Will Siemens/Intel Help My Chances? (Chance for MIT, Others)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>I have done research in chemistry at USC over the summer and I will be publishing a paper as second writer as well. I want to do Siemens/ITS but the problem is that my mentor doesn't exactly support the idea of these competitions. I am wondering if doing Siemens Competition or Intel Talent Search will dramatically help my chances. </p>

<p>Applying:
- MIT EA
- Stanford
- Harvard
- USC (Legacy)
- UCs</p>

<p>Academics:
- Troy High School [IB - Very Competitive School] in Fullerton, California
- Full IB Diploma Candidate / Troy Tech
- Unweighted GPA: 3.93
- Weighted GPA: 4.67
- UC GPA: 4.82
- Top Decile (Top 1% But School Ranks Only Using Deciles)
- SATs
--- SAT I: 2350 - Reading - 800 / Math - 800 / Writing - 750
--- Biology: 750 / Chemistry: 770 / Math II: 800
- AP's - Euro (4), Comp Sci A(5)/AB(5), Chemistry(5), APUSH(5), English Lang(5)
- Planned AP's - Calc BC, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Spa, AP Phys C E/M, AP Phys B, AP Eng Lit
- IB's - Chemistry SL (5)
- Senior Schedule: AP Calculus BC (Math SL and College Credit), Computer Programing/Discrete Math (Comp Sci HL and College Credit), AP Gov/AP Econ, IB Philosopohy/TOK, AP Spanish IV (Spanish HL), AP Physics C, AP English Lit (English HL)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- FBLA (10-12) - Chapter Project Leader (11, 12) - Led service projects in teaching community about fiscal responsibility/business
--- Placed multiple times (1st, 4th, 5th places) at state
- Chess Club (9-12): President (10-12) - Played in local/state tournaments. Rated 1100ish
- Orchestra (9-12) - Involved in orchestra all 4 years of high school. (Violin)
- Volunteering - 300 Hours+ - Local Hospital / Tutoring
- Programming/Web Design - Local competitions, built various websites (for FBLA, organizations)
- Summer Research in Organic Chemistry at USC (12)
--- 300 Hours+ / Written a paper</p>

<p>Honors and Awards: (Bunch of Junk)
- Placed at various local chess tournaments
- Placed at some local programming competitions
- IB Diploma (Pending)
- National Merit Scholar Semifinalist/Finalist
- NHS
- AP Scholar, etc.
- Top 100 Students (Top 33 From Each Class)</p>

<p>Essays: Writing about yourself sounds easy.</p>

<p>Recs: Junior English Teacher, Junior Math Teacher, Orchestra Director
- All very good rec writers. Orchestra director has known me for many years.</p>

<p>I know I'm lacking in extracurriculars and I am to blame for that xD.
Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>I’d say you have as good of a chance as any–EXCELLENT test scores and pretty good ECs. Make sure your mentor sends a rec to MIT as well.</p>

<p>As for the competitions, Siemens is in time for both EA and RD, but STS is in time for neither. (Although MIT would check the finalist/semis while looking at apps…?) It’d be a HUGE bonus if you did well in Siemens, MIT loves practical science ECs//science fairs.</p>

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<p>And goin to Troy High School would definitely be a plus. You said you volunteered at the local hospital…would that be PVHMC by any chance?</p>

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<p>Rondo, that was pretty much what I was looking for. Thanks!</p>

<p>@ TomJones, Sorry, I volunteer at St. Jude Med Center in Fullerton. :O</p>

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<p>Haha yea, well good luck. I’m from nearby ;] and I’ve heard about Troy…freaking intense. Brian Kim and all those other geniuses.</p>