<p>BTW, i am doing very well in community college :)
last logic test score: 96%
last history test score: 95% <- the instructor even jokingly suggested selling the score to other students :)</p>
<p>hopeful_exonian,</p>
<p>Glad to hear that you are doing well with the CC courses and that the instructors like you. You will need them for those recommendation letters.</p>
<p>Your ECs, like your academic work is "outside of the box". If properly presented, it will put you ahead of the crowd with school sponsored ECs and standard coursework. If you continue to think "outside of the box" you will have your best chance at these schools.</p>
<p>The tutoring is not a bad EC as things go. It shows mastry of subject, ability to communicate effectively, and solid work habits keeping a job. Make sure when you describe this activity you list subjects taught, age of students, and most importantly the impact on their grades if you get that kind of feedback. If you get complimentary notes from your clients' parents, make copies and send them in with your applications.</p>
<p>As to the graphic design work and newsletters, if you have a budding interest in journalism it is a big bonus to have done commercial work. If it is reasonably high quality stuff, enclose sample pieces with your application. If you use state of the art software, mention that as well.</p>
<p>Now onto plan B. It is always good to have plan B in case once again things don't work out the way you plan with prep school or you change your mind. </p>
<p>With regards to UCLA, the lack of a HS diploma can be overcome when you turn 16. At that age you will be able to take the state HS equivalency exam. I did it when I was in 10th grade, thinking that my less than average HS was wasting my life. It is an easy test to pass and (at least when I lived in California) is accepted at any public university in the state as the same as a diploma. Check with your local HS for details.</p>
<p>Once you have the equivalency exam passed, you should be able to transfer into UCLA, if you meet their qualifications. I would stop by the guidance office at the CC or preferrably the admissions office at UCLA. I think the SAT becomes optional if you transfer in at the beginning of your Junior year. Do check on these things, though because it has been 25 years since I've been in your shoes.</p>
<p>The CC system in LA County has done a good job of making sure its coursework is accepted at all UC campuses. Just make sure that you are taking coursework that will complete the required categories for the degree you wish to pursue.</p>
<p>Whichever way you choose to go, you have a great chance for success. Please feel free to continue asking questions regarding either or both options you have.</p>
<p>As an undergrad of UCLA, I'm quite proud of my school. Not to be negative, according to the book "The Price of Admission", The top asian students are not getting into UCLA or CAL, they are being deferred to the the UC-Riversides of the world for students with lesser credentials and lower SAT's. This I'm not proud of but i wish you luck. Ucla student population is ~ 39% asian and Cal is ~ 42% asian. However according to the book I mentioned, the best credentialed asians are being rejected from both cal and ucla. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm</p>
<p>Goaliedad, any comment about your bears? Have you read "The price of admission"? You know, I believe it was burb parent who was reading the book. The book is quite sobering for the rank and file.</p>
<p>As an alum of Cal, I've also heard the stories of how many 4.0 1500+ (they didn't have the writing part in my day) SAT Asians who were turned down for admissions at my alma mater.</p>
<p>However, the ones they did admit (a significant percentage of the total student population) tended to have unusual backgrounds. I see yours as more unusual than most, which is the reason why I think you should investigate this possiblity further and why you should focus your admissions efforts (with either strategy) on your uncommon credentials.</p>
<p>Perhaps I have been more optimistic than prepparent is with regard to your situation. I hope I haven't led you to believe this is significantly better than 50/50 chance operation. But while prepparent is looking at the half-empty part of the glass, I am looking at the half-full part. I am also concerned that you haven't recognized the value of your achievements.</p>
<p>I do respect prepparent and his outlook on things. His observations about college admissions for Asians dictate that you need to adjust your strategy. But first you must have confidence in yourself, or you will go nowhere.</p>
<p>I think the competition for Asian "slots" at top preps is no different than at top colleges. Some days a look into the waiting room at the admissions office made me wonder where the white/black/hispanic....kids were. I understand there are best selling books in several Asian countries now that glamourize prep schools. Judging by the number arriving in limos with translators for the parents, I would suspect that financial aid dollars do not often go to Asians. </p>
<p>I think everyone, Asian or not, can not just apply to one school or the top schools if they're serious about a bs experience.</p>
<p>I will take all of your advices into consideration. Thank you ever so much :)
As for some of the most significant achievements from tutoring:
1. I taught half of the whole Algebra1 book to a soon-to-be 7th grader in two weeks. (She just came from South Korea, so I had to start from the very basics)
2. Last year, I brought up a 4th grader in math by a lot. She always got Bs and Cs, and by the end of the year she was getting As and receiving excellent remarks from her teacher.
3. During the last summer, a 4th grade boy was on the verge of being held back. He had to take summer school, and I tutored him. At the end of the summer he took the final test, and he passed; he is in 5th grade now, thank god. He thanked me so much; he said the things we covered together were on the test, despite he hadn't learned it from the summer school itself.</p>
<p>OH ONE MORE QUESTION</p>
<p>taking the advice, i will also apply to choate. i feel safer with this school because i was waitlisted, rather than flat-out rejected, from this school last year. advices/comments much appreciated!</p>
<p>have lots in common, you and i =P maybe i should consider reapplying too...</p>
<p>hopeful_exonian, I want to say that your CV is impressive and I do believe you have uniqueness. I also want you to know that I'm pulling for you and if I sounded negative it wasn't directed toward you but rather as info on what's happening with asians (high achieving) at UCLA and CAL.</p>
<p>aw prepparent dont worry about it ;) your remarks were VERY helpful. see, i have to get real, you know. :D i don't think i was being much realistic last year.</p>
<p>I've seen this with colleges, so it might be true of preps too. Often a waitlist candidate will get in if they retract their aid application.</p>
<p>Uh, suze, I think that last post went in the wrong thread.</p>
<p>hahaha :D</p>
<p>so i will be reapplying to:</p>
<ol>
<li>exeter</li>
<li>choate</li>
<li>andover</li>
</ol>
<p>in order of preference.</p>