<p>Academics:
-GPA: 4.0 (Unweighted) Approx. 4.6 (Weighted, but our school doesn't do this)
-SAT: 2170 first take (790 Math, 720 CR, 660 Writing - 8 essay) I was barely able to take this test, borrowed money from my aunt
-Class rank: 8 way tie for #1</p>
<p>-Sophomore Year: AP US(5), AP Bio(5)
-Junior Year: AP Calc AB(5), AP Chemistry(5), AP World(5), AP Psych(5), AP Lang and Comp(4, expected 5)
-Senior Year: 7 AP with math/science focus, Self studying Physics Cs concurrently with Physics B</p>
<p>EC's:
-FIRST Robotics: Founder of a team, head electrician. We have no formal titles like president and VP but I have really sunk a lot of time into this activity and learned TONS of stuff. Fundraising, helping other teams, driving to other schools. May write about in an essay. (9-12)
-Cross Country: 11-12
-Track and Field: 10-12
-Mathlete: 11-12
-Nazarene Bible Quizzing: 7th-12th grade (Qualified for regionals in 8th and consistently place in the top 3 for the state)
-500 Mile Running Club: Charter member (11-12)</p>
<p>Work Experience:
-Fundraising chairperson for FIRST robotics team
-Business administration experience w/ mom and pops
-Work on various projects with my mechanically-oriented uncles (cars, handyman stuff)</p>
<p>Circumstances:
-First generation Russian American whose family immigrated from Soviet Union for religious freedom (born in USA)
-Bilingual: Speak English and Russian
-Parents made less than $10,000 for the past 3 years in gross annual income, were qualified for free lunch program even before this
-House has been in danger of foreclosure for the past 3 years, multiple scares
-Father is a chronic alcoholic, often out of work (have had some painful experiences I am willing to talk about in essays, but I don't know if it's too cliche or whiny, could use some help here)
-Near death of father on my 15th birthday, heart attack; he has since then had a stroke and broken his hip(was unable to work for a year)</p>
<p>Really interesting story. I think you have a better chance at an Ivy than at MIT, since you really have to drive home a passion and ability toward engineering to stand a chance at MIT. If you write a great essay which shows how adversity has defined you as a person and how overcoming it has changed you, I think you stand a good chance.</p>
<p>Your stats are impressive, your story is much more impressive. I would definitely talk about your experiences with your father, but don’t make that the focus of the essay. Mention it, and how it’s shaped you, but don’t harp on it. At a workshop with admissions officers with Barnard that I went to, they talked about how they had read essays where applicants unloaded feelings about tender topics such as self-harm and domestic abuse, and it made the admissions officers uncomfortable. However, the admissions officers should definitely know how these things have affected you. Do what feels right with the essays, and be true to yourself. Good luck, to me you look like a good match for some top schools!</p>
<p>Cornell might be a better choice than MIT; the ones that offer engineering and are under the 10% plan (I think you’d get a full ride from a school under the 10% plan, Harvard, Yale or Stanford) are more selective, at the MIT level.</p>
<p>UWA: Low match (this file screams FA requests, which will massively hurt you, especially if you are an out-of-stater)
UWI: Low match (then again, if you are an out-of-stater, be prepared to take out lots of loans unless you are at 0 EFC)</p>
<p>Really, the only reason why UWA/UWI would reject you is financial aid.</p>
<p>MIT 50/50. Terrific grades, 1510 on SAT (they will not pay much attention to your writing score), low income, and first generation = terrific shot at MIT. Agree with people suggesting Cornell (low match RD 50 to 66%) and would suggest thinking about Harvard (33% chance). Keep everything positive in essays etc, while still letting AOs know about your life circumstances. Good luck!</p>
<p>@huamai111 I shot you a chance, and thanks for the reply.</p>
<p>@muckdogs07 I’ve thought about applying to Harvard but really the only school I would consider leaving state for is MIT. The people, facilities, classes, everything seems like my kind of place.</p>