When does the merit scholarship decisions at CMU will be announced?
**Decision: Priority Waitlisted from MCS **
White Male
SAT I (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): 800/800/710 on old, 800/800 on new
SAT I superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): only took once each
ACT (breakdown): 35S/35E/35R/36M/22W (didn’t send)
ACT superscore (breakdown): only took once
SAT II (subject, score): 800 Math 2, 730 US History, 710 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.85 by my own calculation, my school only reports my weighted
Weighted GPA: 4.56 as of end of junior year, higher now
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 10%
AP (place score in parentheses): Calc BC (5), Stats (5), USHist (5), Eng Lang (5), Physics 1 (5) World Hist (4)
IB (place score in parentheses): no
Senior Year Course Load: 7 classes, the max at my school, 5 APs, one fine art, 1 post-AP
Number of other applicants in your school: 1 that I know of, he got rejected
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): none
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): Won some state-wide and local academic contests, NMSF
Extracurriculars: Lots with plenty of leadership but nothing THAT exceptional - I don’t feel like going into detail.
Essays: Good I think, definitely no typos or grammar errors since I proofread well and pretty good content.
Letter of Recommendation: One from my Physics teacher and one from an english teacher, should be super great.
Other apps: Princeton SCEA (D->?), Georgia Tech EA (A), Case Western RD (A), MIT RD ®, Harvard RD (?), UChicago RD (W) and Carnegie Mellon (W).
Decision: Priority Waitlist
Objective:
SAT : 1410 (700 M, 710 CR)
ACT : 34 (34 M, 33 E, 31 R, 36 S)
SAT II: 800 Chemistry, 740 Math Level II
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.5
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1st
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Chemistry, 4
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP English Literature, AP Calculus AB, Honors Physics, Honors Organic Chemistry, Honors Spanish IV
Subjective:
Extracurriculars: Heavy athletic involvement and success
Job/Work Experience: Part-Time Farmhand
Volunteer/Community service: Local Youth Football Team Assistant Coach
Summer Activities: Travel Basketball
Interview: 9/10. Virtual Interview through Google Hangouts with an alum. Went well. Had numerous questions for her about my prospective major and the university.
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Chemical Engineering
State: PA
Country: USA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~$150,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): 1000 Pt Scorer in Basketball
Reflection
Strengths: ACT Score
Weaknesses: SAT Score
Accepted- RPI, CWRU, Penn State - University Park, Shippensburg University, Juniata College
Waitlist: CMU
Waiting: Penn, Cornell, Bucknell, Lehigh
**Decision: Accepted SCS **
**Decision: Accepted COE **
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): Did not take.
SAT I superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): See above.
ACT (breakdown): 35
ACT superscore (breakdown): One sitting.
SAT II (subject, score): Math 2: 800, Biology: 750
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.93
Weighted GPA: 4.00
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 5%
AP (place score in parentheses): Stat, Lang, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Calculus, World, Government (don’t remember exact scores but passed all of them with 5s mostly)
IB (place score in parentheses): Nope.
Senior Year Course Load: Java Programming, Python Programming, Microeconomics, Lit, Psychology
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 5
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): I wish.
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): NM, AP Scholar with Distinction
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): Math Team, Robotics, Science Bowl, Quiz Bowl, Debate
Job/Work Experience: None.
Volunteer/Community Service: Not really…
Summer Experience: Nothing?
Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays: I think my essay wasn’t anything spectacular, honestly. I focused on the specific computer science and engineering programs offered at CMU.
Teacher Recommendation #1: Did not read.
Teacher Recommendation #2: Did not read.
Counselor Rec: Did not read
Additional Info/Rec: Did not submit.
Interview: Did not interview.
Art Supplement: Did not send.
Other
Date Submitted App: 1/1/2017
U.S. State/Territory or Country: United States
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: <65K
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athelete, development): Nope.
Reflection
Strengths: I enjoyed writing my Common App essay and think it really highlighted my personality as well as my many perspectives.
Weaknesses: My Why CMU essay was rather generic IMO.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I don’t know! I think my extracurriculars definitely helped though! I also think it helped that I DIDN’T interview because I’m an awkward person.
What would you have done differently?: Spend more time on my application! But I guess it didn’t matter much anyway!
Where else did you apply? Columbia, University of Chicago, Cornell, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
**Other Factors: **
General Comments & Advice:
**Decision: Accepted, Dietrich **
Objective:
ACT (breakdown): 34 (English: 36 Math: 30 Reading: 36 Science: 35)
SAT II (subject, score): Math II , 650 Literature, 750
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.5
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/205
AP (place score in parentheses): HUG, World, Physics 1, Lang, Lit, Psych, US, Micro/Macro, Chem, Music Theory, Calc AB, Computer Science, Stats
Senior Year Course Load: Low, I loaded up junior year.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): Patent in robotic recording software.
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): National Merit Commended, AP Scholar With Honors, Kentucky Governor’s Scholar
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): Leader of my marching band, VEX robotics team, BETA Club, NHS, and debate team.
Volunteer/Community Service: More than a thousand hours between the local Historical Society and churches.
Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays: 9/10, made a convincing case for why I fit my major and the school, as well as some heartwrenchers in personal stories.
Teacher Recommendation #1: 10/10
Teacher Recommendation #2: 8/10
Counselor Rec: 9/10
Other
Date Submitted App: 12/27/16
U.S. State/Territory or Country: Kentucky
School Type: Public, 1200 enrolled
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: $200,000+
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athlete, development): None
ACCEPTED
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay):
SAT I superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay):
ACT (breakdown): 33 One sitting
ACT superscore (breakdown): Eng 34, Math 34, Reading 35, Science 31: 34C
SAT II (subject, score): Physics 720, Math 2 770
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.99
Weighted GPA: 4.6/4.9
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/49
AP (place score in parentheses): Bio, Euro, Language, Chem, Calc BC, Physics, USHist, Lit, Stats
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Chem, AP Calc BC, AP Physics, AP USHist, AP Lit, AP Stats, Honors French 5
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): Bausch and Lomb National Science Award
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): ProMerito Honor’s Society, High Point in most classes.
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): National Champion Equestrian Team (Varsity Captain), Figure Skating Instructor, Lead Writer on Newspaper, Founded a club to introduce SexEd to my school system, Girl Scouts, Lab work at Umass, Amherst College Advanced art program, GSA
Job/Work Experience: Pizza Restaurant, CIT
Volunteer/Community Service: With my skating program, Student Council, PTO
Summer Experience: Girl’s State, I have pretty normal teenage summers so I don’t know. I mean honestly I spent more time with my boyfriend than studying this summer.
Writing:
Essays:
(Im not going to Scale Rate Them)
Teacher Recommendation #1: AP Bio, had me for 4 years, various classes (He let me read it, talked about how how I was the first student to earn an A+ in AP Bio and how I help the other students etc.)
Teacher Recommendation #2: AP Language, AP Literature, 2 years (I’m truly an STEM girl but I’m still like second in English so she talked about how I bring good ideas to debates and my creativity and such)
Counselor Rec: I didn’t read it but we’re close so it’s probably pretty nice.
Additional Info/Rec: N/A
Interview: N/A
Art Supplement: N/A
Other:
Date Submitted App: January 1st
U.S. State/Territory or Country: United States
School Type: Small Public Middle/High (run more like a private)
Ethnicity: Half Chinese, Half White
Gender: Girl
Income Bracket Range: 200k
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athelete, development): I didn’t really have any hooks.
Reflection:
Strengths: Grades, Sports Positions
Weaknesses: Low ACT Scores
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I was pretty confident about CMU
What would you have done differently?: Nothing
Where else did you apply? Princeton (dream), Harvard, Yale, MIT, Cornell, Stanford, Rensselaer, UChicago, Columbia, Brown, URochester, UPenn, Umass. (I’m still waiting to hear back from many of them)
**Decision: Accepted, CIT **
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown M/CRW/Essay(R/A/W)):1490 - 760/730/(7/5/6)
SAT II (subject, score): 760 Physics, 800 Chemistry, 800 Math 2
Grades (no GPA) - 9.8/10 in 9th grade, 10/10 in 10th grade, 80% eleventh grade, pretty low in senior year midterms
Senior Year Course Load: English, Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): One word - lol
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): Lots of academic awards
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): A lot of quizzing, quiz club with leadership position, some chess, drama, advanced courses I studied, science fair
Volunteer/Community Service: 1 year
Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays: Not really sure how to rate them. For the supplement, I wrote barely two sentences on why CMU was perfect for me - I focussed more on why I was interested in the major.
Teacher Recommendation #1: Physics, didn’t read, but I’m certain it was exceptionally good
Teacher Recommendation #2: Math, 8.5/10
Counselor Rec: 7/10
Additional Info/Rec: None
Interview: None
Art Supplement: None
Other
Date Submitted App: 27 December
U.S. State/Territory or Country: International
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Reflection
Strengths: Essay, recommendation, SAT 2 scores (?)
Weaknesses: Decline in grades - my senior year grades were somewhat abysmal. Definitely thought I would get rejected due to that if I wasn’t already. ECs also are on the weaker side
Why you think you were accepted: Not really sure at all! was so certain I would be rejected that I didn’t even bother check my decision until hours later
What would you have done differently?: See weaknesses
Where else did you apply? UCLA ®, UCSD (A), UC Davis (A), UC Irvine (A), Purdue (A), Boston U (A), UIUC (A), Cornell
**Decision: Accepted, MCS **
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): 600 M 650 CR 650 W
SAT II (subject, score): 540 Math II, 690 Biology-M
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 2.9
Weighted GPA: 3.3
AP (place score in parentheses): 4 APUSH, 4 AB Calc, 3 Chem, 4 Physics 1
Senior Year Course Load: Film Studies, BC Calc, AP Psych, History Elective, Spanish 4
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 3 out of class of 120
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): None
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): None
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): Ice Hockey varsity captain, Stock Market Club President
Job/Work Experience: Worked at Wendy’s 10th-11th grade
Volunteer/Community Service: Volunteered through church
Summer Experience:
Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays:
Teacher Recommendation #1: 8/10 (got a B- in class but teacher really liked me)
Teacher Recommendation #2: 9/10
Counselor Rec: 7/10
Additional Info/Rec: N/A
Interview: 9/10
Art Supplement: N/Applicable
Other
Date Submitted App: Dec 15 (counselor said that sending in early gives better chances, couldnt apply ED because I applied REA to harvard)
U.S. State/Territory or Country: NJ
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Japanese
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: $100,000
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athelete, development): N/A
Reflection
Strengths: Passionate in my essays
Weaknesses: Sat Score, GPA
Why you think you were accepted: Passionate in my essays
What would you have done differently?: worked better on my harvard app
Where else did you apply? harvard EA, Columbia, Yale, Umich
@tawhidkhn63 So tawhid, sorry to hear you got rejected with Carnegie, which did you decide to finally chose to apply?
@reformedman Hello! We talked a little while ago about RPI versus Stevens. Turns out I got into CMU as well and now the choice is between RPI and CMU (civil engineering)! Why did your soon choose CMU in the end?
@gershwinfan My son chose CMU at first because of
- world renown reputation
- higher salary on average range.
- the challenge of a reputably difficult school
My son changed his mind yesterday back to RPI because
- My son doesn’t want to work on the other side of the world, he wants to work here. RPI is nationally renown.
- CMU average range for CompEng was 50-100. RPI average range was 50-100*. After first job experience you can put in a resume to a widely CMU accepting location.
- Stress if fun but only to a certain degree.
In the end the real determining factor was CMU offered 11k and RPI offered somewhere in the 30’s. Family income is ~100 so we just couldn’t. I visited RPI and it was fine, a bit linear, but fine. I did not visit CMU other than watching every youtube video on CMU. In the end the main thing I heard (or get the imression of) CMU is that it’s hard and not for the weak hearted. The main gist that I get for RPI is that it is a high-calibur, reputable Engineering College, no bones about it. I hope this doesn’t dissaud you, there IS a certain factor of going where you love (there is merit in going to your dream school). When you’re old like me, you wish you had great memories where you went to college. It is 4 long years, of friends, of new social experiences unlike you’ve ever experienced, of appreciation for teachers that taught you what will put food down on your family table, of networking connections. You get that at both these colleges, but if you NEED, this then that is something to consider. My son isn’t that type of person that cares about these things. He wants to be a real engineer in practical terms.
Good luck!
*http://www.cmu.edu/career/documents/one-pagers/ece-post-grad-handout-2015.pdf
https://rpi.edu/dept/cdc/Accepted%20Salaries%202015.pdf
-Since I couldn’t find 2016 results for RPI, I used 2015 for both.
[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted to Information Systems**[/color][/size]
[ b]Objective:**
SAT I (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): 640/630/710
SAT I superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): 640/660/710
ACT (breakdown): 35 English 32 Math 32 Reading 30 Science 32 Composite
ACT superscore (breakdown): N/A
SAT II (subject, score): 750 Math II 730 Bio-M
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.6
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/159
AP (place score in parentheses): AP Calc BC (5) — AP World (5) -----AP Gov (5)
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: APUSH, AP BIO, AP French, AP English
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 0
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): Nope
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): AP Scholar, NHRP
[ b]Subjective:**
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): Created an app that guides students through the college admissions process, Debate Club, French Club, Math Honor Society, National Honor Society, French Honor Society
Job/Work Experience: None
Volunteer/Community Service: NHS math tutoring/ volunteer work
Summer Experience: Learned how to program/app develop on my own from absolutely nothing
[ b]Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):**
Essays:
Teacher Recommendation #1: Didn’t Read, teacher loves me
Teacher Recommendation #2: Didn’t Read, was one of teacher’s top students
Counselor Rec: Didn’t read
Common App: Discussed how I’ve slowly come to appreciate my Colombian heritage and the diverse perspective it has given to me.
Supplement: Talked about my passion for app developing . Discussed how I felt that I was a perfect fit for the Information Systems program and how useful the team based app dev projects are, discussed how I love the opportunities and diversity of a school located in the city.
Additional Info/Rec:
Interview: None
Art Supplement:
[ b]Other**
Date Submitted App: 12/31/2016
U.S. State/Territory or Country: PA
School Type: Small Public
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: Less than 50K
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athelete, development): URM
[ b]Reflection**
Strengths: Test Scores, General Fit for the IS program
Weaknesses: College admissions is tough, Math Score on ACT could be higher
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I conveyed a genuine passion for the IS program and why I love CMU as a whole
Where else did you apply? UPenn ED (Deferred—> Rejected), Vanderbilt (Waitlisted) Lafayette (Accepted) UNC Chapel Hill (Rejected) Swarthmore (Waitlisted).
Any one else on here get accepted to SoA?
**Decision: Accepted to CFA: School of Design **
[ b]Objective:**
ACT (breakdown): 35 Composite; 32 Math, 36 English, 35 Reading, 35 Science (single sitting)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.2 (I slacked one year and got a ~2.5 UW, stay awake in school kids)
Weighted GPA: 4.1 (took all AP and honors courses)
AP (place score in parentheses): US Gov. (5), US History (4), US Comparative (5), World History (5), Psychology (5), English Language (5),
Senior Year Course Load: Language 4 HNS, AP Calc AB, Art, AP Statistics, Orchestra, Physics HNS
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 110 out of 521 (lol).
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): AP Scholar with Distinction, Presidential Service Award, a hackathon award.
[ b]Subjective:**
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description):
- Student Body President (11,12)
- Member, State Senator Campaign (10-12)
- Vice President, Financial Club (10-12)
- Member, Varsity Basketball (11,12)
- Captain, Varsity Soccer (10-12)
- Founder, Created a android app (25k downloads)
Volunteer/Community Service: - President, Fire Corps
- 5k Race Coordinator
[ b]Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):**
Essays: They were very polished. (spent 80+ hours on my CMU essays).
Teacher Recommendation #1: 10/10
Teacher Recommendation #2: 8/10
Teacher Recommendation #3: 9/10
Counselor Rec: 8/10
Additional Info/Rec: Had great relationships with my teachers.
Interview: 8/10 Went decently well.
Art Supplement: 9/10 Great from what the interviewer told me.
[ b]Other**
Date Submitted App: 1/1/17
U.S. State/Territory or Country: California
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Income Bracket Range: $90,000-$110,000
[ b]Reflection**
Strengths: Essays, recommendations, portfolio, act score, and extracurriculars.
Weaknesses: Poor GPA
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Passion in my work. Teachers and my interviewer took notice to this.
What would you have done differently?: Not slacked as hard in school. Also, I would have started my application in September, not December.
Where else did you apply? Columbia, Brown, RISD, Parsons, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, USC, California College of the Arts, MICA, and SAIC.
[ b]General Comments & Advice:**
School of design, not school of art. Tailor your portfolio for design. Try to attend a portfolio review and show a lot of interest in CMU. Be confident in your work.
Decision: Accepted to CFA: School of Design
Objective:
ACT (breakdown): 35 Composite, 32 Math, 35 Science, 36 English, 35 Reading (single sit)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.2 (2.2 UW one year, stay in school kids)
Weighted GPA: 4.0 (all hns/aps)
AP (place score in parentheses): US History (4), Psychology (5), US Government (5), English Language (5), Literature (5), and Human Geography (5)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB, Statistics, Cooking, Art, Language Arts HNS, AP Euro.
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 130/520 (lol)
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): AP Scholar with Distinction.
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description):
- Student Body President (11-12)
- Vice President, Financial Club (10-12)
- Varsity Basketball (11-12)
- Captain, Varsity Soccer (10-12)
- Smartphone App with 15k downloads (11)
Volunteer/Community Service: - Captain, Fire Department
Summer Experience: - Platinum, League of Legends
Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays: Polished. Spent 80+ hours on CMU essay.
Teacher Recommendation #1: 8/10
Teacher Recommendation #2:9/10
Counselor Rec: 8/10
Additional Info/Rec: Great teacher relationships.
Interview: 8/10 decent
Art Supplement: 9/10 as per interviewer comments.
Other
Date Submitted App: 1/1/17
U.S. State/Territory or Country: California
School Type: Public Urban
Ethnicity: Asian
Income Bracket Range: 90k+
Reflection
Strengths: Essays, Rec’s, ACT, Extracurriculars, and interview/portfolio.
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Teachers and interviewer took note of my passion and ability to translate passion into results.
What would you have done differently?: Not slacked in school and started my app way earlier (not december)
Where else did you apply? Cornell, Brown, RISD, SAIC, MICA, Parsons, Emory, USD, UC Berkely, UC San Diego, UC Los Angeles
General Comments & Advice: Attend the portfolio review if possible. And, make sure you make a design portfolio. It’s not a fine arts program you’re applying to, lol.
I will be attending Cornell in the Fall. 
Decision: Accepted to Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown M/CR+W/Essay): 1470 (770M, 700CR+W, 20 Essay)
SAT I superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): N/A
ACT (breakdown): 30 (32E, 29M, 28R, 31S) - Didn’t send.
ACT superscore (breakdown): 31 (34E, 31M, 28R, 31S) - Didn’t send.
SAT II (subject, score):
- [li]US History: 770[/][/li][]Physics: 730[/]
[]Chemistry: 730[/]
[]Math Level 2: 680 (CMU required the math sat 2 so I had to send it, although I didn’t want to.)[/*]
Unweighted GPA (out of 100): ~93 (My school doesn’t show unweighted)
Weighted GPA (out of 100): 95.7
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): ~15%, but I don’t think it’s reported.
AP (place score in parentheses):
- [li]AP US History: 4[/][/li][]AP Physics 1: 3 (Didn’t report)[/]
[]AP English Language: 3 (Didn’t report)[/]
[]AP Psychology: 4[/*]
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load:
- [li]AP Calculus (AB)[/][/li][]AP Chemistry[/]
[]AP Italian Language[/]
[]AP Macroeconomics[/]
[]AP US Government[/]
[]AP Literature[/]
[]College French[/]
[]Social Science Research[/*]
Number of other applicants in your school: 5
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): N/A
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): AP Scholar with Honors, Honor Roll, National Merit Commended Scholar, Questbridge Finalist and Questbridge College Prep Scholar.
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description):
- [li]Social Science Research (Grade 11, 12)[/][/li][]Literary Magazine Website Manager (Grade 9-11, member, 12, website manager)[/]
[]Italian Honor Society President (Grade 11, 12)[/]
[]French and National Honor Society (Grade 11, 12)[/]
[]Spring Track (10, 11)[/]
[]Cooking[/*]
Job/Work Experience: N/A
Volunteer/Community Service:
- [li]Teacher’s Assistant for Summer Camp (Summer of grade 9, 10, 12)[/][/li][]Missionary in Mexico (Summer of grade 11)[/]
[]Vacation Bible Study “Crew Leader” (Summer of grade 9-11)[/]
[]Teacher’s Assistant for Korean School (Grade 10)[/*]
Summer Experience: (See above)
Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays:
- [li]Common App: Wrote about falling asleep to cooking videos and dream theories, and how cooking allows me to explore different cultures. I’d say it was like a 7.5/10, but some people seem to like it. I’m not one to judge my own work though. I didn’t really show anyone until after I had already submitted though.[/][/li][]Main CMU Supplement: Wrote about research and how I want to advance education through research opportunities at Carnegie Mellon. I’d say like a 8.5/10, I personally thought it was my best supplement for any school.[/]
[]For the book prompt, I just wrote the books I read over the year, nothing too special. I didn’t do an interview or had any interruptions in my high school experience to report.[/*]
Teacher Recommendation #1: N/A; Didn’t read.
Teacher Recommendation #2: N/A; Didn’t read.
Counselor Rec: N/A; Didn’t Read.
Additional Info/Rec: N/A.
Interview: 8.5/10: There wasn’t much to the interview. The interviews at CMU are very casual and are more to tell you about the school rather than you to present yourself. Very low pressure.
Art Supplement: N/A.
Other
Date Submitted App: December 22, 2016.
U.S. State/Territory or Country: New York.
School Type: Public.
Ethnicity: Korean.
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: <$60,000
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athlete, development): First generation student.
Reflection
Strengths: Probably my supplement and research.
Weaknesses: My rank is low (for CMU) and I don’t have any major awards.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Admissions definitely accidentally accepted me haha. I honestly don’t know, but I’m very happy that I was accepted.
What would you have done differently?: I definitely would have gotten my essay read my a teacher or a friend that was good at writing. I was just too scared to show other people my work. I guess I don’t take criticism too well.
Where else did you apply?: Tufts (Rejected), Cornell (Waitlisted), Boston College (Accepted), Emory (Waitlisted), Case Western (Accepted), RPI (Accepted), Binghamton (Accepted), Stony Brook (Accepted), Macaulay Honors (Rejected, but accepted to the CUNY Schools), Johns Hopkins (ED, Rejected), Northeastern (Rejected), University of Michigan (Waitlisted), University of Rochester (Accepted, Deans Scholarship), University of Southern California (Rejected), New York University (Accepted).
Other Factors: N/A
General Comments & Advice: I’d say that you never want to regret anything, so give it 110%. Try your hardest, because later after the process you don’t want to wish you had done something differently. Also, try to have a certain focus in your application. Having different interests are definitely great, but don’t spread yourself too thin.