***HARVARD UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2019 RD RESULTS***

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[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted [/color][/size]
[ size=4][ color=orange][ b]Decision: Waitlisted **[/color][/size]
[ size=4][ color=red][ b]Decision: Rejected **[/color][/size]

[ b]Objective:**
[ *] SAT I (breakdown):
[ *] ACT (breakdown):
[ *] SAT II:
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
[ *] AP (place score in parentheses):
[ *] IB (place score in parentheses):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load:
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

[ /list][ b]Subjective:**
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
[ *] Job/Work Experience:
[ *] Volunteer/Community service:
[ *] Summer Activities:
[ *] Essays:
[ *] Teacher Recommendation:
[ *] Counselor Rec:
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ *] Interview:
[ *] Supplementary Material:

[ /list][ b]Other**
[ *]Applied for Financial Aid?:
[ *] State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type:
[ *] Ethnicity:
[ *] Gender:
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

[ /list][ b]Reflection**
[ *] Strengths:
[ *] Weaknesses:
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

[ /list][ b]General Comments: **

2

**Decision: Accepted (likely letter)

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2300: Reading 800, Math 770, Writing 730
[] ACT (breakdown): 33
[] SAT II: Math 2 780, Spanish 740, Chemistry 690
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1
[] AP (place score in parentheses): Calculus AB 5 (self studied)
[] Senior Year Course Load: Concert Band and all-conference each year, Spanish 3, Chemistry 2, College Composition English 4, open hour for independent math fun, JROTC, Biology 2. All classes are the highest available. My school doesn’t offer AP or IB.
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist and National Hispanic Recognition Program, if you want to count them

[/ul]Subjective:

[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Beta club treasurer; StuCo Senior secretary; JROTC Rifle Team Captain; JROTC Battalion Commander; Scholar Bowl four year varsity, all-conference, and all-district; Drama Club; JROTC Color and Honor Guards
[] Job/Work Experience: Janitor job after school
[] Volunteer/Community service: Color and Honor Guards with JROTC
[] Summer Activities: Missouri Scholars Academy (MO Governor’s School) after sophomore year, Boys State after Junior year, work
[] Essays: My Common App essay was about my experience at the Missouri Scholars Academy and how much it grew my view of the world. I talked a lot about how much the passionate and academic environment contrasted with my small rural town. To provide a bit of perspective, I didn’t know that summer homework, AP, IB, Model UN, robotics club, Debate Team, and several others existed before MSA. My supplemental essay was a quite personal essay about being gay in a rural small town and how my largely positive experience heavily contrasted with the horrible stories of other people I know, and how thankful I am that everything has gone as well as it has for me. I’d give my Common App essay a 7 and my supplemental one a 9. I’m genuinely proud of that one.
[] Teacher Recommendation: I got one from my math teacher that I’ve had for three years now. I’ve shown a lot of initiative with math, to the point where I largely knew everything we were taught last year. This year, because I also did Calculus online last year, I sit in the back of the Calc class and do Coursera and EdX classes while helping with her class. We have an awesome relationship. My second rec came from my English teacher this year. This is the only year I’ve had her, but I’ve known her for a long while now. From eighth to tenth grades I was in the literature club she created. She was also instrumental in getting me into the Missouri Scholars Academy and encouraging me to apply to top colleges. Her son goes to Yale, so she’s been helping me and my family through this entire process with the different tests and such, and we talk quite often. I’m confident that her letter was exemplary.
[] Counselor Rec: My school has never sent anyone to an Ivy, so I might have gotten some extra attention. However, we don’t have a particularly close relationship, so it might have been pretty generic. She’s not the best writer.
[] Interview: It was really informal, and I feel it went well. I was nervous, but I think I came across as pretty humble. Compared to everyone else that was wearing suits - one kid even had a sweater with an giant embroidered H - I had a basic blue gasp! button up. The two women simply asked about my school, town, and activities. I didn’t feel fantastic about it, but I did feel that I’d been pretty authentic. However, in my likely letter phone call, the admissions officer specifically complimented my interview, so maybe it was better than I thought. At any rate, I was never trying to impress them - I just tried to be genuine - and I think they appreciated that.

[/ul]Other

[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] State (if domestic applicant): Missouri
[] School Type: Rural and public. Around 500 students. My class has 101, though we are notably small.
[] Ethnicity: Hispanic, Mexican
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): $75,000 - $90,000
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM[/li]
[/ul]Reflection

[ul]
[] Strengths: Pretty good test scores, probably uncommon extracurriculars, great teacher recommendations and apparently interview.
[] Weaknesses: Pretty weak volunteer experience. I haven’t published research, assisted a professor, or started clubs or charities. My high schools extremely weak academics and opportunities relative to larger schools might have hurt, or helped. I really have no idea.
[] Why you think you were accepted: I have absolutely no idea! I’m well rounded, but I’ve always thought it takes more than that. Even with the URM, I can’t believe it would help that much. I’m sure there’s no shortage of brilliant Hispanic applicants.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Harvard, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia (likely), WashU.
Waiting on: Princeton, Brown. UPenn, Tufts, Yale (deferred SCEA)

[/ul]General Comments: After getting deferred in SCEA from Yale, which I expected, I was sort of relieved, in that it seemed that the admissions office was saying that I was a competitive applicant. Still, I’d been betting on WashU or Tufts, both which I loved. Then came that phone call. Now I’m almost hoping that Yale rejects me, because I can’t imagine picking between it and Harvard. This whole thing has just reassured me that the Ivies are simply not predictable at all. I never expected that I, from Redkneckville, Missouri, would ever have a chance. I’m incredibly thankful. I know that RD decisions aren’t out yet, but to all the people that end up rejected, please take to heart that it says absolutely nothing about you. I know that lots of you are going to go on to do incredible and amazing things. Good luck everyone!

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4

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): Did not take
[] ACT (breakdown): Composite: 33 Math: 35 Science: 36 English: 30 Reading: 31
[] SAT II: Physics 790 MathII: 760 MathI: 720
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Valedictorian (1/328)
[] AP (place score in parentheses):AP Physics B (4), AP Physics C Mechanics (4), AP US History(n/a)
[] IB (place score in parentheses):Not available
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics Electricity and Magnetism, AP US Government, AP Statistics, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):No national level awards. Although my 27+ Science Olympiad and Math team medals as well as Quest Bridge College Prep Scholar award are probably worth mentioning.[/li]
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Science Olympiad (Varsity team captain),
Mathematics Team (Founder and team captain), National Honor Society(Active volunteer),
Science National Honor Society(Active volunteer), German National Honor Society(Active volunteer),
National English Honor Society(Active volunteer), Volunteer Peer Tutor(sophomore year),
Scholastic Bowl(sophomore and junior year), German club (very active volunteer),
Volunteer English to Spanish Interpreter, International Hispanic Internet Radio(Commercial Announcer)
[] Job/Work Experience:None
[] Volunteer/Community service:
English to Spanish Interpreter (since middle school)
Volunteer Peer Tutor
National Honor Society (and other) activities
Total: ~150+hours
[] Summer Activities: E2@MIT and LLRISE(at MIT)
[] Essays: Optional Essay: I wrote an essay on some research I had done regarding Mlodinow and Hawking’s ideas of super symmetrical string theory (Maybe a little boring 7/10).
Common App Essay: I wrote about my heritage and traditions coming to the United States as an immigrant. I also wrote on a massive, depressing, and personal obstacle I overcame in my life (8.5/10).
[] Teacher Recommendation: Physics teacher. She said I was her most brilliant student in her entire career (10/10)
[] Counselor Rec: Didn’t read, but she absolutely loves me so I expect pretty good (8.5/10?)
[] Additional Rec: None. My Science Olympiad coach didn’t submit his letter on time.
[] Interview: Literally beyond perfect. My interview contacted me a few days later and said she gave me the highest of marks (10/10).
[] Supplementary Material: None

[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[]State (if domestic applicant): Illinois
Country (if international applicant):
[]School Type: Public
[]Ethnicity: Hispanic (Mexican immigrant)
[]Gender: Male
[]Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): <45,000
[li]Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, low income, first generation[/li]
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths:I would say my recommendations as well as interview (and a little bit of luck).
[] Weaknesses: My “optional” essay could have been better I admit. Also, probably my test scores and low community service hours.
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Wow. Too be honest, I am not 100% sure. It’s just goes to show that a whole lot of hard work and determination can take you anywhere!
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: MIT (accepted Early Action)

[/ul]**General Comments: **
Congratulations to all those accepted! I am so excited to meet all of you!!
For those of you who didn’t get so lucky,it’s okay. We both know you will do AMAZING things elsewhere!
For other students reading (not seniors but younger students looking into college), be passionate about what you do, whatever that is. Be yourself! The fact that you are already looking into this means you are off to a great start! Together we can all make the world a better place, I really mean it!

5

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I: NA
[] ACT: 34 C (highest), 35 E, 36 R, 34 M, 34 S
[] SAT II: 800 Math 2C; 780 Korean w/ Listening; 710 US History
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/682
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): European History (5); Music Theory (5); Calculus BC w/ AB subscore (5, 5); US History (5); Language and Composition (5); Psychology (4); Computer Science A (3); Chemistry (3)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): NA
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Statistics, AP Literature and Composition, AP Government, AP Biology, Principles of Microeconomics (Community College), Intro to Sociology (Community College)
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Forensics League All American Academic Award, MTAC Level 10, Various state/regional debate awards, AP Scholar w/ Distinction[/ul]
Subjective:

[ul]
[] Extracurriculars: Nonprofit (Founder, CEO); Amnesty International (Founder & President); Habitat for Humanity (Founder & President); Speech and Debate program at local junior high school (Head Coach); Piano; Swimming (Varsity)
[] Job/Work Experience: Intern
[] Volunteer/Community service: Intern; Head Coach at local junior high school debate program; clubs; nonprofit
[] Essays: Common App (10): Talked about how being called the B word as a compliment to my achievements and leadership incited me to become a feminist and activist and inspired me to create my nonprofit; Supplement (10): My experience volunteering at a juvie center
[] Teacher Recommendations: Teacher Rec #1: (10) My Calc teacher said I’m his favorite student and we love to talk about politics together; Teacher Rec #2: (10) My Lang teacher said he put that I’m the best student he’s had
[] Counselor Rec: (9) He wrote a letter for me for an application to a program, and it was really awesome.
[] Additional Rec: (10) My piano teacher loves me.
[] Interview: (11/10) I met my perfect interviewer. She majored in what I want to major in (PoliSci and Gender Studies), and we had a LOT of common interests and views. We talked for 3+ hours, and it was really more of a conversation than an interview, and the only reason we had to stop was because the cafe we were at was closing. I made a new friend that day![/ul]
Other

[ul]
[] State (if domestic applicant): California
[] Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Korean
[] Gender: F
[] Income Bracket: <40k
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): NA[/ul]
Reflection

[ul]
[] Strengths: EC’s, essays, interview
[] Weaknesses: Grades, scores, awards
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think my EC’s and essays helped me out a lot.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Yale (SCEA), Stanford University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania (Likely Letter), Duke (Likely Letter), Wellesley (EE), Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley (Regents), UCI (Regents), UCSD, UCLA; Waitlisted: Columbia, Cornell; Rejected: Brown[/ul]
General Comments: I hope this helps future applicants! You honestly never know what’s going to happen, so don’t give up :slight_smile: Good luck!!

6

**Decision: Accepted!!!

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 650 Math, 650 Writing, 730 Crit Reading for a total of 2030 on my second try.
[] ACT (breakdown): didn’t take
[] SAT II: didn’t take
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/8, Valedictorian
[] AP (place score in parentheses): n/a
[] IB (place score in parentheses): n/a
[] Senior Year Course Load: We only have one advanced course and it’s a college credit class, so my course load is really unimpressive: Senior English, Personal Finance, Physics, Cit Ed, Fitness, Math 111/112 (the college course) and Yearbook.
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none, just lots of local-level awards.[/ul][/li]
Subjective:[ul]
[li] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): FFA (President of Chapter and District), Yearbook (Co-Editor) (though it’s also a class), President of Senior Class, Drama Club, Tech Club, National Honor Society (Vice President last year), Track and Field. Outside of school I do 4-H and orchestra.[/li]
[li] Job/Work Experience: I only ever worked for pay one summer on a local mint field. I also live on a ranch, however, so you could count that.[/li]
[li] Volunteer/Community service: I volunteer at the hospital every Friday, local museum during the summer, and I’m a 4-H Camp Counselor during the summer. I also have [/li]
[li] Summer Activities: Not much! The aforementioned museum volunteering, 4-H camp, music lessons, etc. [/li]
[li] Essays: My Common App essay was about living in such a rural area and wanting to get the most out of my education and get new experiences. My Harvard essay was the future roommate one; I really got to be myself in that one and I thought it was an entertaining read at least, so I guess they liked it! I’d rate them both around 8/10. I thought my writing was good but without seeing anyone else’s essays I have no idea how they compare.[/li]
[li] Teacher Recommendation: Probably pretty good. I like my teachers a lot and (as far as I’m aware) they like me too! I didn’t read them though. 8/10[/li]
[li] Counselor Rec: Again, probably pretty good. My counselor is a cool lady. 8/10[/li]
[li] Additional Rec: I don’t believe I submitted one.[/li]
[li] Interview: Awesome! I think I came across as a bit shyer than I would have liked but my interviewer was a really great lady and she was very easy to talk to. I think she liked me a lot and she said (when I called her a few minutes ago to tell her I got accepted) that she had strongly recommended me, so that must be a good sign. 9/10[/li]
[li] Supplementary Material: n/a[/ul][/li]
Other[ul]
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] State (if domestic applicant): OR
Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): 80,000 (ranch and my mom’s work income included)
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Coming from an extremely rural area and ranch.[/ul][/li]
Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Essays, interview, from a unique situation
[] Weaknesses: SAT score, lack of advanced classes, no SAT II, no major awards…lol
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Honestly, I think it must have been something in my essays or interview, or perhaps my unique location. I mean, it had to be, since my academics are less than the average for Harvard.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I was rejected from Yale, Princeton, and Columbia (since I didn’t take the subject II tests some of my applications weren’t even considered complete anyway) but accepted to my more local private universities.[/ul]

**General Comments: **

I am genuinely shocked that I got in. I come from an extremely, EXTREMELY rural area (I drive 15 miles to school every day and we have more cows than people in my county) so I think that must have been an advantage. My school has 52 students 9-12 grades, if that says anything. I mean, as you can see, my academics are below the average (which is partially due to the lack of classes to take) so I’m truly humbled by the fact that I got in when so many other amazing students didn’t.

I’m very, very pleased however. And also nervous! If I end up attending I can’t wait to meet everyone else. I hope I can keep up!!

7

**Decision: Waitlisted **

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): N/A
ACT: 35 C 35 E 36 R 35 M 34 S
SAT II: 790 Math II 740 USH
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.89
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): upper 2%
AP (place score in parenthesis):
AP World: 4
APUSH: 5
AP Calc AB: 5
AP Language: 5
AP Chem: 4

IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load:
AP Lit
AP Calc BC
AP Bio
AP Gov
AP Micro
AP Stats
AP Macro (Self Study)
Academic Decathlon

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Around 40 medals for Academic Decathlon (national, state, and regional level), highest scorer on team at 2014 nationals and at Regionals competition 2015, currently the highest scoring student in the state (AZ) and in history of my region

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Academic Decathlon (Team captain 10,11,12) [First time any school in our district has placed 1st at regionals and state, qualified for nationals and placed 6th in the nation, had lots of media coverage since our team really came out of nowhere. I’ve spent hundreds of hours studying for it, also see awards]
Physics Club (Founder/President, 12)
Chemistry Club (11, President 12)
Calculus Club (VP, 11,12)

Job/Work Experience: N/A
Volunteer/Community service: Tutor and helped organized fundraisers and competitions for academic decathlon
Summer Activities: Boys State (mayor and senator elect)
Essays: I’d say 7-8/10. I thought my Stanford supplements were for the most part pretty good, with the roommate letter being my worst.
Teacher Recommendation: 9.5/10; From my AcaDec coach, we’re incredibly close and I’ve had 4 classes with her, I consider her a close friend rather than a teacher so it’s very good I believe
Counselor Rec: 5.5/10; Average, she knows my name and that’s a big deal at a large public school that hasn’t ever sent a student to an ivy
Additional Rec: 6/10; From my calc teacher who I’ve had for two years. We’re close, but not as close as acadec coach
Interview: 8/10; I feel like we really connected, honestly.

Other

State (if domestic applicant): AZ
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Large public; 2600 kids
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: M
Income Bracket: 130k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM

Reflection

Strengths: Scores, URM, heavy involvement in EC
Weaknesses: Maybe essays a bit, semi-low GPA, lack of volunteer work
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:URM with high scores got me through a rejection, but I felt like my essays weren’t up to par with a lot of other applicants.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Columbia, Penn (likely), Cornell (likely), NYU (full tuition), Northeastern (honors). Rejected: Yale, Stanford
General Comments: SERIOUSLY THIS IS CRAZY I applied to Harvard as a joke and I know I didn’t get accepted but a waitlist was sooooo surprising. Last year, my AP Lang teacher told me to not even apply to any Ivy because no one from my high school had EVER gotten into one in its entire history, and that Ivies “only like private school, prep kids.” Well, I got into THREE ivy leagues, and I got waitlisted from HARVARD. Can’t contain my excitement. Obviously going to take the spot, and I’m hoping by some miracle that I get accepted off it. Congrats everyone!!!

8

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 800/780/760
ACT (breakdown): n/a
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Lit (700), US History (770)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 10%
AP (place score in parentheses): Biology (5) English Language (5) US History (5) World History (4) Microeconomics (5)
IB (place score in parentheses): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: Latin, Latin Teacher, Literature, Calculus I, Calculus II, Chemistry, Human Geography, Orchestra, US and Comparative Government
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Regional Intel ISEF

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): English Honor Society, Science Honor Society (officer), Latin Club (officer), Poetry Club+Writing Club, NHS, Regional Orchestra, Quizbowl (captain, state championship), Mu Alpha Theta

Job/Work Experience: I own a specialized business started freshman year that was the focus of one of my essays.

Volunteer/Community Service: Tutoring English and Latin; student teacher for Latin; visit elementary and middle schools for science-related business

Summer Activities: orchestra, STEM camp counselor, business
Essays: Common App - 9 Harvard supplement - 7
Teacher Recommendations: 10/8
Counselor Rec: 6
Additional Rec: 9
Interview: 6

Other
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
Projected Concentration: Biology
State (if domestic applicant): Virginia
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: public high school in wealthy region
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: male
Income Bracket: 200,000+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM

Reflection
Strengths: Essays
Weaknesses: Grades (there’s a stray B in there from middle school!), courseload is very humanities heavy
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Grades, courses, competition; reflecting on my Harvard essay, it is not as involving as my others.
Where else you are applying or have already applied:
Accepted UChicago, UVa Honors, William and Mary Honors
Waitlisted Dartmouth

9

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2170 (730 CR, 700 M, 740W) I know
[] ACT (breakdown): n/a
[] SAT II: 800 Spanish, can’t remember Math 1 and Lit but around ~700
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
[] AP (place score in parentheses): English Language (5), USH (5)
[] IB (place score in parentheses): n/a
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, AP Studio, AP Stats, AP Psych, Challenge
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Scholastic Art Awards for photography: 1 Gold Key, 1 Silver Key for portfolio, and 1 Honorable mention. Scholastic Writing Awards: 4 Gold Keys and American Voices nomination[/li]
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): NHS, Spanish Honor Society, NAHS, Key Club, Science Honor Society, English Honor Society, and Film Club all with leadership positions
[] Job/Work Experience: Brookstone Sales Associate, sold over $8,000 each week, outsold district
[] Volunteer/Community service: over 1,000 hours to homeless shelters, food pantries because I needed help from these places when I was younger
[] Summer Activities: Volunteering for the good majority of it
[] Essays: Common App 10/10- By far best writing I have ever done. It won a Gold Key as well :slight_smile: It talked about how being homeless while growing up shaped me and instilled humility and a sense of altruism in me.
Optional essay 10/10- I take it back, this one is definitely my strongest writing to date. It was written in a creative rhetorical mode and expressed the escape I found in films during my toughest times.
[] Teacher Recommendation: My two teachers actually showed them to me as a parting gift after they submitted it, both 10/10 absolutely the best recommendations I have ever seen, my APUSH teacher said that any institution would be luck to have me and my other one said I was one of the best in her career
[] Counselor Rec: 6/10 probably generic, I’m not sure she even knows my name
[] Additional Rec: none
[] Interview: amazing, he was very nice and really wanted me to get in. Sorry to disappoint him :s but i’ll still shoot him an amazing thank you card
[] Supplementary Material: Yes, submitted a few of my works of photography that were given Gold or Silver Keys :smiley:

[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes.
[] State (if domestic applicant): Wisconsin
Country (if international applicant): n/a
[] School Type: Suburban Public
[] Ethnicity: Hispanic
[] Gender: M
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): lol <40,00
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, not sure if being homeless during a major part of my life counts?[/li]
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Definitely my essays were the huge push, urm probably helped, and photography portfolio maybe?
[] Weaknesses: Embarrassing test scores (at least by CC standards), Generic ec’s (I really tried though :(), Past AP course load, and I didn’t cure cancer nor place at the Olympics which I heard can help
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Doesn’t really take much to guess :stuck_out_tongue: there’s just more qualified applicants
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Rejected: UT Austin, UCLA & USC (applied both to their film), Stanford, Yale, Harvard, UPenn, Cornell

Waitlisted: UChicago, Brown, Columbia, Vanderbilt, UC Berkeley

Accepted: Princeton, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Notre Dame, UCSD, UCDavis, UMiami, UMinnesota, UOregon, UPittsburgh, UWashington Seattle, UKentucky, UAlabama, Mississippi State Uniiversity, SAIC

[/ul]General Comments:
Even though this was my dream, I come out of it with excitement. I am beyond shocked, incredibly humbled, but mostly grateful. If there’s anything I want you guys to take away from this all, it’s to dare to dream. Pursue the passions of your heart with no fear because, honestly, anything can happen.

Signing out,

Homeless2Princeton

10

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2370 (800 CR, 770 M, 800 W)
ACT (breakdown): didn’t take
SAT II (place score in parentheses): 800 Math II, 800 Latin, 800 US History, 790 Chemistry
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): NA (I’m homeschooled)
AP (place score in parentheses): US Gov (5), US History (5), European History (5), Macro (5), Micro (5), English Lit (5), English Lang (5), Chemistry (5), Calc BC (5)
IB (place score in parentheses): didn’t take
Senior Year Course Load: AP Stats, AP Comp Sci, Discrete Math, Asian History, Asian Literature, Front-End Web Development, Machine Learning, Personal Finance
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): two semi-major writing awards (not naming to protect identity), National Merit, National AP Scholar, an award for girls in computing, Stanford Sejong Korean Scholar.

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Lots of leadership (founded and taught economics class, mentor at Coder Dojo, teaching assistant for several AP classes), paid job at library, various computer science extracurriculars (Google Code-In, volunteering with CS competition for girls, volunteering at startup, etc.), music (piano, choir).
Job/Work Experience: Library page
Volunteer/Community Service: See ECs, plus 400 hours volunteering at the library from ages 12-16.
Summer Activities: Economics seminar, government/business camp, taking care of grandparents, working
Essays (rating 1-10, details):: good Common App essay (9/10), solid EC essay (8/10), heartfelt supplement essay (9/10)
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):: 10, 6 or 7 (I’m not as close to this teacher)
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 10/10 (written by my parents, since I’m homeschooled)
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 7/10 (complimentary rec from my boss)
Interview: none

Other
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
State (if domestic applicant): Michigan
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Homeschool
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $70-80k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): maybe being a female in computer science?

Reflection
Strengths: high stats, leadership, good essays and recs, difficult courseload.
Weaknesses: I still feel like my ECs and awards were slightly weak. (It was harder to participate in extracurriculars since I’m homeschooled.)
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I have no idea!
Where else you are applying or have already applied:

Accepted: Stanford, Columbia (likely letter + Science Research Fellows Program), Rice, Williams, University of Michigan, University of Alabama (full tuition+ NM scholarship), University of Rochester (19k/year scholarship); George Mason (10k/year scholarship), Maryland (12k/year scholarship)

Waitlisted: WashU, UChicago

Rejected: Princeton, Penn

11

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2100 (750 Writing [10 essay], 700 CR, 650 M)
ACT (breakdown): None
SAT II: SAT US History - 780 / SAT French - 710 / SAT World - 710
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 100.4
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School doesn’t rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP English Language - 5 / AP US History - 5 / AP World History - 4
IB (place score in parenthesis): School doesn’t offer
Senior Year Course Load: AP Bio, AP Calc AB, AP Microeconomics, AP English Literature, AP French, Occupations, Religion 12, Dance
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar, National Achievement Scholarship Foundation Outstanding PSAT Participant, online writing awards, National French Contest 7th place nationwide in 10th grade

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):

  • Writer for the Huffington Post Teen -Editor-in-chief of school newspaper -Contributor to my town's newspaper (I write articles about college, SATs, and education) -Multi Published writer in literary magazines (an essay about track and field, an essay about cosmetics & chemicals) -College Essay was published in a magazine -Have my own travel blog (features photos and entries on my trips abroad) -Have my own healthy eating blog -Quiz Bowl Team Captain

Job/Work Experience:
-Cashier at movie theater for 2014 summer.

Volunteer/Community service: I did not even list any on the Common App because it doesn’t help you get into elite schools. But I believe my recommendation writers spoke about the children’s museum that I volunteered at for two years. That was a huge commitment.

Summer Activities: Cashier at movie theater

Essays:
Common App – I chose the “place of solace” topic. My college essay was simple, yet beautiful, authentic, and richly detailed. It is all about my love of going to the library, and by far, it is the best piece of work I have ever written. I think that it is an honest portrayal of who I am, and it exemplifies my love of learning. I had this essay published in a national literary magazine.
Optional Harvard Essay: I talked about my passion for the French language and culture. I also mentioned that I liked to read world literature

Teacher Recommendation:
One from my French teacher (10/10) - I am a heavy participant in this class and I have been the top student for 4 years. I tutor, I share French literature that I read in my spare time with my teacher, I do research for the class, and I’ve taught a little.
AP US History Teacher (9/10) - I was the top student in this class and I won an award for my efforts. I adore history and I am also very concerned about social issues. He told me that I had the best projects and essays in the class.
Counselor Rec:
I’d give it a 9/10. We are close friends. In the summertime, my school made us fill out a sheet of all our hobbies, favorite media, and accomplishments - so I guess that helped too.

Additional Rec:
-Believe it or not, I submitted two family recommendations. They were each necessary, in my eyes. One was from my best friend in the world, coworker, peer, and cousin. We are extremely close, and she wrote me a 5-page recommendation letter which talked about my writing and my compassion for the environment.
-My second family letter was from my Aunt, who I love very much. She talked about my love for films and documentaries, my personality, my writing, and my healthy eating habits.

Interview: I showed up 10 minutes late for a 40 minute interview. It was at a high school, and my interviewer and I got along really well. He told me I would succeed at Harvard.

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: French Language, Creative Writing
State (if domestic applicant): New York
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: African-American
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $40,000, single parent home
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM

Reflection

Strengths: My writing and journalism, my grades and scores, my essay for sure, URM status too, choice of major
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: I made sure to highlight the fact that I am a published writer. I also think it’s different that I want to study French and creative writing. Make sure your Common App essay defines who you are.
Weaknesses: SAT Math score is on the lower end, but to be honest, I’m proud of it. That’s the best I could achieve. Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I have a singular passion for writing and I want to major in something atypical.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted to 6 Ivy League Schools: Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown
Accepted: NYU, Fordham, University of Connecticut, SUNY Binghampton, SUNY Stony Brook, Siena College
Rejected: Yale, Columbia, Hunter College, Queens College

Other:
I’m ecstatic! Congratulations to all who were admitted.

I was NEVER expecting to get into Harvard. NEVER. It was an utter shock because Harvard’s acceptance rate is 5.9%. I couldn’t believe it when I got in. I cried because it was truly unexpected.

I applied to all 8 Ivy League schools and I was admitted to 6. I am not a legacy or a first generation, for those of you who would like to know.

12

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2310 - 740CR, 800M, 770W
[] SAT II: 3 Subject tests at 760 each (Lit, Math 2, USH)
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.95
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/700
[] AP (place score in parentheses): 5 tests by end of junior year, each with a score of 5
[] Senior Year Course Load: All APs (6 classes)
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): No HUGE ones - national merit scholar, ap scholar with distinction, etc.[/li]
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Class president for all years of high school, mock trial (captain), fbla (president), NHS, etc.
[] Job/Work Experience: Lifeguarding, swim instructing, and working at a creamery
[] Volunteer/Community service: NHS?
[] Summer Activities: Working and traveling
[] Essays: Thought they were really really good. Everyone who read them liked them - I think this may be what put me over.
[] Teacher Recommendation: 10/10, favorite teacher
[] Counselor Rec: 10/10, she loves me
[] Additional Rec: 10/10, school principal
[li] Interview: Interviewer said he loved it. I think it contributed a lot.[/li]
[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: No
[] State (if domestic applicant): Pennsylvania
Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Large public
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: Male
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): No hooks

[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Essays and recs! Probs leadership too.
[] Weaknesses: I didn’t have straight A’s or perfect test scores.
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Probably the leadership in conjunction with recommendations about them. I really really think the interview also played a massive part, and most of all the ESSAYS!!! No lie, work on these!
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted at Brown,Vanderbilt, Full ride to UNC. Waitlisted at Duke, UChicago, Penn, Yale. Rejected from Princeton.

[/ul]**General Comments: ** Biggest crapshoot of my life. Expect the unexpected. So so so thrilled to have gotten in!

13

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2340 (760 CR, 800 M, 780 W)
[] ACT (breakdown): n/a
[] SAT II: Biology M 770, Spanish 640
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/250ish
[] AP (place score in parentheses): World History (4), US History (4), English Lang&Comp (5), Bio (4)
[] IB (place score in parentheses): n/a
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP English Lit&Comp, AP US Gov, Calc I and II through University of Washington, Physics, Orchestra, UW Astronomy
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Honor, got a short story published[/li]
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): GSA (secretary), NHS (co-president), Key Club (secretary, fmr president), Thespian Society (secretary), school chamber orchestra (concertmaster), local symphony orchestra (student rep to board of directors)
[] Job/Work Experience: sold local cheeses at the Farmers’ Market one summer
[] Volunteer/Community service: Lots of miscellaneous stuff through Key Club and NHS; volunteered for 6 weeks last summer in Latin America
[] Summer Activities: nothing really beyond what I’ve already mentioned
[] Essays: Maybe 7/10? One was average, about summer volunteering in Nicaragua, but the optional one was an extended version of the essay I wrote for Bowdoin about my connection to where I live and I thought it was pretty good
[] Teacher Recommendation: 9/10. I saw my English teacher’s and it was amazing, 10/10, can’t be sure about other two but the teachers like me
[] Counselor Rec: 8/10, we’re good friends
[] Additional Rec:
[] Interview: 9/10. I thought it went really well. My interviewer was great and seemed impressed that I like opera. It was the most conversational and comfortable of all my interviews.
[] Supplementary Material:

[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] State (if domestic applicant): Washington
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Caucasian
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): >100k
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none[/li]
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Interview, recommendations, optional essay, maybe SAT scores
[] Weaknesses: Definitely didn’t show much interest, nothing that’s particularly unique or attention-grabbing
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I really have no idea. I guess they needed a violin-playing white female from a smallish town in Washington?
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: St. Olaf, Grinnell, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Wellesley, Pitzer
Waitlisted: Carleton
Rejected: Pomona (ED), Swarthmore

[/ul]**General Comments: ** This was definitely a shocker. I really only applied just to say that I applied. Several others from my school applied who I thought had good chances at getting in, but none of them did. I never really thought I was a “fit” for Harvard, but apparently they do, so I’ll just have to go and visit :). To all those who didn’t get in… there’s nothing you did wrong, I’ve come to believe that it really is a crapshoot (there’s a really accurate Onion article about college admissions). And congrats to those who were admitted! Perhaps I’ll see you in Cambridge this August!

14

**Decision: Rejected

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 800-800-780
[] ACT (breakdown): 36
[] SAT II: 800 Lit, 770 Chem, 760 M2
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): N/A. Weighted = 4.41
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1 (not sent)
[] AP (place score in parentheses): 5 on Spanish, Music Theory, Euro, World, Stats, Calc BC, English Lang; 4 on Chem
[] Senior Year Course Load: Honors International Relations, Honors Art, AP Bio, AP Physics C, Independent Studies in AP Spanish Lit and AP Gov, AP English Lit, Multivariable Calc
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Avogadro, IPPF, NMF, National AP Scholar, some AMC stuff[/ul]

Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Rock music (played at Lollapalooza), cross country (3 year letterman and captain), Women’s Leadership Club (founder), various other things
[] Job/Work Experience: Scorekeeper for basketball team, tutor
[] Volunteer/Community service: Service trips with school
[] Summer Activities: Touring with rock band, taking summer courses, running, tutoring
[] Essays: Decent.
[] Teacher Recommendation: They were great, I imagine. 10/10
[] Counselor Rec: Didn’t read it, assume it was great. 9/10
[] Additional Rec: She is my music theory teacher, like family. 10/10.
[] Interview: Somewhat awkward.
[] Supplementary Material: Composition.[/ul]

Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: No
[] State (if domestic applicant): OH
[] School Type: Small private all girls
[] Ethnicity: Asian and white
[] Gender: XX
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): No[/ul]

Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Scores. Academic rigor. Passion.
[] Weaknesses: Essays, being unhooked.
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Because it’s random. Sorry for the blasphemy.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted Yale, Stanford, Duke, UPenn, Caltech, Williams, UChicago, Cornell, Harvey Mudd, Dartmouth, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Amherst, OSU, Michigan, Case. Waitlisted: Brown, Columbia, MIT. Rejected: Harvard, Princeton (deferred SCEA), Juilliard.[/ul]
General Comments: Stanford and Yale…how will I ever choose?! Congrats to all who got into Harvard, though!

15

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): Reading-760 Writing-670 Math- 480
[] SAT II: English- 680 World History- 670
[] Unweighted GPA: 97%
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP English, AP Psychology, Global Issues, Law, Applied Mathematics, World Geography
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Reach for the Top National Finalist[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Reach for the Top (Team Captain), Classical voice student for 7 years
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: Teacher at an Etiquette school for girls 4-6
    [] Volunteer/Community service: Ambassador/Speaker for the Children’s Wish Foundation, Ambassador at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Teaching assistant at a care home for the developmentally disabled.
    [    ] Summer Activities: Volunteering, and work experience (same as above)
    [] Essay: I only wrote the CA essay. I wrote about my illness, and how my aunt (who left her life in Mexico after the death of my mother to raise my sister and I) inspired me to complete college before I died (I have a shorter life-expectancy).
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: I’m sure were very strong, I knew both teachers I asked very well. I asked the same teacher who wrote my Oxford Law rec letter and it was really well done, compared me to some undergrad students she’s taught in the past (she used to lecture at the local university) and praised my knowledge/work-ethics.
    [] Counselor Rec: Did not see but I’m sure was quite strong, knew him only somewhat well.
    [    ] Interview: Only did one with an Admissions Officer on Skype. Went really well, we talked about specifics about my application, what I would take at Harvard, etc.

Other

  • []Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes

[ul]
[]Country (if international applicant): Manitoba, Canada
[] School Type: Public (known in my city as being weak academically)
[] Ethnicity: Mexican/French-Canadian
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): 60 000 - 70 000
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Disabled/Chronically ill (I have Cystic Fibrosis)[/li][/ul]

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: My essay and focus on how I would use my education in combination with my extracurriculars
    [    ] Weaknesses: MATH (!!!) and my SAT scores (what I’m so subtlety hinting at here is my math SAT scores)
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: The admissions officers admired my character and drive to succeed? I’m not entirely sure, but I believe my life situation and my success despite my limitations was a factor for sure.
    [    ] Where else were you rejected: Oxford Law (post-interview), Princeton, Stanford

General Comments: I am absolutely over the moon and cannot wait to start in September! I prayed so hard and this has been a dream of mine since I was 12 this is amazing! I’m so thankful! This was the only school I was accepted into, the last one I checked as well! I had no safeties and I am just so amazed this is truly a miracle!
I remember looking through these admit pages years ago and stressing over them, so all I have to say is just do your best. You don’t have to be the “perfect” candidate, your grades and school work are important but remember that they look at the whole picture. Your character really matters so just be the best you can be, and hope your best self shines through!

16

**Decision: Waitlisted **

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2330 (800M 800 CR 730W)
[] ACT (breakdown):
[] SAT II: 800 M2, 750 Physics
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.75
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Wouldn’t be in top 10% if ranked
[] AP (place score in parentheses): None
[] IB (place score in parentheses): None
[] Senior Year Course Load: Ap physics 1, ap physics 2, ab calc, ap spanish, english H
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Commended, National Spanish Silver medal, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship [/li]
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Tons of sports, board of a local non-profit
[] Job/Work Experience: Political internship
[] Volunteer/Community service: 400 hours of inner city tutoring and summer camp volunteering
[] Summer Activities: Camp counselor
[] Essays: Must have been incredible to get me this far
[] Teacher Recommendation: See above
[] Counselor Rec: See above
[] Additional Rec: None
[] Interview: Very bad. The interviewer seemed like she expected a ton more
[] Supplementary Material: N/A

[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] State (if domestic applicant): MA
Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Large rich public, suburb of Boston
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): Some financial need but not a ton
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): My mom volunteers there sometimes?[/li]
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Essays, sat scores
[] Weaknesses: GPA, rigor
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Essay must have been read by the right person.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: Middlebury, USC, Cornell CHE (Guaranteed transfer) Case Western, Northeastern, Umass Amherst, McGill, U miami
Waitlisted: Washington University, Carleton, Harvard
Rejected: Northwestern, UNC Chapel Hill

[/ul]**General Comments: **

I truly feel blessed to make it this far and this is the greatest accomplishment of my life. If I am admitted I will go crazy, if not I have other options that I am happy with. What people say about just applying and hoping for the best because you never know what will happen is not true. Apply if you have worked hard in high school and have a GPA and scores that are within the ballpark. THEN anything can happen! If not you’re just making the acceptance rate lower

**¯_(ツ)_/**¯

17

**Decision: Accepted

Objective: [ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2210 (690 W, 800 M, 720 CR)
[] ACT (breakdown): 34
[] SAT II: 720 Bio, 740 Math II
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/83
[] AP (place score in parentheses): Biology (4)
[] IB (place score in parentheses):
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP English, AP Calc, AP Government, AP Chemistry, 3 music classes
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NMS[/li]
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): 4-H (Club/county/region president), HS Robotics (President), Youth Robotics Club (Founder/coach), Varsity Tennis, Varsity Golf, Pep/symphonic/jazz bands
[] Job/Work Experience: Service and Maintenance (summer job)
[] Volunteer/Community service: Youth Mentor, 4-H, Youth Robotics Coach, etc.
[] Summer Activities: work
[] Essays: Decent, not much to say here 8/10
[] Teacher Recommendation: Two solid recs, one 8/10 and one 10/10
[] Counselor Rec: He doesn’t know me too well, but probably good.
[] Additional Rec:
[] Interview: I had an absolutely incredible interview with an amazing guy. I would say this put me over in admissions.
[] Supplementary Material:

[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Nope
[] State (if domestic applicant): MT
Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: XY
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): rural, almost-legacy[/li]
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Dedicated EC’s and good recommendations, but the interview was easily the best thing about my application.
[] Weaknesses: Test scores eh
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Once again a great interview
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: Harvard, Columbia, Amherst, Davidson, Wake Forest, Lewis and Clark
Denied: MIT
[/ul]**General Comments: ** Congrats to the accepted candidates! Can’t wait to meet you all!

18

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): NA
ACT (breakdown): 35 C Superscored and not superscored: (33 E, 35 M, 36 R, 36 S)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): 760 M2 720 Bio M
Unweighted/Weighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.98/4.64 I go to a highly selective magnet school that chooses around 2% of students that apply out of 9 high schools. So out of around 3100 applicants, 75 or so get in.
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 3% 10/310
AP (place score in parentheses):
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: Multivariable Calculus, Orgo Chem, Bio Chem, Biomedical Science, IB History of the Americas, IB Spanish, Orchestra
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 3rd Place Best Midwestern High School Writing Competition twice in a row. 9th Place ACSL International Coding Competition

[ b]Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): NHS, Research Team (at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Varsity Tennis for 3 years, 1st Violin in the Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Debate
Job/Work Experience: NA
Volunteer/Community Service: Over 200 hours at a local hospital, at summer science camps, a school for the mentally disabled, friends and I started charity that feeds elementary schools children on the weekends (they live in a bad part of town), I founded an interscholastic math competition for 5th graders, MATHCOUNTS coach for a local middle school.
Summer Activities: Gave talks at local hospitals to raise money for the charity I run, and why feeding poverty stricken children in elementary school is important.
Essays: Pretty strong all around. My English teacher said they were great.
Teacher Recommendations: Idk, but should have been good. One of the teachers asked me if he could write me a rec, and told me he would say I was outstanding.
Counselor Rec: She said there’s no doubt I’m one of the top kids at my school, so definitely should have been good.
Additional Rec: From the director of Lee Honors College at WMU. I worked with her to establish the math competition.
Interview: NA

Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Admissions is hella random.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:[/list] Accepted: Johns Hopkins, Wash U St. Louis, U Mich, U Miami, K College (full tuition)
Waitlisted: Case Western Reserve, Northwestern
Rejected: UChicago, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, UPenn
General Comments: I honestly have no idea why I was rejected by the entire Ivy League. My friend with better stats was also rejected by all the ivies. It’s disheartening when you see kids with lower stats get accepted everywhere. I worked wayyyyy too hard for this. Whatever, I guess Johns Hopkins it is.

[ b]Other**
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
Projected Concentration: Pre-med
State (if domestic applicant): MI
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Public Magnet
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $150,000 +
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None…

19

Decision: Rejected

Objective:
*SAT I (breakdown): 2340 (790 CR, 770 M, 780 W)
*ACT: N/A
*SAT II: 770 USH, 760 Physics
*Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
*Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/117
*AP (place score in parenthesis): USH (5), English Language (5), Physics B (4)
*IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
*Senior Year Course Load: AP English Literature, AP Calc AB, AP Physics C, AP Euro, honors gov, other random classes (hardest course load available)
*Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Connecticut Governor’s Scholar, Harvard Book Award?

Subjective:
•Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate Team (captain), Political Science Club (founder and president), School Newspaper (editor)
•Job/Work Experience: Worked for the past four years at a local library
•Volunteer/Community service: Volunteer as a tech volunteer at a different local library, I ran a program over the summer that teaches middle school students debate techniques
•Personal Statement: I loved my common app essay, I didn’t really know what to do with the Harvard supplement so I basically just copied over my Yale supplement hahaa
Other
•Applied for Financial Aid?: Yep
• Intended Major : I put computer science on the application
•State (if domestic applicant): CT
•Country (if international applicant):
•School Type: Small parochial
•Ethnicity: Whiter than Casper the Friendly Ghost
•Gender: Female
•Income Bracket: Don’t worry bout it
•Hooks (URM, first generation college, research, etc.): Woman in computer science?

Reflection
•Strengths: SAT, GPA, woman in STEM?
•Weaknesses: Very few real hooks, few major awards
•Schools were you accepted/waitlisted to?
Accepted: Dartmouth, Duke, UVA, UNC-CH, Cornell, Georgetown, UConn
Waitlisted: Yale, Northwestern, Amherst
Rejected: Princeton, Brown, Stanford
•Schools you are waiting for?

General Comments: We all end up where we are meant to be. Dartmouth class of 2019!!!

20

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 730 W 700 CR 670 M
[] ACT (breakdown): DNT
[] SAT II: 700 Lit 710 USHistory
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 6/120 at a competitive but underserved school
[] AP (place score in parentheses): n/a
[] IB (place score in parentheses): n/a
[] Senior Year Course Load: Most challenging courses available sans orchestra and journalism
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): n/a[/li]
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Orchestra (principal viola and President of orchestra) National Honor Society (president) Journalism/yearbook (Editor-in-chief) Health Occupation Students of America (Secretary and state finalist) History Club (National History Day State finalist) and some misc stuff
[] Job/Work Experience: worked during breaks
[] Volunteer/Community service: 200+ hours
[] Summer Activities: work
[] Essays: Strong. I wrote about how being in the middle of the 2006 Lebanon war affected my outlook on life
[] Teacher Recommendation: Very good
[] Counselor Rec: Very good but focused on my personality, not academics
[] Additional Rec: n/a
[] Interview: did not receive one
[] Supplementary Material: n/a

[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
[] State (if domestic applicant): Texas
Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: competitive public magnet
[] Ethnicity: did not put down but my name is Arabic
[] Gender: male
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): <30000
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):[/li]
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Essay
[] Weaknesses: Scores
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Because colleges don’t want to look at your application unless you are the cream of the cream of the crop (yes that was intentional)
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

Rejected from 4 Ivies, Berkeley, Washu, Vanderbilt, and Duke. Waitlisted at Boston College.

Accepted at UT Austin (safety in-state automatic admission for top 7%)

[/ul]General Comments:
Very disappointed with the entire experience. Colleges should really stop making us wait months to learn of a decision that was probably made a few weeks after you submitted your application. I hope future students learn from my mistake of aspiring to attend a great college and understand that these places do not want you unless you have done something spectacular or were born as a favorable candidate (URM, legacy, etc.) Really, just don’t bother.