I can’t see myself getting much higher than a 700, if even that high, on the subject tests. I’ve been out of physics for a year and a half, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to hit 700. I might be able to do well on Math II, I remember thinking it seemed easy enough while I was taking it but for some reason I just was having difficulty that day. What should I aim for to give me reasonable chances?
Also, I have a few other robotics related ECs that I forgot to list on here but I mentioned in my essay.
-I mentor the middle school FIRST team, working especially closely with the girls so that they hopefully will move up to the high school team
- I am also a mentor for a local VEX team in my community, which has just qualified and is preparing for the national championship tournament
I see you applied for financial aid. That could hurt you at Tufts, since they’re need aware. Your stats match what they’re looking for, but money is (sadly) a huge determining factor, at least what I’ve seen in past applicants and on the Tufts website. So just be wary of that. (it’s actually why I decided not to apply there)
I used the Barron’s books to study for the subject tests. And believe me when I say that they’re phenomenal. I took AP Biology 2 years ago and scored a 790 on the M this year. Consider taking either the easier tests (bio E) or the ones that are geared to your major of choice (I guess Math 1 or 2?).
Yes I’m trying to decide whether to take math 1 or math 2. (Feel free to give your opinions on this - I know math 2 is usually better but I previously scored higher on math 1)
I don’t know how to go about prep books because I don’t have the money to buy one. I spent all the money I had on the registration for these tests, and now I have about $5 left to buy books with. My parents aren’t going to give me money to buy books. I’ll probably try the library, but I like being able to write in books
I am aware of the money thing with Tufts. I visited campus and the admissions officers said it wasn’t a “big deal” but I’m afraid that with my current weaknesses already in my application, it will hurt. I also know, though, that Tufts seems to place a major emphasis on personalitly - which my essays show plenty of. So we’ll see 
Most libraries should have the Barron’s SAT Subject Test Books.
Barrons!!! DO NOT get Princeton Review (especially for math) I used Barrons for Math intensely a week before and got 770(decent enough) the tests are good and if you can get over a 650 on any of them (I never got over 640) then you are set. A few of my school friends used Princeton Review and idk if it is true or not but they said it mostly used the trial and error method which is WAY too time consuming for the actual test. For Biology I took it in December and on the thread (you can check it out yourself) those who used Princeton review said they felt unprepared, with Barrons I got a 790 (skipped some parts in the review book learn from my mistake lol) but I studied a lot.
Thank you! So… Math I or Math II?
For the schools that you are applying to, Math II looks better.
I would not suggest Bio E - both bios are harshly scaled, E slightly more than M, and the tests are similar so you’ll probably do about the same unless you’ve had significant bio coursework since you first took it.
Well I’m definitely not doing bio, I plan on doing physics since I got a 4 on the AP last year. I took the test already and got a 670 but I don’t think that’s good enough
I think you have a good shot at the non-ivy schools, not so sure about the ivy ones. 
I think your sat subjects are a bit weak. Have you already submitted the scores? I am pretty sure Princeton takes January, don’t know about the other ones b/c I am not applying to them. Check with the school website.
Hello,
Let’s first start with the good:
Strong SAT scores with upward progression. Superstore of 2300 is nice!
Weighted GPA is good, but I would like to see the unweighted. The adcom people will look at your scores in your individual classes. Is there upward progression? Mostly A’s?
Course rigor: seems pretty strong, 6 AP classes is nice. However the scores on your SAT II don’t seem to correspond with the strength of AP classes. For example your AP physics score is 4 but SAT II physics is only 670. Same for your math scores
Now the bad:
SAT II scores: the top schools expect to see high scores on all standardized tests. Submitting your 3 weak SATII scores might be a deal breaker for a lot of these schools. They may assume your HS has some grade inflation and gives out easy A’s.
Class rank: your rank in the second decile might be a deal breaker at a lot of top schools. Given what the reader might be thinking about grade inflation at your school, this may put you at a disadvantage too.
ECs: seem to be scattered among STEM, theater, music, and sports. The publication in a computer science journal is quite impressive (was it peer reviewed? were you first author or farther down?) however the rest of the ECs don’t seem to tell a coherent story.
Overall: It will be difficult unless you find some way to re-take the SATIIs that you did poorly on. You still have time for the Jan sitting. You stand a pretty good chance of being rejected by all of your reaches. Have you considered applying to some schools where you would be at a geographic advantage (Rice, Claremont colleges)?
@sgopal2 there is actually a dip in my grades junior year due to illness, which brought down my overall GPA considerably. My guidance counselor explained in her rec letter. My grades go from high 90s in freshman and sophomore year to high 80s and low 90s in junior year because I was out of school a lot. My senior GPA shows that I bounced back. I am retaking the SAT IIs and I only sent my two strongest scores to the schools that allow score choice.
My ECs seemed really pointy to me actually. Maybe it doesn’t come off that way in the list of activities but in my essay it is definitely noticeable. I don’t know what you mean by “peer reviewed” with my publication, I do know that it was reviewed for publication at a computer science education conference in North Carolina. I am third author.
I can’t apply to anywhere far. My parents are really pissed off that I even applied to Vanderbilt. They would like me to be within a 5 hour car ride from home.
Dude, your parents are being ridiculous. Vandy is a great school in a good part of Nashville with great everything. I’m not planning on applying, but that’s not really relevant. If/when (you are a strong applicant) you get into Vandy, I hope your parents will be happy for you and let you go.
Haha thank you @awesomepolyglot. I honestly understand their perspective, though. They are worried about my health after last year. But I think I’ll be just fine
I really like Vanderbilt and I hope my parents can let me consider it
A lot of my computer science related ECs I didn’t really list in my activity section, because I wanted to discuss them in greater detail than I could in the activities section. I wrote a lot about them in my essay and additional information. I didn’t want to be redundant.
@anon9362 Do they not understand that there is an excellent hospital literally a few blocks from Vandy? And excellent health resources on campus? AND an ice rink AND a Ben & Jerry’s within walking distance?
Yeah, maybe I was in that part of Nashville yesterday, lol.
About what I said before about illness, I wrote in my additional info that I struggled with “personal issues” which caused my grades to drop. I didn’t want to go into any greater detail because I didn’t want to sound like I was making excuses. I let my GC take care of it. Do you think that works?
Peer review is a process by which most scientific journals use. Any submissions are sent to peer scientists for review and comment. If the peer scientists like your work then it is usually accepted.
Sounds like your work was published in a non peer reviewed manner. This is still good, but obviously doesn’t hold as much prestige as a peer reviewed paper.
If you need to stay in the northeast then there are other schools to consider (i.e. where not too many Asians apply). Look for primarily liberal arts smaller colleges. Look at the NESCAC schools and women’s colleges (Bryn Mawr, Wellesey)
In that case, I do think our paper was peer reviewed because that process sounds familiar. People reviewed it, it was accepted, and it was published. I just didn’t recognize the term “peer review”. Thank you for your advice!