HYPS, Duke, UChicago, funny situations...

<p>I would like to know how likely I am to get into schools like HYPS, Duke, UChicago, etc, but I have a little bit of a pickle. </p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.985, W GPA: 4.56
Class rank: 6/3-400, top 2%</p>

<p>Class load:
Freshman: specialized math course, Biology, English 9/10 Condensed, Chinese 1, Orchestra (violin)
Sophomore: Chemistry D, second year of math course, Chinese 3, Orchestra (violin), AP World History (exam jitters: 3)
Junior: Physics D, Adv Chem, Precal, AP Language, APUSH, Chinese 3/4, Japanese mentor (required to take an IQ test to receive a mentor)
(APUSH: 4, AP Lang: 5)
2011 - 2012 yearlong foreign exchange to Taiwan, 20 credits earned in classes like cooking/clothing design (went to a home economics school)
Senior: AP Cal D, AP Lit, AP Chem, AP GoPo/WePo, Anatomy/Physiology, AP Psychology</p>

<p>I think I should make a special note that my school didn't receive AP sciences until my senior year of high school. Prior to that I had taken all the APs that we had available.
We don't have Chinese 3/4 in my school but I took Chinese 3 and 4 in one year because of my interest in the language and the quality of my teacher, spending summers and the like on it too.
I took some summer school to fulfill requirements. </p>

<p>I am born and raised in the Midwest and am second-gen immigrant (born here). As a result, family life takes a lot of precedence so there are not too many super-important ECs.</p>

<p>ECs:
Exchange Program, (11)
Writing Club member (9/10)
NHS (sort of twice? This year and the year before I left for exchange.)
Asian Club Secretary (10th, 11th)
Science Bowl (Team event; Regional Champs 7th grade, served on secondary team 8th grade, 11th grade secondary team as well in the HS division)
Varsity swimming (9)
Speech team all 4 years</p>

<p>Internship at the university Physics dept (summer after 10th and after return from Taiwan)
Employed since the beginning of sophomore year, consistently working 20+ hrs/week, used this money to fund my exchange.</p>

<p>Quirks:
diagnosed with cancer between 7th and 8th grade, recovered start of 9th, hence why I was on the secondary team in my 8th grade. I was actually unable to attend National Science Bowl in 7th grade for this reason.
4 year old sister who I was constantly babysitting since her birth.</p>

<p>Awards:
Chinese Poetry Level II 1st place,
Chinese Speaking 2nd place (both before my trip to Taiwan)
4th place in team event FBLA
Slew of placements in math/science/social studies/spelling in the local state fair (start of 11th)
National Merit semifinalist (finalist etc status pending; received semifinalist papers before my year abroad, put into the running for this year due to extenuating circumstances)
Honor rolls, academic letters, the works.</p>

<p>SAT: 2290, taken once only
PSAT: 224, considered strong in Midwest</p>

<p>My only complaints are that, compared to the usual applicants to HYPS etc it isn't much, and I was wondering, considering my position in the Midwest and the limitations on my school, what impact it would have on me? Also I would like to have the teacher that knows my cancer struggle most personally and my Chinese teacher write recommendations, but the head of the physics dept has offered to write one. Are we allowed to have 3? Can I include his in a supplement?</p>

<p>I'm Middle Eastern, if that helps.</p>

<p>Thanks so much, and please do let me know if I made any errors or mistakes or forgot to include anything.</p>

<p>Get the physics teacher. Have guidance counselor explain illness.</p>