^^
@gzuzumaki WHAT CLUSTER ARE U APPLYING TO?
I got accepted into UCSC Cluster 7!
@jmh311 Cluster 3. You?
Cluster 4 UCI
I GOT INTO UC IRVINE BIO MEDICAL SCIENCES (cluster 6) WOOHOOO 
@jmh311 Oh cool! That cluster sounds fun
Rejected 
I was pretty surprised actually. Guess I wasn’t who they were looking for
Stats:
Applied: Mobility Engineering for Land, Air, Space + Tissue & Tumor Biology and Mathematical/Computer Modeling
Grade: Sophomore
GPA: 4.0 Unweighted 4.5 Weighted
EC:
Member of Robotics Club (7th Nationally), Aviation Club (TARC Nationals), Math Team (6 AIME, 132 AMC 10, AMC 10 Honor Roll of Distinction, AMC 10 School Award, other various math tournaments), Varsity Public Forum (Competed in various tournaments and won some awards), Lecturer for Math Circle (I teach younger children advanced math concepts like Euler’s Theorem, Set Theory, Induction, Projective Geometry, etc.), Math Tutor
Essay:
I talked about my 3D design, finite element analysis, and research in making a prop guard for my robotics club. Within that essay, I talked about the different variables and scientific principles I utilized. I also mentioned how I went to an actual engineering facility to test out my design.
In another essay, I talked about my mom’s cancer and how it affected me. Then, I talked about how it convinced me to do some of my own research and such.
Letters of Rec:
Asked my Honors Pre-Calc teacher and my AP Chem teacher. I think they were relatively mediocre.
Now that I’m rejected, I don’t know what I’ll really do during the summer. Maybe I’ll get into another program I applied for research. If I don’t get in that one, I’ll try to ask for research mentor in a local college. 
@szhang9246 I’m sure you’ll be fine! There’s plenty of opportunity out there, and there’s always some way to make the best out of your summer. Also, you noted that you are a sophomore; don’t worry, you’ll probably get in if you apply next year. COSMOS typically focuses on upperclassmen because they have less chances to apply again. Just wondering, which school did you apply to?
@kattymiao In-state.
Did anyone get in Cluster 5, UCI?
@szhang9246 Its really hard for sophmores and freshman to get in, especially if u applied for davis. don’t worry. u’ll have next year and you can do internships or take extra classes over the summer instead.
Thanks for you guys’ kind words
I applied for UC Irvine.
Although I didn’t make it, I’m going to make sure that I don’t put this summer to waste!
My younger sister got an acceptance letter from COSMOS UCSC at 4:43pm with a full aid of $3200 for her first cluster choice, cluster 8, Marine Mammals and Oceanography: From Prey to Predators.
For those who didn’t get accepted, I encouraged you to apply again the following year! Even if you have really good stats, there might have been something in your essay that didn’t convince the readers that you were passionate, “enough” or interested in the cluster you applied for, not saying you weren’t, but maybe not as passionate as other applicants.
As they emphasized, essays are extremely important in this application. Thus, don’t be discourage because COSMOS rejected or waitlisted you. It doesn’t mean you are an unworthy candidate, but instead there was just a huge poll of candidates to choose from. Also, PROOF READ and have MULTIPLE friends/teachers go over your drafts next time!
Applying for college will also be pretty random. One of my friends with a 3.2 GPA made it into Berkeley because his essays were spectacular, and my other friend with a 3.9 made it into UC Berkeley, Yale, Columbia but not UCLA. My point is, the application process is pretty random, but you can definitely increase your chances/stats to the best of your ability. Remember, college is what you make of it, it doesn’t matter too much where you go, do what you want to do not your parents! Life doesn’t end just because you don’t get into something! So keep your chin up! It is better to know what your strong and weak points are in an application before applying for college right? Some time to improve. Some things to thing about.
If you didn't make it some things you can do with your summer: Explore, work, go to a community college and take some math/science/english courses to get ahead, it's fairly reasonable probably less than $300 for a class or this program. If not, go live life and have fun! You won't always get free summers when you grow up!
Anyways, for those who are curious of my younger sister’s stats:
Applied: UCSC, Cluster 8, Marine Mammals and Oceanography: From Prey to Predators.
Grade: Sophomore
GPA: 4.0 Unweighted, school doesn’t weight (the college does that)
Math Courses Completed: AP Calculus BC, Stats
Science: Physics, Biology
EC: HOSA, DECA, MEDICAL ACADEMY, KEY CLUB
Letters of Rec: Her math teacher, she had her for two years of calculus, her english isn’t great but it did the job. Biology teacher from first year, she only made a few interactions but she was nice about it.
Essay: I think she did fairly well for a sophomore.
If you’re interested in a peak of what she wrote about look below! I cut out a lot of it since you guys need to be creative too!
Question(s):
Please write about why this cluster is your first choice. (250 words max)
I realized my curiosity towards marine biology early in my childhood. I always enjoyed my family’s frequent trips to the local aquarium and was enraptured by the oceans and creatures that I saw in movies. I knew that I wanted to find out more about the extraordinary life that the ocean houses, particularly the different specimens on the ocean floor…(skip some)…Through these projects, I have gotten a few glimpses into the oceans over the years, and I wish to further expand my knowledge and love for the ocean through this cluster on marine mammals and oceanography. This is a rare opportunity for me since I’ve grown up in an urban area with few chances to get first hand experience with the sea. This cluster would be my next step in seeking the answers for the questions I have about the vast oceans that make up more than 70% of this world.
What is your second-choice cluster?
4: Finding Nemo to Happy Feet: A Survey of Marine Ecosystems and the Challenges They Face
A heroic father fish and his frightened son overcome all odds as they reunite. A young penguin encounters endless problems in trying to fit in and make a difference in his community. These two stories gave me a sneak peak to the challenges that animals in the marine ecosystem have to face, like trying to escape from a shark, or not being able to find a new home after an unexpected avalanche. I want to be able to learn about the growth and development of these marine animals. How are they able to survive in the environment they are in right now? … (etc)
What excites you most about math/science and why would you want to spend a month at COSMOS?
Green is my favorite color, and as long as I can remember, my math and science notebooks have always been green. Looking back, it seems that I’ve never given much thought to the little things about these two subjects that made me enjoy them more than anything else. First and foremost, math challenges me. It strengthens my curiosity and gives me the satisfying feeling of accomplishment when I finally find the solution to a problem. However, the aspects that excite me the most about math are the conundrums and the different routes you can take to find an answer. Whether it’s calculating sales tax or doing research, math is applicable in all walks of life. …(skip)…Also, since COSMOS takes place on a university campus, the program will fulfill my curiosity of what it may feel like to be a college student away from home. The thought of attending COSMOS both scares and excites me, but I’m confident that the life experiences I gain from this program will greatly expand my perspective on knowledge.
Hopefully some of you found this helpful! This is also here for any future students applying for cosmos who happen to stumble across this post!
Good luck and congrats!!! : )
Waitlisted for UCSD Cluster 8 (Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine) :((
@gzuzumaki a bit late but I think you should call the number they included in the e-mail to see where you are on the waitlist! I’m planning on doing that as well
I got into Cluster 7: Biomedical Sciences at UC Davis.
I had a really mediocre application (I had nothing that made me special) and wrote my essays in less than a week so I’m really surprised.
I wonder what the acceptance rate was.
Rejected from Music and Technology at UCSD, disappointed but I really had a mediocre application.
Accepted for UCSC Cluster 1 (Number Theory)! 
I found it really interesting that 3 freshman (including me) from one school got accepted to the same cluster… I thought COSMOS typically accepts non-freshmans…
Got into Cluster 5 UCSC! Did anyone else get in to that?