Math Dilemma

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
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<p>Hey guys, I hope you'll view this as a less conventional chances thread. You see, I've had this math dilemma throughout high school which I have found to lower my chances of getting into my dream schools severely. </p>

<p>A brief profile: Junior, Asian, Male, NY
Intended Major: International Relations (aspiring Woodie Woo graduate), economics concentration
GPA is a 4.13 out of 5 (5 = H = 1st place in an honors class, 4.3 = A+, 4 = A, 3.7 = A-, 3.3 = B+, etc.)
So it's essentially an A
I've taken all all honors and AP's with the exception of Freshmen year art, Sophomore year Film, and Junior Year Latin. I've taken a total of 4 AP's: APUSH, AP Eng Lang, World History, and Physics B. </p>

<p>SATs: 800 Wr, 800 Cr, 690 Mth ----- retaking to get a better math score, I know I can at least break 700 (reasoning is that I really need to shake off my image of incompetence in math).
II's: 770 World, 770 US, 700 Bio Molecular, 640 IIC (!!!!!)</p>

<p>ECs/Awards:
President of Junior Statesmen of America (passion in politics), regional assisstant director of debate
President of Model UN (I'm extremely passionate about this activity as well as IR, and will probably write my common-app essay for fav activity on it). CMUNCE 2005 Best Position Paper Award, UNAR 2005 Outstanding Delegate
Weekly School Newspaper (one of few in the nation) - Junior year News Editor, Senior Year Opinion Editorial Editor
Mock Trial - Attorney
Amnesty International - Treasurer (Free Tibet! :-) )
Filmmaking
National Honor Society member (this is really pointless at my school - basically you're recruited if you have above a 3.5 (Approximately a B+/A- range) GPA, but the NHS leaders are pretentious Bahstahhhhds (coincidentally, the initials of my high school are NHS - Niskayuna High School).
National Merit Semifinalist
Reel Teens Film Festival 2004 Finalist
National Latin Exam Gold, Silver
National French Exam regional placed 11th, placed 15th in 2005
French Department Honors certificate
NCTE Writing Competition nominee (awaiting results).</p>

<p>Okay, here's my dilemma: I've demonstrated through both grades and SAT scores to have poor math skills. Now, I know being an IR intended major sort of mitigates the amount of damage that does, but I don't want colleges thinking I'm incompetent in quantitative reasoning. Furthermore, I'm Asian. I kinda just wanna know what my chances are like (I'm not so confident anymore, given my math weakness), based on your own personal experiences or speculations. Here's a breakdown of my math grades:
Freshmen year Geometry Honors - A
Sophomore Year Trigonometry/Algebra II Honors - B
Junior Year Precalculus Honors - B-
Senior Year AB Calc (I intend to work my ass off to salvage any mathematics dignity I have for at least the first semester) </p>

<p>Do I have a shot?</p>

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<p>I have no idea what your chances are for admission (I'm an 06er too), but having a high school newspaper that actually gets out weekly is pretty damn impressive. How much time do you guys have to put in to do that, and how long are your issues?</p>

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<p>Our issues are 8 pages each, 12 when it's the bi-weekly magazine. We usually devote 1 - 2 hours planning, 3 - 5 hours editing and laying out, and 1 - 2 writing when editors are compelled to. So it's usually around 5 - 9 hours/week.</p>

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<p>I didn't realize there was that much going on around high school that is newsworthy... at least not at my school. Our paper is only monthly and it's really bad. It's so bad, in fact, that nobody with any talent wants to be associated with it; only the regular/honors English kids (the ones not good enough to take AP) write and "edit" for it (I haven't seen any evidence of actual editing.) In the November issue they mispelled a club name in the front page headline: Mu Alpha Theta was spelled "Mew Lapha Theta." They weren't trying to be funny. That's when I quit reading it.</p>

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<p>Asian male with sub 700 SAT math score = URM = hook
You're in!</p>

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<p>lol @ cookiemom. Anyways, you are definitely different from the average Asian male. I like your chances. Weak math is overcome by your strong social sciences and humanities grades. You'll be just fine when admissions time comes along. Do you happen to be first generation college student? That would seal the deal.</p>

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<p>unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), I'm not 1st generation. My parents were educated in China, and only China, but I don't think that counts for anything.</p>