TAMS chances

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Yes, I am perfectly aware that TAMS (Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science) is not a prep school, but I couldn't really think of anywhere else to post this chances thread, so please bear with me...</p>

<p>SAT: 2270 (710 M :(, 800 CR :), 760 W (meh))</p>

<p>GPA: 6.833333 (our school district is weird, and uses a 7.0 GPA scale, but UW GPA for me would be 4.0...that means I made all A's, right???)</p>

<p>Teacher Recs: Excellent. My chem teacher is also my job supervisor so she and I spend a little too much time with each other. My math teacher has a devil-may-care attitude but I'm pretty sure we have mutual respect. My English teacher is convinced I'm the next Shakespeare (just kidding, she just sort of likes me!)</p>

<p>Awards (these are what I listed on my app, don't laugh...they're pretty pathetic):
1) National Recognition, DUKE TIP 7th grade talent search
2) 5th place, Texas State Geography Bee
3) District Recognition, Poetry and Scholastic regional Gold Key: Poetry
4) Several school-wide awards for Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Algebra, English I, World Geography
5) Various comp sci programming awards (nothing big, mind you)</p>

<ul>
<li>I had a pretty laissez-faire attitude about the rat race known as college admissions before sophomore year but have now concluded that I need to step it up and consequently am a lot more involved in my studies... A lot of things are bound to happen this year!</li>
</ul>

<p>ECs (Again, only what I put on app)
1) Student Council, 4 years
2) Key Club, past 2 years, 125+ hours of community service so far with more to come this summer
3) Chemistry Lab Assistant (1 year, am very passionate about this)
4) President, Beta Club
5) President, Computer Science Club
6) Model UN
7) Spanish National Honors Society (will receive scholarship at end of year for maintaining a 99.3 cumulative semester average over 3 years)</p>

<p>AP, Honors classes taken (this is part of admissions criteria)
1) AP World History
2) AP Spanish Language
3) AP Computer Science A
4) Will be taking AP Art History Test</p>

<p>Prospective APs:
1) AP Calculus BC* (that is, if I can pass Precal Credit by Exam this summer)
2) AP Chemistry
3) AP English Language
4) AP US History
5) AP Computer Science AB</p>

<p>Essays: I think they'll be pretty good, I'm a decent writer and my passion for science and research is very real. Hopefully this passion will guide me as I put pen to paper (yeah, haven't written them yet :))</p>

<p>I hope I haven't forgotten anything and that I bestowed any prospective chancers with adequate information. Please help me out...my thoroughly-bitten nails will thank you!!!</p>

2

<p>Come on people, I know you've been looking at this thread (a little birdie told me). Please give me a critique, I'm dying to know!</p>

3

<p>Oh, hey. :D I'd suggest you visit the college boards, but since you were a Duke TIP participant (same as me, I'm in 8th grade and taking Social Psych this summer as Duke :D), then I'll critique you.</p>

<p>So, did you found out about Texas A&M through Duke TIP? It's one of the campuses for the Academy, I know.</p>

<p>First of all: Your SAT scores are great. These are some scores I've seen on boards for Harvard, Yale, etc. Your academic GPA seems good, but I noticed that for your awards, you put some lower and middle school achievements (5th and 7th grade). I don't think they'd be as impressed by that. </p>

<p>I see that you took AP courses in both the sciences and English, so that's a good mix. </p>

<p>How did your interview go, and I'm sorry for asking this, but what is your ethnicity? It's just a factor in the applications; same as hooks. Are you an athlete? Do you have any stellar extracurricular talents, besides the ones listed above, that you'd carry on at ASM?</p>

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<p>Also, do you hold any positions besides being a representative in Student Council?</p>

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<p>Olivia--</p>

<p>Thanks so much for responding to my post. First off, for my awards, the years from 7th to 10th are included (and 5th is not as in 5th grade but 5th place in State Geography Bee) in the application requirements.</p>

<p>As for my ethnicity, I'm (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on the day) Indian-American... I know this will probably hurt me, but I hope that my good qualities will shine through my essays.</p>

<p>Positions: I am a member of various clubs, but I am the (elected) President of the Beta Club (a community service club) and the Computer Science Club. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, I found out about TAMS and the whole college admissions process a little too late to cultivate any great hooks, but, like I said, I hope that admissions officials will be swayed by the sincerity of my passion in science, which, although it may not quite manifest itself in my <em>official</em> activities, is very alive and an indelible part of my life. My counselor encouraged me to list hobbies under ECs, and my hobbies are pretty unique:</p>

<p>I'm a Roman history geek and I also love reading about the History of Science,etc. I'm hoping that I'm allowed to translate my passion into tangible research at TAMS, which is why I seek the opportunity to attend.</p>

<p>Again, thanks very much for replying...you've made my night. Social Psych is okay, but Mathematical Problem Solving is the bomb. I'm serious. :)</p>

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<p>bump... (10 chars)</p>

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<p>What grade are you in? Sorry if I missed it.</p>

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<p>Oh, I suppose I didn't really state it explicitly...Sorry! I'm a sophomore.</p>

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<p>Aw, you're welcome, ajk. :D The thing is, I hate math, so I don't think I'd like problem solving it. ^^ I really love psychology, however.</p>

10

<p>Oh well, if it isn't your cup of tea, I understand... bump! I really need help, guys.</p>