<p>Every response to an asian guy asking for his chances @ HYPMS on this board is "your stats don't stand up to the other asian applicants." What kind of stats would the ideal asian applicant who is a match at HYPMS have? Perfect scores on all SATs, USAMO, and #1 awards at every national science competition?</p>
<p>being asian sucks. affirmative action is stupid.</p>
<p>If college admissions were pure meritocracies (where no one, not minorities, athletes, or legacies received special attention) then the majority of admits would be asian/white.</p>
<p>Admissions however are not based solely on numbers.</p>
<p>But 2200 or 2300+ is probably a good range.</p>
<p>i'd say an ideal asian applicant is one who has the usual asian scores (2300+), but with unusual EC's. Something besides math or violin/piano or any other generic asian activity.</p>
<p>The point is that some people on the board are looking for excuses to pick apart someone else's application... you'd notice that many who post in other peoples' Chance threads are applying in the same year (and possibly to the same colleges), so I guess they are so overcompetitive as to spread false and rather ignorant "reject" comments. Which is silly, unless the OP is convinced not to apply to those schools and thereby give those who "predicted" his results better chances at the schools that the OP wanted.</p>
<p>Short answer: NO stats will make you competitive. You HAVE to focus on substance.</p>
<p>I guess the best thing to do would be to break the stereotype.</p>
<p>Depth not breadth in ECs, and do something unusual.</p>
<p>Extreme ironing, for example. =)</p>
<p>First of all, I seriously have to question the substance of this post. I am an Asian female, and as such, have the worst possible ethno-gender combination for highly selective institutions. </p>
<p>(1) Even if you do receive the information that you require, what do you suppose to do with it? So many applicants virtually design themselves to fit the “competitive pool” within highly selective college admissions, while ignoring the necessity for true individual growth. Is this really a topic that should be discussed?</p>
<p>(2) Why HYPMS? What is the seemingly-intricate bond that links these letters together into a single acronym? Prestige?</p>
<p>pretty much required: 2300+ SAT (preferrably 2350), perfect SAT IIs (not that hard), 34+ act (preferrably 35 or 36),
some of the following: usamo, intel semis/finalist, RSI, usa_o semis/finalist</p>
<p>Of course, this is from my perspective as a math and science guy</p>
<p>sam, actually asian males have it the toughest. If you look at stats, you’ll see that asian females outnumber asian males about 5 to 1 at HYPMS (lucky us if we get in ^.^). Thats because asian guys apply against white guys, and asian girls apply against white girls, which is alot easier.</p>
<p>@samsunimomo - Well, yes, HYPSM are (obviously) linked by prestige…what of it? I think it’s fair enough that some people set themselves high standards in education, and are ready to make compromises (such as school size or area preferences) in order to receive the highest quality of education. Just sayin’.</p>
<p>@ Ineedyouradvice</p>
<p>No. You did not just write that. Let me clarify: I am not an Ivy-League hater. In fact, my first choice is YALE, but not solely for its prestige or academics, but for the specific opportunities it offers me as a unique, individual human being.</p>
<p>Highest quality of education? At which level? From which source? From which ranking? (No, you are not allowed to say U.S. World and News Reports) </p>
<p>In a study by Higher Education Data Sharing, California Technical Institute earned highest percentage of graduates attaining doctorates, while Liberal Arts colleges such as Harvey Mudd and Swarthmore, placed second and third, respectively. On the other hand, Harvard, earned 18th place, beaten by other small liberal arts colleges like Reed, Carleton, and Oberlin. Number wise, Harvard had about a third of Cal-Tech’s doctorate rate. Is this the result of the HIGHEST undergraduate education? You be the judge. (Read: Absolutely not)</p>
<p>Colleges should never, ever, ever be chosen based on status or acadmics alone. In fact, what they should be is a laboratory of social and cultural experimentation, never by the depthless value of brand-names, but by our personal potential for overall growth. </p>
<p>The MAIN goal in your life is never to get into a college, it’s to be the best human being you can possibly be.</p>
<p>Mein qualifications: Rising senior, Guest Education Columnist in state/nat newspapers</p>
<p>“The MAIN goal in your life is never to get into a college, it’s to be the best human being you can possibly be.”</p>
<p>That’s an admirable goal, but it’s certainly not everyone’s goal. A goal of finding a cure for one of the cancers is just as admirable, IMHO.</p>
<p>^^^
You’re right. I concede. I’m too much of an idealist :(</p>
<p>However, I stand by the said questionability of this question.</p>
<p>Being at the very top of their class (1 or 2 unless the school is truly competitive and sends 25% plus to ivies) and a 2350. After that it’s about your accomplishments, but more importantly, how they are conveyed in the application including yoir resume, essay and recs.</p>
<p>IMO, any Asian with appropriate stats who can afford it should hire a good private college counselor for help with positioning and preparing the application. This is controversial advice here on CC, but I learned with my kids, who were in a pool almost as competitive, (private school kids from NYC) that it was key.</p>