Last post: chances at selective colleges

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Please evaluate my chances at MIT, University of Chicago, Princeton, Carleton College, Harvey Mudd College, Yale, Harvard, and Brandeis University.</p>

<p>I take the most challenging course load available at a competitive prep school in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am a white male and double legacy at MIT. Essays, recommendations, supplementary recommendation, and interview are all superb. School does not weight or rank.</p>

<p>SAT I: 800 M, 770 W, 720 CR
SAT II: 760 Math IIC, 760 Biology M, 740 Math IC</p>

<p>GPA: 3.89 uw / 4.22 w
Decile: Top 10% (uw) in a class of 57</p>

<p>Grades:</p>

<p>English 9 A-/A-
Geometry Honors A+/A
Spanish II A-/A-
World History I A+/A
Physical Science A/A-
Jazz Band A (fall semester)
Digital Imaging A (spring semester)
Computer Science and
Information Technology (required) A+ (spring semester)
PE Contract: Ice Hockey P
Lacrosse P (varsity letter)
Community Service: Music Education P/P</p>

<p>English 10 A-/A
Algebra II Honors A-/B+
World History II A-/A-
Spanish III B+/A-
Biology I A-/A-
Life Drawing A+ (fall semester)
Intro to Computational Science and Modeling A (spring semester)
Health (required) A+ (spring semester)
PE Contract: Hockey P
Lacrosse P
Community Service: Immigration Rights P/P</p>

<p>Intermediate Spanish I
(Centro lingüístico conversa, Costa Rica) A</p>

<p>English 11 A/A-
Pre-Calculus Honors A+/A
US History A/A
Spanish IV AP A/A
Biology AP A-/A-
Chemistry Honors A/A-
Chamber Music A+ (spring semester)
PE Contract P
Community Service: Music on TAP P/P
Music Theory I (SF Community College) A (spring semester)</p>

<p>English 12 A-
Calculus AB A
Twentieth Century America A-
Spanish V Honors A
Physics Honors A
The Art of Problem Solving (fall semester) A
Life Drawing (spring semester)
Advanced Music Theory (spring semester)
PE Contract P
Community Service P
Music Theory II (SF Community College) (spring semester)</p>

<p>AP Scores:</p>

<p>Biology--5
Spanish Lang--3</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Summer of 2002:
- "Modeling Complex Systems in StarLogo"--Two-week summer workshop at the Santa Fe Institute with funding from MIT.</p>

<p>Summer of 2003:
- "Cyber Defenders Institute"--Two-week summer workshop/internship directed by Los Alamos Nat’l Labs, and held in conjunction with the 2003 Summer Teacher Institute at San Juan College.</p>

<p>2003-2004 Academic Year:
- Played guitar for the 3rd Jazz Band in the NM Jazz All-State Festival.
- Received 3rd place in the Senior Physics Division of the Northeastern NM Regional Science Fair and 2nd place in the American Junior Academy of Science Paper Competition for a project in cosmology.
- Received the American Vacuum Society Regional Science Fair Award.
- Participated in the NM Adventures in Supercomputing Challenge, achieving first-round finalist position, and winning 1st place runner-up and the Sandia Nat’l Labs prize for creativity and innovation.
- Performed post-modern music with the Santa Fe New Music Youth Ensemble for their annual "YouthFest".
- Contributed articles and poetry to school publications.</p>

<p>Summer of 2004:
- ¡Pura Vida! Prep in Costa Rica 2004--One-month summer Spanish program at the Conversa Language Institute with work/cultural immersion activities.
- Volunteered as an online computer programmer/teaching assistant for the NM Summer Teacher Institute.</p>

<p>2004-2005 Academic Year:
- Played the guitar at local venues and at the year-end YouthFest with the Santa Fe New Music Youth Ensemble.
- Attended workshops on the performance of contemporary and avant-garde music.
- Performed with the 2nd Jazz Band in the 2005 Jazz All-State Festival.
- Participated in the UNM-PNM Statewide Mathematics Contest and organized biweekly math club meetings to study recreational mathematics problems.
- Received first place in the Senior Team Division of the Northeastern NM Regional Science Fair for a project in game theory.
- Contributed articles and poetry to school publications.</p>

<p>Summer of 2005:
- Santa Fe Institute Summer Internship Mentorship Program--Six-week summer internship doing research with SFI scientists.
- Volunteered as a personal teaching assistant at the NM Summer Teacher Institute, teaching computer programming, modeling, and science to NM teachers.</p>

<p>2005-2006 Academic Year:
- Contributed articles and poetry to school publications.
- Volunteered as a teaching assistant at the NM Adventures in Supercomputing Challenge Kickoff.
- Performed with the Santa Fe New Music Youth Ensemble.
- Assisted local contemporary music organization with educational workshops and concert production.
- Raised money to commission and premiere a new work of music.
- Participated in a school-sponsored math club and math circle.
- Attended the “New Mexico Young Researchers Banquet”.
- Participated in the NM Adventures in Supercomputing Challenge.
- Performed with the 3rd Jazz Band in the 2006 Jazz All-State Festival.
- Semi-finalist (projected) in UNM-PNM Statewide Mathematics Contest.</p>

<p>All Years:
- Took weekly lessons in classical, contemporary, and jazz guitar.
- Participated in a guitar/fiddle trio, performing music at the Santa Fe Farmers Market and other local venues.</p>

<p>Employment:
- Musical Performance, June-August, 2002-2005
- Software Testing at Flow Science, Inc., October 26, 2005-present</p>

<p>Scholastic Distinctions:
- Honor Roll (all years)
- New Mexico State Scholar (‘05)
- University of New Mexico Star Scholar (‘05)
- AP Scholar (‘05)
- Award for excellence in advanced Spanish classes (‘05)</p>

2

<p>MIT might actually be a match for you....</p>

<p>good chances everywhere</p>

3

<p>Double Legacy at MIT? Jeez</p>

<p>you'll get in there, just apply</p>

<p>cya</p>

4

<p>Actually, I was deferred EA at MIT. My Critical Reading score was significantly sub-par (630) until I received my December scores. Hopefully I will have much better chances RD.</p>

<p>From what I've heard, MIT doesn't give much consideration for legacy. I've also heard--from my grandfather--that a third generation applicant has a slight advantage if he or she applies early.</p>

<p>I'm not sure what to make of all that.</p>

5

<p>Are there any other ideas?</p>

6

<p>Did you send a sample of your musical talent?</p>

7

<p>Should I send something? I'm mostly interested in nonperformance music subjects, like music theory, but if it helps my chances, I'll send a recording.</p>

<p>Also, I wrote an article on cosmology in tenth grade. It's very impressive, but I'm not sure I want to include it in my application. I'm afraid it will be read by some genius professor.</p>

8

<p>Bump. Your opinions are very helpful.</p>

9

<p>I wouldn't send an example of music unless you show an expressed interest in music. Also you can send in a research paper if you want, but keep in mind that the reader will likely only skim through it in under a minute.</p>

<p>MIT itself says that you should only send in extra stuff if it's new or unincluded in the original application. If they can clearly figure out something from the original application, don't include it.</p>

10

<p>If she was starting again, I would encourage my D to apply to Univ of Chicago. My belief is that one gets a better education than HYPS.</p>

<p>beprepn</p>

11

<p>I sent in a full-length research paper. They may or may not have read it, but it certainly didn't hurt my application. I think you'll do fine sending in supplemental materials in scads <em>g</em></p>

12

<p>Would anyone care to read my research abstract on cosmology?</p>

13

<p>I would love to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>