I'd Like Your Opinions for Stanford, Columbia, Princeton, Duke, MIT!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'd also love any other advice you might have :)</p>

<p>Hi there! I am an Asian Female,
I'm fascinated with biomimetics (biomimicry) so im planning on going into bioengineering but majoring in something more biology-focused. My dream is to work in an interdisciplinary bio-design lab like Bio-X at Stanford University, using innovation inspired by nature to solve the world's problems wooo!!!
<strong>i'd also greatly appreciate more advice on choosing good schools for this field</strong>
Class of 2015, right now a Junior
GPA: weighted 4.4 unweighted: 3.95
SAT: Total 2310; Math 730; Writing 800; Reading 780
SAT II: Math 780; Biology 780; planning to take Literature
(PSAT 227, will be a National Merit Semi-finalist) </p>

<p>Classes:
AP World History (AP test: 4), AP Biology (grade so far: solid A), AP English Language and Composition (solid A) AP Latin Vergil (solid A)
will be attending Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech</p>

<p>Planning to take Senior Year: AP Chemistry, AP U.S. Government,
AP Literature, AP Calculus BC</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities/ Leadership:
- Founder and Captain of Science Olympiad at my school (2011 - present)
- Secretary of Technology Student Association (TSA) (2013 - present) currently in the running for President
- Captain and model of TSA Fashion Design Team(2012 - present)
- Class Council Officer (2013)
- New World Bilingual Institute (NWBI) Gavel Club Vice President (2012 - present)
- TSA Regional Council Officer (2014 - present)
- Science National Honor Society
- National Latin Honor Society
- Tri-M Music Honory Society</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Music: Symphonic band and marching band (2011-present)
Marching band flute soloist (2013)
2nd principal flutist in my school's Symphonic band (2013-present)
2nd principal flutist in All-District Concert Band (2014)</p></li>
<li><p>Athletics: Girls' Varsity Tennis Team (every year since Freshman)
2012 District Champions
2013 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award
2013 1st Team All-District Singles
2014 District Champions</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Awards/Recognition:
2011 Science Olympiad Rookie Team of the Year Award
2011 Family Travel Forum 2011 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship Contest: Honorable Mentions
and offered internship in FTF New York office
2012 2nd Place 2012 TSA State Technosphere Conference: Fashion Design
2012 7th Place TSA National Competition: Fashion Design
2013 3rd Place Science Olympiad State Tournament
2013 Gold medalist- National Latin Exam
2014 2nd Place 2014 Science Olympiad Regional Tournament
2014 2nd Place 2014 Science Olympiad Virginia State Tournament
2014 Bronze medalist- National Latin Etymology Exam
2014 1st Place TSA State Technosphere Conference: Fashion Design (competing at Nationals this summer)
2014 3rd Place TSA State Technosphere Conference: Biotechnology Design (competing at Nationals this summer)
2014 Fairfax Regional Science and Engineering Fair:
1st Place in Category- Medicine and Health Sciences at the Fairfax Regional Science and Engineering Fair
1st Place Meritorious Achievement Award and Medal from the United States Public Health Service
1st Place Award from the National Capital Area Skeptics + $200 cash award
Grand Prize Winner, Fairfax Regional Science and Engineering Fair: won an all-expense paid trip to Los
Angeles, California to compete as a finalist at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF)
*My research focused on enhancing anti-tumor specificity of antibody drug conjugates used in cancer therapy
2014 Grand Award from the Virginia Dental Association: Science Talent Program at Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair</p>

<p>Volunteer Service:
NWBI Dragon Dance Team (2011-present):
- raised well over $20,000 for underprivileged children in China through performances of traditional Chinese dragondancing.
- Performed at various high schools, universities, and annually in the Lunar New Year Parade in Washington, D.C. in front of the D.C. mayor, Chinese ambassadors, and other officials. Chosen to represent Chinese Americans in Obama's 2009 Inaugural Parade
(each time we collect money from generous donors and the hosts who have invited us and put it into a Hope Fund for donation)
NWBI International Hope Ambassador Program:
- traveled to China to donate Hope Fund and school supplies to underprivileged students
- invited by the presidents of six Chinese institutions, including the Beijing Second Language Institute, Wuhan
University, and Xi'an Foreign Language University, to demonstrate impromptu speaking, international etiquette, and other English public speaking skills to college assemblies (2012)
NWBI Summer Elite Leadership Camp:
- English mentor and camp organizer, tutored over one hundred Chinese exchange students in English, demonstrated public speaking and speech craft skills and led them in experiencing American food, games, and music</p>

<p>Other:
Four years experience in Latin
Fluent in Mandarin Chinese
I am continuing my research in cancer therapy this summer, and will also be competing in the Siemens Science Competition. I'm also a contestant in the Google Global Science Fair but results haven't come out yet</p>

<p>Whew, that was long. Thanks for staying with me, really appreciate the help :)</p>

2

<p>You realize you can only put 10 extra curricular activities on the common app and less at some colleges (5 at MIT)? Make sure to choose which ones you believe are the most impressive and important to you.</p>

<p>At any rate, I think you have a solid shot at all these schools. I’d guess you get into duke and maybe 1-2 of the other schools.</p>

3

<p>Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks! </p>

4

<p>I would say you are a solid candidate. At this point, just make sure your application is perfect. As for ECs, please be careful when putting them down. Anything more than 5 or 6 and a college begins to seriously question your commitment to them and the authenticity of your application. So make sure you emphasize the science, maybe put 1 music EC and tennis, and then your volunteer stuff. Then 2-3 Science ECs, and then you will be fine.</p>

5

<p>Duke is definitely possible and could be considered a reach. Personally at my school they accept averages of a 4.3 weighted GPA, however I can’t tell you what that translates to unweighted. Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, and MIT are always going to be reaches for anyone, I think personally if you can the unweighted GPA out of 4.0 might look better on apps to them. Your SAT is definitely in range as well, and choose one of those to apply ED for sure (I’d choose Princeton or Columbia). Obviously all of these are tough, but Duke is definite I would think and like theanaconda said above me, you have a good shot at some of the others.</p>

6

<p>Alright, thanks for the advice. I definitely will apply early to Stanford. Best of luck to you guys wherever you’re heading! </p>

7

<p>Just looking at your activity and award list, I definitely find myself questioning your commitment. I wouldn’t put honor societies on your apps (honestly, no one cares), nor would I include something you did for a year. </p>

<p>What is “second” principal? Do you mean co-principal? I’m a flautist and a musician. I know that there is no such thing.</p>

<p>This post is WAY too disorganized for me to chance you. Post 10 EC’s (with some details along side along with grades of involvement-- only high school counts) and 5 awards. THEN I can help. </p>

8

<p>I understand. I know a lot of it is superfluous and messy (sorry), just thought it would give a more holistic view so people can point out which ones they think are best. Haha I’m a flutist too, and yes, I do mean co-principal. I’ve been called “principle second flute” so…</p>

<p>Here’s my re-organized version: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1655535-neater-version-i-d-like-your-opinions-for-stanford-columbia-princeton-duke-upenn.html?new=1”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1655535-neater-version-i-d-like-your-opinions-for-stanford-columbia-princeton-duke-upenn.html?new=1&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>I’m still deciding which ECs and awards to put on my app. Do you have any recommendations? And as for grades of involvement, all of them are pretty much either competitions or volunteer activities. The awards and descriptions should just about cover it. </p>