<p>Decision: DENIED</p>
<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): (N/A)</p>
<p>ACT: 31</p>
<p>SAT II: (N/A)</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9 (Weighted: 4.03)</p>
<p>Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 9%</p>
<p>AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Language and Composition (4), AP Calculus AB (pending), AP Literature and Composition (pending)</p>
<p>IB (place score in parenthesis): (N/A)</p>
<p>Senior Year Course Load: AP Chemistry, AP Calculus, Marching/Symphonic Band, Spanish III, AP Literature and Composition, Jazz Band, College Course (Dual Enrollment) Physics</p>
<p>Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 1st place at local film contest</p>
<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Drumline (captain), International Thespian Society (Treasurer), Varsity Quiz Bowl, Jazz band/pep band guitarist, foreign currency collecting, drawing/painting, Theatre/Drama (mostly lead roles), National Honor Society, etc. </p>
<p>Job/Work Experience: Utility Worker at Meijer (midwest business), I recently played a full set with the Jackson Jazz Ensemble as the guitarist in the rhythm section (the Jackson Jazz Ensemble is a full adult group based in my county)</p>
<p>Volunteer/Community service: Thanksgiving and Christmas day volunteering at a local all-male shelter (for the addicted, financially unstable, etc.), helped paint/clean classrooms in my school after it underwent construction, tutor 6th grade percussionists for free, etc. </p>
<p>Summer Activities: I didn’t cure cancer, if that’s what you mean haha. Anyways, most (if not all) of my extracurriculars from above apply to this section, as well. </p>
<p>Essays: Very strong. I’d give the CommonApp essay a 10/10 and the Yale supplement an 8 or 9/10. I also submitted another, which I would give a 10/10 (this one explained my experiences in life that have defined me, as I had a rough childhood). </p>
<p>Teacher Recommendation: Very strong, although I did not see them. The two teachers I asked for recommendations from have good relationships with me, and I wouldn’t doubt that they were very flattering.</p>
<p>Counselor Rec: Also strong. I’m on a good basis with my counselor, and he occasionally recommends summer programs and other activities for me to try because of my academics. </p>
<p>Additional Rec: N/A</p>
<p>Interview: AWESOME. My interviewer was amazing, and we still contact each other almost every day! I even told him about my rejection and he seemed just as disappointed as me. Too bad the interview doesn’t count for much on the application, or I’m sure my chances would have been a bit better 
</p>
<p>Other:
State (if domestic applicant): Michigan</p>
<p>School Type: Public, small-medium size.</p>
<p>Race(s) (White, AA, AI/AN, Asian, NH/PI): Other (Romanian [Caucasian] and Maltese [Caucasian/Middle Eastern])</p>
<p>Hispanic (Y/N): N</p>
<p>Gender: Male</p>
<p>Income Bracket: ~120k</p>
<p>Hooks: Essays (especially my last one), amount of extracurriculars (I didn’t list some of them) </p>
<p>Reflection:
Strengths: Essays, recs, interview, and I don’t know what else </p>
<p>Weaknesses: ACT score (not bad at all, but it’s on the lower end of Yale’s ACT scale— 25th percentile, to be exact)</p>
<p>Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/denied:
I know for sure that I was denied by two of my schools because I didn’t submit SAT II scores, which were required by those two schools. I can’t really say why I was denied by Yale— maybe it’s because of the vast amount of other qualified people, but that’s fine! And I’m pretty sure I was accepted to MSU based solely on my ACT score and devotion to the school (I did a few percussion camps there and I’ve been on their campus numerous other times). Looks like I’m a Spartan now, so Go Green! </p>
<p>Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/denied: Accepted to Michigan State University, Rejected by Yale (the only one I cared about :/), Harvard (I didn’t submit SAT IIs, which are required), and Cornell (again, I didn’t submit SAT IIs, which are required). </p>
<p>General Comments:
I didn’t apply to any other schools because I knew I was going to MSU or Yale, if I was accepted. MSU has the highest ranked nuclear physics program in the country (primarily because of their cyclotron), so I have no problem going there. Plus, I get to room with one of my friends. Yale, on the other hand, has a higher ranked astronomy program, and my intended major is astrophysics (or “astronomy and physics” for Yale)… so I am slightly disappointed in that sense. And I would have loved to experience that residential housing system. I will be applying to Yale as a transfer after my freshman year at MSU, as soon as I boost my ACT and indulge in some research opportunities. One can still hope, right? 
</p>
<p>Anyways, congratulations to everyone accepted! I’m sure you are all ecstatic haha 
And to everyone rejected: it was a great experience nonetheless, so perk up and enjoy the college you end up matriculating to! </p>