<p>Hi, I was wondering if you guys could chance me! I know it's pretty early but it doesn't hurt to know what I should improve on. Thanks!</p>
<p>Name: KB24yo
Race: Asian
Gender: Male
State : CA
GPA : 3.65 UW / 3.7 W
SAT : 2280 ( Math-760/CR-800/Writing-720)
SAT2 : Chinese - 800 / Math 2 - 800
AP - US (5) / taking EURO and Psychology this year
Major : Music
*Received 2 C+'s the beginning of sophomore year (mother contracted breast cancer)
*Probably receive another C+ this semester</p>
<p>School Related Activities:
- Student Council (4 years)
- Model United Nations Club (secretary)
- Kiwins Club (co-treasurer)
- Mock Trial (lawyer/witness)
- Rooftop Tutoring (president)
- Fiddle For Fun (president)
- IMPACT team leader (mentor for incoming freshmen)
- In 2 School Musicals
- Started recycle trash bins at school to raise money for school (+$3000)
- JV Basketball (1 year) & Varsity Wrestling (1 year)</p>
<p>Music - Viola:
- School Symphony Orchestra (4 years)
- All-State Orchestra (4)
- All-National Orchestra (3)
- Performed at the White House
- Composed sheet music used in a video game
- Invited by the Chinese government to play in the Beijing Olympics
- Traveled to Argentina/Africa to teach less fortunate kids how to play a music instrument
- Toured France, Germany, Korea, Taiwan, and China playing with local orchestra(s)
- Organized local music fundraisers to raise money to buy instruments for less fortunate children in 3rd world countries (+$5,000)
- Played in the pit orchestra for 2 school musicals</p>
<p>Extras:
- Published a children's book
- Organized a jog-a-thon at local elementary school to raise money for school supplies
- Church choir member/audio recorder/hymn leader/orchestra member
- Volunteer at soup kitchen (+100 hours)
- Private math tutor for elementary kids
- Work : Part-time @ Hollister (5 hours a week)
- Intern for law firm with sports attorney, Leigh Steinberg</p>
<p>If anything works miracles at Princeton, it’s the music department. CONTACT THEM. Specifically the orchestra director. Schedule a visit to Pton and play for him.</p>
<p>I think your C’s preclude any sort of Ivy acceptance, but you may get lucky. I think Princeton is realistically out of the question, however you may have a chance at some of the lower tiered ones (Cornell or Dartmouth). Play to your strengths in your application and mold it so that they don’t want to reject you no matter how low your grades are. </p>
<p>At first I didn’t see that your mother contracted Breast Cancer (I’m so sorry to hear that), but I still don’t know how much that will help. I’ve seen many people around here looking for chances with various reasons for low grades (often very valid ones, like yours), but I’ve never actually seen how they fared in admissions… so things may work out or they may not.</p>
<p>To tristan : This year we played 1) Movement IV from Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36 by Tchaikovsky, 2) a special Shelly Berg/Larry Livingston arrangement of Pavane, 3) Op. 50 by Faure and Suite from The Firebird (1919 Version) by Stravinsky. </p>
<p>Since Princeton is realistically improbable, do you think Columbia is too much of a reach?</p>
<p>Believe me, princeton is not at all out of reach for you, your stats are very impressive! Those c’s in sophomore year is really no big deal at all, if your other grades are good and if they see your excellent sat subject scores, they will know that those c’s were due to circumstances. It looks like you have a lot of passion for music, this is great, because pton wants students with passions for certain things. I think you have a shot, and that you should certainly try! In the end, your essays will make or break the application, and also I think luck is a major factor. (students read the apps, I know one that does that and he says if he is in a bad mood, the applicant will have a smaller chance, but lickily they are not the only deciders)</p>
<p>oh right, you also have a shot at columbia, but take into account that columbia and pton are completely different schools, so do you like both, or is it just the academic excellence. Dont just apply because they are good schools, adcoms will look right through that.</p>
Just wondering, but what kind of All-National orchestra did you do and what piece are you working on now?</p>