My Chances at Top Tech School: MIT, CMU, CalTech,...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I was just wondering chances of getting into Top Tech College for CS or EE (they are pretty interrelated).
I am in my junior year at private high school in Oregon, called Oregon Episcopal School.
I am from India (parents), but born in the US.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (Unweighted, 1st in Class)
SAT: 800 M 710 CR 790 W
SATII: 800 M IIC 800 Chem 800 Phys
AP: AP Calc BC, AP Comp. Sci AB, AP US History, AP Chem, AP Physics C M, AP Physics C E/M AP Biology, AP Statistics, AP English
5-AP Comp Sci AB and both AP Phys. C's</p>

<p>I expect 5's on (AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Statistics, AP Calc)
I expect 4's on (AP English, AP US History)</p>

<p>Currently I had summer internships the last two summers at Mentor Graphics as a computer programmer.
Also I have done research project in microbiology, which I have a passion for, I am working at a local university with a professor.
-It won 2nd Place at the regional fair
-It won HM at the Northwest Science Expo
-It was top 10 project at the Oregon Junior Academy of Sciences
-It won Outstanding Science Award Presented by the US Air Force
Also I was a semi-finalist in the USA Physics Olympiad as well as nominated for the USA Chemistry Olympiad Team.
I have won the regional Math Competition for the past 3 years qualifying for the Oregon Invitational Mathematics Competition. I was 3rd place in the toughest division this year.
I have been captain of the Science Bowl Team for the past 3 years, we won 5th place out of 64 at our last tournament.
I was the team captain for the state of Oregon at the National Panasonic Academic Challenge.
I am part of an engineering team that is a semi-finalist for an MIT grant.</p>

<p>I currently am one of the leaders of an organization called Explorer Post 915, which builds PC's for local charities. The program is financially supported by Intel. Local tech companies donate old pc's to us, and we fix them up, and sometimes build pc's from scratch for charity</p>

<p>I have volunteered at the Local Public Library.
I have been a Star Cast Mentor, which basically where high school students mentor Middle School students.
I have been part of the AASK program, which basically is a program that tutors students from a low-income public elementary school.
I am part of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony.
I have been part of my school's orchestra (4 yrs.)
-Played the Violin for 8 yrs.</p>

<p>Things I will do through 12th:
Mock Trial (4 yrs)
Model United Nations (3 yrs.)
Speech and Debate (3 yrs.)
Math Club (4 yrs.)</p>

<p>Looking at:
Reaches:
MIT, CalTech, Stanford, CMU, Cornell
Semi Reach
Wash. U at St. Louis, U of Washington, UCSD
Safety
U of Oregon, Oregon State University</p>

<p>My sister went to MIT (Legacy????)</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for helping me.</p>

2

<p>Anyone??? Please help.</p>

3

<p>I think you have a fair chance compared to other applicants in any of those schools listed</p>

4

<p>wow youre really smart i bet you can get into any of those.</p>

5

<p>i most interested in help with my reach schools, should i apply or believe it is a lost hope.</p>

6

<p>I think you can get into CMU and Cornell.</p>

<p>You should apply to Caltech, Stanford and MIT. =] I don't think it's a lost hope.</p>

<p>Hrm, I don't know my sisters stats through and through but she's a freshman at MIT this year and I think her stats might've been around yours.</p>

7

<p>You certainly have the stats to get into the top schools. What MIT in particular will be looking for is what distinguishes you from the thousands of other highly qualified applicants. Performing well in math or science competitions is not unusual unless you are an Intel or USAMO finalist. Playing the violin at a high level for many years also show your commitment to a task but is not unique. You have participated in a lot of activities although none really stands out. On the other hand, you mention in passing you are passionate about your research in microbiology. That is something less common. If you expand on that subject in your essay get an additional rec from the professor, maybe show that the work was not obvious, that you had to struggle to get results, that it may lead to a publication in the future you could demonstrate a true passion. MIT wants creative types who can apply concepts to new areas and are not afraid of failure. If you have never failed at anything you haven't tried hard enough. </p>

<p>Also, as you already probably know, MIT does not have any legacy preference and having a sister already at MIT won't help you get in. They want to know why YOU should get in!</p>

8

<p>If you have a passion for microbiology, why do you want to study CS and EE? Is there some kind of interdisciplinary work you want to do? If you can relate the two, I think it shows a pretty mature interest in science, which would be appealing. Are you also looking at schools with biotechnology programs?
Just interested....</p>