semi-chance me....

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm looking for more suggestions for improvement than actual chances. Being a sophomore, I think I have some time to get some things done. Goal schools are Ivies, top 2 are CIT/MassTech >.>
Anyways...</p>

<p>State: MA
GPA scale: 4.0, no A+, A- =90-94/3.67, A= 95+/4.0</p>

<p>Fresh yr. (only core classes BTW)
95 avg UW
-US History I (H)onors
-Spanish II H
-English I H
-Algebra II H
-Physical Science H</p>

<p>Soph yr.
3.8 UW
-Global History (no honors/AP available)
-Spanish III H
-English II H
-AP Calc AB
-Biology I (no honors/AP available)</p>

<p>no honors because I transferered from public high->fairly prestigious private +scheduling/curriculum order conflicts</p>

<p>EC's in general (main things, this isn't a real chance so I'm not listing everything)
Swimming
-club team, few records, national Y champs
-high school team, V both years, Up to states
-2x Gold medalist State Games of America 2004
XC
-JV, V
Soccer(8yrsold-14, capt), hockey(7yrsold-12) (didn't do as much, but still played)
Math Olympiads
-3 time top scorer for school
-typical camps and stuff
-minor awards, blablabla</p>

<p>Oh, and I'm asian(chinese), which sucks when applying for colleges.</p>

<p>Psat- 201 (can def get up)
SAT- 2100 (summer SAT prep class)
SSAT- 99th percentile</p>

<p>What am I missing? My GPA will definitely go up next year, same w/ SAT/PSAT and stuff. National AP Scholar by SR year. </p>

<p>I'm doing math team, physics team, all that stuff next year, which is late I know, but swimming took up like 3 hours a day.</p>

<p>This summer I'm trying to do an internship or some research. No major programs so far. RSI/TASP +all that good stuff next summer..</p>

<p>Anything else? Thanks.</p>

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<p>And I’m planning on majoring in either Physics, Math, or Aero/Astro, or some combo. I don’t have any major awards (working on it JR year) or programs or stuff. Most Summer Apps are past due. Should I do a program or am I fine w/ my research/internship?</p>

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<p>Also, does any particular asian race have it better/worse than the others?</p>

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<p>If you do get into RSI then you shouldn’t have any problems getting in anywhere but don’t be so hasty about listing it as an EC yet… They’ve rejected people who have done USAMO every year since 9th grade.</p>

<p>How have you done on Math Olympiad stuff?</p>

<p>Also swimming could be a BIG hook for the Ivies but (and I am no expert) it won’t do very much for MIT/CalTech</p>

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<p>I meant I was applying for that stuff next year. My bad. the MO’s were actually in middle school >.> and I won all of them in my city. so they weren’t that imporant. I’m doing my HS math club next year though, I had a weird schedule this year and didn’t get to do much. Why wouldn’t swimming be a great hook for MIT/Caltech? Are they too academic based? I was thinking that if I did really well at my HS state champs or YMCA Nats champs that would significantly help me.</p>

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<p>Southeast Asians, such as Cambodian and Vietnamese, have a slight edge over the usual Chinese, Korean and Indian candidates. This holds true especially if parents are low-income. Some schools, such as the University of California, go even further and give a small hook to Filipinos and Pacific Islanders.</p>

<p>“What am I missing?”</p>

<p>Where’s the leadership? Have you taken the initiative outside of school? MIT is especially difficult for Asian males to get in, and leadership is where they ding most applications in their “holistic” admissions process.</p>

<p>CalTech admissions is based purely on merit, and you don’t have to worry about the ridiculous “holistic” method of college admissions. Just crush your SATs, get the best grades, show your smarts in and out of the classroom, and you’re in. They don’t give a crap about volunteering and starting Habitiat for Humanity in your school.</p>

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<p>[Think</a> About It: Sucks to Be Asian Male](<a href=“http://reallythink.blogspot.com/2005/04/sucks-to-be-asian-male.html]Think”>Think About It: Sucks to Be Asian Male)</p>

<p>As for leadership, I’m pretty sure I’ll be captain of my HS swim team, maybe my YMCA swim team, and I’ll probably become Math/Physics team president/captain. I’m not just guessing at these, I really am pretty sure I’ll get these positions. Also, would being a scholar-athlete separate me from other asians? I think my academics are right around where most asians are, to the point where colleges ignore that and start looking at EC’s. I don’t think I’ll be doing IMO or anything, but if I do some great research and maybe get something published in a magazine it’ll balance out. I get the general feeling that most asians at MIT aren’t athletic? I may be wrong. If I were to win a HS State event (or something of equal caliber) would that distinguish me?</p>

<p>Rereading this post, don’t asians already show leadership by being math team president or something? I think many are, but what exactly do you mean by leadership? Just a position or somethign else? Thanks.</p>

<p>EDIT: BTW, my school is liberal arts/humanities oriented, but still overall well-rounded. They just have slightly more of an emphasis on their english + history departments. How would this affect me applying for a Math/Science school?</p>