This One Might Hurt Your Head

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Believe me, I've no flipping clue as to how I'm going to get anywhere, my stats are flat out risky. They're all kind of all over-the-place. My academics aren't absolutely amazing, but I think what can marginally compensate when it comes in with my hooks, essays, and possibly my ECs.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 UW ~ 3.8 W (See Special Circumstances / Hooks)
SAT: 2150; 680 CR, 670 W [RAWR!!], 800 M (12 Essay) Want increase scores, but already 2nd try
SAT II: 800 Math IIC, USH + Lit (Taking in June)
AP: Scores Pending; Eng, Calc AB, Psych (Self-Study, School Does Not Offer)
Senior Schedule: AP Eng., AP Stats, AP Gov/Econ, AP Physics, Speech + Debate, Teacher Aide for AP Eng.
Rank: School Does Not Rank
School: Competetive Public
Demographic: Los Angeles, CA
**ECs:<a href="This%20is%20the%20fun%20part">/b</a>
- 2 Year Advocate of Cancer Awareness
- 3 Year LGBT Civil Rights Activist, Orater
- 3 Year Photographer, Sells Original Work
- 3 Year Speech and Debate Member, 2 Years in Office, President; Numerous Awards as Finalists at the local, district, regional, and state competitions; including 1st Place District in Original Prose and Poetry, 2nd in District Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and 4th Place State Finalist in Original Prose and Poetry
- National Forensics League /w Distinction
- Treasurer of Amnesty International
- Published, self-help on Oration and Public Speaking and Speech Writing; also adopted Award-Winning Original Prose into Short Story
- 11 Years of Fine Arts Study at Mission: Renaissance Fine Arts Institute; sells original work
- 2 Years Architectual Study at Montecito College
- Internship at Major Los Angeles Architectual Firm
- National Honor Roll (doubt it counts for anything)
- Athletic Scholar Award
- 2 Years of Cross Country / Track., JV, Nationally-Acclaimed Team and First Athletic Team in the School's History (50~60 Years) to make it to the State Level
- School Leadership Program, Top-40 in Class /w Volunteer Work (Grouped, all equal) ~100+ Hours
- 6 Years Developing Online Games, involving Trigger Scripting and Database Engine Reconstruction for Blizzard Entertainment Products
- 5 Years Entrepreneural Web Design Business specializing in Flash (Check it out: <a href="http://www.jonhmchan.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.jonhmchan.com/&lt;/a> , though it is under reconstruction)
- 1 Year as an Office Clerk for International Car Transmission Business C&T Japanese Engines (8 Hours / Week on Weekends)</p>

<p>Supplementary: Art Portfolio featuring 11 Year Art Study, Architecture Study, Photography, Web Design, Oration
Special Circumstances / Hooks: (Oh, this is even better)
- I am an Asian homosexual submersed in a Conservative Asian / Retired Caucasian Population. The slump in my grades was in my sophomore year, and it was caused by the aftermath of my coming out in front of my Honors English Class at the end of my Freshman year (yes, in front of all of them, my English Teacher -- who may be my Senior AP English Teacher next year and a liberal -- loves me for it and will definitely give me a good rec; also a good essay topic, I'm a strong writer). I sunk into massive depression which climaxed at a seizure January 2006, and I pulled myself out of after the help of a counseling psychologist (and my school class counselor, who has a gay son and sympathizes, so who may also give me a good rec) and some self-exploration. Where I live, in Arcadia, which has an unusually high concentration of Asians (and therefore conservatives) of about 45% (45% Whites too), you can imagine it was difficult being openly gay. Since the moment I came out, I became an LGBT Activist, writing speeches denouncing defamation and discrimination, and I started tracking prejudiced media attacks for GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). I also intend to begin performing my written speeches during the summer when I have more time.
- I am also diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder known as paroxysmal hemidystonia, when my brain sends too much information to the motor nerves of one entire side of my body (hands, face, arms, legs) and causes them to tense up and freeze when I make sudden moves. I battled through this disorder during my Running Career, and well, we ended up going to State for the first time in the School's History (another Essay topic).
- In short, I haven't had the happiest life.</p>

<p>As for my schools, I really don't know, but my maybe list:
Oxy
CSU San Luis Obipso
Applying to all UC's, I can afford it, just checking the boxes
USC (Alumni Bump, but it leans politically right)
NYU
NU
UChic
Carnegie Mellon
Columbia
Yale
Stanford
Brown</p>

2

<p><em>bump</em>
Any input would be helpful!</p>

3

<p>That is by FAR the biggest BS 'hook' i've ever heard/seen in my life. Wow.</p>

4

<p>^I disagree .. he had a seizure for crying out loud.</p>

<p>Write about coming out in one of your essays.</p>

<p>CSU San Luis Obipso= Match
USC (Alumni Bump, but it leans politically right) = Match
NYU = Match
NU = Semi Reach
UChic = Semi Reach
Carnegie Mellon = Semi Reach
Columbia = Reach
Yale = Big Reach
Stanford = Big Reach
Brown = Reach</p>

5

<p>If you'd like to think I'm lying about it, go ahead. Lying about any of it would be pointless trying to measure up my chances for these schools.</p>

<p>Thanks mj93, you've been a great help.
Alright, thanks. Anymore input would be great.</p>

6

<p>Try some small, liberal, thinking schools like Reed. Oberlin. Lewis and Clark. Pomona.</p>

<p>the big schools, IMO, are going to be too straight-laced. You seem weird (and I mean that in a good way) -- so don't pick a Brown or a UChi; pick something funky.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

7

<p>You have an incredible story...don't know if it's a hook persay, but it's amazing all the same and will distinguish you a lot from other applicants if you write well (aka not sappy "pity me) about it. Chances later...:)</p>

8

<p>VeryHappy: Thanks, and to say the truth, "seem weird" would be an understatement.
I've already looked at some small LACs, I've visited the Claremont Colleges (Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, etc.) and I didn't get that "vibe" people keep talking about and what I've experienced visiting some of the colleges on my list. I'll look into Reed.</p>

9

<p>I don't know about Brown, but UChi is very quirky/funky.</p>

10

<p>if done right, i think thats a great essay.
have you checked out wesleyan?</p>

11

<p>mj93: So I heard. I'm not a complete quirk, almost all of this is latent and is only revealed to others when I actually choose to tell them.</p>

<p>Huskern55: No, could you fill me in? Or why you'd suggest it?</p>

12

<p>Unfortunately coming out in a conservative community is not a hook. The fact is, almost no one with your stats is admitted to the most selective schools on your list. You need to get over the stats standard before ECs and circumstances are strongly considered unless they are truly exceptional. Add in that you are Asian and from California and you need to choose your reaches a little more realistically.</p>

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<p>^ Alright, thank you. Though, does that mean I should even bother applying at all?</p>

14

<p>Always try a few real reaches but make sure you really like some schools below them.</p>

15

<p>altaJMHC, my personal philosophy is to always apply if YOU think you have the faintest chance at getting in anywhere. No one here has a definite answer to whether you'll get into these colleges, especially the ivies. That's why this forum is called 'What Are My CHANCES'. You have a different story from everyone else; sell it. Do what you can to boost your 'stats', but in the end, it's all down to whether that one admissions officer likes you a little more than the rest. Confidence is key.</p>

16

<p>Thank you very much enderkin. Believe me, I think much the same way you do (it's the only reason I would even bother considering Ivies) and I fully understand what you mean. I just want a second opinion, having such an unconventional story.</p>

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<p>10% of the population is gay. You think being gay anywhere in California makes you unusual? Think about being gay in rural North Dakota or Idaho. Today's transsexual is yesterday's gay.</p>

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<p>Matthew Shepard.</p>

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<p>Stats aren't everything. I think you seem to have incredible potential and personality, so quirky passionate schools like Yale would be worth at least a shot. But then again, I'm biased :)</p>

<p>What kind of schools do you like? What kind of vibe or challenge are you looking for? What's your major? These all seem to be very different schools, and will probably look at your application very differently based on how good of a 'fit' they could see you being for their institution (I know, I know, such a tired term).</p>

20

<p>your school list is fine. your grades/sat arent good good enough, but by force of sheer weirdness you may have a shot.</p>