Junior--Looking for some good criticism

<p>I'm Indian and I go to a SMALL private competitive catholic high school (i'm not catholic) in NJ; the class size is about 60.</p>

<p>Grades: 94/100 3.9 UW/4.X W
Rank: 3/60
ACT: Will take in the spring
PSAT: 149/218 (CR 69, M 80, W 69)
SAT: 700CR, 800M, 800W (1500/2300)
SAT IIs: Chem: 730, Math IC: 680, 800 Bio E, 800 Bio M; I plan on taking Math IIc, US History, English Lit, and possibly French.</p>

<p>Classes: I've taken the most rigorous course load offered so far (I plan to keep it that way.</p>

<p>By the end of senior year, I would have taken these APs:</p>

<p>AP Chem, AP USH, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP Physics, AP Bio, AP, Macro/Micro, AP Lang, AP French.</p>

<p>Freshman and Sophomore year were all honors classes, except for AP USH in sophomore (its a two part course at my school)</p>

<p>Junior Year:</p>

<p>AP Calc AB
AP US
AP Lit
AP Chem
French Hon (No AP offered)
Religion</p>

<p>EC's/Activities (I'm assuming I'll still be in them in 12th grade):</p>

<p>Newspaper- Writer 10, Managing Editor 11, Editor-In-Chief 12
French Club- 9-12 (no positions given, not really needed)
JSA- President and Founder 11-12
Yearbook- Pictures and Writing Editor, 11-12
Operation Smile: Treasurer 9-12
Bridges (we go to different areas in the nearest cities to hand out provisions to the homeless)- 9-12
Math Team- 10-12 #1 in the grade, #3 in the state, #2 in the school; Outstanding Achievement award
Cross Country and Track- Varsity 10, 12
Chess Club- No positions offered 9-12
Habitat for Humanity- I've worked at the main office and built houses over a few summers. 500 hrs
Boy Scouts- I'm heavily involved, been doing it for 10 years, getting close to my Eagle.
Local Soup Kitchen- I've cooked meals and volunteered there before. 75 hrs
EnVisionSys- Work: 100 hrs
Neuropsychological Research- I'll be working with a professor at either UCSD or Queen's College next summer helping them conduct their research.
Fed Challenge Team- 11,12
National Honor Society- 11,12
Film Club-11,12</p>

<p>In my spare time, i collect coins.</p>

<p>Summer Programs-</p>

<p>CTY Crytography JHU
Summer@Brown- Genetics and Philosophy</p>

<p>Most of my teachers like me and I have a strong relationship with my guidance counselor. I am a voracious reader and writer.</p>

<p>To get a better feel for who I am:</p>

<p>I am interested in brains, philosophy, psychology, synthesizers, conspiracy theories, evolution, mystics, prophets, moralizers, crazy people, chimps, cafes, writing, the cosmos, films, dessert, reislings and riojas, a good toothpick, a nice fresh red pen, sincere friends, children their follies and unintentional honesty, sunshine, silliness from profundity, photography, audiobooks, running, a solid quote, zombies, infectious diseases, introspection, the mail, hedgehogs, finding my every limit, and I love analyzing Economic Behavior, trying to comprehend String Theory, Reading, people-watching, cognitive reverie, eBay, memorizing trivial pursuit cards, sky gazing, and getting the mail.</p>

<p>*One must remember, i go to a small catholic high school, where there are almost no ECs offered; I have done (and I'm doing) as much as I can with the opportunities presented.</p>

<p>I want to major in Neuropsychology Finance, or Mathematics (number theory) and I'm looking towards applying to these schools:</p>

<p>UChicago, Northwestern, Berkley, Columbia, Cornell, McGill, UPenn, Amherst, Williams, Caltech, HYPS(I know i won't get in, but it doesn't hurt to apply), JHU, Rice, Brown, UMich, Swarthmore...to name a few. These are in no particular order.</p>

<p>Your stats are great, so i think you have a good chance at all. Of course the Ivys are reaches for just about anyone, but I still think you could get in.</p>

<p>If you don't mind me asking though, how did you get that position or internship in Neuropsychological Research? That sounds very interesting...did you contact a professor or something? Or did you enroll yourself in a program?</p>

<p>Agree with Sak, excellent chances at all. Best of luck!</p>

<p>Thanks!
I replied to you, Sak, via a pm.</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

<p>just make sure that you do well on SAT/ACT! Everything is very impressive! :)</p>

<p>you've got one helluva chance at all the schools on your list</p>

<p>HYPS will present the most challenges, but only because their applicant pools are so ridiculous and they have so few spots available. I wouldn't be surprised if you got into at least one, though</p>

<p>you have a real good chance at all the others on your list</p>

<p>Yea, how did you get that research position.</p>

<p>So basically, i'm sitting at home one night (i've had a love for neuopsychology for a few years now), and I was looking into where I could do some research (just to get acquainted with the field). I went to a bunch of college websites, navigated to their neuroscience departments (I had previously written a generic letter) and starting noting the e-mail addresses of the head of departments/researchers. I got interests from Stanford and Columbia (both of which I haven't heard from) and the green light from UCSD and Queen's College in NY</p>

<p>And, I seem to have a strong affinity for UChicago; maybe i'll ED there.</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

<p>Great chances everywhere.</p>