**Decision: Deferred **
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1600 composite, 800 both sections
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II: 800s on Math II, World History, Bio-M
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1
AP (place score in parenthesis): All 5s on APUSH, AP Chem, AP Calc BC, AP Lang, AP Macro, and AP World History
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Spanish, AP Stats (no higher math offered past BC), AP Lit, AP Gov, Honors Physics (can only take one AP science), Honors History seminar class (post-APUSH), gym, orchestra
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Gold Medal for Humor in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, American Voices Nomination for Poetry, Certificate for Superior Writing in the NCTE Achievement Awards, National Gold Medal in the National Spanish Exam 3x, state-level chemistry award
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
- International Media Org (Editor-in-Chief): manage a staff of 30+ people and publish art/writing/films/etc on sociopolitical issues
- School paper (Editor-in-Chief): cover world politics, national politics, some student life pieces, and some humor pieces and manage our staff
- Co-Founder: free tutoring service for the SAT/ACT with tutors and students internationally, interviewed by a podcast for my work
- National Security Language Initiative for Youth (Participant): State Department-run free, very selective study abroad program—my chosen language was Turkish!
- Political discussion club (Co-President)
- Debate (Co-Treasurer)
- Model UN: multiple Best Delegate, Outstanding Delegate, Honorable Mention awards
- Violin, ukulele, and singing
Job/Work Experience:
- Legislative Aide @ state assemblyman's office
- Multiple political campaigns (intern/volunteer) at both the state and national level
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities:
Aforementioned NSLI-Y, working at assemblyman’s office
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Won’t rate, since I’m a writer. Personal statement was about why I do what I do in politics—very detailed, got it reviewed by williamthereader on Reddit and he said he liked it. Supplements were good, could have been quirkier, maybe? Wrote about everything from authoritarianism to Rupi Kaur to baking.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: No clue—waived FERPA—but should have been very strong.
Teacher Rec #2: Same as above
Counselor Rec: 10/10, and I won’t say that lightly. I went to see her today, and she said that she was genuinely angry about my deferral and read over everything I submitted again.
Additional Rec: 10/10, from the assemblyman—said I did work far beyond that expected of a high schooler
Interview: No clue, but it went well. We didn’t connect too much, but it was a good conversation!
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes, but won’t get it
Intended Major: Global Affairs/EPE/Political Science
State (if domestic applicant): NJ
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public, competitive
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 150k+
Hooks (URM, first-generation college, Questbridge, etc.): None!
Reflection
Strengths: My stats were obviously fine, and my ECs were good too. I’m a writer—I hate almost everything I write after a while—but my essays should have been fine, and my recs were good.
Weaknesses: Interview was kind of awkward? Could have been quirkier?
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Not FGLI/legacy/etc., so no hooks at all. No institutional benefit to them taking me.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Unconditional offers from King’s College London and St. Andrews, waiting on a BUNCH of other schools from Vassar to WashU to CMC
General Comments: Oh well! Didn’t expect to get accepted SCEA—hoping for the best in RD, though I know it’s unlikely. My second choice is Georgetown SFS, with my third being Claremont McKenna, and my supplements are all done, so it’s just time for more waiting! Crossing my fingers for everyone who got deferred. <3
