<p>I'm currently conducting a bio-energy related science research and intending to participate in 2012 Intel STS. However, I only got A- on AP Chemistry and 740 on Sat II Chemistry this year. Will these grades reduce my possibility of getting to the semifinalists? Also, I don't have a lot of science-related extracurrirulars like science olympiads or math competitions. I'm worried that they look for your science-related extracurriculars. How do they look at and judge your extracurriculars during the judging process?</p>
<p>Thanks for all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>My friend was an STS finalist and he said that no one really knows exactly how the entries are judged. I can’t see those grades preventing you from getting to the semi-finalist level. They’re not horrible and the research project will be a lot more important than two grades to the judges. As for science-related extracurriculars, the judges want to see you’re genuinely interested in the subject and those help, but if you go to the intel website you can see the bios of the finalists. Not all of them participated in science-related extracurriculars, though they are all pretty involved in their schools and communities. I’m entering next year too! Good luck!</p>