Hi, I’m currently a Junior. I went to a national chess tournament event in the US last year, and my team got 3rd place in the grade (I got a 2nd sectional individual award). We will probably get first (team) this year. How much would these chess awards be considering in JHU admission (planning to apply to Applied math&stat or Economics)?
Congratulations! Definitely include this great accomplishment in your application!
Is any one factor guaranteed to make a difference in the decision? Of course not. And if the other aspects of your application, especially the academic ones, are less than stellar, it is not likely to outweigh that fact.
But your dedication and team work that led to this achievement are good things to highlight, and thus a positive addition to your application. Be sure to highlight, whether in the activities section or in an essay, your role on the team. What were the things you did to get to the national level and do so well? What you are “implying,” between the lines, is that these qualities will contribute to student life at JHU and to your being a successful alumnus/a afterwards. You don’t say that; you let them conclude that on their own! But you need to describe what you actually did, so that they will be able to make that conclusion.
Yes! It is a great EC and you have awards and national level competition. Chess is a strategic game and to play at a high level implies a number of accomplishments. It goes well with your math/stat and econ aspirations
Thank you! @readthetealeaves @TheGreyKing
I don’t know how competitive Applied math&stat department and Economics department are. I guess they are much easier to get in compared to BME or Neuro Science (anything Bio related). Not sure if I’m right tho.
My 2 cents… Chess by and large is an individual activity. Much like say tennis or swimming, you could be on a team that won something but in order for you to have a hook or near hook you probably would need to be at the top. Probably a titled player at the very least. My kid is a 2200 and on a team that won a national title, but it didn’t really help him with admissions much IMO. He did get into one reach school, Cal, but I think where he went to HS, his stats, and his essays had more to do with it more than anything. But it’s certainly a good activity to list.