<p>Which of this is true?</p>
<p>for HYPSM, everyone says u need to be "top 10%" and you're "fine" (in that area)</p>
<p>except...i've never met anyone accepted to schools such as hypsm with lower than top 2%...</p>
<p>how true is this saying?</p>
<p>"top 10% is good".</p>
<p>Check the Princeton Review's Top357 (361 now?) colleges.</p>
<p>Harvard? 90% are top 10%. 98% for top 25. People get in who aren't EVEN in the top 10%.</p>
<p>top 10% gives you a chance. I believe it perhaps equivalent to a 2050 on the SAT (depending on your school). But yes, the competitive applicants (of which the majority that are accepted are) ranked in the top 2% of their class. I would go even farther in saying that most competitive applicants are valedictorian or salutorian.</p>
<p>There are the athletes, and then those who are from schools like Andover</p>
<p>At HYPSM, most of the kids falling out of the top 5 or 10% are URMs, legacies, and recruited athletes. So unless you are one of those, you need to be as high up in the class ranks as you can possibly manage.</p>
<p>It also depends on the strength and reputation of your high school. At our large, suburban high school of middling reputation, the kids who get into HYPSM always come from the top 5 -- not the top 5%, the top 5 students. At better high schools they will accept a little deeper into the class.</p>
<p>Many high schools won't report closer than deciles.</p>
<p>it's all in the essay ppl, i was 5/340, with most rigorous and 1400(old)
rejected straight out of all the good schools, i am an ESL student and write crapy english</p>
<p>Lower than 2% is pretty tough, from my experiences (excluding schools like TJ, Exeter, IMSA, etc.).</p>
<p>Its a question of wether or not you have a hook. If you are applying only with your academics, yes, lower than 2% is pretty rare. Try to find an angle on your experiences that makes you unique. And as always find some good saftey schools.</p>
<p>rare?</p>
<p>as in, nees a SPECIAL hook?</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>can great , great ECs bring up the 2%</p>
<p>You need to keep in mind that HYPSM have a total undergraduate enrollment of about 28,200 students out of a total of 15.3 million college students, or about 0.2%. Granted, a lot of high school students don't attend college, but on average you still need to be well in the top 1% of all high school students to be accepted. In fact, if you added up the undergraduate enrollments of the following schools, you still wouldn't get 1% of all college students: Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Berkeley, Chicago, Duke, Hopkins, Michigan, and Northwestern.</p>
<p>In response to chanman, you need a hook to get in unless you are one of the best students at one of the best high schools in the country. Hooks include sports and musical talent, ability in an odd discipline, and odd skill set, interesting conditions at home, a number of EC's in which one is exceptionally active or a ridiculous connection within the school. Basically, if one is not exceptional (and I use the word in its strictest sense), in the area of academics they must be exceptional in another area.</p>
<p>thanks everyone</p>
<p>can u skim this and see what my hook is?</p>
<p>pleasee?? (i dont think there is a hook)
thanks!</p>
<p>School activites**
Academic Team
Some events include: 1st at U. of MO Columbia Tournament, 3rd at Washington University Tournament, 1st at districts, 3rd at Sate.
Numerous individual medals
Captain (12th)
Speech and Debate Team (9th, 11th, 12th)
Eureka Website Design Team, Webcats (9th, 10th,12th)
Lead designer
Taught students the basics of web site design
<a href="http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/eurekahs%5B/url%5D">www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/eurekahs</a>
Chess Club (9th, 11th, 12th)
Play chess after school once a week
Founder, President
Varsity Swim Team
Cross Country Team
Reaching out to others through service, ROOTS (10th-12th)
Talented and Gifted Group (9th-12th)
Mediate and Counsel with other students/talk about family problems, stress, etc.
French Honors Society (10th-12th)
Annual School Book club-Read and discuss books
Welcoming Wildcats-show new students from foreign countries around the school
Consistent winner for Math Money Contest 2004
A monthly math competition held at school/3 winners each month
won about $125 total</p>
<p>Music**
Piano
played for 12 years (1st-12th)
Pianist for symphonic orchestra (9th-12th)
All State Auditions rating 1s
Other events such as NFSM Piano Guild, State (8th), Nationals (9th)/MMTA State finalists
Violin
Played for 8 years (4th-12th)
Symphonic Orchestra 2nd violin section leader (9th), co concertmaster (11th), concertmaster (12th)
Symphonic orchestra assistant high school conductor (12th)
All State auditions rating 1s
Excellence in Orchestra Scholarship Award, $250 (9th)
Private Accompanist for music auditions-JOB
Private Instructor-Prepare (and accompany) Middle School students for auditions and competitions
2 John M. Kastner Board of Education Music Awards (9th, 11th)
4 Superintendents Certificate Awards
Individually selected to play at Rockwood Board Meeting, Gold Standard Program and Rose Award Program
Taught elementary/middle school students at a clinic before the Rockwood MIOS concert
Volunteer at Rockwood Summer Music Camp
3 Orchestra Letter Awards</p>
<p>Eagle Investments, LLC***
Helped dad start/run a company
Real estate investment family business
In charge of communicating with tenants, writing letters, translating documents, ordering rehabilitation materials, and finding property online
Rehabilitated 9 apartments/currently have 8 units in rent.</p>
<p>St. Louis Chinese Language School***
Student (1-12th)
Chinese Lion Dance Team
Manager and Captain
Organize events, fundraise for school
Taught 20+ students the techniques and culture of Chinese lion dances
Perform at special occasions, such as Chinese New Year, Cultural festivals, grand openings of restaurants, etc.
Appeared on many interviews, articles, TV interviews
Tai Kwan Do Student (3rd-10th)
Tai Kwan Do Assistant Instructor (11th)
Instructed 20-30 students basic martial arts
Currently studying Wing Chun style (11th)
Dr. Santa Lin Community Service Award
Selected from 2 students each year
$100
2 Time winner Best Student Award (Formerly Full-Year Scholarship Award)
Selected from different levels of testing/four winners per year
$190
Top of Class Awards-Rewarded for best performance in Chinese classes</p>
<p>Summer Activities***</p>
<p>Worked at Little Saigon Chinese restaurant, summer job (10th)
Independent Study Course Skip-Chemistry (9th)
Independent Study Course Skip-French III (10th)
Attended US Naval Academy Summer Seminar (11th)
Traveled to home in Hong Kong (9th)
Tutored relatives in English and Science, about 20 hours total
Student Conservation Association
1 month long of community service at Connecticut Upper River Basin
Lived the outdoors, hiked the White Mountains</p>
<p>Interests****
Computers and Technology
Taught self networking, PHP, HTML, Perl, BASIC, and JavaScript
Created a home web server and website, which is now mainly run by friends
<a href="http://www.mentalworkshop.com%5B/url%5D">www.mentalworkshop.com</a> online from 8am-11pm central time only
Created a free express email program
<a href="http://www.mail.mentalworkshop.com%5B/url%5D">www.mail.mentalworkshop.com</a> (online 24/7)
*Currently doesnt work^
Digital Photography
photography gallery at <a href="http://www.mentalworkshop.com/cpg132%5B/url%5D">www.mentalworkshop.com/cpg132</a>
Poetry/Writing
St. Louis Symphony Express the Music Poetry Contest-Top 10 Finalist Junior Division(10th)
National High School Poetry Contest-Regional Winner(11th)
The Foundation Creative Expressions-Volunteer Monthly Photographer and Writer.</p>
<p>MISC.***
Multilingual-Cantonese (spoken language at home), Mandarin, English, and French
Independent Study AP Environmental Science (11th)
Independent Study AP Comparative Government (11th)
Independent Study AP Micro Economics (12th)
Independent Study AP Macro Economics (12th)
Independent Study AP Calculus BC (12th)
Volunteer at St. Lukes Hospital (About 200 hours)
Senior Technology Education Program (11th-12th)
Volunteer group of 20 students.
Founder and President
One on one computer teaching for senior citizens
Founded Computer Volunteering Division of Bethesda Meadow Nursing Home
Foreign Travel
Traveled to and experienced the rich cultures of Canada, China, Tailand, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and Hong Kong
Virtual Stock Exchange Player (view portfolio: Chantown)
400% increase in the last 4 years
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
Resource Detective for Franklin, Boone, and Jefferson, MO
Extra Hands Network-Lead a fundraiser-$1500, attend events and stuff. Organized a walk-a thon.
Participant in annual Camp Fire Incredible Kid Day (9-12)
Write letters to kids on March 17th
Elder Wisdom Circle Member (10th-12th)
Organization that elders a chance to express themselves.
Frequently talk and chat with elders, give/receive advice regarding school, family, health, etc. using an email system.
MO Botanical Gardens Chinese Culture Day-Acted/Performed Martial arts in a play called Monkey King
2003 Gateway Young Achievers Award
AP Scholars with Distinction
Gold Honor Roll, Presidents Education Award, National Honor Roll</p>
<p>Would this help with the crappy 2%? (i'm ranked 6th/326)...i dont have any hooks tho</p>
<p>There are alot of things there that you could use as a hook. Your EC's are good but one thing you may want to focus on is not just the fact that there are alot of them. Which ones are you most passionate about; which ones are you best at. If you are a really good pianist talk to a member of the music department at the schools of your choice. If its dance or martial arts get in contact with teachers at the colleges that are involved in those things. Sports coaches are also usually very helpful they are easy to get in touch with and really can help your chances. Basically see who you can get to go bat for you when your application comes to the table. None of this is a guarantee, but it can help.</p>