Current Junior -- What Can I Improve By December 2016?

Applying to College
1

I am currently a junior targeting HYPSM, Cornell, Duke, Vanderbilt, and Chicago, in addition to several safeties. I am primarily concerned with improving my chances in any way possible for these top-tier universities in the next ~1 year. At this point, I am intending to major in physics. Could someone please give me feedback as to which areas of the application to improve in the time I have remaining?

I have always been a strong writer and am cautiously optimistic that essays will be a strength of mine.

I know there are a lot of “chance me” threads for seniors on this site but I am trying to do whatever is necessary to improve my app now, before it is “too late” :stuck_out_tongue:

Objective:
ACT (breakdown): 35 C, two sittings (35E 34M 34R 35S // 36E 35M 35R 32S)
SAT I: N/A
SAT II: Taking Math II and Physics II this year
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 5.03
AP: AP World History (4), AP Chemistry (5), AP US History (5), AP German (5)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 4/400

Junior Year Course Load (classes might seem weird, block schedule): Calculus I, AP Calculus BC, AP Government, Physics 1, AP Physics C Mechanics, AP Physics C Electromagnetism, AP Government, AP English

Senior Year Course Load: AP Statistics, Molecular Biology, AP Biology, AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, Dual Enrolling Linear Algebra, Calculus III, and Astrophysics at local University

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Alabama Council for Technology in Education State Technology Fair 1st Place in Video Productions
Alabama Science and Engineering Fair 1st Place in Chemistry with Special Award from American Chemical Society

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Materials Science Research at local University (currently 100 hours, will have 200+ by graduation).
National Science Honor Society (VP)
Chemistry Club (President, Founder)
Was given a $1200 stipend to write and maintain the school’s official basketball website. I update the website with content from our games (highlight videos, pictures, etc.) on a volunteer basis (~150 hours).

Volunteer/Community service:
Co-organized after-school “STEM Fair” programs for extended day students at several local elementary and middle schools. So far, we have visited four schools and we hope to reach at least another three by the end of the school year.

Summer Activities: Attended German-speaking high school in Germany for 6 weeks the summers before 9th and 10th grade

State (if domestic applicant): Alabama
Country (if international applicant): US
School Type: Competitive Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Income Bracket: ~150K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

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Just out of curiosity, why are you taking Calc 1 and BC? You are learning the same material in BC and then more. BC is like Calc 1.5

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@sarangooL At my school, Calc 1 and BC are taught by the same teacher. It essentially just a loophole to be able to teach AP Calculus BC for a whole year (two semesters, one block each semester). The class is continuous; essentially Calculus BC all year.

4

Honestly? I don’t think there is anything specific you can do except focus on writing a compelling, original, well-written essay and then crafting all your supplements as expertly as possible. You already have all the base stats to be seriously considered by your target list–the next step is to shine as an individual and demonstrate fit with your writing. Start your essays early and don’t just rely on your English teacher/counselor/parents’ opinions–find qualified outsiders to give you perspective (you can probably find some on here). In my experience, with the Ivies especially, the essay can be the dealbreaker in either direction. And often what a student thinks is an amazing essay may contain a fatal flaw–finding qualified adults who don’t know you can offer key perspective.

But, throwing out some other thoughts: be thoughtful about who you get to do your recs. Pick people who might say things about you that will tip the scales in your favor. Ask them early–before this summer–to write them, and provide a detailed “brag sheet” or similar to assist them (even if you feel they know you well). Pick a few of the schools on your list that care about demonstrated interest (AFAIK, everyone is demonstrably interested in the Ivies [lol] so I don’t think it helps with those) and demonstrate some interest. Sign up for admissions mailing lists, attend info sessions, visit/tour campus if possible, etc.

The only other thing I can think of, but doing it as resume padding would defeat the purpose anyway (as it would look like resume padding) is that you’re light on volunteering. If there’s something you’re sincerely passionate about/actually want to pick up some volunteering (outside that one STEM fair thing), perhaps that’s a good use of your time this summer. But don’t do anything for resume padding, seriously. You’ve a solid app already.

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@proudterrier Thanks for the tips on the essays, those are very helpful! I have a sort of “shortlist” of the teachers I would consider to write my recommendations, and I am glad you told me to go ahead and ask them early. I actually hadn’t considered that yet, but I will make sure to solidify my choices before the end of this semester and ask before the summer. Are there specific things you would look for in a teacher who might, as you say, “tip the scales in your favor”?

I worried about the volunteering hours as well; I have some additional volunteering hours for National Honor Society (math and science tutoring, running concessions stand at school events, etc.) but they seem to be quite miscellaneous; there’s no real pattern to them, I mostly just picked up opportunities to get hours since it’s a requirement for the club. Could you, or anyone with experience advising STEM-oriented students, give me a general example of good volunteering outlets that are focused on science and math?

6

@dv2585, the schools on your list are obviously extremely competitive, but you’re in fairly good shape at this early juncture. Your GPA/rank, standardized test scores and curricular rigor are all strong. AP’s don’t particularly count for admission purposes, but 5 exams as a sophomore with scores of 4 or 5 is impressive, and you are potentially in position to make National AP Scholar as a junior, which has some impact. You appear to have a clear focus with some research background. Coming from Alabama should give you a mild demographic bump.

What are your plans for this summer? Summer between junior and senior year is important. Are you going to continue with your research, or pursue a summer program. You might consider programs such as SSP or Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics if you want to build on that particular interest, or on funded programs like Simons Research or Clark Scholars. The more you have provide depth in your STEM focus (publications, funded programs, etc.), the better.

You seem to have some “stealth” interests that could possibly help you stand out. Your German studies background is intriguing, and a 5 on the AP as a sophomore is impressive. [You also might consider taking the SAT II in German or US History, to balance the STEM ones.] You also seem to have some film/video interest, though it’s not clear how extensive. I think it’s helpful to balance the STEM background with something else, though you don’t want it to come from a genuine passion and interest, not from a desire to look good to colleges.

In my experience, half the battle is having the credentials and background worthy of getting admitted to these schools. The other half is presenting yourself in such a way that you stand out. Crafting a clear and coherent narrative is key. Who are you as a person? What matters most to you? What is your passion? What do you want to do with your life? What makes you different from all the other superbly qualified applicants applying to these schools, and what will you bring to their campus? Think about these long and hard. When it comes time to apply, the different elements of your application - including your essays and references - should fit together as seamlessly as possible to present a clear and coherent picture of who you are, and to answer those questions.

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@renaissancedad Thank you for your feedback. I discussed Summer Programs with my parents after I received mail for the Harvard and Stanford summer programs, and they made it clear that we would not be shelling out the thousands of dollars that such programs cost. Am I mistaken about the considerably high cost of such programs? Are there financial aid opportunities?

Edit: I am applying to the RSI program at MIT, but of course I know that I have an extremely tiny shot of getting in. I am currently looking at several more realistic options for the summer, one of which is a summer science and engineering apprenticeship program with the military.

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SSP and Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics are paid programs, but there has generally been funding available (at least for SSP; the Yale program is new). They may be worth looking in to.

http://www.summerscience.org/admissions/fee-and-financial-aid/

RSI is a long shot for anyone, though coming from Alabama doesn’t hurt, as geographic diversity is a factor. But there are plenty of other funded, prestigious (and also highly competitive) programs: Clark Scholars (funded with a stipend), Simons Summer Research Program, and others.

All of these programs are highly competitive, and are strong positives on an application. They are quite different from the pay-for programs that you mentioned (though a few of Stanford’s are somewhat competitive).

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@renaissancedad I will look into them, thanks again.

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I think there are two types of ideal recommenders: the one who both knows you well AND has worked with you in a key subject and can speak well to your aptitude for it. So in your case, you’ll want to get a science teacher… one of your AP ones, if you’re close, would be great. Or, maybe it’s the adviser from the Chemistry Club… someone like that.

The other best kind of recommender is the teacher who knows you and likes you AND is an excellent writer. English/humanities teachers are often these–the type of writer who can cleverly use prose to paint a vivid picture of you. Though in your case, even if your German teacher isn’t the best writer, they’d be a good choice for you paired with a science rec. Especially if you use the one who took you on those trips, they can speak to your sense of independence, etc.

Essentially your two teacher recs should work in concert with your counselor rec–reveal a fully-rounded view of your character, academic interests and potential fit for schools. If you Google recommendations and MIT a good blog post of theirs should come up where they give bits from different recs and point out which ones are good, bad and excellent… might give you an idea of which teachers might best write the excellent kind for you.

11

I would say to perhaps add some more community service…also make sure to do something academically significant this summer.

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Community service is no longer the requirement it used to be. I know lots of kids who did little to no community service and got into HYPS type schools including my own.

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^ I agree. Community service is a wonderful activity if the passion is there, but it’s not a requirement. It’s good to have some other things to complement a STEM focus, but community service doesn’t necessarily have to included. I think it is important to build on pre-existing strengths, rather than to try and artificially create something at a relatively late stage. That’s why I mentioned the OP’s German and video activities, as strengths that could potentially be augmented, rather than just trying to add something de novo.

14

I suppose should clarify the circumstances behind the trips to Germany. My father and his side of the family are Germans, and I was born there. I moved to the United States when I was almost two years old. Nonetheless, I would not call myself a native speaker because my knowledge of German was negligible until at least middle school. At that point, I started studying on my own to learn the language (although I doubtlessly had a tremendous advantage because I had access to native speakers).

Unfortunately, this means that I could not get a recommendation from a high school German teacher, as I haven’t had one. Perhaps I could try to get a recommendation from one of my teachers at the school in Germany?

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^ Regardless of your access to native speakers, the fact that you had negligible German and chose to self-study shows initiative, and is a positive. You should list self-studying German and your related summer activities as one of your extracurriculars. That will stand out, as former Stanford Admissions Officer Erinn Andrews has noted in a well-known review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96XL8vBBB7o

You don’t need a teacher recommendation, and you already have a 5 on the AP as a sophomore. I would also suggest taking the German with Listening SAT II subject test in November (the only time it is offered) to reinforce that proficiency. Discussing your German background and what motivated you to study would also make a good potential essay topic.