<p>@sechukie I didn’t mention anything about how I could contribute. I don’t think I even mentioned a single extracurricular or referenced HSHSP. My essay was about why I do what I do, not what I have done, so if you didn’t pay much attention to the “contributions” portion of the prompt, I wouldn’t worry. </p>
<p>I think I did what @four3tris did, but I focused more on…trying to convey my passion and dedication to my activities. I tried to turn my Science Olympiad career into a story of both success and defeat, and how it has fueled me.</p>
<p>For my book essay, I wrote about The Crucible, and tried to talk about how deeply I was affected when I saw how humans could be so easily manipulated by preying on their fears/prejudices…I didn’t really connect it to research though</p>
<p>i did what @four3tris did as well.
@achenmeister I talked about SciOly too! good luck!</p>
<p>@aops100 thanks! What state are you from? And what were your awards again? I can’t remember, sorry</p>
<p>Im from New York. I don’t have that many awards actually; AIME qualifier, scioly medals, math team awards, and columbia shp</p>
<p>I’m from Indiana, SciO has been a big part of me, I have a lot of medals (in the 50s I think - over the past 5 yrs including this year), and I’ve been to a few nationals too</p>
<p>Wow nice! My school unfortunately doesn’t take scioly as seriously as I do so we barely make top 20 at states. I’m hoping to change that next year as president</p>
<p>omg @sechukie i wrote about freakonomics as well! o.O wonder how that’ll affect acceptances…</p>
<p>and just as a side note, could the accepted people tell us if lab placements are emailed at the same time?</p>
<p>Potential lab placements, according to the acceptance email, are sent out in mid-May, I believe, once the program has been filled.</p>
<p>@science2015, i’m sure she isnt going to automatically eliminate one of us just because we have the same books!! It’s definitely based more on how you presented your argument and how the book made a difference on your life. </p>
<p>But i mean for me, freakonomics literally popped into my head the second i read the question! Reading it is actually so …life-changing! haha. For any of you that havent read it, i highly suggest doing so 
</p>
<p>@sechukie and @science2015, nice call with freakonomics on the essay - great book.</p>
<p>I wrote mine on a mediation pamphlet from Thailand, connecting that to the idea of balance in life and all that. A bit gutsy since it wasn’t at all science-related, but I guess it paid off.</p>
<p>Best of luck to everyone still waiting on acceptances!</p>
<p>Freakonomics was in my reading list! There is a common thread here somewhere… haha!</p>
<p>My book was The Fault In Our Stars. It was about cancer, and so it was really easy for me to link it to research even though its a non-sciency book. </p>
<p>I haven’t read Freakonomics before, but I have heard its really good. But, I never understood economics so I am not going to try to read that book anytime soon (mostly b/c I’m busy too).</p>
<p>I hope those who haven’t gotten their acceptances yet get them soon! And also, does anyone know anything about how housing is done? Like are there roommates and do you select them or are you randomly assigned?</p>
<p>@four3tris I heard they’re assigned randomly</p>
<p>Ugh my book essays sounds pathetic compared to you all T.T</p>
<p>I didn’t relate my book to science or research at all. My book was The Stranger, and I primarily focused on how I was personally affected by the philosophy of the novel. I don’t think you had to necessarily relate everything in your application to science. While they are obviously looking for who strong you are in the subject, they’re still probably looking at you as a person and who you are. So it’s probably okay to not tie EVERYTHING into science :)</p>
<p>I agree with @emmabaz97. While I related my book essay to science at the end (It was very easy to given the subject of the book), I don’t think it is necessary. I have heard of previous participants who wrote about Life of Pi and the Hunger Games, and they didn’t relate the books to science at all in their essays. But, they still got in.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think the HSHSP essays are very similar to college app essays. In college app essays, you are trying to reveal your personality, and you don’t necessarily have to relate all your essays to academics or accomplishments. So, don’t worry if your applications didn’t pertain to science much. I think as long as you bring out your personality, and the admissions committee (or whoever reviews the applications) likes your personality, you are in. </p>
<p>Alright, that’s comforting to hear…thanks guys! :)</p>
<p>@four3tris ahh the fault in our stars <3 that’s such a great book! btw, freakonomics really doesn’t lean too heavily on the stereotypical view of economics, so i strongly suggest you read it anyway! the writer is able to convert econ-talk into something understandable for us normal kids, and so that’s a strong plus :)</p>
<p>Questions for past alumni: </p>
<p>How are the dorms / food at MSU? </p>
<p>Also, do you interact with many college students during your time at HSHSP, or is it mostly insulated to just the high schoolers? </p>
<p>How does Dr. Richmond choose the individual for a project if more than one students list that project as their first choice? Is it random?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>