The Time of the Season to Ask for Advice.....

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hey I guess it's my turn to ask you guys for advice. I would like to have some candid advice even if it is harsh. I've already asked for advice in about April and I thank everyone that advised me on that thread but now I have to finish my list and find some points that I can emphasize on my application. Also I want some recommendations on match schools and scholarships I could apply to. </p>

<p>First off, I'm a Korean male and a junior at a pretty competitive public high school in Virginia. I don't think you guys would know it, but 90% of the student body go to college (about 84% go to a four year college) and our AP score average is about a 4. Our school also offers about 22 APs. </p>

<p>However my situation is a bit more complex than the typical asian american. </p>

<p>I'm a US-Korean Dual citizen. I was born in the US in 1987 and stayed for about a year then went back to Korea.</p>

<p>Then came back to the US in 1993 and stayed until the December of 1997, then went back to Korea.</p>

<p>Then I came back to the US in Feb 2004. Currently I have my freshmen and sophomore credits from Korea and my junior credits from the US.</p>

<p>You might think that my parents are rich since I moved around so much. But the reality is that my dad works for the Korean government as a diplomat. So I'm a middle-class citizen. </p>

<p>The school system in Korea is quite different from US's system. First I went to a public school in Korea not an international school. We don't have any choice on the curriculum. We all take the same level classes and the same electives. Thus there aren't any honors only regular classes. Also our grades are determined by four major tests two per semester. </p>

<p>In addition when I came to the US Fairfax County VA gave some names to the classes. For example, we have an integrated math and science curriculum in Korea. We take Geometry and algebra at the same time while taking chemistry, biology, geology, and physics the same year. We had twelve classes each year but the county took only six classes and did not accept my english credits and thus I had to take ESL and english 9. Also I start off with Korean 2(these courses are obviously much harder than the korean classes taught in the US) since they accepted my 8th grade Korean credit, and all three Korean credits count as foreign language credits (I have no idea why) </p>

<p>First off my GPA</p>

<p>9th grade
3.333
World Hist/Geo 1 A
Geometry B
Biology 1 B
Korean 2 A
Health & PE 9 C
Moral Education A</p>

<p>10th grade
3.917
World Hist/Geo 2 A
Algebra 2 A
Chemistry 1 A
Korean 3 A
Health& PE 10 B+
Music Sampler A</p>

<p>I audited some classes in the US after I came in Feb since I didn't meet the obligatory attendance days in order to receive credit for school work. So I have like 7 Ts.(transfer) It has no meaning.</p>

<p>Summer School
Physics 1(there are no honors in summer school) B+</p>

<p>I took the hardest possible schedule I could in 11th grade. Also our grade scale is a bit tough.
94-100 A
90-93 B+
84-89 B
80-84 C+ etc.</p>

<p>11th grade
3.929
English 9 B+
Journalism 2 A
(skipped the first one with the teacher's consent)
AP USH A
AP Calc BC A
(I skipped precalc in school. I actually took it in a private institute in Korea. My math teacher in the US allowed me to take calc after I showed her that I knew the stuff)
AP Chem A
Chem Sr Sci Inv A
(This is the identical class as AP chem. It just doubles the class time for more experiments.)
ESL 3 A</p>

<p>So my cumulative GPA is about 3.715. </p>

<p>This is my senior year schedule</p>

<p>Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra
AP US Gov/Comp Gov
AP European History
AP Physics C
Physics C Senior Science Investigation
Journalism 3
English 11(I'm taking 10 in the summer)</p>

<p>SAT scores
Dec Math 780 Verbal 630
Jan Math 800 Verbal 650
June(new one)
Math 760 Verbal 770 Writing 680 (MC 66, essay 10) </p>

<p>SAT II scores
Math 2C 800 Physics 790 USH 790 Chem 780</p>

<p>There are some little awards from Korea 9th grade and 10th grade. </p>

<p>English Competition by YBM (<a href="http://www.ybmsisa.co.kr/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ybmsisa.co.kr/&lt;/a&gt;) English Study: Award of recommendation (Seoul) 9th</p>

<p>English Competition by YBM English Study and Yangnam College: Award of
recommendation (Seoul) 9th</p>

<p>English Competition by George Washington University, and Dawun Foreign Language School: Bronze (Seoul) 9th</p>

<p>First place in the subject Korean history for the second semester of 10th grade</p>

<p>First place in the subject Math for the second semester of 10th grade</p>

<p>2004 Mathematics Competition in the Washington Metro Chapter by KSEA : second place 11th</p>

<p>Editorial Writing for Virginia High School League Fall Publications Workshop by the Virginia Journalism Education Association: Excellent writing (second after Superior)</p>

<p>2005 Mathematics Competition in the Washington Metro Chapter by KSEA
Third Place</p>

<p>AMC score: 110 I didn't have the guts to ask my teacher about my AIME score, since I know it will suck.
Some small math awards in school. </p>

<p>My EC's aren't really strong. You could say they're weak.</p>

<p>We change schools from 9th to 10th. 9th is in middle school and 10th is the first year of high school. Also we have a period for EC's back in Korea and you can only take one EC.</p>

<p>Chinese Checkers (9th)
Band(10th)
11th
Newspaper (Assistant Editorial Editor)
Academics Team
Mu Alpha Theta
NHS Alkahest Chemistry Honor Society
Model UN</p>

<p>I couldn't get leaderships in middle school because we don't have presidents of clubs in 9th grade. Also in 10th grade the president and vice-president are all from 11th grade.</p>

<p>I kind of casually play the piano, not that well to mention on my application. Also this might be my only hope of getting in, I do something called Kousando for about 3-4 years. It's a type of yoga, but it's different. If you want to know more, I'll explain to you in detail.</p>

<p>A minor detail but I went to Michigan Math and Science Scholars this summer and took a course on Infinity.(Not really a big deal but still)
Well that's all I have for my ECs. Pretty weak? Yeah I know.</p>

<p>For community service I have done some things. I'm not sure about the hours but this is what I did.</p>

<p>Helped reconstruct a typhoon devastated farm in Korea in 10th grade,
Donated blood to the RedCross.
Part of the RedCross Youth Team.
Going to start help brain injured patients in about a week.
Some tutoring stuff </p>

<p>Recs: I think I'll get one from my Journalism teacher and USH teacher.
Essay: I want to write about my love for history and what I think the true meaning of history.</p>

<p>List</p>

<p>Reach
Columbia (ED)
Swarthmore
Stanford
Harvard
Duke</p>

<p>Match
Washington U St. Louis</p>

<p>Sure Bet
U-Mich Ann Arbor
U-Wisconsin Madison
UVA(I'm in-state)</p>

<p>Any suggestions on my list and the scholarships I could get?</p>

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<p>BUMP minor detail I qualified for the National Chemistry Olympiad</p>

3

<p>decent scores/grades. ec's a bit lopsided. take the sat's again. you need to be higher in the verbal areas if you want to solidify your chances for your reaches. you could definitely get into washu. and maybe even duke.
columbia might be rough. why do you want to apply there early? do you have a special connection there?</p>

<p>you seem to be on the right track. stay focused and confident. make sure you present yourself in a very good way. that can make or break a candidate on the line.</p>

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<p>Thx. I don't understand your SAT comment. I have a 770 verbal isn't that good enough? Or is my writing that bad? Oh yeah any other colleges you recommend?
BTW thanks for reading my long thread</p>

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<p>770 is more than enough. It would help again to not only improve your writing but score high in the verbal so that one test didn't look like a fluke, although they will take your highest scores if you make it to the committee.</p>

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<p>Does it look that suspicious? I thought if I took the SAT again colleges would think that I was just another obssessed high scoring student.
Oh and I have specific reasons for EDing to columbia.</p>

<p>Urban but sub-urban campus
Core Curriculum
Small School
Independence of student body
Double-major program
Great Journalism Graduate School</p>

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<p>I disagree, I think your SATs are fine. Actually, they're great IMO.
But what do I know.</p>

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<p>Bump.............</p>

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<p>How did you get an C in gym???</p>

<p>Anyway, you have a good chance at Columbia if you're applying early. You should explain your situation in a letter or in one of the essays (if it fits the topic).</p>

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<p>Thankx for your reply. Let's just say I intentionally did not study for any of the exams or do anything during 4th quarter.
Anyone else?</p>

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<p>Come on no one? Is my post that long? really I need to know some scholarships and match schools.</p>

12

<p>Please. I know it's long but I'm desperate for more advices. Come on seriously. Help a brother.</p>

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<p>Some help please? If you don't know about scholarships how about match schools? thanks</p>

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<p>why the hell isnt Northwestern on there? You might get grants.</p>

15

<p>Wisconsin might give you $ since the school is basically all white... highlight the diversity factor in your essay and apply early</p>

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<p>A scholarship suggestion would be nice. BUMP If ur posting thx for reading the long post.</p>

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<p>I just want some school or programs where I can get scholarships. BUMP
My APs scores came yesterday.
Chem 5
Calc BC(sub score) 5(5)
Macro 4 :(
Micro 4 :(
USH Don't know yet</p>

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<p>Don't get so pessimistic and greedy already. A 4 on econ. is very good. Your SATII's are amazing. Nothing below a 750. A good match for scholarship money is University of Southern California. A another great place would be University of Rochester.</p>

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<p>As far as extracurriculars go, you don't stand out at any one thing. You have the grades to get into some top schools (Stanford, Harvard, and Duke are huge reaches though) but you need to make clear what your biggest strength is outside the classroom...hopefully it is not Chinese checkers!</p>

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<p>Yes I understand that very well. But I had my circumstances although I'm not excusing myself from anything. Anyways thanks for your frank advice.</p>