<p>Hey Guys,</p>
<pre><code> Do what you do best!
</code></pre>
<p>Information:</p>
<p>Eth: Asian
Sex: Male
State: NJ
Grade: Junior
Major: Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Biology; possibly economics (as a minor)
School: Very Competitive </p>
<p>*Estimated Frosh/Soph/Junior GPA: *</p>
<ul>
<li>UW - 3.85; W - 4.19</li>
</ul>
<p>Estimated Soph/Junior GPA:</p>
<ul>
<li>UW - 3.89; W - 4.33</li>
</ul>
<p>Rank:</p>
<p>School doesn't rank, probably top 5% of class of ~700.</p>
<p>AP's (Total of 10):</p>
<ul>
<li>Physics B (4)</li>
<li>Chemistry (Taking)</li>
<li>Calculus BC (Taking)</li>
<li>English Language and Composition (Taking)</li>
<li>Computer Science A (Taking)</li>
<li>Biology (next year)</li>
<li>Art History (next year, required aka being forced into it)</li>
<li>Economics (next year)</li>
<li>Statistics (next year)</li>
<li>English Literature (next year)</li>
</ul>
<p>Scores:</p>
<p>PSAT: 226
SAT: Scores out this Thurs, will update when I have them. I was sick that day, so I'll be retaking regardless.
SAT IIs: Taking: Chem, Math II, and possibly Bio or Lit</p>
<p>Recs:
Counselor - Awesome: she knows me well.
Teachers - One good from Eng, more about personality (not the highest eng grade in class unfortunately, running a low A-). One awesome from AP Chem teacher.
Supplemental - Either another teacher very familiar with me or JSA advisor (who is very fond of me). Also research mentor (which should be awesome).</p>
<p>EC's:</p>
<p>NJ Science League
- Partipant 10th-11th
- Competitive Testing in Chem I and Chem II
- Qualifying Test followed by Regional Test each month from Jan. - Apr.
- Qualified last year in Chem I, but not in Chem II this year :(</p>
<p>NJ Chemistry Olympics
- Competition in chemistry entered in year of AP Chem (11th)
- Club meets every week from Jan. to competition day in May
- Two-person group writing research paper on chemical process</p>
<p>Medical Careers Club
- Member 10th - 11th
- Reasonably involved; designed a lengthy PP presentation on the difficulties of pursuing a medical career to bring some reality into the picture (lol, it's funny how so many freshmen/sophs come into the club with overly glamorous opinions about medicine; I guess I mighta been that way too though :)). Anyway, I enjoy presenting to audiences and the people appreciated what I had to say so it's all good. </p>
<p>Science Competitor's Club
- Member 10th - 11th
- Officer 11th
- Random science competitions; not much in terms of results.</p>
<p>Junior Statesmen of America
- Member 9th - 11th
- Club Officer 11th (I write our daily resolutions, occasionally moderate debates, and speak frequently)
- New Jersey Region Cabinet Member 11th (write debates on state level for regional conventions)
- Significant involvement in politics/oratory = my other passion besides science. </p>
<p>March of Dimes
- Member 10th - 11th
- Volunteer hours and fundraising
- Tedious but rewarding process = soliciting funds; selling tickets; organizing large-scale cultural show. </p>
<p>Genetics Research
- Summer of 2007; going back 2008
- 8 hrs/day, 5 days/wk for ~6-8 wks
- Research conducted with drosophila melanogaster; focused on determining the use of RNAi in restricting cancerous overgrowth caused by genetic mutations.
- Personally, this is my favorite activity; I'm in love with research and that's part of the reason I'm considering medicine.</p>
<p>Piano
- 5 yrs
- Not incredibly proficient</p>
<p>Community Service
- ~ 300 hrs
- Local hospital, senior center, and March of Dimes</p>
<p>Honors, Recognitions, Awards, Programs (Kinda weak right now):</p>
<p>Robert Wood Johnson Mini-Medical Program
- Will participate in a several week long program at RWJ Medical School consisting of seminars to talk w/ doctors, etc.
- Semi-Competitive application process (~20% acceptance)</p>
<p>NJ Science League
- Recognition in 10th grade for regional competition
- Didn't qualify for regionals 11th in Chem II; only 4 out of 30-40 students make it and only the best of the best try out. I didn't have time to study mostly b/c of English HW; and, though that's not a reasonable excuse...that's my excuse...</p>
<p>National Latin Exam
- Silver Medal in 9th; Gold Medal in 10th; test for 11th approaching</p>
<p>Commendation from Governor/NJ State Legislature
- For our chapter setting up a March of Dimes fundraiser that raised thousands of $'s.</p>
<p>JSA Best Speaker Awards
- Several in recognition of debate performance.</p>
<p>National Honors Society/National Latin Honors Society
- 11th </p>
<p>Predicted National Merit Semifinalist
- PSAT: 226</p>
<p>Pending
- Other Competitions Planned/Participating: USNCO (need to study hard for this one, coming up in March), Chemistry Olympics, AMC (took it last year, will take again this year; hoping to get to AIME), Siemen's Westinghouse/Intel (with additional research conducted over next summer)</p>
<p>**As you can probably tell, I don't lack passion in what I do...just proficiency. I'm trying to take as much iniative as possible to participate in competitions and win some big recognition, but the cutthroat nature of my area is damn awful. I'm also worried about not having a dedication to an instrument or sport, but between my classes (which give out way too much HW), clubs, competitions, and community service, I don't have much spare time. However, I take pride in the fact that I only involve myself in what interests me, so I think I'll be able to write decent essays (except for piano maybe :P, but that's an Asian thing). </p>
<p>Anyway, please tell me if I'm being realistic in considering some of the following schools and corresponding chances. Gimme RD and ED for the schools I specified b/c I'm not sure where I want to ED yet. Thanks! :</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I won't be applying to all these schools, but I want chances for all of them.</p></li>
<li><p>UPenn (RD and ED)</p></li>
<li><p>JHU (RD and ED)</p></li>
<li><p>Cornell (RD and ED)</p></li>
<li><p>Duke</p></li>
<li><p>Northwestern</p></li>
<li><p>U Michigan</p></li>
<li><p>U Berkeley (OOS, obviously)</p></li>
<li><p>UVA</p></li>
<li><p>Wash U STL</p></li>
<li><p>Brown</p></li>
<li><p>Columbia</p></li>
<li><p>Boston College</p></li>
<li><p>NYU</p></li>
<li><p>Rutgers (Safety?)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks So Much.</p>