Yes I'm an Asian male. Yes I like math/science. Yes I play piano. Yikes!

<p>Here we go. Watch out colleges! Here comes ALLAN!</p>

<p>Shooting for:
Possibly engineering, but really no idea.</p>

<p>Ch-ch-ch-Chance me please
UCB (#1. In-state, Big band, sibling went there, good engineering)
UCLA
Stanford
Yale
Cornell
Harvey Mudd
Columbia
Brown</p>

<p>GPA:
- 3.9UW, 4.3W
RANK:
- 25/765 (3%)
AP:
- Calc AB 5
- Calc BC 5
- Bio 4
- USH 4
- Taking Physics and Lit this year
SAT I
- 2180 (690 Cr, 780 M, 730 W)
SAT II
- 780 Math II
- 690 Bio M
EC
- MUSIC:
- Piano 11 years, various Certificate of Merit and National Guild Assoc. from every year
- School band since 6th, Percussion Leader
- Drum Captain/Percussion Instructor 2 years in school marching band
- Single-handedly brought drumline from mediocre to competitive, winning first percussion in our division at a competition [potential hook]
- LA School District Honor Band Quad Drum Captain 4 years</p>

<ul>
<li> TECH:</li>
<li> Co-founder bringing FIRST Robotics Team to my school (we're just getting started)</li>
<li> Weblog allan-yu.com</li>
<li> About to launch family friends small business eCommerce site</li>
<li> Familiar with building and repairing computers</li>
<li><p>Familiar with Web design and a bit of programming</p></li>
<li><p>SCHOOL:</p></li>
<li><p>2 year Secretary of Junior Optimist's Club (service club)</p></li>
<li><p>3 year Student Council member, current Senior Board member </p></li>
<li><p>Knights and Ladies (school senior service club)</p></li>
<li><p>WORK:</p></li>
<li><p>Melt Gelato one summer</p></li>
<li><p>A1 Educational Supplies and Toys 3 years</p></li>
<li><p>Is work relevant?</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I'm a decent writer, I can pull off an essay about my passion for drumming.</p>

<p>My counselor is keen to me, I think. </p>

<p>My teacher recs will be decent.</p>

<p>So there I am on paper. How's it lookin, fellas?</p>

<p>I don't think that would be a hook.
You want to apply to Yale and Brown because?
The other colleges are strong in engineering, but the aforementioned two are not.</p>

<p>UCB: Likely
UCLA: In
Stanford: Very Unlikely/ REJECT
Yale: Very Unlikely/ REJECT
Cornell: Unlikely
Harvey Mudd: Maybe/ Unlikely
Columbia: Very Unlikely
Brown: Very Unlikely</p>

<p>Out of curiosity, what sort of things would have made me a better candidate?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Cornell: Unlikely
Harvey Mudd: Maybe/ Unlikely

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Mudd is more selective than Cornell for guys.</p>

<p>Well your ECs are very limited, and in mostly one area. Also, your SAT is a bit low.</p>

<p>You're likely to be accepted to UCB, so if that's your top choice, you probably don't need to worry too much.</p>

<p>Don't know enough to do chances, but I would like to counter part of the post above mine. Depth of ECs, even at the cost of breadth, is not necessarily a weakness (nor do I think that the OP lacks either. Piano, drums, computers, robotics, service work, student council, employment. What more do you want? Now, whether Yale--or whatever particular school--would be thrilled with the list, I have no idea, but it's certainly not a list to regret, even as an applicant to such competitive schools).</p>

<p>The depth of ECs is great, especially when focused like the OP. However, the OP has no intention of pursuing music in college, and were he to focus upon these in his essays, it would certainly add additional credibility to his application. Also, Guild isn't too prestigious or respected.</p>

<p>However, since he plans to pursue engineering, emphasizing music would not help him out with that. The only real weakness I saw in ECs was that there weren't many that were engineering-oriented. He does indeed have good depth in music. It's just that its not his desired area of study.</p>

<p>Even though you have excellent credentials and I'm sure you would be successful if you were accepted at the ivies and stanford, I'm don't think your application will stand out from all the other qualified applicants. If you love these schools, apply to them, because you can never tell.</p>

<p>I want to thank everyone for their input!</p>

<p>But one general thing I've been wondering about. Sure, I'm really into music, but why do colleges have to take on the position of "Well, this kid seems to be emphasizing his music so much, why is he applying engineering? REJECT". I consider my music as an activity I enjoy, just like football or tennis. </p>

<p>But I think that if someone applied into engineering as a star tennis player on his school team, colleges wouldn't think "Well, this kid loves tennis so much, why is he applying engineering, why doesn't he just go pro instead?"</p>

<p>I don't know if I'm making sense here. But in any case, I use my music as an expression of my leadership and dedication, which is why I place it in the forefront. I shouldn't have pointed out that I was (lightly) considering engineering, because it seems to have been the focus of a lot of these reply posts.</p>

<p>Keep em coming!</p>

<p>hmm? i don't think colleges take on that position. i think you're confusing music as an activity with music as a major.</p>

<p>Curious, are you sure that part of it is not bias?</p>

<p>Who goes to Brown for engineering?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Who goes to Brown for engineering?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Someone a year above me in high school did actually. They still have a decent program and some people love the school.</p>