Different ECs? How do these sound?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So I'm in a situation different from many of those that post on this site. Most people have done all sorts of activities attending competitions at like Intel, Mu Alpha Theta, IMC, NHS, Boy/girl scouts, and all of that sort.
I'm unfortunately unable to have those types of EC's since I live overseas (in China) and go to a small international school there (IB curriculum).</p>

<p>Because I don't have many EC's other than the regular Model United Nations, Student Council, and sports, I decided to create my own. </p>

<p>In my 10th grade (currently a senior) I started a solar project that promotes the use of solar energy. I started out on my own and soon expanded to include more people. Over the course of two years, I fundraised and purchased a 1000 watt solar panel system that I am providing to my school, and I am single handedly coordinating with engineers, technicians and school authority to wire the panels and all the batteries etc together. I think that my solar project is the only project in my school that has ever been audacious enough to make permanent changes to the school's structure. From here, I plan to expand and continue to instal panels on my school's roof, and promote the use of renewable energy. </p>

<p>Another project that I worked on was a helmet safety project. Because a teacher in our school passed away due to a bike accident and was not wearing a helmet, I felt that it was important to promote helmet usage. I worked with one of my current teachers and the wife of the deceased teacher and made multiple presentations, promotions, a twitter hashtag, and raised money to buy helmets for bikers who didn't have any. I ended the project by raffling out a bike and multiple helmets to the student body in attempt to raise awareness. </p>

<p>These are two of 3 projects that I am working on (others include a biogas project and microlending project). All of these projects are completely student - driven. </p>

<p>Can anyone out there help look over these and evaluate my EC's?</p>

<p>Some additional info:
Cumulative GPA (unweighted): 3.80
SAT: 2210 (I only took it once: 760 M, 730 CR, 720 W)
PSAT: 185 and 197 (i know, they were bad and i just threw this on here because I can :P)
SAT II Math 2: 780 (again, took only once)</p>

<p>I'm going to be taking SAT II Chem this October.
I plan on majoring in Engineering (undecided which type)</p>

<p>My school courses in IB:
I chose the hardest courses that my school has to offer. These are my stats for the 2nd semester Junior year:
HL Math : A-
HL Chem: A
HL Econ: A
SL English : A-
SL Chinese B: A
SL Physics: A
Theory of Knowledge: A</p>

<p>Some schools I plan on applying to:
- Berkeley
- Georgia Tech
- Emory (Dual degree w/ Georgia Tech; Economics/Engineering)
- UIUC
- UT Austin
- Texas AMU
- U of Michigan
- Cornell
- Rice
- Northwestern</p>

<p>And some reaches that I think I may apply to (not going to expect too much here: I know how competitive it is):
- CalTech
- MIT
- Stanford
- Harvard</p>

<p>Anyone willing to give feedback on how i'm doing overall?
Thanks for your time!</p>

2

<p>You are a prime candidate for UIUC, many Chinese attend there and UIUC is not very interested in a lot of bogus EA. My daughter attends there and she traveled often and had about two EA but she had a passion of learning cultures. You have an excelled passion of yours as did my daughter and she got in with a 30 ACT and a 3.5. I think you will find quite a few acceptance letters and yes, your reach schools are most likely not going to work out but I know those colleges also do not like forced EA just to put on a college application, I think your are unique and will stand out. United Nations with your unique ones are golden. I met an MIT admissions adviser and he said he gets tired of the many EA that are just like the next application. I know a person with less stats than you that got into Stanford and she opened up free portable nail salons to old folks home based on donations. I was blown away how many acceptances she got, it was her passion and she was studying geriatrics. Tied into her interests.</p>

3

<p>Georgia Tech, UIUC, UT Austin, and Texas AMU are definitely fits, most likely U of Michigan. Your international experiences can be really helpful: how did this situation help you? What did you realize, or how did you change? Admissions officers want to know you and your story, and you definitely seem to have one to tell.</p>

4

<p>OK, thanks for all the feedback! I will definitely consider that many of my schools are reaches, and I’m not sure if I am an international applicant or not. I am an American Citizen with Texas residency, but I’m of Asian (Chinese) ethnicity. and @1939er‌ I am considering changing my common app essay to talk about my solar project, but as of now it talks about how I played with fire in a hotel room on a school trip and was caught, thus sparking my interest in sciences. I guess I still have 3 or 4 days to completely rewrite it all. No sleep till the 1st! And does anyone recommend REA vs RD for Stanford? I know its the highest reach with only a 5% acceptance rate, but I want to choose the option that gives me the best shot. Should I just wait until RD to apply, or apply now REA?</p>

<p>Also, I just got my SAT Chemistry back: 780, which is better than I’d hoped for. </p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

5

<p>@1939er
Haha, I see what you did there. But I don’t think I have time to rewrite it. Would it be possible for you to look over it if you happen to have time? I could PM it to you or something. I’m really worried that admissions officers may see me as a pyromaniac (which I won’t deny) that is dangerous to others (which I am not). </p>