<p>ccfaithful - You say he has many good friends even though he is Asian? Gadzooks woman. I spend a lot of time in China. Millions and millions of Asians that I see every day have good friends:). Lots and lots of good friends. </p>
<p>Please don't buy into the idea that that's how America stereotypes Asians. The teenagers on this board may joke that way, but honestly, it's just not that bad.</p>
<p>Your boy sounds great. Read the thread about the Newsweek article about what colleges want. And then, if he wants to take the SATI again because he thinks it's fun sure. But I almost think all 800s might be a black mark against him in an odd way, putting him into the group of Asian kids subject to a stereotype that DOES exist - the kids whose parents make them grind away at tests leaving them no chance to develop the American-valued traits such as senses of humor, independence, leadership, creativity, bull-headedness, etc.</p>
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You say he has many good friends even though he is Asian?
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<p>Yeah, where did this "Asians don't have friends" stereotype come from? It doesn't reflect the reality at the high school magnet program (about one-third Asian) that my daughter attended.</p>
<p>This evening, my daughter will be meeting with a group of her friends from high school at a local restaurant. This is their last get-together before they start to disperse for college (some are leaving as soon as Thursday). Probably, at least one-third of the group will be Asian. The girl who made the arrangements and called all the other kids to ask them to come tonight is Asian. I also know of at least three white, one Hispanic, and one African American kid who will be there. They are all friends -- the Asian ones no less so than the others. Why wouldn't they be?</p>
<p>I meant that he has many american friends even though he is a Korean. Sometimes almost twenty of them come to my house on Friday night and play games or something. In addition, his friends readily help him when he gets trouble because of coputer problems or missing text books: they came home to help him even after 1 AM. My think by myself: "why the boy hasn't have any outstanding leadership position with that many good friends?
Is there any good way to show his friendly character in his applications?"
Out of those thoughts, I mentioned it.</p>
<p>ccfaithful - Now I see what you were trying to say. He can use his essay to show how social he is, how involved with his friends, the role he plays in a group. His teachers and GC may talk about it. He may not want leadership positions because many of the leadership positions available for teenagers are frankly kind of annoying and/or boring:). And he may not be a leader, but rather what Malcolm Gladwell calls a "connector". Have him read The Tipping Point, if he hasn't already. Or not....;)</p>
<p>I am familiar with the Princeton application from a couple of years ago. They had several short questions that really did allow a kid to show this kind of personality - ranging from what is your favorite website, to how do you get your news. And, in fact, Princeton is among the most social of all the top schools in its culture. My daughter, another one who is extremely social and networked, if you will, said she got her news from her email because so many people were in touch with her. It wasn't a planned comment or anything, but I remember thinking, Hmm, well that certainly reflects something about the kid.</p>
<p>Again, good luck in this coming application/admissions season.</p>
<p>Interesting comment about Princeton's socialness. My son's best friend is going there. He's the one who would drag my son off his computer and get him to go to the movies or a restaurant. I got all the gossip from his Mom because he talked to her.</p>