<p>If you like neurobiology, MIT has the largest neuroscience lab in the world. The resources are simply amazing. My D is now a neuroscience major and premed and already did research as a freshman. Her academic background was somewhat similar to yours, with no national awards, and with research internships as her main EC. She did get a paper published in a major medical journal, but that was after her application was submitted. In here application, she mostly spoke about how painting was her passion and how it helped her relax when she was stressed. She also spoke about she overcame severe neurological Lyme disease and wanted to help others with similar conditions. I believe it was her motivation and passion that got her in, not a list of random ECs.</p>
<p>You have shown enough passion for what you do, just make sure it comes through in your application and interviews. Believe it or not, adcoms like to be entertained. They read hundreds of applications and if yours sounds like every other, they won't be able to be a strong advocate for you when you really need it. Think of it this way: when the adcom goes to committee with their files in February or March, they know that only one out of nine or ten applications (at HYPSM) they are responsible for will be accepted. They know everything about their own applicants. Most have strong academic records. Make their job easy to showcase your file to the rest of the committee that will vote on your application after listening for at most two minutes to the summary presentation by your adcom. Try to be that one in ten that pops off the page so that the committee really wants you admitted. One of the main questions they try to answer is: what will the student bring to the community if we admit her?</p>
<p>Thank you so much cellardweller. Your D's story was not the only one i've heard from MIT students, where an "average" person with great scores have gotten in. It seems like out of all the top schools, MIT is the only one that cares about personality/passion/creativity more than they care about winning certain awards. This makes MIT sound like such a better place than other schools of the same caliber. If money was not entirely a problem, i would definitely make MIT my first choice, but my parents do not want to pay 50k/year, since i have a 5 year old sister, and their jobs aren't too stable. Like i said before, i will probably end up at Berkeley (like 20 students every year) because of both not being accepted/money.</p>
<p>The research internship now is the only thing that i have. There is no way i'm going to get anything published, or have i overcome any significant difficulties, except maybe the fact that i came to the US when i was 9, didn't speak a word of english, and now i'm ranked 2 out of 500 students. I don't know if they truly care about that, since there are tons of high-achieving immigrants, with awards/etc. And as for my high school, every year we send about 1 student to stanford, and it has always been athletics, or URM, or theater. </p>
<p>In the last 6 years, i don't think anyone's gotten into MIT or Harvard. I haven't heard of anyone going to Princeton ever. But as for the "average joe" thing, last year, our salutatorian got accepted at Cornell, and he didn't have any special EC's either. But Cornell is the easiest to get in. So yea.</p>
<p>Don't give up just because you don't think you can pay for it. Unless your parents make over $180,000/year or own a lot of property you will be eligible for financial aid. Over 64% of MIT students are on financial aid. </p>
<p>Don't shortchange your immigrant background either. There aren't tons of immigrants who rise to the top of their class and outperform others who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Most don't even graduate from high school. I don't know if your parents were college graduate themselves, but if not, that is a definite plus. Elite colleges and MIT in particular like students who exceed expectations.</p>
<p>Right now though, my parents do make over $180k/year, and we do have property. Their jobs are still unstable though, because where we live, there aren't a lot of opportunities for engineers, and both of my parents are engineers. But yea, they are highly educated - both have masters degree from China, so that won't help me much there.</p>
<p>I was never "privileged" like some, but our family isn't exactly poor! I just don't see how exactly my being an immigrant can help too much. I mean, everyone has their problems, they should just deal with it, right? Plus, i came when i was 9, wouldn't colleges think that i've had 8 years to deal with my "problem"?</p>
<p>No, you can still write about the effect immigrating had upon your worldview, and how it changed the course of your life. (If it did, that is. If it didn't, then write about something else.)</p>
<p>We're pretty much in the same position in terms of family situation and background. If you're interested in HYPMS they have the money to be generous with financial aid. I can't think of which ones off the top of my head but I remember my mom was really excited about some schools' finaid initiatives which essentially extended really generous conditions to students of your income bracket. It's worth a try if you can get in. Try other contests and scholarships too. </p>
<p>Oh, about the immigrant thing, I came here around the same time as you but I never really thought about mentioning it on my app... I assumed that it was relatively common and I didn't think it was that relevant or defining as to who I am now. Unless it's different for you, I would recommend not trying to make it a big thing because I think among Chinese applicants it's not too rare.</p>
<p>Sartorialiste, i agree with your point of view on the immigrant thing and thanks for the advice on finaid. Ivies are known to give pretty generous finaid in general.</p>
<p>Blueducky, you seem worried about this college admissions process, especially in respect to HYPSM admissions. I want to tell you to calm down! Believe it or not, you are extraordinary in your own way, but it is up to you to portray yourself as such! Although you think your accomplishments are mundane, they are not even in the context of Stanford's (and the rest of these colleges) application pool. Now, I'm not going to tell you you're going to be admitted at Stanford, or any of these schools in particular, but I will tell you that you have as good a shot as most of getting into these schools if you don't screw up. (I know, poor way to say it but it's true). Look, you are right that these schools are looking for people who stand out from the rest of the pool. I would lie to you if I didn't acknowledge that nearly every student at these schools has accomplished something truly extraordinary par their circumstances/opportunities. What you seem to not grasp is that, leadership, athletics, legacy, and minority status are certainly not the only ways to stand out. You can stand out with stellar academic achievement, passion for your extracurricular activities, good letters of rec (I don't mean solid, I mean good), character,etc. The list goes on and on. Now, some may say I'm giving you false hope, especially when many of the schools you plan on applying to have acceptance rates below 10%. I would say that I'm giving you a realistic appraisal of your chances, because your achievements clearly put you in the top half, maybe even top third of the applicant pool. It is up to you, now, to sell yourself while remaining genuine to the adcoms. As for financial aid, I would worry about that AFTER you are admitted. While it is true that if your parents are making over 200k it is gonna be tough to get good financial aid, these schools (HYPSM) won't stand for a kid denying them because of money. They will work with you to make sure it's affordable. Trust me. I understand I was being very general (because this is a public forum) so if you want any less general and more specific information, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Wow, before i think of any better questions to ask you, Cervantes, Star, Cellar and other great contributors, i just want to thank you for saying these things to me. </p>
<p>You people are the reason why I want to go to these great schools in the first place. Thanks for realizing that right now i'm in need of reassurance and for making me feel a bit better about myself! You guys have every right to brag about your accomplishments and stand aloof to whining, overstressed newbies like me, and yet you offer me such great advice.</p>
<p>As for Cervantes, you seem awful sure that i have a good chance, but honestly, i have not even given you my full profile! :)</p>
<p>I’d just hate for you to not apply just because you don’t think you have a chance. I almost didn’t apply to any top schools (actually, any American schools at all), because I didn’t think I had the qualifications that everyone else seems to have. And when I was applying I needed to stay off CC, because it seems like everyone here are so talented and amazing that I’d never stack up. </p>
<p>Just have confidence in yourself and you’ll be fine. Remember, nobody really has a “good” chance of getting into these top schools, but you have the same chance as any other qualified applicant; no more, no less. Now it’s just about working hard on your application and showing them why you belong there.</p>
<p>The thing about "selling yourself" in the right way --- i figured, those with better EC's should be able to do it too, i mean, it's not like they would spend so much effort on their EC's and academics and just blow off the college application itself. Their essays will be great too. That's pretty much the reason why i think that even if i had a great essay, it would not be enough. I will definitely apply though.</p>
<p>BlueDucky -- can you speculate upon why Ivies reject more Top 2% in class/2300 SAT applicants than they accept?</p>
<p>I believe those stats above merely position a person as academically qualified. Once that cut is made (which, for sake of argument, reduces the applicant pool at H from 27,000 to 10,000), the question becomes "what qualities make this applicant the kind of person that by interacting with other students, makes H a more exciting, interesting and stimulating place?" I believe that is how H makes the 2nd admissions cut from 10,000 to the about 1,800 who receive the fat envelope.</p>
<p>I doubt that 10,000/27,000 are that qualified for Harvard. If you whittle it down to those with great gpas/SATs than you will be left with around 5000 kids and from that point on its a chance game.</p>
<p>"I can write a kick ass essay, i mean, i can really describe something if i truly cared about it enough.</p>
<p>I just feel so intimidated by those Sci Oly, Sci bowl, biology presidents out there. Our school do not offer those things, and yea, i guess i could have started them if i was "special" enough, but i guess i'm not"</p>
<p>THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL! I feel like I've been cheated out of a good opportunity at an ivy or competitive school because of the fact that my school is very minimal in opportunities, awards etc.</p>
<p>now that I think about it, there is something that is unique about me: the way I think and see the world. I don't want to reveal anymore incase somone steals my idea :p</p>
<p>^^
When I was applying a year ago and listening to admissions officers pitches, they often emphasized "making the most of your opportunities". Frankly, a 2100 on the SAT from a high school like mine would be a great score but not worthy of HYPSM admission in and of itself. However, at the inner city high school about fifteen minutes away from mine, a 2100 on the SAT would be seen as extremely impressive and would likely procure admission at these highly selective schools. As a famous person once said, "To those whom much has been given to, much is expected." And I agree with Bescraze, there is no way 10,000 kids have a 2300/top 2% class rank...try like 3-4000 at most of the applicants to Harvard have that, yet still less than half of them get in. A better statement would be, 10,000 applicants have both 2100/top 5% rank yet around 80% of them won't be admitted. Harvard then makes the second cut, etc.</p>
<p>You guys are kind of missing my point. I don't mean to say that having great SAT scores, high GPA, winning awards or whatever guarantee admission. I mean, people who have those already tend to write better essays too right? They would not blow off something as important as an admission letter. So, somebody like me without an award or some other kind of hook, even with a good essay might not be able to get in, right?</p>
<p>Cervantes, I have read, going by memory here, that there are either around 20,000, or 26,000 high schools in the United States. In any case, I googled HS graduating seniors, and found the number to be 3,200,000.</p>
<p>*<em>edit</em> I just found that a 2270 SAT is the upper range of the 99th%. Now, given this why would 2270 not be found in just about every school? Heck, there are some schools that have over 20. There are about 3,200,000 high school seniors, so one would expect about 32,000 2200 - 2270 scorers. </p>
<p>Do you think it implausible that one third (about 10,000) of the 2200 - 2270 scorers apply to H, and also YPSM, and a few others? What is Harvard to do with all those top 1% scorers? Short answer, not find room for 80% of them. The 20% for whom they find room are exciting, interesting, compelling enough to separate themselves in the application from the other 80%.</p>
<p>2200 - 2270 is the band representing the top 1% mark. So Cervantes was closer to the true number than I was. I cannot edit the first post, but did edit the second.</p>
<p>In any case, what can you do to demonstrate that a top school simply MUST have you, when you are academically equivalent to a group from which 80% will not find room?</p>