Suggestions/Chances at HYPSM... you know how it goes.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Asian female junior – thinking of engineering/science-ish major; wants to apply to Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, Yale... you know the drill.</p>

<p>GPA: uw-4.0; weighted-4.74
Rank: “don’t rank” but can ask –somewhere in top 1% of 700
Straight A student</p>

<p>SAT Is: 1600
SAT IIs: Math IIC-800
Taking US History and Physics in June.
January Writing scores not back yet
(PSATs: 240)</p>

<p>APs
Soph-Calc BC (5) and Euro (5)
Jr-Physics B, Comp Sci, US (Art History but no test)
Sr-English Lit, Gov, Physics C, Chem, French
( “most challenging available” schedule - 8 Advanced classes this year)</p>

<p>ECs:
Violin: Concertmaster (11) of Central PA Youth Orchestra (10, 11), 3 school orchestras (9-11); private lessons with Music Professor at Penn State
Key Club (9-11): President (11), Red Cross blood drive chairperson (10)
Student Government(9-11): Treasurer (11)
Journalism: General Photography Manager (10), Yearbook Junior Section Editor (11)
Math Club (9-11)
Science Olympiad (9,11) – one of best teams in state, usually top 10 in nation if we get there
Debate Team (9, 10)- Districts Novice Policy Debate Champion (10)
Boston University Tanglewood Institute (in MA) (Summer 2004)
Advanced String Quartet Institute at Interlochen Arts Camp (in MI) (Summer 2003) - Only 16 violinists accepted nationwide</p>

<p>Awards:
All-Easterns Orchestra (11)
Concertmaster of Pennsylvania All-State and District Orchestras (10)
U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship State Alternate (11)
Community Service Award (10)--One for all underclassmen
2nd place (on violin) in Ann Keller Young Soloist Competition (open to all high school musicians) (10); Honorable Mention (11)
Best Freshman Representative Award for Student Government
First place with special merit for the Lions’ Digest (newspaper) from the American Scholastic Press Association (10)</p>

<p>Other school awards, AIME qualifier, top PAML scorer in grade, other volunteer service</p>

<p>Hoping to use leadership and violin as a hook
Parents went to Berkeley, but they don’t consider legacy</p>

<p>Will apply to Penn State University’s Schreyer’s Honors College as a match/safety (Usually accept about 40 to Schreyer’s from my school) – won’t apply to any other safeties because Schreyer’s is a good school and I’d get a big discount b/c parents work at PSU</p>

<p>Comments on how much of a reach those aforementioned schools are would be greatly appreciated.
Please also leave suggestions of other good schools to consider that might be a little less of a reach. </p>

<p>Please reply; I could really use some objective input. Thanks guys. :)</p>

2

<p>jesus. youre in. shut up.</p>

3

<p>^^ What he said... minus the "shut up." :D</p>

<p>Your transcript, to say the least, is spotless and shiny. You have exceptional EC's. You have a 1600 on the SAT. </p>

<p>You're probably guaranteed in at Berkeley, Yale, and MIT, and probably at Stanford and Harvard. </p>

<p>Good luck with whatever you choose to do in life... your obvious superior ambitions (and intelligence) will push you very far if you keep it up.</p>

4

<p>I'd say i'll be reporting to you in a few years when you're my boss, but you won't be my boss, you'll be my god and ill have to worship you instead</p>

5

<p>You guys are so supportive... haha I really appreciate it; you just made my day.
Don't be afraid to say anything discouraging though. I can take it, I promise! :)</p>

6

<p>The only discouraging thing that I have to say is that you might not make it into all of HYPSM... at the same time. :D</p>

7

<p>damn asians!</p>

8

<p>Haha yeah... I'm definitely asian... what can I say?</p>

9

<p>Great stats...but something makes me hesitant to tell you that you're "definately in."</p>

<p>That is your....uh...never mind. haha. 1600/800/240 PSAT...that is rare, should definately be a PLUS. </p>

<p>Good Luck! :)</p>

10

<p>remember though, that admissions are only half objective. If you want HYPSetc., you better have a personality and aced essays, interviews, teacher recs, etc. Your scores and grades are topnotch, but remember, PLENTY of 1600's with good ec's get rejectetted from HYPSetcs every year. Make sure you apply to at least one pure safety school that you can be happy attending. With your grades and SAT scores, you could do the work and shine anywhere. You may not even need to go ivy. But, all of the best to you. You will need it.</p>

11

<p>RBase and Tami, Thanks for your honesty. I totally understand what you mean. I think that "definitely in"s for the colleges I am considering are rare - and I know I'm not one of them. And personally, I think the standardized tests are overrated. haha I probably just got lucky.
When it comes to HYPSM and the others, I figure that I'll just hope for the best. And of course, I'll try to do the best I can with recs, essays, and interviews. Hopefully, I have a personality... ;-)
I really don't expect or need everyone to assure me that I'm in. While it's flattering, I would be just as happy getting suggestions of other colleges to consider - in fact, that's the main reason for my post in the first place.
RBase, as for my safety school, I agree that I can't count on getting in anywhere, and my safety school is Penn State (Schreyers). While it would be great to get in elsewhere, if I end up at Schreyers, I'm 95% positive that I would still be very happy... a great school, where many of my friends will be, at an unbeatable price.</p>

12

<p>Wow, so many perfects and good ECs, I'd say you're in, although you can't really take anything for granted with the funky admissions process :(. Thank god I'm only a sophomore right now :).</p>

13

<p>are you guys crazy? this asian owns the world. it leads every activity and scores perfects on everything. it's amazing.</p>

14

<p>You know what else you should add to that list since you are applying to YALE, i'd say, go join the army and fight terrorism in Iraq for a few months :)</p>

15

<p>Write good essays and get good recs. You'll get in everywhere.</p>

16

<p>o lorrddd...ima b applying to yale at the same time as you :S great ! Just my luck class of 2006 had to have so many "OMG R U FOR REAL!!!!!!" type ppl...ill go jump outta a window now...have a nice day!</p>

17

<p>ouuu u dont do any sports!!! great at least tghey wont look at me and u in the same pool</p>

18

<p>Haha yeah... I'm just not an athletic person. I figured there was no reason to do something if I didn't like it AND wasn't any good ;-)</p>

19

<p>ya ofcoarse.. .. sports is my life though but anyways i think u have a great chance at hyps... why dont u consider somethign like cornell or chicago as a safety?? o ya also r u applying for fin aid or smthing?</p>

20

<p>I'm sorry, but a lot of asians are violin gods (so it's an anti-hook) and have the same stats you have, and better ECs. </p>

<p>You seem to think you have the leadership thing going on, but you don't---most people have the same things you have. </p>

<p>If you want to be TRULY safe, you'll found multiple clubs or something. You might also want to build shelters for the homeless in Bolivia. </p>

<p>Overall, in a sea of asians, you don't stand out. </p>

<p>You have the same chance as most applicants (ultra-qualified whites and asians) in the HYPSM lottery. Sorry to burst your bubble.</p>