UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EARLY ACTION RESULTS CLASS OF 2021

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Maryland - College Park
1

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[size=+2][ b]Decision: Accepted Honors[ /b][ /size]
[size=+2][ b]Decision: Accepted Scholars[ /b][ /size]
[size=+2][ b]Decision: Accepted Freshman Connection (Spring Admit)[ /b][ /size]
[size=+2][ b]Decision: Accepted[ /b][ /size]
[size=+2][ b]Decision: Waitlisted[ /b][ /size]
[size=+2][ b]Decision: Rejected[ /b][ /size]

[size=+1]Planned major:[ /size]

Objective:
[ *] SAT I (breakdown out of 1600):
[ *] ACT:
[ *] SAT II:
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load:
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

[ /list]
Subjective:
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
[ *] Job/Work Experience:
[ *] Volunteer/Community service:
[ *] Summer Activities:
[ *] Essays:
[ *] Teacher Recommendation:
[ *] Counselor Rec:
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ *] Interview:

[ /list]
Other
[ *] State (if domestic applicant):
[ *] Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type:
[ *] Ethnicity:
[ *] Gender:
[ *] Income Bracket:
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

[ /list]
Reflection
[ *] Strengths:
[ *] Weaknesses:
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

[ /list]
General Comments:

2

Well, I’m on phone, so please pardon me.
Decision: Denied

UW GPA 3.72
W GPA 3.94
2AP Class and 3 Honors class till Junior
4AP class in Senior
Freshman is in other country, so I could not take honors class, and in there , I got one F. (That being said, my sophomore and junior UW gpa would be 3.84ish, and W GPA would be a little bit above 4.)
New SAT
1410 for single, 1440 for super score(680, 740)
ACT 30
None ECs other than one year of Mock Trial, one year cross country, and two years of Track and Field. 30 hours of volunteering.
Undeclared Major

It’s understandable in some way, but still it hurts the fact that it is even not deferred nor freshman connection, but direct reject. Lol whatever, congrats to those who made it!

3

**Decision: Accepted **

b**

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): Didn’t send
[] ACT: 33C 33E 33M 29R 36S
[] SAT II: 800 Math II and 800 Physics (but they don’t take these into account anyway)
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~3.6
[] Weighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~4.3
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Computer Science (5), AP Government (4), AP Psychology (4), AP Physics C: Mechanics (4), AP Physics C: E&M (5), AP Language and Composition (4), AP Calculus AB (5)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[li] Senior Year Course Load:[/li][Post-AP] Programming 3 (apparently this is like the first semester or year of the second compsci course at UMD)
AP Calculus BC
AP Economics (Micro and Macro)
Gym
Advanced Web Development
Applied Science (anyone who’s trying to go into engineering will take this course)
Honors English 12

[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None except for some AP award from CollegeBoard[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Robotics club, Debate team, Computer Engineering club (no leadership in any)
[] Job/Work Experience: Interned at JHU-APL for 8 weeks
[] Volunteer/Community service: Lots of hours as a summer camp counselor, also worked as a tutor and teacher’s assistant
[] Summer Activities: Nothing really
[] Essays: Fantastic
[] Teacher Recommendation: Probably pretty decent (my physics teacher)
[] Counselor Rec: Pretty good probably
[] Additional Rec: None
[li] Interview: None[/li][/ul]

Other

  • [] Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
    [    ] State (if domestic applicant): MD
    [] Country (if international applicant):
    [    ] School Type: Very large (~2400 students)
    [] Ethnicity: Asian
    [    ] Gender: M
    [] Income Bracket: ~100K
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Both my parents went to some universities in Asia (dunno if that counts)

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: Essay and short-answer responses, decent ACT, rigorous courseload (eased up Senior year b/c I was feeling lazy)
    [    ] Weaknesses: GPA
    [] Why you think you were accepted: My essay and ACT
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
    Accepted: UMBC, Rutgers, UPitt, Penn State
    Waitlisted: UMich
    Denied: GTech

**General Comments: ** Senior year course-load doesn’t matter too much and your GPA matters way more than your SAT/ACT scores (from what I’m seeing from my friends)

4

Decision: Accepted Honors

Planned major: Public Health Science

Objective:
[]SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): 1330 (670 EBR/Writing + 660 Math)
[]ACT: 26 (chose SAT over ACT)
[]SAT II: (sent after application deadline) 670 SL 570 Lit
[]Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.67
[]Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 16%
[]AP (place score in parenthesis): Gov (3), WHAP (4), AP Lang (4), Calc AB, Spanish Lang, APES, Psych and AP Lit
[]IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[]Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, AP Calc AB, AP Spanish Lang, APES, AP Psych, Choir, and Piano
[li]Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar[/li]
[/list]

Subjective:
[]Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Music Honor Society (Choir Chair), Leadership/Mentoring Program (4 years), Choir (4 years)
[]Job/Work Experience: N/A
[]Volunteer/Community service: ESL tutoring (jr year), Teen Volunteer @ Library
[]Summer Activities: N/A
[]Essays: 10/10- I wrote about my experience as a first-generation child of immigrant parents and what they have taught me and how they have influenced my personality/academic choices. Really proud of how it turned out.
[]Teacher Recommendation: 10/10- I had my 11th grade english teacher write it for me. I enjoyed her class a lot, actively volunteered, and turned to her for information/help during the application process.
[]Counselor Rec: 8-9/10- Honestly, I have no clue, my school is so large that we don’t get to interact with our counselors much but she knows about the challenges I’ve dealt with in my family life.
[]Additional Rec: N/A
[li]Interview: N/A[/li]
[/list]

Other
[]State (if domestic applicant): MD
[]Country (if international applicant):
[]School Type: Public
[]Ethnicity: African American
[]Gender: F
[]Income Bracket: <$25k
[li]Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, first-generation, legacy (my older sister attended but I’m positive that legacy has no major influence)[/li]
[/list]

Reflection
[]Strengths: Essay, Recommendations, Courses (I’ve taken the highest level possible each year)
[]Weaknesses: ECs, Test Scores, GPA, Class Rank
[]Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think my essays and recs had a major influence on my admission. I don’t have many ECs due to my parents’ busy work schedules, being unable to drive, and having limited $ available for activities.
[]Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: UMBC, waiting on American, GWU, and Penn

[/list]

General Comments: UMD is my top choice and I will most likely be attending if the financial/merit aid is good. I was surprised that I got into the Honors College as I wasn’t expecting it considering my stats.

5

Decision: Accepted
Public Health
ACT: 31
Weighted GPA: 4.6
4 AP classes (US History 1&2, Psychology, Statistics, English)
4 years of Marching/Concert Band (two years of leadership)
Pit Orchestra
Wind Ensemble
All Shore Band
American Music Abroad
NHS (80 hours volunteer)
NJ
Caucasian, female
Accepted: Temple, University of South Carolina, Umass Amherst, Rutgers, James Madison

6

Decision: Accepted Honors

Planned major: Civil Engineering

Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): didn’t submit
[] ACT: 34
[] SAT II: didn’t submit, I don’t think? but I got a 710 on Physics and 730 on Math 2
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~3.9
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 9/282
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): 5s on: AB Calc, Physics C Mechanics, US Gov and a 4 on Euro
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): nada
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Chem, AP World, AP BC Calc, Hon Eng IV, and then Civil Engineering & Architecture and Engineering Design and Development (both are AP weighted)
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): nada[/li]
[/list]
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): jv softball 9th & 10th, theatre (asm for 2 productions and head costumes for 1), engineering team (captain last year and this year), school’s online literary magazine (board member)
[] Job/Work Experience: I did IT work at a teacher’s conference in the summer, otherwise nothing else.
[] Volunteer/Community service: n a d a
[] Summer Activities: Terp Young Scholars, STARtalk (foreign language program), and a leadership forum for technology.
[] Essays: I wrote about building stuff on Mars. I liked it to a certain extent, but I basically just cut up my common app essay.
[] Teacher Recommendation: One from my English teacher who loved me, and the other from my engineering teacher who’s basically my best friend. Overall, I’m going to say they both averaged out to a 8.5/10.
[] Counselor Rec: Okay… she’s new and even though I’ve been to her several times to talk about stuff, she doesn’t really know me. Probably a 6/10.
[] Additional Rec: nada
[li] Interview: this wasn’t a thing[/li]
[/list]
Other
[] State (if domestic applicant): Maryland
[] Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: public medium-sized (less than 1200 total), definitely non-prestigious
[] Ethnicity: white
[] Gender: female
[] Income Bracket: like the 50k+ one
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none[/li]
[/list]
Reflection
[] Strengths: Extracurriculars, grades, test score
[] Weaknesses: volunteer service, maybe essay to an extent?
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I’m a girl who knows exactly what I want to do and have taken extensive steps to achieve that in high school.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: (all for civil) Northeastern, Portland State, and Wentworth. Deferred from MIT.

[/list]
General Comments: I was mostly just nervous about getting into the university, but not the engineering school. I was not expecting the honors. Pretty psyched.

7

Decision: Accepted

Planned major: Computer Science

Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown out of 1600):1400
[] SAT II: Math level 2- 800
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.45
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):No ranking/percentile for my school (that I know of)
[] AP (place score in parenthesis):Government(4), BC Calculus(4), Statistics(4), English Language(4), World History(4), Psychology(4)
[] Senior Year Course Load:AP Computer Science, Multivariable Calculus/Differential Equations, PE Soccer, AP Macroeconomics/AP Microeconomics, Astronomy, AP English Literature

[/list]
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Math Honor Society, Model UN/Model Congress, Varsity Soccer
[] Job/Work Experience: Internship at UMD, Tutor
[] Volunteer/Community service: 120 SSL hours (cannot remember everything)
[] Summer Activities: Spent summer interning or traveling
[] Essays: 8/10- Honestly I did not write something I was too sincere about since I thought it would make my essay worse. I wrote with the focus with showing off my writing skills rather than experience.
[] Teacher Recommendation: 7/10- Not sure what they thought of me. I was not the best student, but I probably was not the worse because I would pay attention and ask for help when needed while averaging a B in those classes.
[li] Counselor Rec:9/10- I think I did enough to show the best parts of me to my counselor [/li]
[/list]
Other
[] State: Maryland
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Asian Indian
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket: Don’t know
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Legacy (not that it really matters at UMD)

[/list]
Reflection
[] Strengths: Course rigor, SAT(maybe?), Internship-made some connections to UMD
[] Weaknesses: GPA(was a downward trend), Not sure how my essay and recommendations went
[li] Why you think you were accepted: I think my strengths edged out the weaknesses. I was able to show that I was strong in the STEM field to make up for my performance in classes such as English. I also think being an intern and doing research for a UMD professor was a boost to show my interest in the school.[/li]
[/list]
General Comments:GPA and SAT are the two huge deciders for getting in. With GPA probably being the most important of the two. But I have heard from people who have almost perfect GPAs who did not get in fall due to a sub-1200 SAT. So although I got lucky to get away with my low, down-trending GPA, it is essential that you keep your gpa high(preferably above 3.5/4) and up-trending along with an SAT around 1350 or so.

8

Decision: Accepted Honors

Planned major: Materials Science and Engineering (although my letter says College of Letters and Sciences

Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): 1340 (660 M +680 R)
[] ACT: 32 (27M, 32S, 33E, 34R)
[] SAT II: N/A
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.98
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 8/273
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP physics 1 (2- found out teachers certification was removed) AP Lang, AP Environmental Science
[] Dual Enrollment: 11th grade - English composition, Pre-Calc, Calc 1
[] Senior Year Course Load: French 5, AP Lang, AP environmental science, Advanced Orchestra, Work-Based learning: internship with department of environmental management
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): not many Governors Honors Program Nominee[/li]National Honor Society
National Technical Honor Society

[/list]
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): SkillsUSA ( State officer and chapter president), Jr. NSBE (secretary), Science Olympiad (president), French Club (president), Math Team
[] Job/Work Experience: intern with Department of Environmental Management, Social Media Manager for SkillsUSA
[] Volunteer/Community service: Relay for Life, Tutoring
[] Summer Activities: Not on application
[] Essays: Very good, inspiring lol
[] Teacher Recommendation: very good
[] Counselor Rec: very good, I’m one of his favorites
[] Additional Rec: N/A
[li] Interview: N/A[/li]
[/list]
Other
[] State (if domestic applicant): Georgia
[] Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Black
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket: $200,000+
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):[/li]
[ /list]
Reflection
[] Strengths: I think my biggest strength was my leadership and internship. Being one of 7 state officers in and organization with over 8,000 members probably was the real winner. I also think my essays, especially short answer, helped to show my passions
[] Weaknesses: my ACT math score was low for an engineering major
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think my leadership activities and my essay helped me get accepted
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted- GA Tech, Purdue, Case Western, NC State, Colorado School of Mines, CU Boulder, UNC Charlotte

[/list]
General Comments:
I was really surprised to be accepted into the Honors College. Though I’m not sure why the major I was excepted into is letters and sciences. I applied to material sciences and physics. Could someone help me explain why I may have been gotten this major? Does it have to do with the Honors College?

9

@cmmking98 - The Honors College admission has nothing to do with Letters and Sciences. They are separate admission decisions. Letters and Sciences means that you were not a direct into Engineering and will have to do an internal transfer after completing the gateway engineering courses.

This link will provide more info

https://www.scholars.umd.edu/

10

@SoofDad Ok thanks! It was just a little surprising since all my other schools including GA Tech, accepted me in as a engineering major. Maryland must have different standards.

11

@cmmking98 - I sent the wrong link. Here is the correct one…

http://www.lep.umd.edu/

At UMD, they get 3000 applications from admitted students for Engineering but only have resources (professors. class rooms, labs) for about 1800.

12

Decision: Accepted

Planned major: Broadcast Journalism

Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): 1190
[] ACT: Didn’t send
[] SAT II: N/A
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): UW 3.48 W 3.59
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Government, AP Biology, AP English, AP Literature
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: Research PhyScience, AP Literature, Probability and Statistics, Organic BioChem (Taking a class at community college as well this semester)
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):[/li]
[/list]
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Mistress of Ceremony for youth retreat for over 5000 people, tennis player for school, tennis player for outside group, 2nd VP of Spiritual Nourishment for youth retreat committee, Communication Secretary for youth group, Member of youth group, Youth liturgist for church, Member of Emerging Leader’s Prince George’s

[] Job/Work Experience: N/A
[] Volunteer/Community service: Good amount, 50+ hours
[] Summer Activities: Tennis mostly, and classes at community college
[] Essays: Stellar, I wrote about being a mistress of ceremony when I was younger and being one now, and how that has helped me and led me to what I want to do and I tied UMD into it.
[] Teacher Recommendation: STELLAR, mine came from my AP biology teacher who is an alumn
[] Counselor Rec: Didn’t see it,
[] Additional Rec: All wonderful
[li] Interview: N/A[/li]
[/list]
Other
[] State (if domestic applicant): In State
[] Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: African American/Caribbean
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket: $100,000+
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM[/li]
[/list]
Reflection
[] Strengths: Definitely my essay, ECs, and recommendations
[] Weaknesses: GPA, SAT
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted probably because of my essay and recommendations, especially the one from my teacher who is an alumn, I read it and it was stellar
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to Hampton, St. John’s, Towson waiting for Bowie State

[/list]
General Comments: Posting this for the people who don’t fit the average stats at UMD. Obviously I fall below the curve and I want people similar to me to know its possible to get in! Congrats to everyone! SO EXCITED! GO TERPS! #UMD21

13

Accepted Freshman Connection (Spring Admit)

Letters and Sciences

Objective:
SAT 1310( out of 1600):
Weighted GPA 3.8 (out of 4.0):
AP Biology - 3
AP Physics - 3
AP Language and Comp - 5
AP Psychology - 4
Senior Year Course Load: AP Stats, AP Literature
National Honor Society

Subjective:
Extracurriculars:
Football 4 years
Lacrosse 2 years
DECA
Summer job for two summers
Restaurant job for Spring of Soph year

Volunteer /Community Service:
Church Mission Trip
Community Service through the high school sports teams

Summer Activities:
Work
2 weeks as counselor for special needs children

State: Connecticut
Competitive College Prep Public School

Also accepted at UMASS Amherst; Marist College: URI; Bryant University
Waiting to hear from UCONN; Syracuse; Delaware; Villanova;

14

Decision: Accepted

Planned major: Electrical Engineering

Objective:

  • SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): 1420. (660E, 760M)
  • ACT: n/a
  • SAT II:n/a
  • Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): (freshman year in Spain) 3.63 (without that year) 4.0
  • Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 81/368 (probably top 10 if I was in the U.S for 4 years)
  • AP (place score in parenthesis):Didn´t send them
  • IB (place score in parenthesis):n/a
  • Senior Year Course Load: AP World History, AP Stat, AP Lang, AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP Chem, Tech Design, Managing Personal Finances with Excel
  • Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): some minor awards in school competitions

Subjective:

  • Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): President of Spanish Club (senior year), Secretary Spanish Club (junior year), Math NHS, Science NHS, creator of the first mental math competition at my school, Investment club (senior year), soccer (JV Sophomore (when I came to the States)) (varsity, junior and senior year).
  • Job/Work Experience: Internship in a multinational engineering company called Knorr Brake, for 3 weeks during the summer after my junior year, 40 hours/week.
  • Volunteer/Community service: Teaching kids math and science related subjects, Oktoberfest, and a couple other activities with less hours
  • Summer Activities: My internship
  • Essays: Fairly decent for a non-native English Speaker
  • Teacher Recommendation: I´d like to think they were pretty decent too.
  • Counselor Rec: same as the two above
  • Additional Rec:n/a
  • Interview:n/a

Other

  • State (if domestic applicant): Non-resident (currently working on this, because I emailed the admissions office on October, and I also talked with them on December and they said that my L-2 Visa would make me a MD resident, at this point I also have the Green Card/permanent residency, so I don´t see why I would not be a resident)
  • Country (if international applicant):
  • School Type: Public (medium/large size, 1500 students)
  • Ethnicity: Hispanic
  • Gender:M
  • Income Bracket:100K
  • Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First generation in the U.S

Reflection

  • Strengths: Curious, good with numbers, outside of the box thinking, I speak spanish, english and hungarian fluently, I´ve seen a lot of the world and have talked to people from many different cultures
  • Weaknesses: Unfortunately in my opinion I´m quite arrogant, condescending, sometimes run out of words in specific topics (a foreigner can never talk as well as a native speaker)
  • Why I think I was accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Because I´m a student from another country that isn´t very common to see in admissions, as well as my work ethic, my passion for the University, my ability with numbers, and probably the raw potential that I have.
  • Where else was I accepted/waitlisted/rejected: UMBC, with a $5000 scholarship. Didn´t apply to any other schools because Maryland has won my heart
  • General Comments: I´m extremely excited to attend UMD and become a Terp, hopefully I will be able to meet people from other countries too and share my experiences with people that are native to the U.S.
15

Decision: Accepted Honors, but denied from Clark School of Engineering
Planned Major: Mechanical Engineering

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): 1390 (720 Math, 670 Reading)
ACT: N/A
SAT II: N/A
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.87 UW, 4.45 Weighted
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 12/270
AP (place score in parenthesis): Didn’t send
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB/BC, AP Lit, AP Macroecon, Hon Science Research, PLTW Engineering Classes
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None (lol), a few student-athlete awards and school awards

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Class of 2017 Exec Board, Basketball, Track & Field, NHS, National Math Honor Society, Tutor at school’s learning center
Job/Work Experience: Work at local nursing home as a dietary aide about 20 hours a week
Volunteer/Community service: VBS Crew Leader every summer since 6th grade (25 hours/summer), Umpire for local youth baseball league since 7th grade (40 hrs a year)
Essays: Wrote about experience working at nursing home, probably one of the best I’ve written
Teacher Recommendation: From engineering teacher I knew really well, probably a 9/10
Counselor Rec: Didn’t read

Other
State (if domestic applicant): MD
School Type: Highly regarded public (about 1800 kids)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Around $160k/year
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

Reflection
Strengths: GPA, unique extra-curricular activities, strength of schedule, work ethic (20 hr week job along with sports two seasons a year and volunteering)
Weaknesses: SAT scores, never really committed to any one sport or activity besides schoolwork, was never president of anything
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected from UMD: GPA, extracurriculars

Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected from Clark School: SAT scores, lack of wow factor, mechE is probably the most popular engineering major

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Got into Clemson and WVU with great scholarships. Waiting on VT, Lehigh, Lafayette, and Bucknell

General Comments:
Pretty bummed about being denied from Clark school. I wish I would’ve prepared for the college process more (should have cared as much about SAT as I did GPA). Also wish I committed to focusing on one sport, one volunteer job/club, and my paid job. Very confused as to how I was admitted to the Honors College but not the Clark school.

16

Decision: Accepted Honors

Planned major: Aerospace Engineering

Objective:
[ *] ACT: 34 (36 superscored)
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.93
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 3%
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Psychology (5), AP Language (5)
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics, AP Literature, AP Calc AB, AP Music Theory, Spanish IV, Advanced Aquatics
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None

Subjective:
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Marching Band (section leader) Mock Trial, Tech Club, Book Club, National MFA Camp, MFA Leadership Experience
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Swim Instructor
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: > 200 hours
[ *] Summer Activities: work, band camp, volunteering
[ *] Essays:
[ *] Teacher Recommendation:
[ *] Counselor Rec:
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ *] Interview:

Other
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): Illinois
[ *] Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: Public
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Female
[ *] Income Bracket: Middle Class
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

Reflection
[ *] Strengths:
[ *] Weaknesses:
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: ACT and GPA
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: UA (honors), UAH (honors)

General Comments:

17

Decision: Accepted Honors

Planned major: English

Objective:
-SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): 1440
-ACT: 33
-SAT II: Literature 770, Math 760
-Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.89
-Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
-AP (place score in parenthesis): Lang 5, Psychology 5, Govt 5, Chinese 5, BC Calc 4, AB Subscore (5), World History 4, Spanish 4
-IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
-Senior Year Course Load: Moderate (AP Stat, IB HL Math, AP Lit, IB Philosophy, IB Art, IB Spanish 6, Creative Writing)
-Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Spanish Exam (bronze), PSAT commended student (does this count?)

Subjective:
-Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): (too many to list, sorry-- I think I put 12 and had leadership in 5 of them)
-Job/Work Experience: VisArts Summer Camp
-Volunteer/Community service: VisArts Summer Camp, Recycling Club, Red Cross
-Summer Activities: VisArts Summer Camp, Dual Enrollment College Course Drawing 100
-Essays: Good, but not amazing: wrote a silly childhood anecdote that inspired me to have curiosity and approach things creatively
Teacher Recommendation: Good, though likely not amazing. Not really sure
Counselor Rec: Likely decent, though not as good as it could’ve been
Additional Rec: N/A
Interview: N/A

Other
-State (if domestic applicant): MD
-School Type: public, ~2600 students, pretty high-achieving
-Ethnicity: Asian
-Gender: female
-Income Bracket: Not sure, maybe ~$160,000
-Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None, I think

Reflection
-Strengths: Not sure
-Weaknesses: Tests, rec letters
-Why you think you were accepted: I am a relatively good student and I hope that I approached things differently than most students in my essay
-Where else were you accepted/rejected/waitlisted: Haven’t had other decisions yet

General Comments:
(sorry about this formatting-- wasn’t sure exactly how to do it) I’m very happy with my decision!

Based on my and my friends’ results, decisions seem somewhat arbitrary. While many of them didn’t get into the Honors college, they got into the Global Scholars Program, which sounds really cool. I think a lot of them had really good stuff going for them, and some of my friends got acceptance for Spring, not Fall, which once again seems somewhat arbitrarily done, since they’re all relatively good students.

18

Decision: Accepted Scholars

Planned major: Computer Engineering

Objective: [ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): Old M + R is 1520
[] ACT: 34
[] SAT II: 800 on Math II and 720 on Physics
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.73
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 67
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP CS (5), AP Human Geo (4), AP Stat (4), AP Calc AB (5), AP Lang (4), AP World (4), AP Physics 1 (4), AP Physics C, AP Physics 2, AP Lit, AP Calc BC
[] Senior Year Course Load :AP Physics C, AP Physics 2, AP Lit, AP Calc BC, Art (required course), Research and Data Analysis, C++, Honors US History
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NMS semifinalist (not sure if that counts)

[/ul]
Subjective: [ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): FIRST Robotics Competition (Controls Captain), FIRST Tech Challenge (Captain), Cyber Patriot (Captain), National Honor Society
[] Job/Work Experience: Internship with Systems Engineering Professor at USNA
[] Volunteer/Community service: FIRST stuff, NHS stuff
[] Summer Activities: Internship
[] Essays: Wrote about family issues and how it helped me grow, 8/10 I’m pretty proud of it
[] Teacher Recommendation: Calc Teacher: 9/10 she loves me, Lang Teacher, 7/10, I’m pretty sure she like d me jsut not 100% positive
[li] Counselor Rec: Not sure, probably ok, 6/10 at least[/li]
[/ul]
Other [ul]
[] State (if domestic applicant): Maryland
[] School Type: Public (but I’m in a magnet program
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket: $150,000ish
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None really lol

[/ul]
Reflection [list]
[] Strengths: EC’s Definitely
[] Weaknesses: my GPA could be better.
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I’m an in-state applicant with good stats, recs, and essays. Not much else going on here imo.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Deferred: MIT, UMich, G-T

[\list]

19

Decision: Accepted Honors
Decision: Accepted[/size+2]

[size=+1]Planned major: Aerospace Engineering

[/list]
Objective:
[] ACT: 34C 30E 35M 33R 36S 26W
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.83 (4.92W)
[] AP: Bio (5), Lit & Comp (4)
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB, Orchestra, Honors English, AP Chem, AP Physics C: Mech (aka hell…and I got in for aero :/), Ceramics, AP Comp Sci A (online course, my school doesn’t offer)
[li] Major Awards: Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science - 1st Award 2012 & 2014, Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program[/li]
[/list]
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars: Orchestra (bass section leader), Gay-Straight Alliance (vice president), FIRST Robotics (scouting lead, founder of the club), soccer, karate
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Assistant Karate Instructor, Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program - worked at a US Navy lab for 8 weeks, Paintball Zombie at a haunted house
[] Volunteer/Community service: Youth Center freshman & sophomore year (100hr), Micro Soccer Coach freshman yr (50 hr), NHS junior & senior year (requires 50hr community service per school year), miniTHON freshman-senior (20hr/yr)
[] Summer Activities: Working, orchestra camp, People to People Ambassador’s Program Mediterranean tour (sophomore year)
[] Essays: Copied and pasted from Virginia Tech’s (same prompt), way under word limit (200/500 words) but it was decent
[] Teacher Recommendation: Junior year chem teacher who was well aware of my accomplishments and standing in the classroom, Junior year AP Lit teacher who loved me
[] Counselor Rec: Probably decent, I talk to her more than most students do but it’s probably not personal

[/list]
Other
[] State: OOS Pennsylvania
[] School Type: Public, good rankings
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: Idc
[] Income Bracket: >150,000
[] Hooks: none… I’m gay and have a disability but they wouldn’t know that from my application

[/list]
Reflection
[] Strengths: ACT score, grades, awards and ECs and such
[] Weaknesses: Essay could have had more effort put into it. On paper I seem like a pretty boring person.
[] Why you think you were accepted: Scores/grades, never thought that I’d make it into the Honor’s College
[] Where else were you accepted: University of Pittsburgh, Purdue University, Temple University (full scholarship)

[/list]
General Comments:
Yay! Idk if I will attend but it is always nice to get accepted and this is a great school.
To all those who were rejected: Stay strong! You’ll get in elsewhere and do great if you really love what you’re studying! College is all about taking advantage of the opportunities that are given to you :slight_smile:

20

** Decision: Accepted Honors **

Planned major: Computer Science

Objective: [ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown out of 1600): N/A
[] ACT: 35 composite (35 E, 35 M, 35 R, 34 S)
[] SAT II: 700 Math II
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.95
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School does not rank.
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Calculus BC (4, 4 AB subscore), AP Computer Science (5), AP Physics (3)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP American Government, Honors Political Economics, CP Contemporary Literature, AP Statistics, AP Chemistry. (Highest choir and computer graphics for electives and track & field)
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None, but I had a couple of minor, school-based awards.[/li]
[/ul]
Subjective: [ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Choir - top choir of a six-time Grammy Award-winning school, Link Crew, track and field - shot put and discus (varsity), technical theatre (publicity manager for 2 years), theatre - actor, International Thespian Society (publicity chair for 1 year). Lettered in track, theatre, and vocal music.
[] Job/Work Experience: Waitress/hostess, tutor
[] Volunteer/Community service: None
[] Summer Activities: –
[] Essays: No clue haha. Maybe around 6/10. I didn’t have it reviewed by anyone, if that helps?
[] Teacher Recommendation: 6.5/10 ??
[] Counselor Rec: 6.5/10? (Neither of them were really, really close to me, and I didn’t read their recs, so take my rating as a grain of salt)
[] Additional Rec: N/A
[li] Interview: N/A[/li]
[/ul]
Other: [ul]
[] State (if domestic applicant): California
[] Country (if international applicant): N/A
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Asian-American
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket: Prefer not to say
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I’m not sure if I had any big “hooks.” Maybe that I’m from a nationally ranked, competitive public high school?[/li]
[/ul]
Reflection [ul]
[] Strengths: High ACT and steady GPA, high involvement and dedication to ECs.
[] Weaknesses: No community service, lack of awards, ECs didn’t relate to intended major.
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My strong dedication to ECs? Honestly, I have no clue!
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Purdue University (West Lafayette), San Diego State University
[li] Waiting on: University of Texas at Austin, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UCLA, UCSD, University of Washington, Cal Poly SLO, San Jose State[/li][/ul]

General Comments: I think it’s really important to maintain your voice in your essays! It’s easy to come off as robotic after having 50 people look at your essays (as I’ve seen in some of my friends’ essays), so don’t fall into that trap! Also, show passion for your major. Even if your ECs don’t correlate with the major you’ve chosen, if you show passion for the major you apply for, you’ll definitely have a chance of getting in! Just do what you love to do and show that!