Hey guys!!! I haven’t seen a thread for Simons 2018 so I decided to make one. i am an ALUM from the ever-so-illustrious Simons Class of 2017 so don’t hesitate if y’all have questions about the application or anything!!!
Hoping my son gets into this prestigious program! He has a 4.19 GPA at one of the best boarding schools in the country, 1600 SAT, 800s on 5 SAT subject tests, and has done research for the past three summers at Stony Brook with the same mentor. I’ve been working on the essays with him for a while now and I think we’re almost there!
Hi! Thank you for making this thread and helping us out, that’s super generous! I was wondering what kind of previous research experience people usually have when applying to Simons…I haven’t done any previous research, will that negatively affect my chances? Thanks!
Well I know a couple of people who haven’t had research experience before but got into simons, so i think you should never give up
Hey Guys! I thought I would post as well. Would any of the alumni be able to chance me for the Simons Program? Academics: 4.5 weighted GPA (4.0 unweighted), SAT: 1590 (sick, retaking in December), 14 APs (All 5’s except bio).
Extra Curriculars: stem cell research at Yale every summer since 8th grade, USABO top 50, assistant secretary of yearbook
I would go back to Yale for research, but I feel that spending the summer at a lesser institution will have a humbling effect on my application. I am also family friends with the Marilyn Simons if that helps at all. Thanks!!
Hi Yaleclassof2023, thanks for setting up this thread. My daughter will be a rising junior but will not be 16 until end of September. Do you know if the Simon’s program will accept kids who are not yet 16? On the website it says 16 as a age requirement. Thanks.
Hi,
I haven’t started my essays yet but plan on working on them over the next few days.
3.93 UW (1 B in Precalc taken over the summer) , 4.76 W GPA
AP Classes: Calc AB (5), Calc BC(5), Computer Science Principles(5), U.S. Government (5), Psychology (5)
Other relevant classes: Biology GT (A), Chemistry GT (A), currently taking Differential Equations GT, Physics C Mechanics AP, Comp Sci A AP.
1480 PSAT, 730 CR, 750 M,
1550 SAT, 760 CR, 790 M, 20/24 on Essay
Haven’t taken any SAT II’s.
Extracurriculars:
Intern at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory(APL), started during summer session, continued over the year, doing rocket nozzle design and thermal engineering–various skills learned like CAD, MatLab, Abaqus, etc.
Captain of a multi-school FIRST Robotics Team, finalists at multiple District Competitions, also World Qualifiers.
Section Leader of Percussion Section and Drumline, Jazz Band Drummer
Lead a 5 person Jazz Combo that plays at various events across the state, including a few galas in D.C. – Organizing and playing charity concerts at various restaurants to raise money for a music charity foundation, a goal of 2,500$.
Various Honor Societies(unimportant) National, Math, Tech, Music, Social Studies.
It’s Academic TV Team(Trivia), Singles No.1 on Varsity Tennis Team, JV Cross Country two years, Math Team captain
Founded a FIRST Lego League team at a local middle school, regularly mentored, continued post-season training and STEM learning.
Work Experience: Working at a Dunkin’ Donuts for the past two years.
Volunteer Experience: 100 hours at a Veterans Affairs Hospital over the summer, around another 100 from various other things.
Awards: 1st place schoolwide STEM Fair, 50+ applicants (not too impressive), AP Scholar w/Distinction, Departmental Award in Math two years in a row, Departmental Award for Music.
Recommendations: Pretty good from two Math teachers, another good one from research mentor from APL
I don’t have any big science fair accomplishments or any Olympiad experience, and I also don’t have any SAT II’s or AP Chem or Bio. Would that one B in Precalc over the summer sink me? I’m definitely above average in math but I don’t know whether I would stand a chance with RSI.
Any input helps.
Thanks!
@teslacoil71801 I think you mean “Simons” not RSI. Btw I guess we’re both applying to the same programs.
@victorchang oh oops, yeah that’s what I meant. I’m applying to Simons, RSI, Garcia, Clark, HSHSP, RISE, and SSP. The applications are taking me a while but I really hope I can get into at least one of them. Are you applying to any others?
@teslacoil71801 I’m applying to Simons, RSI, Garcia, Clark, SSP, and YSPA (Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics) May I ask what state you’re applying from? And also, what RISE university are you applying to (there are numerous)?
These are my stats
Asian boi who goes to a competitive public school in California.
Note: My school does not offer AP courses to freshmen and sophomores, hence GPA.
3.9 UW ; 4.2 W GPA (2 Bs)
Stem Courses currently taking: Calculus BC (at my local university), AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science
PSAT: 1430 (680 Reading, 750 Math)
Chinese SAT: 750 - self-taught Chinese in 6 months (was born in US)
Currently an intern (w/ professor) at local university researching Quantum Physics and Stochastic Control; started over Winter Break learning mathematical analysis
Doing personal research on automotive propulsion at home
Extracurriculars:
- Started a non-profit toy business (after creating a new toy product) that uses the leftover money for charity
- Vice Captain of FIRST Robotics Competition World Championships Qualifier Build Team
- Captain of NASA Space Settlement Competition Team
- Captain of Toshiba Exploravision Team
- Developing a “Campfire” story-based app development team
- Dave Wittry Memorial Programming Contest (selected)
- Staff writer in school newspaper (competitively selected from top ~5 in class)
- Astronomy Club (Secretary,Treasurer)
- Board Game Club (Secretary) - led integration of special-ed kids into the club during lunch
- Model United Nations (4 years)
- California Scholarship Federation (similar to National Honors Society)
- Computer Science Club
Awards: Youth of the Month (represented my entire school), Pride of the Pack, Principal’s Honor Roll, 20+ Outstanding/Commendation MUN Awards
Community Service: ~ 100 hours so far
@victorchang I’m applying from Maryland and I’m also an Asian male so double RIP
@teslacoil71801 idk, RSI accepts 2 from Maryland, not 1. Cali accepts 5, but the ratio might be unbalanced so I think it’s even harder for me. In ranking of where I want to go the most: RSI, Clark, SSP, Simons, YSPA, Garcia
this thread seems dead despite it being 2 weeks before deadline
Anyways. Hey guys I’m applying this year too. Kinda nervous lol cuz I don’t have any amazing stats, but I do have research experience and an amazing research mentor here in Alabama.
@nyparent123 I emailed them about that and they said no, but I’m pretty sure she could get an independent internship! She could email some professors and ask them for an opportunity to work in their lab.
@yaleautoaccepted I’m sure you’ll be fine. Good luck!
hey guys, does anyone know about the process of applying to a mentor, like how do i find them and
what should I say in the email etc?
Hi guys! I’m applying this year too and I just had my school nominator send in everything yesterday. I looked at the page of past simons fellows, and it appears that no one from my state has gone there for the past 15 years, so I hope that might be in my favor. However, is it bad that I didn’t submit any of my test scores?
@nyparent123 it’s really annoying for the age limit of some programs. My S is a rising junior and has a decent stats. But he is unable to apply for some decent programs just because of age limit.
We can only submit PSAT scores for this right? Or is there a place where we submit more scores?
hey does anyone know if two letters of recommendation plus two recommendation forms are requires or how does
that work?
@sleepypossum Yea, it could be harmful because scores are a good indicator of a student’s academic strength.
@ritikulous I see you’re applying to Simons and RSI.