<p>@confusedhexagon, you could take two days off from the camp :P</p>
<p>@anialways I have a B2 in Chem in XIth and will probably get a C1 this time in XIIth. I’m in big trouble right? I’m applying for Math</p>
<p>@Journeyinwards,</p>
<p>A B2 and C1 for UK definitely a red flag.</p>
<p>But for US depending on the College and the program, where Chemistry score is not so important for your major or the cut off of recent admits is comparable to your GPA and SAT scores, you might find a fit. I also think this is where a great Subject SAT score (a 700+) helps to get past a less than stellar grade in your application.</p>
<p>Since you are applying for Math ace the Math part both in school and Subject SAT and it might help to get past that Chem score that is worrying you.</p>
<p>@confusedhexagon,</p>
<p>What that means is they accept Subject SATs and a 700+ score would be preferred. And you need to submit Suject SAT for three subjects. In your case that would be the perfect score of 800 for Math, Chem and Physics, as you have mentoned. General SAT score is not considered.</p>
<p>@journeyinwards: I could, but it’s too much trouble for exams that colleges don’t even expect me to take. I wanted to give Calculus BC, Statistics, and one Physics AP this year. I would have had to register at two different centers (Kolkata and Mumbai), would have had to convince my IMOTC coaches to let me skip lectures or practice tests on those dates, and convince my parents that I wouldn’t get lost in Mumbai (I was travelling alone and, well, navigation isn’t exactly my forte, lol). I emailed MIT and explained my circumstances, they stated that troubling myself to take AP tests is unnecessary, they don’t expect AP scores if I don’t have AP classes. And I’m lazy, I don’t even want to give the TOEFL unless I have to.</p>
<p>@anialways: Thank you. As the UCAS application specifically mentioned that I need to report all valid qualifications (the ones on their list) that I have or expect before joining college, I submitted my scores for general SAT as well as those in the Subject Tests.</p>
<p>@confusedhexagon - Do you think you have a strong chance at MIT because of your Math Olympiad medal?</p>
<p>Anialways: For UK, I’ve put in my TOEFL, 2200+ SAT I, 3 Actual AP scores of 5 (Calc BC, Phys C Mech and Microecon) and I’m guessing my referee put 3 more predicted AP scores of 5 as well as PCM predicted SAT IIs of 790 min. (I took Phys and Maths Level 2 this Oct, awaiting scores) Sounds fine?
And, I’ve gotten an A2 and A1 in Math both years. My app is totally Math + CS (to an extent) based for the US.</p>
<p>@mathsoul: I DON’T have an olympiad medal. I didn’t get into the team. It sucked. 
I have one more shot, but that won’t affect admissions decisions. :p</p>
<p>@journeyinwards</p>
<p>I think all those numbers do make you a competitive applicant. Now focus on a “dazzling” essay to tell your story. Essays are supposed to help put a personality and a ‘face’ to those numbers. It also a way to ‘market’ yourself. After all each college has thousands of applicants to choose from. Let them know why you.</p>
<p>@anialways, Yup, the essay. I will focus on it, thanks.
@confusedhexagon: best of luck!</p>
<p>@journeyinwards: Thanks, I’ll need it. 
How did you structure your UCAS personal statement? I didn’t spend too much time on it, feeling a bit worried. And I just realized that I’ve messed up something very important. While registering for the MAT I had chosen Trinity, but I completely forgot about that and changed my UCAS choice to St. John’s at the last moment. Worse, the Examinations Executive I was in touch with at British Council Kolkata isn’t even replying to emails right now. I should probably freak out, but Oxford was always a LONG stretch. It’ll still be somewhat disheartening if they don’t look at my application at all because of the messed up MAT registration, though. If I don’t get a reply on Monday, I’ll probably have to go to the British Council in person and talk to them. Damn.</p>
<p>@confusedhexagon, call Oxford up. They pick up your call quickly and actually talk to you.
Also try calling UCAS.
But firstly, log into UCAS Track and see if you can make any changes.
Btw, on what basis did you choose your college? 
As far as the Personal Statement is concerned, Idk man I wrote it without any guidance whatsoever. What about you?</p>
<p>Okay guys here’s what: my friend made me an offer: he said we should collaborate on both the papers (his and mine) so that each of us has 2 papers (one that he did and the one that I did), since we both have a LOT of inputs for each other’s work. He said that on his paper, he would be the primary author and I would be secondary and vice versa for my paper. Should I take this offer up?</p>
<p>Pros:
Both of us get 2 papers each, which will make our applications quite strong I guess</p>
<p>Cons:
Our applications will be TOO similar, given that we have the same mentor (he’s fine with us collaborating this way) and that:
-Grades are similar which includes school as well as AP (I’m slightly better though)
-SATs are similar (he’s 10 points up on the SAT I)
-ECs are SAME (we did 2 interns together as well as a few coding projects and other things We’re thick pals!)</p>
<p>Now, here’s the question: will the similar applications be mutually destructive? I mean, there are two ways to think of this:</p>
<p>One, having two really similar applications can lead to a total loss of individuality and uniqueness. Except for the essays and maybe recommendations, all will be nearly the same. So, for the sake of diversity, will they take only either one of us? In that case, the only difference will be in SATs and grades which is very slight, so will one of us be accepted and the other rejected? Or will both be accepted/rejected?
Will the adcom be angry and all to see two dead similar applications? Can they be suspicious like we’ve cheated and all?</p>
<p>Second, are 3 research papers (I’m doing yet another one this November, on my own albeit) a little too much? Will it take the focus off my main paper? I was told by my mentor that my work is equal to, if not better, than my friend’s :o I was surpised, but he said my work has very far reaching consequences. </p>
<p>@anialways your thoughts?</p>
<p>What are your stats Journeyinwards ? we have already seen your friends stats so if you post yours people can see if there is lots of similarity?</p>
<p>I’m not really making a chance thread right now. When I do, I’ll put up my stats too @mathsoul</p>
<p>Just got my half-yearlies! Straight A’s, delighted! Perfect score in Math.</p>
<p>You expected C1 in Chem and got Straight A ? Wow …what is your school policy to give grades, I mean at what percentage?</p>
<p>Mathsoul, grades are based on percentile. As it turns out, people performed much worse than expected, which helped my grade.</p>