<p>^and since there are only about 60 USAMOers able to apply to MIT in the first place (and let's saw, 35-40 of them do b/c some mite decide not to, or some mite have gotten into somewhere early) i doubt that MIT would say "oh, we have too many math allstars already" because there aren't many of them in this world to begin with.</p>
<p>
[quote]
maybe the rest of his application was lacking despite all of his awards.
[/quote]
or the guy reviewing his app was just in an angry mood. bad luck=/</p>
<p>oh and btw hopeless: you sound soo like me, lol, except for the USAMO part (i just have AIME)..we have the same GPA (my unweighted was a little lower but same weighted). same Bio Chem MathII SAT scores. Varsity tennis captain, science math team captain, president of like 3 clubs. USABO USNCO. asian from competitive school =( I have 5 APs and will take 7 next year.</p>
<p>In terms of the awards, many schools don't offer students the opportunity to even take the AMC tests to qualify for the AIME. This year was the first year our school administered the AMC exam to students. I wish I had been able to take these types of exams, including Chem, Bio, and every other one, for years. But the reality is that many of us just don't have that opportunity, and I am sure many of us would be semi-qualified to do well on them. Honestly, I didn't even know what half those acronyms were until this year when it was too late. But schools like MIT know this and have to take it into consideration as well when they chose who to admit. Just because one person doesn't have USABO or USNCO awards, that doesn't mean they aren't has knowledgable in that subject area.</p>
<p>^^I agree with this with the other subjects but not with the math olympiads. If you can qualify for USAMO, it is pretty safe to say that you are one of the 1000 smartest applicants for MIT.</p>
<p>I was probably one of the not-so-well qualified acceptees you guys seem to have referenced in the previous page or two.</p>
<p>I'm not going to be a goody-two-shoes and say that you guys are wrong in pointing out some of the obvious trends based on the data we already have. I do agree that this year they seemed to put emphasis on trying to get more women in their net. However, my following response would be the same had I been accepted, waitlisted, or rejected.</p>
<p>The truth is that admittance doesn't seem to be strictly based on merit anymore. Sure, perfect SATs and APs are definitely a "wow" factor, but face it - the admissions office has probably seen its fair share of those and isn't in the least fazed anymore. I liken this to Intel ISEF - it's the unique projects that seem to get the goods. My friend Erik went to ISEF 2007 in Albuquerque; he created an amazing artificial intelligence robot (Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical; Robotics). Didn't place, because to tell the truth, it's been done before and rehashed. Was it an amazing project? Absolutely. Was it well qualified for award? Definitely. Was it something that stood out and was different and unique from the others? Not really.</p>
<p>The admissions game lately seems to focus not only on the tests, the awards, the numbers... but also on personalities, personal qualities, and other aspects of the person in question that not only reflects what they -have- learned and done, but what they have the -potential- to do, and how well they react to failure. Are you a fitting piece of the puzzle - that is the question. Too many people with perfect scores and science research brilliance isn't going to create a diverse school.</p>
<p>The fact that we sit around and complain about how it's "unfair" that we were "turned down" is already a blemish on the "reaction to failure" section of the resume.</p>
<p>And yes, I realize I was accepted and thus it's easier for me to say this. I'm sorry if I sound like a lecturing fool; I just try to be sincere. But you'll be hearing the same thing from me when I'm rejected from Caltech ;D</p>
<p>OH. By the way guys, I wrote MIT a letter a few weeks after I sent out my application saying that I realized I may not be perfect, but I'd be ready for any challenge. I thought it was an inspirational touch. Add that to my list of "supplemental materials"?</p>
<p>"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; </p>
<p>Then took the other, as just as fair..."</p>
<p>Unlike Frost's traveller, MIT has made the choice for some of you, and it isn't the choice your hearts desired. Some of you are extremely qualified, and it's hard to understand the decision. Personally, I know three students who were rejected by MIT over the past 2 years and are now at Harvard. They are quite happy at Harvard, I might add. </p>
<p>Other outcomes lie ahead of you, and I wish you all the best.</p>
<p>Indeed, a look at the yearly Putnam results will calm any concern about an inverse correlation between qualifications and admission. The fact is USAMO qualification etc., really isn't enough to get in on that ticket alone.</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2400 (Single Sitting)
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Math Level II, 800 Chemistry, 790 US History, 770 Biology E
[<em>]GPA: 3.93 UW, 4.57 W
[</em>]Rank: School does not rank
[<em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AMC10: 122, 126 / AMC12: 117, 112 / AIME: 5, 5 / AP: Biology (5), World History (5), Chemistry (5), US History (5), US Government (5), AP Calculus BC (5)
[/ul]Subjective[ul]
[</em>]Essays: Wrote about a non math/science topic. The only people to correct it were me and a friend. I probably could have tried harder.
[<em>]Teacher Recs: Both recommendations should have been fairly positive. My math teacher went into detail regarding an calculus/economics project I did for him; I said I was going to major in economics, so this may be relevant. My English wrote about how I was President of a club she advised.<br>
[</em>]Counselor Rec: I honestly have no idea what was on the counselor recommendation.
[<em>]Supplementary Material: I sent in a recommendation from a Massachusetts State Representative whom I interned for. It was very well written.
[</em>]Interview: It certainly could have been better, but there was nothing spectacularly bad about the interview.
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): None [/ul]Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: Suburbs of Boston (Lexington, MA)
[<em>]High School Type: Large Public School, Approximately 2000 kids
[</em>]Ethnicity: Asian
[<em>]Gender: Male[/ul]Other[ul]
[</em>]Extracurriculars: Math Team (Captain), Science Olympiad (Captain), Class Council (Elected Council-member), Student Faculty Senate (Elected), "The Electorate" Political Magazine at Phillips Exeter, Chinese Yo-Yo Club (President)
[<em>]Work Experience: Worked for a small software company, Interned for a State Representative over the summer, Caddy at Belmont Country Club
[</em>]Community Service: Volunteered for National Conference of State Legislators Annual Meeting, Middle School Science Olympiad Coach, Perform Chinese Yo-Yo for local cultural events
[<em>]Awards: First Place MA State Science and Engineering Fair, Many Math Team Awards, Many Science Olympiad placings, AP Scholar with Distinction, NMSC Letter of Commendation, National Honor Society Inductee, WPI Mathematics Invitational First Place Team and $1000 Scholarship
[</em>]Note: Was Deferred EA
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Hell yes. This is one of the greatest days of my life.[/ul]</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 800 M / 680 CR / 710 WR
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Math 2 / 790 Phy
[<em>]GPA: 96ish UW
[</em>]Rank: School doesnt rank (top 10% was listed)
[<em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): National AP Scholar
[/ul]Subjective[ul]
[</em>]Essays: I was told they were great. One talked about my passion for research, and another talked about how I revived a school magazine and helped make it extremely popular.
[<em>]Teacher Recs: I was told they were great. And I had a supplemental one from a research professor.
[</em>]Counselor Rec: Again I was told it was very good.
[<em>]Supplementary Material: Sent a research abstract
[</em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Siemens + Intel Semifinalist, ISEF Finalist (through NYCSEF)? [/ul]Personal[ul]
[<em>]Location: Live in NJ, go to school in NYC
[</em>]High School Type: Private (Jewish)
[<em>]Ethnicity: Jewish
[</em>]Gender: M
[<em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]Other[ul]
[</em>]Extracurriculars: Nothing spectacular. Debate president, magazine editor, newspaper associate editor, research, and the main things.
[<em>]Awards: National AP Scholar, National Merit Commended, Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award, Siemens Semi, Intel Semi, ISEF...
[</em>]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:[/ul]
I got very very lucky.</p>
<p>I bet Quirky-inquisitve wins any day after you make it into
a certain achievement profile. The individual achievements being used
by CC posters to argue viability of an applicant seems flaky..?</p>