yet another "omg what are my chances" thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>y'all know the drill:</p>

<p>school: small private school in OH (~100 people per grade)
ethnicity/gender: asian/middle eastern male
Unweighted GPA (my school doesn't weight grades for anything, 4.0 scale): 3.9-4.0. i have taken a very challenging courseload all years of high school.
psat: 238 (80 M, 78CR, 80W)
sat i: 2390 (800CR, 800W, 790M)
(haven't taken act)
sat ii: 800 chemistry, 800 math ii, 800 physics, 760 biology, 720 latin, 710 us history
ap's: 5 calculus bc (5 ab subscore), 5 physics c: mech, 5 physics c: e+m, 5 ap us history, 5 latin literature, 5 chemistry, 5 physics b
other: have taken courses through stanford university, case western reserve university in math/science on my own time.</p>

<p>extracurriculars/awards/everything else (note: length of time noted for participation does not include what i plan to do in my senior year):</p>

<p>physics!
- selected to 2006 us physics team (among top 24 physics students in the usa)
- best 1st year physics student in school in 10th grade
- best 2nd year physics student in school in 11th grade
- have done physics research at case western reserve university (ultrafast optics - studied the optical properties of quantum dots)
- will be taking 2nd year college physics at case western reserve university next year</p>

<p>math!</p>

<ul>
<li>qualified to aime 10th, 11th grade. highest score in amc12 in school in 11th grade</li>
<li>5th place in statewide mathematics competition (OHMIO)</li>
<li>1st place in the college of wooster's mathematics competition 2 years in a row</li>
<li>a bunch of random schoolwide/local math awards</li>
<li>somewhat advanced - i've already had the college equivalent of a semester of linear algebra and multivariable calculus, and i'll be studying dynamical systems next year. not sure if i get any brownie points for studying stuff on my own time.</li>
</ul>

<p>chemistry!</p>

<ul>
<li>semifinalist in the chemistry olympiad</li>
<li>will be taking 2nd year college chemical engineering courses at case western reserve university next year</li>
</ul>

<p>lincoln-douglas debate (3 years)</p>

<ul>
<li>won lots of local competitions, broke to elimination rounds in a few national competitions</li>
<li>named best debater in my nfl district in 11th grade</li>
<li>octofinalist in state competition 11th grade</li>
<li>named captain in 11th grade</li>
<li>this is a really big commitment. during the heart of the season, this easily takes 20 hrs. of my free time per week in addition to going to tournaments every weekend. i've also spent 2-3 weeks every summer at debate camp.</li>
</ul>

<p>academic challenge/quiz bowl (2 yrs)</p>

<ul>
<li>1st place in local tv show</li>
<li>2nd place in a few local competitions (we suck)</li>
<li>captain in 11th grade</li>
</ul>

<p>school newspaper (3 yrs)</p>

<ul>
<li>named editor in 10th grade</li>
</ul>

<p>peer tutoring (2 yrs) - have taught calculus, physics, chemistry, latin to other kids in my school on my own time</p>

<p>rocketry/robotics (2 yrs)</p>

<ul>
<li>we don't really compete very much, but we build our own rockets and (admittedly, simple) robots by hand. </li>
</ul>

<p>piano (9 years) - a long time, but i suck compared to the really good people, so i haven't won anything.</p>

<p>community service - ~50 hrs altogether</p>

<p>can speak arabic, participate in local muslim youth group</p>

<p>and finally, for humor value: co-organized 1st annual schoolwide medieval faire</p>

<p>other random awards:</p>

<p>harvard book award (how meaningful is this?)
national latin exam gold medal 9th 10th 11th grade
michelson-morley award - awarded to top science student in 11th grade
cum laude society - places me in top decile academically in school
ap scholar w/ distinction
member of a TEAMS team that ranked 1st in district and state in 10th grade/11th grade, 4th place nationally in 11th grade</p>

<p>i think that's comprehensive. be brutally honest. i can take it.</p>

2

<p>ANother Asian that's good at math and science! GASP! </p>

<p>Not to be mean or anything. I really like the title of your thread.</p>

3

<p>uhh...US physics team?? Welcome to Harvard.</p>

4

<p>BTw, do you know Sherry Gong? SHe goes to PEA and she's the team captain for the US PHysics team. She's from Puerto Rico and she's asian. </p>

<p>She's pretty much awesome.</p>

5

<p>indeed, i met her at camp. she's extremely nice and ridiculously talented. i'm sure she'll win gold at ipho this year.</p>

6

<p>She was my Tennis partner in PE. AKA, we both sucked at Tennis so much they made us play with each other in a court where no one else was. EEK</p>

7

<p>I take it you're physics student #24?</p>

<p>anyways..in</p>

8

<p>well, they don't publicly release the rankings, but 24 people are invited to the training camp. i was one of the 24.</p>

9

<p>oh, haha...just that 24 is an odd number so I figured you cut it off at yourself. good job though :)</p>

10

<p>Your accomplishments are fantastic. I really hope you are admitted. Plus, I am deferring a year so I will be in your class!</p>

11

<p>iostream,
wow, I think you will get in for sure. Apply early if Harvard is your first choice.
btw, I used to go to Shaker Heights High School, where do you go?</p>

12

<p>You have a lot to work on:</p>

<ol>
<li>your SAT scores suck. Please. 790 Math. "Wth?"</li>
<li>US Physics Team? That doesn't even exist</li>
<li>You're asian (everyone knows that asians have no mathematical potential whatsoever)</li>
<li>You should really do more with science</li>
<li>you have no extracurricular activities</li>
<li>Harvard sucks</li>
</ol>

13

<p>xwang: i go to hawken.</p>

<p>barberconcerto: lol :)</p>

14

<p>o___o
wow!
i'd be really surprised if you don't get in</p>

15

<p>haha iostream, Hawken is a really really good school, almost went there myself. Good luck with your applications! I think you will get in.</p>

16

<p>btw, what is the "Harvard book award"?</p>

17

<p>Looking at your stats and all, it seems as though you have a good chance.</p>

<p>Some IMO kids get rejected from Harvard, so just be aware of that. Also, I don't know if they will do this, but Caltech might offer you an Axline scholarship.</p>

18

<p>the harvard book award, according to the little insert pasted into my prize ("The Harvard Book"), is:</p>

<p>
[quote]
The prize book of the Harvard Alumni Association awarded to the outstanding student in the next graduating class who "combines excellence in scholarship with achievement in other fields."</p>

<p>This Prize Book is offered in competition by the Harvard Club of Cleveland and awarded to [me] on June 1, 2006, Hawken School

[/quote]
</p>

<p>


Yikes! This scares me a lot. I didn't even make IPhO this year! I guess I'll just cross my fingers and hope for the best.</p>

19

<p>your stats look great...just write good essays and you should be in, no problem.</p>

20

<p>i'm just about ready to put this thread to rest, but before i do, i'll bump it one more time if anyone would like to add their opinion.</p>