***Official Northwestern Class of 2018 RD Results ONLY****

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
81

<p>[size=+2]** Decision: Waitlisted**[size]</p>

<p>[<em>] SAT I (breakdown):2210 (R: 680 M: 740 W: 790)
[</em>] ACT: 35 (36 English, 35 Math, 35 Reading, 35 Science, Writing 10)
[<em>] SAT II: 800 Math 2
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.91/4
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): Bio (4) Calc BC (5) English Comp (5) APUSH (5) Physics B (5)
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: Calc III, AP Gov, AP Stats, AP Themes, AP Macro, AP Chem, AP Psych
[<em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):[/list]Subjective:

[ul] Commended Nat. Merit, AP Scholar, 3rd National FBLA Banking and Financial Systems
[</em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): President of community service club, Varsity/Captain Track and Cross country grades 11/12, JV swim team and water polo frosh/soph, National Honor Society, P.E. Pool Leader
[<em>] Job/Work Experience: Summer Cancer Research Internship at Northwestern Medical School
[</em>] Volunteer/Community service: Mexico mission trip
[<em>] Summer Activities: AFS Intercultural Program to Malaga, Spain
[</em>] Essays: Supplement and Common App were really great (I know I sound like most people when I say this but they were really good
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation: Bio and Math were probably good
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Probably good
[<em>] Additional Rec: Research Professor. I will never find out what he wrote because he jumped off a building and killed himself in October. RIP
[</em>] Interview:[/ul]Other

[ul] It went very well
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant): Illinois
[</em>] Country (if international applicant): USA USA USA
[<em>] School Type: large public suburban competitive
[</em>] Ethnicity: ORM
[<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>]Income Bracket: 100k+
[<em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):[/ul]Reflection

[ul] Legacy
[</em>] Strengths: can do twenty pushups without getting tired
[<em>] Weaknesses: mayonnaise
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: probably for smoking #pot on NYE back in 2008
[li] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:[/ul]General Comments: Accepted: Vanderbilt, Umichigan (probably going here), U of I, Madison Wisconsin, Notre Dame[/li]Waitlisted: Johns Hopkins BME
REJECTED: Upenn, Duke, Harvard, Stanford</p>

<p>Some ragrets. If I were to do HS over again I would have joined XC and Track earlier and treated it more seriously. I did one of these because these really helped me out when I was applying.
Another thing: I applied last minute to every school while I was sipping drank in Mexico on Winter Vacation. Might have something to do with outcome.</p>

82

<p>Decision: Rejected</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>SAT I (breakdown): 2270 (730CR 770M 730 W)
ACT: 35
SAT II: Chemistry 720 Biology E 750 US History 780 Math II 770
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): ~10-15/500
AP (place score in parenthesis): English Language (5), European History (5), Human Geography (5), Statistics (5), Biology (5), Psychology (4), Environmental Science (4), Chemistry (4), US History (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics B, AP English Literature, AP US Government/ AP Macroeconomics, AP Comp Sci, Music History, AP Calculus BC
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Nationals in Public Forum Debate, NFL All-State Top 10 (TN) - Outstanding Distinction, National Merit Finalist, National AP Scholar
Subjective:</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate Team (JV Captain (11), Varsity Captain (12)), Model United Nations (ICJ Justice (11), President of the International Court of Justice (12)), Youth in Government (Supreme Court Justice), Ultimate Frisbee, 12 years of guitar, 4 years of self-taught piano
Job/Work Experience: 7 week internship at a law firm
Volunteer/Community service: 100+ hours as a public library volunteer Freshman and Sophomore year
Summer Activities: Tennessee Governor’s School for International Studies at the University of Memphis, Boys State, American Legion Boys Nation
Essays: Not great
Teacher Recommendation: Physics teach (10/10) and Gov teach (10/10)
Counselor Rec:Gifted counselor (11/10)
Additional Rec:
Interview:</p>

<p>Other</p>

<p>State (if domestic applicant): TN
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Large pretty competitive public
Race(s) (White, AA, AI/AN, Asian, NH/PI): Asian (indian)
Hispanic (Y/N): Nope
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: >100k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None</p>

<p>Reflection</p>

<p>Strengths: Essays, Recs, ECs
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: Marquette, Tennessee, Virginia, Michigan, Vanderbilt (CV Scholar & College Scholar), Stanford
Waitlisted: UChicago, Dartmouth, WashU, Harvard
Rejected: Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, UPenn, Yale, Princeton, Duke</p>

<p>General Comments: Just can’t believe it. Stanford was my best app, but man I never expected to get into my top school and not get into so many others.</p>

83

<p>Decision: Accepted to Medill School of Journalism</p>

<p>Objective:

[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2350 (800M, 750CR, 800W)
[</em>] ACT: 35
[<em>] SAT II: Math II (800), Literature (750), Chinese (780), US History (720)
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 27/~900
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): English Lang (5), Human Geography (5), Art History (5), US History (5), Chinese (5), Biology (4), Comp Sci A (4), Psychology (4), Euro History (4)
[<em>] Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, AP Gov/AP Econ, AP English Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Stats, Spanish 3
[</em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semifinalist, World Scholar’s Cup regional award, Questbridge CPS, National AP Scholar, won a county journalism competition
[/ul]</p>

<p>Subjective:

[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): A bunch of service clubs (four board positions w/2 presidencies), writer at an online blog, church youth group, business program at a nearby college
[</em>] Volunteer/Community service: See above; I also did some international service trips with my youth group
[<em>] Summer Activities: Travel, a leadership camp, nothing too special
[</em>] Essays: I have no clue. I’m hoping they were good lol. Now that I read my NU supplement, I definitely think it was one of my strongest.
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation: Really good (I think), both teachers really like me
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Didn’t get to know my counselor too well until after I finished applying, but I would assume it was generic
[/ul]</p>

<p>Other

[ul]
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant): CA
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: Asian
[</em>] Gender: M
[<em>]Income Bracket: Low
[</em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Not really… Family member is an alum?
[/ul]</p>

<p>Reflection

[ul]
[<em>] Strengths: Writer at an online blog, SAT Writing score, ACT English score, Did well on AP Eng Lang test?
[</em>] Weaknesses: Literally no traditional journalism ec’s like school yearbook/newspaper. Still surprised I got in.
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I have no clue. Some days I still wonder if they made a mistake. I guess my strengths were good enough to show the adcoms that I really wanted to be here.
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted at Amherst, Bowdoin, NYU Stern, USC WBB, UCLA, UC Berkeley; Waitlisted at Williams, Yale, Columbia; Rejected by Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Stanford, Penn (ED); Still waiting on Georgetown[/ul]</p>

<p>General Comments: This has been a long and arduous process, and I’m glad it’s finally over. NU is probably my top choice right now. Hoping I get off waitlist, but even if I don’t, I’m super excited about the Journalism Residency at Medill and the different opportunities that Medill offers. Northwestern’s campus is amazing and I’m so honored that they said yes. Congrats to everyone who got in! For those of you who were waitlisted/rejected, I know how you feel, but just remember that college decisions are so subjective and don’t define your worth.</p>

84

<p>[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted McCormick**[/color][/size]</p>

<p>[ b]Objective:**
[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 2330 (Math: 800, Reading: 740, Writing: 790)
[ *] ACT: 34
[ *] SAT II: Chem (720), Math II (800)
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0 (UW), 4.6 (W)
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Unavailable (probably top 5%?)
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): Took a bunch, didn’t send any yet though
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ ] Senior Year Course Load: AP Macro/Micro, AP Spanish IV, AP English IV, AP Bio, Anatomy/Physiology, Calc 3 (college class taken in junction with UIUC)
[ ] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist
[/list]
[ b]Subjective:
[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Fencing, Golf Team, Math Team, Science Olympiad, BPA, Orchestra
[ *] Job/Work Experience:
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: Volunteer at the Library, Dermatology Office, Dental Office
[ *] Summer Activities: Minimed Program, Chicago Diabetes Project Internship
[ *] Essays: It was good, though not my best. It was 600 some words long haha went way over the limit (8/10)
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: Pretty solid
[ *] Counselor Rec: Pretty solid
[ ] Additional Rec:
[ ] Interview:[/list] Standard 20-30 min interview at NU, went well, nothing special.
[ b]Other
[ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): IL
[ *] Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: Public
[ *] Ethnicity: Asian
[ *] Gender: Male
[ ]Income Bracket: Middle (around 100K)
[ ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none
[/list]
[ b]Reflection
[ list]
[ *] Strengths: Good test scores, grades, and decently unique extracurriculars?
[ *] Weaknesses: Low SAT Chem score, didn’t cure cancer?
[ ] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Honestly applications are a tossup, all you can do is make yourself competitive.
[ ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted (BME for all): UIUC, UIC, UMich, Johns Hopkins
Waitlisted: Case Western, Cornell, Brown, WashU
Rejected: Yale, Penn, Columbia, UChicago
[/list]
[ b]General Comments:
Made this real quick, so it’s not very detailed, but really excited to have got in. Guess the hard work in high school paid off. Congrats to everyone else who got in! Debating between this and JHU, but there’s a good chance I’ll see you guys at Northwestern.</p>

85

<p>Accepted to Weinberg!</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>SAT I (breakdown): 2250(720CR, 740M, 790W E:10)
ACT (breakdown): 33
SAT II: 790 Biology(M), 780 World History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8-3.9?
AP (place score in parentheses): APUSH (5), AP Biology (4), AP World History (4)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Latin, Honors English, AP Physics C, AP BC Calc, AP Statistics, AP U.S. Government
Major Awards: National Merit Semi-Finalist, AP Scholar w/Honor, University of Pennsylvania Book Award, Summa Cum Laude on National Latin Exam 2010-2013</p>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Varsity Cross Country, Tennis Team, Junior Statesmen of America (Debate Director), Science Team, Student Rep to NEASC Commitee (School Evaluation Committee)
Job/Work Experience: Cashier/Ice Cream Scooper at Beachside Restaurant, Beach Monitor, Babysitting
Volunteer/Community service: Some, mostly unimportant
Summer Activities: Summer@Brown Program during Summer 2013, Green Mountain Running Camp 2011-2013</p>

<p>Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Supplements: I don’t think they were that special but who am I to judge. 7/10
Common App Main: I spoke about my independence from my brothers, because I am in a family with two sets of twins, and elaborated on how this has molded me. I really liked it 9/10
Teacher Recommendation #1: Solid. 8/10
Teacher Recommendation #2: By my Biology Teacher for 2 years and my Cross Country Coach, 9/10
Counselor Rec: 7/10
Interview: I thought it went really great, I was interviewed by a guy who was very similar to me. 9/10
State (if domestic applicant): MA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: >$200k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Not sure :)</p>

<p>Reflection</p>

<p>Strengths: Transcript, Courseload, Scores, Interview
Weaknesses: Not very unique, just a white guy from Massachusetts, lack of leadership
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I am still processing it, but I think mainly from my stats and perhaps my personality really showed through my writing and interview.
Other places applied to/Decisions: Waitlisted at WashU, Cornell, Middlebury, Vanderbilt; Accepted at UVA, UMichigan, UMass Amherst; Rejected at Harvard and UPenn</p>

86

<p>Decision: ACCEPTED Weinberg</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2260 (800 CR, 710 M, 750 W)
ACT: 34 Composite, 35 super score
SAT II: 760 Math II, 760 English Lit
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): Latin(5), Calculus AB(5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Stats, AP US History, AP English Lit, Honors Senior Thesis, Independent Study- Latin
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Princeton Book Award, Cum Laude Inductee, National Merit Finalist
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Student-run Live Music Club (President) SALSA Club, Quiz Bowl, A Capella (co-director), Choir, Varsity sport, lettered 3 years
Job/Work Experience: 12 hours/week writer, community newspaper, 2 hours/week tutoring
Volunteer/Community service: ~Part of Boarding School requirement
Summer Activities: Writer and editor for middle school Summer Magazine.
Essays: CommonApp: Wrote about how my passion of music has impacted my life.
Teacher Recommendation: One from my Latin teacher who is also my advisor since 9th grade. He shared his essay with me 10/10. One from my English teacher who likes me well enough but may not know me as well. Did not see essay. 10/10
Counselor Rec: Excellent!
Additional Rec: Peer rec from a very close friend who is a very talented writer. Hopefully this translates to a good recommendation.
Interview: Excellent interview
Supplementary Material: N/A
Other
State (if domestic applicant): Ohio
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private Boarding School Very competitive.
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: will not qualify for Financial aid
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None!
Reflection
Strengths: Test Scores, some ECs, CommonApp essay, recommendations, character
Weaknesses: Leadership positions at school
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I believe I was accepted RD because of GPA, test scores, awards, recommendations and demonstrated interest.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Brown, Dartmouth, Davidson (with impressive merit scholarship), William and Mary Monroe Scholar Program, and Hutton Honors College @ IU, Waitlisted: Swarthmore and Vanderbilt. Will attend William and Mary.</p>

<p>General Comments: I was accepted at some amazing schools and waitlisted at another two. I was happy that I was not denied anywhere. Hard work and commitment works! I got accepted without any “hooks”! I have faith in the process!</p>

87

<p>Decision: Accepted to Weinberg for German and Chemistry</p>

<p>Objective:
•SAT I (breakdown): did not take
•ACT: 35
•SAT II: 750 Math II, 760 US H,
•Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0 (and 4.5 weighted)
•Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 10%
•AP (place score in parenthesis): Human Geo (5), World History (4), English Lang (4), US History (5)
•IB (place score in parenthesis): did not take
•Senior Year Course Load: Contemporary American Texts & Composition, AP Chem, Orchestra, AP Psych, AP Calc BC
•Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): meeehhhh
Subjective: •Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): XC Varsity + Captain, Track, NHS President, Symphony Orchestra, Student Tutor at my school, Freshman Mentor
•Job/Work Experience: Pool attendant
•Volunteer/Community service: Appalachia Service Project (2 summers), Sunday School Teacher for 3 years, Vacation Bible School Team Leader,
•Summer Activities: Went to a med camp last summer at American University,
•Essays: Very good I think. I thought my “Why Northwestern” was great.
•Teacher Recommendation: From physics, english, and chemistry. I haven’t read them, but I guess they were good. I’d probably guess both were 8 or 9s out of 10.
•Counselor Rec: Not sure, but it did outline how I wanted to take AP German which got discontinued this year. I gave her a lot of information, so I feel like she had good material to work with. She has about 200 students though.
•Additional Rec: From my clergy, talking about my dedication to Sunday School. Said I could run Sunday School all by myself.
•Interview: Really great! My interviewer was a runner and a language major like me, and we had a lot to talk about.</p>

<p>Other
•State (if domestic applicant): IL
•School Type: Public, around 4,000
•Ethnicity: White
•Gender: Female
•Income Bracket: 100k - 120k
•Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None</p>

<p>Reflection
•Strengths: Straight As, test scores, leadership, “Why Northwestern”
•Weaknesses: didn’t do any internships, felt like I could have had more/better ECs???
•Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I felt I put together a really genuine and reflective application, as well as my strengths listed above.
•Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: U Vermont honors, Miami OH honors, U of I Honors, St. Olaf, Carleton, Georgetown
Waitlisted: Nowhere
Rejected: Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth</p>

<p>General Comments: Overall, I’m super happy. Dartmouth and Northwestern were basically tied as my first choice, and so to get into Northwestern is amazing. I’m pretty sure I will commit, and hope to see some of you in the fall!</p>

88

<p>ACCEPTED to WCAS!!</p>

<p>SAT: N/A
SAT IIs: N/A
GPA: 4.58 weighted/ 3.92 unweighted
Rank: 2/76
Other stats: 26 ACT 26E/27M/26R/24S</p>

<p>Senior Course Load: AP CALCULUS, AP SPANISH, AP BIOLOGY, GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, COLLEGE WRITING </p>

<p>State or Country: Illinois
School Type: Public Charter School
Ethnicity: Nigerian American
Gender: Female</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
Student council (Junior class President and Senior class President)
Forensics/Speech/Drama (peer coach, morning announcements anchor, event captain)
FBLA (Vice President)
Interact Club
National Honor Society
Teen Group member at church</p>

<p>Hook: I’m not sure… I know my essays were good. My supplement talked about Northwestern’s proximity to the city and how I would want to collaborate with the neighboring universities. My common app essay focused on my culture and how that influenced my desire for education. I also think my recommenders spoke to who I was as a person and not just academics. I never got to read any… I have other activities but I can’t think of them lol</p>

<p>Strengths: leadership, GPA, extracurriculars, essays, recommendations
Weakness: ACT score</p>

<p>Accepted: Northwestern, University of Notre Dame, Grinnell College, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Saint Louis University, and Drexel University
Rejected: Wash U (ED), Yale, Dartmouth</p>

89

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Objective:

  • [<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2260 (730CR, 740M, 790W)
    [</em>] ACT: 34 (33M, 35R, 32E, 35S)
    [<em>] SAT II: 730 US History, 720 Math II, 660 Biology (not reported to NU)
    [</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.93
    [<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): around 25/560, but not released
    [</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): US History 5, English Language 4, Calculus AB 5
    [<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
    [</em>] Senior Year Course Load: AP Biology, AP Calculus BC, AP Spanish, AP Comparative Gov, AP Physics E/M, Honors English 12
    [<em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None.
    Minor Awards: National Merit Finalist, National Hispanic Scholar, AP Scholar

Subjective: [ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Civic Association Board Member, Key Club Officer, Spanish Honor Society Vice President, Peer Tutor Center Coordinator, Hospital Volunteer
[<em>] Job/Work Experience: N/A
[</em>] Volunteer/Community service: see Extracurricular Activities section, about 500 hours total
[<em>] Summer Activities: traveling, chilling with friends, occasional volunteering (nothing amazing and no summer programs)
[</em>] Essays: I thought they were both good, but they definitely could have been better… I did not spend as much time as I should have. Probably like a 7.5/10 for both. Message me if you care to read either of them
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation:
One from Spanish teacher: she loves me, and I excel in her class. I also had her two years in a row, and she let me read her letter of recommendation for me. 9/10
The other was from my math teacher, and I haven’t read that one, but I’m sure it was somewhat generic. He liked me but I wasn’t a standout student. 7/10
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Really good; I have a very close relationship with my guidance counselor and he told me that he wrote me one of the best letters he’s ever written for a student! He knows pretty much everything about me so I’m sure it was amazing. 10/10
[<em>] Additional Rec: didn’t submit one
[</em>] Interview: didn’t have one
[/ul]
Other

  • [<em>] State (if domestic applicant): Pennsylvania
    [</em>] Country (if international applicant): USA
    [<em>] School Type: large, public, and somewhat prestigious
    [</em>] Ethnicity: Hispanic
    [<em>] Gender: male
    [</em>]Income Bracket: around $200,000
    [<em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Hispanic

Reflection

  • [</em>] Strengths: URM, test scores, recs
    [<em>] Weaknesses: GPA, extracurriculars, essays
    [</em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I have no idea but I’m thrilled!
    [li] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Northwestern, Cornell, UVa, Boston College, Northeastern (and UHC) and Pitt (and UHC)[/li]Rejected: Yale, Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, Johns Hopkins

**General Comments: I received a fee waiver from NU, which is why I applied in the first place. Before that, I had never thought of leaving the East Coast! But now, Northwestern is my top choice and I am almost certain I will commit in the next few days! Funny how things end up :slight_smile:
**</p>

90

<p>Decision: Accepted WCAS</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): M 710 CR 770 W 730, superscore: 2210
ACT (breakdown): 30 (didn’t submit)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Math I (750) Chemistry (770)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 94
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 8/104
AP (place score in parentheses): AP US (5) AP Bio (4) AP World (4) AP Spanish (4)
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB, AP Physics B, AP English, AP US Gov, AP Stats
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Hispanic Scholar, American Chemical Society Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry, New York State Department of Education Scholarship (highest regent examination scores)
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Co-Captain of Varsity Hockey (4 years), Chess Team, Math Team, Soccer Team goalie, Robotics Team,
Job/Work Experience: Paid Tutor
Volunteer/Community Service: Volunteered Hospital
Summer Activities: 2 summers at Harvard taking General Chemistry (b+) and Organic Chemistry (B+)
Essays: Amazng – Spoke about my love for science and how I view the world in a quirky way.
Teacher Recommendations: Both amazing
Counselor Rec: I think it was good
Additional Rec: Recommendation from my Professor in Gen Chem who also is the head of the chem department at Harvard
Interview: Went pretty good
Other
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 70,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):Urm, Organic Chemistry at Harvard, and Letter of rec from head of chem department at harvard
Reflection
Strengths: Strong focus in chemistry, very good essays and subject test scores
Weaknesses: Gpa and rank could have been higher (9th grade)
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My essays, my letters of rec, and my summer classes (organic chem as a high schooler)
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Duke, Northwestern, Cornell, NYU (full tuition), Macaulay Honors College, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. Wait listed: Yale, Princeton, Amherst College, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Washu, Rice, Vanderbilt. Rejected: Harvard (deferred EA), Dartmouth
General Comments: Apply to as many schools as possible. Each year, acceptance rates keep going down. As you can tell, had I only applied to 11 schools, there could have been a chance of getting in nowhere. Make sure you work on those essays since everyone starts to look the same with the same stats. Also regardless of where you get in, know that what you do in college counts much more than where you go to college.</p>

91

<p>QUESTION for people who have committed: After you paid the deposits, did you get any confirmation email saying ‘Congrats you’ve officially enrolled’ and whatnot?</p>

92

<p>[color=orange]Decision: Waitlisted[/color=orange]</p>

<p>Objective:

[ul]
[<em>]SAT I (breakdown): Two sittings: Second - 2090 (790 M, 690 W, 610 CR); First - 2000 (750 M, 640 W, 610 CR).
[</em>]ACT (breakdown): Two sittings: Second - 34 (35 E, 34 M, 32 R, 33 S, 9 Essay); First - 30 (31 E, 34 M, 30 R, 26 S, 8 Essay).
[<em>]SAT II: 800 Math Level 2, 780 World History, 760 Math Level 1, 720 Chemistry, 710 US History.
[</em>]Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 105.926 (6th semester GPA, should go up throughout senior year). Unweighted: 99.6/100.0. For weighted GPA, an added 10% to all AP classes and 7% to all honors classes that are not AP. Unweighted GPA uses raw grades.
[<em>]Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1 out of 387.
[</em>]AP: Have taken 6, will take 7 more this year. 5 Statistics, 5 US History, 5 Human Geography, 4 Chemistry, 4 English Language, 4 World History. Will take Calculus AB, Physics B, Biology, Environmental Science, English Literature, US Government, and Microeconomics.
[<em>]IB (place score in parentheses): none
[</em>]Senior Year Course Load: AP Calculus AB, AP Physics 1, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature, AP US Government (semester), AP Microeconomics (semester), Band.
[li]Major Awards: AP Scholar with Distinction, 4x NM State Science Olympiad Champion, NM Congressional Award for Academic Achievement, Regional Scholar selected by Independent Committee (looks at academics, essays, interview, recommendations), 2x All-State Clarinetist.[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Subjective:

[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Science Olympiad: team captain for 4 years, I’ve won 5 titles at State, and have 20 other 1st-3rd placings at Regionals/State combined. I’ve performed exceptionally well in Anatomy & Physiology. Band: 2x All-State Clarinetist, 3x All-District Clarinetist, Drum Major, Clarinet Section Leader, Principal clarinetist in school’s Symphonic Band. National Honor Society: Elected President each of 3 years. Student Council: 10-12. Was Secretary 11th grade. Student Advisory Committee: was nominated by teachers and administrators to be the senior class representative. We plan things/fix issues that can make students’ lives better. Tennis: Junior Varsity freshman year.
[</em>]Job/Work Experience: I was a Youth Soccer Referee my freshman year. I officiated about 5 games a week for a fall and spring season for kids aged 5-12.
[<em>]Volunteer/Community Service: American Red Cross: I founded and currently am President of a Youth Club in our area. We go on disaster calls and do disaster prevention presentations at various community events. The club was founded in January and has grown to 10 students to-date. Nursing Home shadower: I’ve shadowed nurses in a nursing home intermittently since sophomore year. I’ve assisted, bathed, fed, and entertained patients. Physician shadower: I’ve shadowed a local cardiologist junior year. I helped in simple diagnostic activities, interacted with patients in examination rooms, and have shadowed testing at hospitals. National Honor Society: various associated projects. Student Council: various associated projects.
[</em>]Essays: I humbly think they were be great. Usually write good essays; my junior AP English teacher says I’m one of the best writers she’s ever had. I get them proofed by a college prep counselor.
[<em>]Teacher Recommendations: All should have be great. I have always had stellar relationships with my teachers. Most have taught for 20+ years, and they usually comment that I’m one of the best student’s they’ve ever taught. Have had a significant or special story in class with all of them.
[</em>]Counselor Rec: Should have beeen good. He really likes me and has made the comment that I am the most serious kid he’s seen about striving academically. Not sure how he conveyed that in writing, however.
[li]Interview: Went really well! He was a local alumnus. After the decision, he said he had given me the best recommendation he had ever given. [/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Other

[ul]
[<em>]State (if domestic applicant): New Mexico
[</em>]School Type: Public, only school in rural town of 40,000 people. ~2400 students. Graduation rate of 50-65%, but top students in the past have been accepted at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Rice, Northwestern, UC-Berkeley, and Notre Dame.
[<em>]Ethnicity: Asian Indian
[</em>]Gender: Male
[<em>]Income Bracket: >$150,000
[</em>]Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Established and currently lead a community service organization (American Red Cross Youth Club). Good academic record for a student from a rural area in NM, if that counts.
[/ul]</p>

<p>Reflection

[ul]
[<em>]Strengths: ECs, ACT, GPA, courseload
[</em>]Weaknesses: SAT, essays
[<em>]Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Not really sure. I’m probably one of those standard great applicants that just happened to be overshadowed by other stellar applicants.
[</em>]Where else you are applying or have already applied: ill be attending UNM Combined BA/MD Program. Applied to Ivies, Rice, Duke.</p>

<p>[li]General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: I applied and was a semifinalist for the HPME Program. Glad I applied, but I was accepted to the offer that was best for me. Congrats to everyone accepted![/li][/ul]</p>

93

<p>Decision: Accepted </p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I: 2230 (700 M/740 CR/790 W/8 Essay)
SAT I Superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): 2320 (730 M/800 CR/790 W/8 Essay)
SAT II: 780 Math II/730 Spanish
Weighted GPA: 5.93/5.00
Rank: top 2%
AP/IB (place score in parentheses): European History (5), Microeconomics (4), Macroeconomics, Spanish Language (5), English Language and Composition (5), U.S. History (4)
Senior Year Course Load: Honors Orchestra, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Literature and Culture, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, Honors Wind Ensemble, AP Music Theory, Honors Writing Seminar
Number of ED applicants in your school: many
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): AP Scholar with Distinction, Dean’s List, National Merit Commended Scholar, National Spanish Exam Gold Medals, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Principal Chair in District Orchestra, District Band, All-State Honors Orchestra</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): Math Team (junior yr), Literary Magazine (sophomore-senior yrs), Marching Band (freshman-senior yrs, Drill Captain, Staff, Section Leader), Future Flute Educators and Performers Project (junior-senior yrs, Founder and Project Leader, group of students teach flute, pro-bono, to area socioeconomically disadvantaged youth)
Job/Work Experience: Kumon
Volunteer/Community Service: Chinese School Teaching Assistant, Food Pantry Volunteer
Summer Experience: Intern at a Trade Center (sophomore), Travel Abroad to Mexico on a world languages scholarship from a local foundation (sophomore), flute camp (sophomore, junior)
Teacher Recommendation #1: Spanish, decent (did not read)
Teacher Recommendation #2: English, quite good (did not read)
Counselor Rec: excellent (did not read)
Additional Info: Music Supplement; won national essay contest; won state essay contest; published in national literary magazine; NHS, principal flute in school band, orchestra, marching band; placed in Chicago Area National Spanish Contest (top 10 out of nearly two-thousand competitors); took masterclasses with renowned flute teachers, particularly, a masterclass with Northwestern’s assistant flute professor
Interview: did not sign up</p>

<p>Writing: feminism, flute; 10</p>

<p>CommonApp Essay: feminism, flute</p>

<p>Date Submitted App: ~late December
School Type: top public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket Range: ~60,000-80,000
Hooks: none</p>

<p>Strengths: writing, roundedness
Weaknesses: testing?
Other Results: Accepted at Penn (Likely Letter, Ben Franklin Scholar), Dartmouth (Likely Letter), Amherst (Early Notification; prestigious scholarship that is awarded to 5 students), Oxford, Emory, UIUC Engineering (James Scholar); Rejected at Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Brown, Duke; Deferred at UChicago, Waitlisted at Vanderbilt, Case Western Reserve, Williams, Cornell (opted not to stay on any waitlists); Shortlisted and then Rejected at Yale-NUS,
What would you have done differently?: would have done more research on Yale-NUS, would have applied to Stanford </p>