<p>I am just testing the waters with a chances thread. Be as critical as possible please :). </p>
<p>Background
-Junior
-Immigrated recently
-Asian Indian
-First Generation</p>
<p>GPA: 91.3-91.6 UW at a very competitive and well known high school)
PSAT: Got a 209 (76 on Math cause 1 wrong, 64 in CR, 69 in W) Definitely can improve this as I have not yet prepped for it. Hopefully hit 2200+ on the SATs this coming April.
SAT II: World History: 740 Math IIC: 800 (Taking Bio and US History in June)
APs: World History 5 Macroecon (self study) 4
Took the hardest courses possible.</p>
<p>-Quantitative Trading & Research:
Started a firm which uses research conducted to build currency trading models. These models are then used to manage client accounts by speculating in the currency markets (Typically pairs involving the G-7 countries with weighting on the US dollar). We have also partnered with several FX dealers as liquidity providers for their firm.</p>
<p>-Research:
Currently conducting research in Economics to send to several competitions in 2006 working with a prof. Focus is on US labor economics. I cant provide much details on it in a public forum.</p>
<p>-Music:
Indian classical vocal training since 11. Focus on Bengali folk music, bengali classics, and Sanskrit hymns.</p>
<p>Internships:</p>
<p>-Law Firm: Worked as a summer associate intern at a pro bone law firm in NYC. Worked in their immigrant protection unit where I conducted legal research for attorneys and prepared case files. This was during the summer of 2003-2004</p>
<p>-Hedge Fund: Currently interning as an assistant trader at a hedge fund here in NYC. Functions include taking classes and doing some misc. work that needs to be completed after hours.</p>
<p>Involved in school clubs (FIRST robotics-head of animations until 10th however as I simply dont have the time to take it up), and sports teams (Track). Just got involved in school government. Looking to start a finance club and a science olympiad team in the school both to be used to take part in different city wide and statewide contests.</p>
<p>Right now I'd have to say low chances. GPA's a little weak (any idea what your rank is?), as are SATs. ECs are impressive but <em>right now</em> aren't eye catching. If the econ research really plays out maybe you can use it as a hook.</p>
<p>The econ thing is pretty impressive and should be your ticket in if you do get accepted. You won't be retaking the PSATs so don't talk about improving those (not like Harvard will see the scores anyway, though--you won't make it past Commended Student if even that), and your rank would be really helpful. At some schools, a 91 UW GPA is the equivalent of a 99 or something at a "normal" school (like mine :p) so you'll just have to hope Harvard knows your school (as they should, if it's what you say it is).</p>
<p>Yea they know my school. I actually think my firm is more important than the research I am doing. The firm provides upwards of $50MM in net liquidity for our partner dealers per month(No thats not net profitability....the net profit is a fraction of that but hey its risk free on my part). </p>
<p>BTW we dont have rankings. No need of making the school more competitive than it already is. </p>
<p>I meant to improve my SATs. I have doing doing some prep (at last haha) and already seem to have shot up the CR to the 690 mark. With some more prep I should be able to get 2200+ SATs. </p>
<p>The key competition I am targeting is the Intel STS one (and yes they do accept social science research). </p>
<p>If you go to a good school do they expect your rankings and things to be lower than at a crappy school? Or do they expect you to have used the school's opportunities and rise to the top of that school as well?</p>
<p>The Ace is Back--They will (or should) look at your accomplishments regardless of the strength of your competition. So ranking 15 at a very competitive private school could look pretty much the same as ranking 1 at a poor inner-city school.</p>