<p>Can any Clark alumni tell me stats about those accepted to the program? I know it's pretty competitive, but I just wanted to know where I stand. Also, would anyone care to share their experiences? I know that each person is paired with a mentor in a specific research area, but not much beyond that. Thanks!</p>
<p>I second this request. I have low PSAT scores (170, I had several issues during the test that need to be dealt with), no SAT/ACT scores, but I have a high class rank, good gpa, good recommendations (good because I have a strong relationship with the teachers), and in my mind, a good narrative. I have high hopes, but I'm not exactly putting all my chips into TT for this summer if you know what I mean.</p>
<p>Sounds fun, so I'm applying. Can any alumni chance me? T_T</p>
<p>I'm planning on applying too, but I have yet to start my narrative. o.0. I also have no research experience, but I always thought it'd be something fun to do.</p>
<p>Applying as well.
Can you use your GC as a reccomendation, or a graduate student at Princeton as a recc? Or is it strictly applied to teachers??</p>
<p>Lol, yeah, I mean--getting THREE recommendations? Most places just require one. It'd be nice to meet some of our fellow CC-ers if a group of us get in ^^</p>
<p>hah, yea that'll be cool.
The thing is that im applying to like 8 summer programs, and like 7 of them require a science and math teacher. And anyways, if u want to get in you should atleast have a math or science teacher.
So I feel weird giving my teachers (who are already busy) like a billion papers...</p>
<p>^ I know...I feel guilty. I wish they'd just say no and explain themselves if they really were too busy rather than mulling annoyance within their hearts, lol.</p>
<p>i'd like to know about this too</p>
<p>bump...</p>
<p>i am applying also. I have decent psat (223) and good gpa/course load but bad SAT and no research exp.</p>
<p>I'm basically exactly like you, A-Card. I guess we should still keep our fingers crossed.</p>
<p>Oh, and how are we supposed to get extra copies of our PSAT score report, anyway?</p>
<p>T__T;; My mom accidentally mailed out the application I'd liked to heavily editt.... <em>sighhhh</em> And...and....</p>
<p>My recommendations are being sent separate of my application >_> Argh!! I hope they don't have the capabiltiy to auto-hate</p>
<p>As for me and my stats...</p>
<ul>
<li>I have prior research experience @ NASA, but I only gave cursory emphasis. </li>
<li>My grades are severe, smelly el ultimato sucko (well, for junior year 1st semester anyway...but it isn't counted towards my GPA since we calculate GPA's at the end of each year...but they still see my current transcript <<)</li>
<li>My PSAT is decent too but still rather el-averago (228), my SAT is mediocre relatively (2300), and I guess the only thing going for me is my AP tests from sophomore year (three in math/science, all 5) and my two SAT II's from sophomore year (>780 on relevant topics)</li>
<li>I'm satisfied with my narrative.</li>
<li>Oh my gosh, did I mention my grades suck as in I have three B's for semester grades?!!?!</li>
<li>I am taking advanced math since I took AP Calc last year (thus this year: Calculus 3 (aka Multivariable Calc) and Matrix Algebra), and some advanced science classes</li>
<li>Arghhhhhh, junior year grades ><em>></em>>></li>
<li>My extracurriculars are satisfactory, but those were the things I wanted to edit!!!!!!!!!! The application that was sent really needed editting since I need to place more weight on some items. </li>
</ul>
<p>Gosh I'm praying I can get in. It sounds so exciting. </p>
<p>Sorry, I just needed a place to rant since this is the only thing I'm applying to since this is really the only thing I want to get into.</p>
<p>EDIT: lunar_year, I don't believe Clark Scholars requires the original copies of those reports.</p>
<p>^ Lol, I'm an idiot for posting all that personal information >_></p>
<p>So I got an email from Ms. Durham saying she's received my app, one rec, and my transcript. What I like about this program is that they're very detailed and personal, unlike the Jackson program which failed to respond to my emails...</p>
<p>I hope to God I get in but if I don't, I think I'm just going to work on my novel. Gosh, I guess I'm the only one stalking this thread >_>;; Why isn't this program more popular?</p>
<p>hey all. clarkie 07 here. clarks is def a great opportunity. without a doubt, best experience of my life thus far. if u get this opportunity, don't pass it up. (im extremely bias, but i think clarks will be a better experience than other programs out there like rsi. smaller group. more personal. better matching with mentors. lots of freedom. $$$)</p>
<p>marimare-ms. durham is def on top of things. she really keeps things organized. just fyi, i dont think she is involved in selection at all. maybe im wrong, but my understanding is that she mostly coordinates logistical stuff and dr. sanfran is really the one in charge of the program. he's a funny guy.</p>
<p>so a lil about selection. on our trip to carlsbad sanfran talked a bit about it to us, but not in great detail. last year i think there was something around 90 applicants. he said that he had to turn down ppl with great stats, vals, perfect sats etc etc. so for all you wanting to be chanced... basically impossible to do on scores alone. my understanding of the process is that dr. sanfran reads every application. he also has a selection committee that he works with which consists of other profs at tech. im not exactly sure how they pick people tho...</p>
<p>so stats from my year. i have to say everyone was pretty stellar. it was pretty clear that everyone deserved to be there. my year everyone did science research although the program does emphasize that you can do any kind of research you want. SATs were all good.. but it doesnt have to be perfect or anything. im guessing as long as you are in the ball park 2100+ then scores are irrelevant. my understanding is that we had one guy who got a perfect score on the sats and my roommate missed one question.. so yeah some ppl had stellar scores. but then other ppl such as myself had kinda avg scores. i noe from previous year alumni that some didnt even have scores to qual for nmsf. </p>
<p>so score and grade wise i would conclude u just have to be pretty good. being stellar isnt going to get u in. what is going to get u in is if you show your passion for science.. or w/e field u want to explore. i would say that was a common characteristic for all clarkies. otherwise we were very diverse.</p>
<p>^ Haha, you've posted so much about Clark that its pretty obvious you loved it. Yeah, I think Ms. Durham mainly takes care of corresponding with the applicants on the status of their applications and answering questions. I'm glad the system is so organized.</p>
<p>For the recommendations, do they need to all be from math/science teachers?</p>
<p>^ They said to get recs from whoever can gives you the best recs, including science and math teachers.</p>
<p>Marimare, your stats look phenomenal to me. (Research at NASA=WIN! :D) And I haven't taken the SATs yet, but isn't a 2300 like missing two questions because you had a headache that morning or something?</p>
<p>I decided to finally get off my bum and write my narrative. I've been sort of paralyzed by fear. Oh well, I probably won't get in anyway. </p>
<p>Am I the only one here who doesn't want to do research in the hard sciences?</p>
<p>Nah, I didn't have a headache...I was just tremendously hungry, being of the kind who snacks 24/7. I guess that was what the snack breaks were for >_> But what really killed me was my essay--8/12. My writing MC was good enough that I could've gotten 11/12 and still get an 800 but, yeah, that was not the outcome. Oh well, I'm not taking it again unless I have a huge change of heart. Letting bygones be bygones</p>
<p>My narrative was pretty long. I pretty much filled in the entire page, although my introduction wasn't so substantial in contruing desire for the sciences. I had a hard time writing my narrative too, pondering the various ways I could make an introduction besides "I want to go to Clark Scholars because I luv science lol" </p>
<p>Haha, hard sciences? What fields do you mean by that?</p>
<p>..Physics? Lol, that seems to be the agent with which the term "hard" is often accessorized.</p>
<p>Yeah, I definitely don't think you need to retake it. I'd kill for that score. ;)</p>
<p>Yeah, I was thinking physics, chem, etc. Although maybe chem is natural sciences? Haha, I never really understood all those random categorizations.</p>
<p>Hmm, I bet biomed stuff is fairly popular too. Almost all of my friends want to be doctors.</p>