What do you think?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Yes, this is ANOTHER chance forum. But if you would be so kind as to share your wisdom with a paranoid chinese kid...</p>

<p>SAT: 800m, 700v, 760w (73, 11)
SAT II: 800mII, 770chem, 700span.
AP tests: Calc. BC 5, Spanish Lang. 5, Macro 4, Chem. 5
Class Rank: 2/499 weighted
Other: from Illinois, low-income</p>

<p>AP/college classes taken:
Calc BC, Span, Gov, macro, chem, Multivariable calc (A), diff. equations (A)</p>

<p>Schedule:
Early PE :(
AP comp sci
AP stat
AP eng.
AP physics
AP bio
Ap u.s.
band
real analysis
abstract algebra</p>

<p>Important EC:
Math team - (regional champion, placed 8th in state, blah blah blah), AMC bronze (113.5 AMC 12 7 AIME), rensselaer aw., captain
Piano - 12 yrs, state awards, etc
Wind Ensemble/Marching band - section leader, 1st div. solo
Cross Country/Track Varsity
Schol. bowl - captain, Conference champ
Tutor at school and at chinese academy - my favorite volunteer activity
Organized NSO for my school, so that makes me captain (?)</p>

<p>Summer:
frosh. - took classes
soph. - research intern at Fermi Nat. Labs
jun. - Young Scholars program at UChicago in math, work w/professors and hoping to enter Intel STS</p>

<p>Rec.s - Shouldn't be too bad, hope at least 1 is outstanding
Essay - okay, I guess. Introductions leave much to be desired, but I'm working on that.</p>

2

<p>And I've done ARML for 3 years and counting.</p>

3

<p>You are a stronger applicant that I was, by a lot, and I was accepted. Good Luck.</p>

4

<p>I also don't think I was a weak applicant.</p>

5

<p>Your resume is solid. Particularly good are the abstract algebra/real analysis classes and the mathematics research. Emphasize those in your application.</p>

<p>My read on your chances is hopeful, but please please please submit essays that have some flair, personality, and a feeling of something else than typical-nerd-kid... it's okay to be nerdy, just entertain us. The most common mistake that results in applicants of this caliber not getting in is coming off boring or typical... so as long as you avoid that, I think you'll be okay.</p>