My Chances for Harvard, Yale, Princeton (Economics, Psychology or Biology Major)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Filipino
Race: Southeast Asia (Philippines)
Location: Immigrated to Canada
School: Public – Gifted Program</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<p>Unweighted Grades
Grade 9 – GPA: 3.8
Grade 10 – GPA: 3.9
Grade 11 – GPA: 4.0
Grade 12 – GPA 4.0</p>

<p>Upward Trend (Ref. to Essay Topic)
**
Standardized Testing**</p>

<p>SAT (I):</p>

<p>2200</p>

<p>SAT (II)</p>

<p>World History: 750
Biology M: 730
Math I: 720</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular Activities – In Order of Importance</p>

<p>Environmental Organization – 3 Years
-Financial Director
-Representative
-Conceptualized, and Co-Planned two concerts for environmental awareness, handling over 10,000 peoples (Guests include: David Suzuki, Steven Page, Frank de Jong)
-EcoSchools – Silver Award 2007</p>

<p>-The aforementioned organization was once a club, and in 2 years it had become government and school board funded. Now deals with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of renewable resources a year.
**
District School Board – 2 Years**
-School Representative for the District School Board Student Council
-Ambassador for District School Board Trustee
**
Youth Involvement Organization – 2 Years**
-Editor-In-Chief</p>

<p>-The aforementioned organization is a Canada-wide youth news provider. I am the Editor-In-Chief of the main chapter of the organization.</p>

<p>City's Youth Cabinet (At City Hall) - 3 Years
-Voting Member</p>

<p>Model United Nations – 2 Years
-Founder and President</p>

<p>Junior Achievement - 1 Year
Founder and Student Coordinator of Program at School
**
United Speakers Club– 2 Years**
-Co-Founder and Vice-President
**
Thinking Club (Psychology, Philosophy, Anthropology) – 2 Years**
-Co-Founder and Co-President</p>

<p>Choir – 2 Years
Bass Singer
Soloist</p>

<p>Youth Advisory Group - 2 Years
-Member</p>

<p>Free the Children– 2 Years
-National Conference Attendee
-Member
**
DECA Club – 2 Years**
-Provincial Competition Qualifier
-Member</p>

<p>Investment Club – 3 Years
-Placed Top Three in School Investment Competition</p>

<p>Other Clubs:
-Film Club - 3 Years
-Go Club - 3 Years
-Table Tennis Club - 2 Years
-Chess Club - 2 Years
-Anime Club - 2 Years
-School Newspaper - 1 Year</p>

<p>**
Programs:**
-Placement Program at a Global Human Resources Outsourcing and Consulting Firm
-Gifted Program (Gr. 4-12)
-Leadership Program (Summer)</p>

<p>Essay Topic:
I had a medical disease and parent and close relative had cancer.</p>

2

<p>your sats are rather weak for those schools, and i don't see any clear interest in one activity - it seems like your ecs are all over the place. the only one that does seem potentially interesting is indeed, your first-listed environmental organization</p>

<p>on another note - your school has a go club? cool :D</p>

3

<p>Sorry, I am one of those student with interests that range may fields, I believe the term is polyhistor or philomath (evident in my choices for majors), and thus, I had joined many, if not too many clubs. I suppose my interests in activities range from, but are not limited to: Environmentalism, Politics, Business, and Youth Advocacy. The rest of the clubs are obviously my hobbies and/or pastimes.</p>

<p>I will most-likely be retaking the SATs.</p>

4

<p>Hey, a fellow Filipino! Welcome.</p>

<p>Your grades and tests are definitely competive for HYP, but your ECs are just average. You have too many ECs and most are meaningless.</p>

<p>Plus your essay topic is overdone and rather cliched. IMHO change your essay topic to one that expresses your personality, not your shortcomings.</p>

<p>I'd say reach.</p>

5

<p>Yes, I do understand the situation with my extra-curricular activities. I will be sure to only include the meaningful activities in my applications.</p>

<p>For my essay topic, I did not mean that my essay would explain my short comings, but how the experience had (for the lack of a better word) enlightened me, and motivated me to do better in my life, and to one day, influence the world.</p>

6

<p>Why do people keep on stressing that applicants have no chance when they have too many ECs? Sure, focus on something is important but in reality that is impossible unless you're that type of person that just does what he/she wants for themselves. People talk about focus as if it were a mandatory prerequisite for competitive schools. </p>

<p>You have a good chance, not a magnificent one, but it'll be worth the shot.</p>

7

<p>Thanks Gryffon</p>

<p>Does anyone know any way I could increase my chances? </p>

<p>Later on in the year, I am set to become Director of the environmental organization, and during which, we are scheduled to become the first school in my country to implement and install renewable energies and take the school off the city's energy grid.</p>

8

<p>wow, that's pretty cool. As someone who's into spreading awareness about the relationship between common environmental pollutants and cancer, that's awesome. I wish you the best of luck with all your apps! I would be surprised if you didn't get into at least one of the HYP schools.</p>

9

<p>Thanks so much, I really appreciate your vote of confidence!</p>

10

<p>Asian URM with decent stats, in everywhere.</p>

11

<p>You have alright chances since you have good grades, but your EC's are only average since it's highly unfocused, and a ton of them mean nothing ( anime club, film club.)</p>

12

<p>As I had said before,
Sorry, I am one of those students with interests that range may fields, I believe the term is polyhistor or philomath (evident in my choices for majors), and thus, I had joined many, if not too many clubs. I suppose my interests in activities range from, but are not limited to: Environmentalism, Politics, Business, and Youth Advocacy. The rest of the clubs are obviously my hobbies and/or pastimes. </p>

<p>I had listed a the majority of the clubs that "mean nothing" (I joined them simply because I enjoyed them) under Other Clubs for that specific reason.</p>

13

<p>Apply to Princeton as a psychology major--that will increase your chances significantly (and I believe Princeton is where you have the best chance).</p>

<p>The reason I say this is that Princeton throws out the freshman year, and gets tons of science applicants, but fewer liberal arts majors in stuff like psychology where the applicants still has great grades, and ECs that support the major.</p>

<p>Then make your essay focused on environmental causes and on your working with mass psychology and marketing in order to further the environmental agenda. Figure out a good topic along this line and it will make your essay and application stand out from all the others. Get books to improve your writing (I suggest Struck and White's "Essentials Of Style"). Make sure you talk from a first person approach--that is, how are these environmental problems affecting you, your community and your country.</p>

<p>If you get into Princeton, I suggest you double major in Psychology and Biology--or make Biology your "minor". This will help you achieve your goals.</p>

<p>Best of success.</p>

<p>P.S. I would also consider retaking the SAT I in December if you think you can improve. In particular, Princeton will be looking very closely at your SAT I critical reading score.</p>

14

<p>Thanks so much for the advice Calcruzer, it is very useful. I will definitely be taking it into account. And yes, I will most likely try to retake the SATs.</p>

15

<p>...I don't see what's wrong with a bunch of ECs..as long as you're dedicated to a select few.</p>

16

<p>Yes. Thats true. That is why I had arranged my Extra-Curricular activities in order of importance, and the less meaningful ones in the "Other Clubs" section.</p>

17

<p>Impressive
Good Luck</p>

18

<p>Thanks a bunch. You too. =)</p>

19

<p>gekko, check ur pm please, i think we are from the same city! =)</p>

20

<p>XD! Thats awsome.</p>

<p>Anyone else - Chances?</p>