<p>^ You lose nothing by applying.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if sending the app in by the priority date would increase our chances?</p>
<p>It does.
Well at least it used to, when there were two separate admission rounds.</p>
<p>thanks for the info. I better get to work then.</p>
<p>So would it be pointless applying if your PSAT scores are in the 207-217 range?</p>
<p>You'll be fine. Just go for it.</p>
<p>DataBox--I would definitely still apply. From what I hear, SSP reviews applicants very holistically and does not focus as much on test scores as on genuine interest and passion for math and science.</p>
<p>Ok, here are some brief stats, do you guys think that I should apply this year as a sophomore or wait until junior year to give me time to raise my low standardized testing scores?</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0 UW (4.39ish W)
PSAT: very very bad (in the range of 207-217) due to a bubbling error that led to 7 or so correct answers being counted as incorrect and an accidental misgrid on the math section (idk how that happened, i had never made a bubbling error before this in my life)...</p>
<p>Awards: USAMO, Congressional Award (Silver Medal), AMC School Winner, AMC National Distinction, ARML Inter/National Championship 4th Place (SFBA A Team, very prestigious and difficult to make, beat about 6 MOPpers to make the team), Best Delegate (Gavel) at Stanford MUN Conference 2008, Outstanding Delegate at Davis MUN Conference 2008, Honorable Mention at Stanford MUN Conference 2007 , Distinguished Delegate at Harvard Model Congress 2008, Received the top student in department award for 4/5 departments last year (i.e. English, History, Math, Science)</p>
<p>APs (by the end of sophomore year): AP Calc BC, AP Physics B, AP Physics C: Mech, AP Physics C: E&M, AP Biology, AP Macro, AP Micro (Most AP exams any sophomore at my school took last year was one)</p>
<p>Leadership:
Elected Freshmen Class President
Elected Sophomore Class President
Appointed Math Club President by Mathematics Department (9-present)
Site Council (9-present)
Elected to the city's Youth Advisory Council (9-present)
Elected VP of MUN (50 member club) (10-present)
Elected VP of HMC (25 member club) (10-present)</p>
<p>Mathematics:
Founder and President of school math club
Qualified for USAMO 2008
USAMO Index of 235.5
AIME 2008I score of 9
AMC: 145.5/150
AMC School Winner
AMC National Distinction
Member of the highly competitive, San Francisco Bay Area ARML A Team 2008-present
Member of SFBA(A) Team that ranked 4th place inter/nationally (only 5 or 6 teams outside of the US) at the ARML contest
MATHCOUNTS 2007 - Chapter (Tied 2nd), State (Tied 5th)
Working on an Annual Math Competition for Middle Schools in the Area (10-20 schools(loosely based on AMC/ MATHCOUNTS))</p>
<p>Athletics:
Member of Varsity Water Polo Team 2007-present
Member of Varsity Swim Team 2007-present
Awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Member of a competitive swim team 2000-2008</p>
<p>Volunteer/ Community Service:
Over 300 hours volunteering in libraries and tutoring socioeconomically disadvantaged children
Designed and executed a two week program to educate orphans in rural villages in India (Am currently fundraising for the orphanage)</p>
<p>Have some more significant ECs, but they aren't all that relevant to math or science.</p>
<p>Recs: One from AP Calculus teacher/math club adviser/ congressional award adviser and one from AP Physics teacher, both are excellent and along the lines of "once in a lifetime type of student"...</p>
<p>^Dude...what the heck?? You're definitely in...you don't even need passionate essays..wow stop making us all look bad.. "USAMO index of 235.5, once in a lifetime type of student" dude you are overqualified. I think you could even have a chance at RSI if you applied, since you are just a sophomore and have stats equivalent to that of a really really smart junior.</p>
<p>^I'm sorry if I came off like that, but my intentions weren't to make you guys look bad or boast, I'm just not sure how much my low psat scores will affect my application (that's the main reason I ended up not applying to RSI other than the fact that I haven't started any real research yet and am still brainstorming)</p>
<p>Haha. Your PSAT score is NOT bad. And seriously? My only concern for you (based on what I know of SSP, that is, considering that I'm an applicant this year myself) would be that I'm not sure if you'd be able to fit all those awards AND show your passion in the 1000 words or so that SSP allows us (curse them!! 1000 words?!). Also, MUN. <3</p>
<p>lol, I like how you were appointed Math Club president in 9th grade. Forgive me, but I'm a bit confused about how that worked out. Were you an 8th grader very involved in the high school? Or is it appointed end of freshmen year, starting office 10th? </p>
<p>But yeah, definitely apply. I think SSP accepted like 3-5 sophomores in all last year. Don't worry about your PSAT scores. The application process is holistic, so be sure to have interesting essays too. Plus, there were a few people who had scores in your range, but with similar accomplishments. If not SSP, consider focusing on math at the Ross program. I think you have a decent chance at RSI next year too. Good luck!</p>
<p>My PSAT wasn't much higher than yours (221), and I got in as a sophomore with less math/science-related achievements. You have a more-than-excellent shot of getting in, but know that essays and recommendations count for a lot. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
lol, I like how you were appointed Math Club president in 9th grade. Forgive me, but I'm a bit confused about how that worked out. Were you an 8th grader very involved in the high school? Or is it appointed end of freshmen year, starting office 10th?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I was an 8th grader very involved in the high school (I took classes there and have had a strong relationship with the administration since middle school), so I was essentially appointed as the student representative of the math department as a rising freshmen, founded the math club/team in 9th grade and was elected president of it....</p>
<p>
[quote]
Haha. Your PSAT score is NOT bad. And seriously? My only concern for you (based on what I know of SSP, that is, considering that I'm an applicant this year myself) would be that I'm not sure if you'd be able to fit all those awards AND show your passion in the 1000 words or so that SSP allows us (curse them!! 1000 words?!). Also, MUN. <3
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Really? After seeing RSI's cutoff (220) I felt like I had no chance whatsoever, it's reassuring to see that scores are not valued over actual passion and accomplishments. I <3 MUN too!</p>
<p>
[quote]
But yeah, definitely apply. I think SSP accepted like 3-5 sophomores in all last year. Don't worry about your PSAT scores. The application process is holistic, so be sure to have interesting essays too. Plus, there were a few people who had scores in your range, but with similar accomplishments. If not SSP, consider focusing on math at the Ross program. I think you have a decent chance at RSI next year too. Good luck!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thanks! I'm definitely applying to Ross and Promys along with SSP =D</p>
<p>
[quote]
My PSAT wasn't much higher than yours (221), and I got in as a sophomore with less math/science-related achievements. You have a more-than-excellent shot of getting in, but know that essays and recommendations count for a lot.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Alright, that's great, so I guess I'll actually start writing some essays then =)</p>
<p>Hey databox!
I was on Socal team (not A though, im not as amazing as you! xD)
lost to you guys by ONE point :(
you guys had evan o'dorney huh..hes amazing =]
and your stats are amazing, dont even worry.
sidenote: i thought only juniors (rising seniors) could apply to rsi?</p>
<p>yeah only rising seniors can apply to rsi, unless you're graduating a year early.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hey databox!
I was on Socal team (not A though, im not as amazing as you! xD)
lost to you guys by ONE point
you guys had evan o'dorney huh..hes amazing =]
and your stats are amazing, dont even worry.
sidenote: i thought only juniors (rising seniors) could apply to rsi?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Boooo SoCal! jk =) (aren't we supposed to be like rival teams?)
lol thanks, yeah, our A team had o dorney and like 7 MOPpers on it in total lol (1 black, 1 blue, 5 red) and everyone was an USAMO qualifier (that's probably why we got perfects on all of team rounds)
I think there was a MOPper on our D team too lol
Yeah, RSI only accepts rising seniors or rising juniors graduating early lol, so I thought it would be pointless for me to apply this year considering my scores aren't up to the mark and I'm probably not graduating early....</p>
<p>haha! yeah, we've got a little cal rivalry going on (: but it's all good!
ohh wow thats an insane team xD
i think our team is a lot weaker this year, since some of our best seniors left :(
and a MOPper on D team.. wow thats depth!
Oh i see. Does it matter how early you turn in SSP apps as long as they're before the first deadline in Feb though?
For example, databox, will you be waiting for AMC scores before turning it in this year?</p>
<p>
[quote]
haha! yeah, we've got a little cal rivalry going on (: but it's all good!
ohh wow thats an insane team xD
i think our team is a lot weaker this year, since some of our best seniors left
and a MOPper on D team.. wow thats depth!
Oh i see. Does it matter how early you turn in SSP apps as long as they're before the first deadline in Feb though?
For example, databox, will you be waiting for AMC scores before turning it in this year?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Haha yeah Cal rivalry FTW =)
We didn't have any seniors on our team last year =( There were two seniors in the Bay Area who were Black MOPpers that decided that they were too good for us....lol I think the Bay Area has enough MOPpers to make at least one and a half teams for ARML lol
I don't think it matters, and personally, I won't be waiting for AMC scores seeing as how the only way I could get a better one is by getting a perfect 150 and that probably isn't going to happen....</p>
<p>I now feel science/math EC deprived :(</p>
<p>No math competitions here in the backwoods...</p>