hey! Wow I don’t know why you wouldn’t be confident with your stats. As long as the SAT retake goes well it would all be solid. Your ECs and your awards all tie together too. :)</p>

<p>Again I think the biggest problem is the amount of Asians applying to engineering/biochem…you really need to sound passionate in every single sentence you write and find ways to show how you’re unique. </p>

<p>In terms of spaces in the CA for extra ECs, you could technically add them in the “Additional Information” section or in the Princeton supplement where you’re allowed to upload a doc, but I don’t recommend doing it. Just pick the 10 that you are most committed to :slight_smile: As ridiculous as it might sound, sometimes it even harms you to add anything extra if it’s not over-the-top impressive, whether it’s extra ECs, a resume or an additional rec.</p>

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<p>@sr97329‌ Thank you! Yeah I heard that I might be at a disadvantage if I have too many EC’s compared to someone with a few EC’s that are all connected to his/her major. </p>

<p>Ugh the amount of asians with premed majors really stresses me out.</p>

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<p>UPDATE: ACT composite score of 35
34 Eng and 35 everything else. </p>