Chances into elite schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am an Asian male from competitive IB school in Virginia with extremely competitive class.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.67 (at the close of junior year)
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Rank: #1 (out of ~200)
SAT: 800M, 780 CR, 770 W
SAT II: 800 Math IIc, 760 US History, will take Physics in October</p>

<p>Freshman Schedule:
Pre-IB English 9
Pre-Calculus
Pre-IB Biology
Pre-IB World History
Spanish II
Band
Gym</p>

<p>Sophomore Schedule:
AP Calculus AB (took the BC exam, scored 5/5)
AP U.S. Government (scored 5)
Pre-IB English 10
Pre-IB Chemistry
Spanish III
Honors Anatomy
Gym</p>

<p>Junior Schedule:
IB History of the Americas HL 11 / AP US History (scored 5)
AP Statistics (taken online, scored 5)
IB English HL 11
IB Physics HL 11
IB Spanish SL 11
Honors Marine Biology</p>

<h2>IB Theory of Knowledge</h2>

<p>(These last two classes were extra classes taken as night classes at the Governor's school for math, science, and technology)
Introduction to Computer Programming
Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra</p>

<p>Planned Senior Schedule:
AP Government: Comparative (taken online)
AP Chemistry (taken online)
IB English HL 12
IB Math HL 12
IB History of the Americas HL 12
IB Physics HL 12
IB Spanish SL 12
IB Geography</p>

<p>Awards/Honors:
2007 RSI Scholar (11)
USAMO Qualifier (10)
AIME Qualifier (9-11)
Various 1st Place finishes in all regional mathematics competitions
2nd in Virginia State Science Fair (11), Honorable Mention (10)</p>

<p>Member of NHS, Spanish NHS, Mu Alpha Theta
Freshman Academic Student of the Year (9)
Sophomore Academic Student of the Year (10)
Overall Academic Student of the Year (I wasn't at the ceremony for this one, but supposedly my school created it for me) (11)
Most Outstanding Freshman, York High Band (9)</p>

<p>Various 1st place awards at the regional and state level for piano (9-11)</p>

<p>Received credit for summer class in Computer Science, College of William & Mary</p>

<p>Activities:
Varsity Tennis (9-12), Captain (11-12)
Member of First Team All-District for Tennis (11)
Varsity Academic Challenge (this is like quiz bowl, and yes it actually is a varsity sport in Virginia) (10-12), Captain (12)
Class secretary (9)
Class president (10)
Class SCA representative (11)
SCA Treasurer (12)
Asian Club (10-12), President (11)
Model United Nations Club (10-12)</p>

<p>Calculus Tutoring - 2 hours weekly (11-12)
Volunteer at local retirement home, 3 hours a week (10-12)</p>

<hr>

<p>My school has seven periods, so I was and am taking extra classes junior and senior year. The new limit for classes in the 07-08 school year is eight, because of the fact that I took nine my junior year. I have only taken 4 AP classes, but my school is an IB school, and a fairly small one (class size ~250), so thus the APs offered are extremely limited. I believe that I have taken the most rigorous courseload available to me, and I am forced to take several APs (even Chemistry!) through Virginia's online program.</p>

<p>So basically, my top choices are among Harvard, Yale, and Stanford (in no particular order).</p>

<p>My entire list is:
SCEA: Stanford
Regular: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, maybe UPenn, UVA</p>

<p>What do you think my chances are of getting into the schools I want? I know my ethnicity doesn't help me much, but I believe that I can get superb teacher recommendations. RSI is my top achievement and I think that's what is going to make or break what colleges accept me.</p>

<p>Is there anything that I can do to improve? Thank you for any feedback!</p>

2

<p>Wow, those are very nice stats. I think you have an EXTREMELY good chance at all those schools. Hope you'll get into Stanford.</p>

<p>BTW, 1) Which study guide did you use for Physics and did it help?
2) What does Mu Alpha Theta do?</p>

3

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>As for your questions:
1) Do you mean for the SAT II Physics? I'm using the Princeton Review, and I do not know if it has helped me a lot or not (I have yet to take it). It's a nice book though, and I think it serves as an excellent review book.
2) Mu Alpha Theta is basically the equivalent of the languages national honor societies, except for mathematics. Not all schools have a branch, and you apply the year that you take pre-calc (at least that's how my school does it, and assuming you have good math grades).</p>

4

<p>1) Yes, SAT II Physics. I self-studied and will be taking it this October. Good luck to you.</p>

<p>2) Since I'm an up-coming senior, would it be possible for me to charter the club myself?</p>

5

<p>UVA = match/safety</p>

6

<p>You're in everywhere. </p>

<p>Great ECs, amazing test scores, amazing gpa/grades/classes taken, everything.</p>

<p>Assuming you're not an *-hole and your teachers hate you then I'd say you're in =D</p>

7

<p>RSI and USAMO.
2 big hooks.</p>

<p>HYPSM: Likely
UPenn: In
UVA: In</p>

8

<p>Thanks for your input everyone!</p>

<p>Gaffe, would you put UPenn at a level below HYPSM? Do you think UPenn is really easier to get into than, say, MIT?</p>

9

<p>'HYPSM' does not include UPenn for a reason.</p>

<p>Yes, UPenn is easier than MIT because you are an Asian male.</p>

<p>You may get into none of them or you may get into all of them. It's most likely that you'll get into at least a few.</p>

10

<p>wow, you have amazing stats!</p>

<p>i would be very surprised if you didn't get into one of harvard/yale/stanford. i think you'll get into penn rd, and def uva.</p>

11

<p>RSI and USAMO are awesome achievements. you're in almost everywhere, although i did hear that many people from RSI got rejected by Harvard last year.</p>

12

<p>my mentor this summer was a 2005 rsi alum, and he told me everyone that attended (75 kids) applied to harvard and about 60 of them were accepted. he himself was actually rejected and is now going to stanford on full scholarship. either way, it's certainly looking good for you sir. congrats on such amazing feats</p>

13

<p>Everywhere is a safe match or a safety. What's the point of this topic? Just showing off?</p>

14

<p>My family's income falls right into the range where you are awarded little to no money for need-based scholarships, so I'm going to be applying for a lot of scholarships to offset the costs (I'd rather not have my parents pay for everything).</p>

<p>DuckTape, do you know how the full scholarship at Stanford works? Is it merit-based?</p>

15

<p>
[quote]
DuckTape, do you know how the full scholarship at Stanford works? Is it merit-based?

[/quote]

They don't give out merit based scholarships. You get scholarships from places like Siemens and Intel.</p>

16

<p>I thought so.</p>

<p>I hope my work does well at Siemens and Intel then.</p>

<p>Also, on a note of curiosity, if that guy won enough scholarships (probably requiring a few high placings at the big science fairs) to pay off Stanford completely, how in the world did he ever get rejected by Harvard?</p>

17

<p>Harvard doesn't need all 75 or so RSI participants. RSI does not guarantee acceptance. Other factors were involved that we don't know about.</p>

18

<p>The 50 or so domestic students from RSI are usually the cream of the crop. Having accomplishments capable of getting someone into RSI are usually far and above what even the most elite universities look for in their admissions process.</p>

19

<p>You're f-ing perfect man...why are you asking? Are you from Thomas Jefferson Science HS?</p>

20

<p>Thomas Jefferson...hate them.</p>

<p>They win every big math/science competition in Virginia. It's absolutely dominance. Yea I'm jealous.</p>