"Well-Rounded" Looking for Ivy Spot - Chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Asian female, currently junior
4.00 UW, >4.47 W (no rank, but 1st in class of 410 iif ranked)
Elite suburban public school</p>

<p>PSAT: 238 - expecting SAT around there
3 AP's taken: Calc AB (5), Calc BC (5), World History (5)</p>

<p>Transcript: Hardest courses possible; all honors/AP throughout; 6 AP classes this year (Spanish, Statistics, English, US History, Computer Science, Chemistry) - taking all 6 tests</p>

<p>One rec from newspaper/writing advisor for 3 years; should be best because she loves me but could be sub-par if she uses stock language =P One rec from a teacher; should be pretty good as well. Counselor rec will say I'm unofficially top in grade though we report only deciles.</p>

<p>Since writing is my strength I <em>should</em> have good essays... hopefully.</p>

<p>200 hours volunteering: women's shelter, day care, tutoring (focus on children and mentoring abused/psychologically harmed)</p>

<p>-Academic/Leadership-
Pittsburgh Outstanding Chinese Student of the Year Honor Award (2005, Fed. Executive Board)
AP Scholar - expecting National AP Scholar
HOBY leadership conference representative from school (essay/interview winner), 10th grade
Outstanding Young Citizen, Pgh Post-gazette
Recognized by school board for "Outstanding Contribution to District"</p>

<p>-Summer Activities-
2006 PA Governor's School for Int'l Studies**
2005 Yale Ivy Scholars*
2004 Course at U Pitt - Ethics, Penn State fencing camp
2003 JHU CTY - Logic/Reasoning
2002 JHU CTY - Writing
* Competitive admission; ** full scholarship state program</p>

<p>-Extracurriculars-
Editor-in-Chief of School Newspaper (sr); managing editor (jr) and opinions editor (soph) 5 hrs/wk
Forensics - Debate Captain (sr); Congressional Whip (jr)
600 NFL points (about 40 competitions) 10 hrs/wk
Fencing - Captain (sr), E Rating, TRFC local club 8-10 hrs/wk
Technology Student Association - 5 hrs/wk
Creative Writing - staff of Tapestry, lit magazine; 1 hr/wk
(3-5 hrs/wk independently)
Piano - studied for 12 yrs, now with CMU school of music 10 hrs/wk\
History Club - member & probably officer next year; organize events, 1 hr/wk
Physics Club, Math Club, NHS (10-12) - maybe officer</p>

<p>-Awards, Writing-
2nd, Gannon U. Annual HS poetry competition
1st, Point Park U. Editiorial writing contest
Congressional Dames scholarship ($1000) to Nat'l Congress Seminar
Published in TeenSpeak multiple times
Write for local newspaer (featured teen writer)
NCTE national award in writing</p>

<p>-Awards, Forensics-
represent pg district in NFL national student congress
member of National Forensics League, degree of special distinction
1st place, state qualifiers in debate - qualified
3rd place, national qualifiers (CFL) in debate - qualified
numerous local honors & awards in debate, congress</p>

<p>-Awards, Piano-
Honorable mention (top 6), World Piano Competition (young artists level 9) 2005
Played at Carnegie Hall NY as part of Winner's Concert
Semifinalist, WPC level 7, 2004</p>

<p>-Awards, Math/Science/Tech-
1st, Technological Systems, TSA regionals (qual to states)
3rd, Extemp Speaking, TSA regionals (qual to states)
- expecting state honors/awards & qual to nationals in Tech Systems
3rd Individual, Pgh calcusolve math competition; captain of 3rd place team</p>

2

<p>Forgot to mention: I'm also in some local "special study" apprenticeships for journalism and poetry... I may or may not win a couple other small awards in those areas with things I've submitted, no idea =) As far as EC padding goes, I've also done KMO and JETS, but those are generally worthless =D</p>

<p>My dream school is Harvard. (Yale and Princeton are fine academically but I don't like small-town location...) I like Columbia, Dartmouth, not Brown quite as much. I doubt I could get into MIT or CalTech; if I do I doubt they'd be any good for my focus =)</p>

<p>My questions are:
1) For my intended major - economics with a social slant, or government/politics, or int'l affairs - which school should I look at first?
2) Do I have a chance at my desired schools, and which should I lookat as far as safeties?
3) What exactly would you guys recommend that I cast as my "hook" and expound upon? I'm fairly spread out.</p>

3

<p>I think that you're credentials are amazing. So you'll be good for that. For you're intended majors Economics/Government/Politics, I'd say you should take a look at Cornell, Stanford, Emory, and perhaps not the UC's as much. I think you definitely have a chance at your schools you want, Definitely. And for you're safeties. i'm not sure. hope this helped.
David</p>

4

<p>You should ED/ EA HYPS - You have a strong shot.
You should have as RD matches - Duke, Dartmouth, Georgetown SFS, Penn, Brown, Columbia range.</p>

<p>Things are very difficult these days, so early at your top school would be a big push for you.</p>

5

<p>Very strong for all Ivies, but as you know, no guarantees. Throw in a couple of top LACs and you should be covered. Wellesley and Smith would make good match/safeties for you.</p>

6

<p>i love how this girl thinks shes just "well rounded"..go screw yourself</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the encouragement, guys, and the suggestion for a LAC... although I've generally thought that 5,000-10,000 was my preferred school size, I do happen to like Wellesley and Amherst... what can I say, I want to live near Boston =)</p>

<p>Any opinion on what I should emphasis as a hook?</p>

8

<p>this looks strongest to me....

[quote]
Honorable mention (top 6), World Piano Competition (young artists level 9) 2005
Played at Carnegie Hall NY as part of Winner's Concert
Semifinalist, WPC level 7, 2004

[/quote]
</p>

9

<p>I suppose, but I've been trying to run away from piano ;) Just kidding. I'm afraid that everyone has that, is all.</p>

10

<p>You have a great shot at any school you apply to. I agree with the above posters that you should also consider applying to Emory and Duke. Some other colleges that I'll suggest would be Northwestern, NYU, University of Richmond, William and Mary, and Georgetown SFS. They are all known for strong journalism programs and would be definite matches/safeties for you. Good luck with the search!!!</p>

11

<p>You're defenitly in</p>

12

<p>"I suppose, but I've been trying to run away from piano Just kidding. I'm afraid that everyone has that, is all."</p>

<p>You're afraid that "everyone" has played at Carnegie Hall? What's WRONG with you?</p>

13

<p>Where on the application would you actually put you were published in Teenspeak?</p>

<p>Just curious.</p>

14

<p>I've played at Carnegie Hall. I thought it was pretty special, but I guess I was wrong. ;)</p>

15

<p>I guess it's more of a guilt thing since that was last summer and since then I practice about 30 minutes a day, if I feel up to it =P</p>

<p>All the same I think other people have equivalent-level music awards, and more in number; if I have any selling point it's that I do lots of things and I've gotten some level of recognition in most... so I'm hesitant to pigeon-hole myself.</p>

<p>as for teenspeak:
jason, I guess I'd list it under random writing things (if I were to list it at all, it's not a great credit but w/e)</p>

16

<p>you have an excellent transcript and from my experience in forensics you are extremely well qualified.....did u do good at nats.? because I know ivy's love that kind of stuff.....but anyways no guarantees but you have the best shot out of anyone who applies</p>

17

<p>Thanks, shiva - actually I qualified for both this year (I started in late fall 2004 but I was alternates to both last year)</p>

<p>I did disastrously at States, 2-2, losing one because I spoke too quickly (that was my RFD, literally) and another because I was "outweighed" - however I was pretty disappointed because both of those rounds contained blatant pigeonholing and lies from my opponents... so, all in all, I didn't break into quarterfinals =(</p>

<p>Ah well. I haven't been to CFL Nationals yet, that's end of May, I'll see how it goes =D</p>

18

<p>hahaha i know how you feel at nationals two years ago, there were some people in congress who couldn't stop lying to save their life....lol good luck at cfl's!</p>

19

<p>I'm reviving this for now with newer, end-of-junior-year stats. Any changed recommendations?</p>

<p>As for summer plans, what would look the best?
1) internship in a court (local, common law or similar) under a judge
2) internship or volunteer work for ACLU
3) continued volunteer work (maybe internship) for a women's shelter, this time with legal cases and adults instead of children</p>

<p>Asian female, 2007 applicant
4.00 UW, >4.47 W (top decile; 1/420 if ranked)
Elite suburban public school</p>

<p>SAT: Verbal 800; Writing 800, 12 Essay; Math 770
SAT II: US History 800; Chemistry 770
- taking English Literature and Math II in June.
3 AP's taken frosh/soph: Calc AB (5), Calc BC (5), World History (5)
6 AP's taken junior (scores pending): Spanish, Statistics, English, US History, Computer Science, Chemistry</p>

<p>Transcript: Hardest courses possible; all honors/AP throughout; 6 AP classes this year</p>

<p>-Recommendations-
1) Newspaper/writing advisor for 3 years
2) Math teacher rec; he has had me for 3 years in various AP-level classes
3) English or History teacher rec; she may be my History teacher mentor as well
3) Counselor rec: I'm her favorite student, she might say I'm unofficially top in grade though we report only deciles.</p>

<p>-Volunteering/Service-
1) 80-100 hours:women's shelter (focus on caring for abused/psychologically harmed children)
2) 60-80 hours: nursery school/day care (2 year olds)
3) 20 hours: tutoring (elementary & middle school)</p>

<p>-Academic/Leadership-
Pittsburgh Outstanding Chinese Student of the Year Honor Award (2005, Fed. Executive Board)
AP Scholar - expecting National AP Scholar
HOBY school leadership representative (essay/interview winner)
Outstanding Young Citizen, Pgh Post-gazette
Smith Book Award
Recognized by school board (several times) for various honors/accomplishments</p>

<p>-Summer Activities-
2006 PA Governor's School for Int'l Studies*<em>; internship in a law office, or volunteer at the shelter again or for the ACLU
2005 Yale Ivy Scholars</em>
2004 Course at U Pitt - Ethics, Penn State fencing camp
2003 JHU CTY - Logic/Reasoning
2002 JHU CTY - Writing
* Competitive admission; ** full scholarship state program</p>

<p>-Extracurriculars-
Co-Editor-in-Chief (equal pwr among 2) of School Newspaper (sr); managing editor (jr) and opinions editor (soph) 5 hrs/wk
Forensics - Debate Captain (sr); Congressional Whip (jr)
500 NFL points currently (about 40 competitions) 10 hrs/wk
Fencing - Captain (sr), E Rating, TRFC local club 8-10 hrs/wk
Technology Student Association - 5 hrs/wk
Creative Writing - staff of Tapestry, lit magazine; 1 hr/wk
(3-5 hrs/wk independently)
Piano - studied for 12 yrs, now with CMU school of music 10 hrs/wk\
History Club - member & probably officer next year; organize events, 1 hr/wk
GSA - president and founder (sr).
Academic Decathlon (maybe) - president and founder (sr).
Physics Club, Math Club, NHS (10-12) - maybe officer</p>

<p>-Awards, Writing-
2nd, Gannon U. Annual HS poetry competition
1st, Point Park U. Editiorial writing contest
Congressional Dames scholarship ($1000) to Nat'l Congress Seminar
Honorable Mention, PA Biomedical Research Essay Contest
Published in TeenSpeak multiple times
Write for local newspaer (featured teen writer)
NCTE national award in writing (maybe)</p>

<p>-Awards, Forensics-
Represented pg district in NFL national student congress
Member of National Forensics League, degree of special distinction
1st place, state qualifiers in debate - qualified (record at states 2-2)
3rd place, national qualifiers (CFL) in debate - qualified (record at nationals unknown, predicted 2-3 or 3-2)
numerous local honors & awards in debate, congress</p>

<p>-Awards, Piano-
Honorable mention (top 6), World Piano Competition (young artists level 9) 2005
Played at Carnegie Hall NY as part of Winner's Concert
Semifinalist, WPC level 7, 2004</p>

<p>-Awards, Math/Science/Tech-
TSA Technological Systems, 1st at regionals, 3rd at states (qual to nationals)
TSA Extemp Speaking, 3rd at regionals, top 10 at states (qual to nationals)
3rd Individual, Pgh calcusolve math competition; captain of 3rd place team</p>