Rising Sophomore w/ Some Questions - Page 4

jamesford · 06-10-2009, 06:27 PM

Make IMO

NJDS · 06-10-2009, 09:05 PM

from someone who has participated in a lot of those activities, embellishing them doesn't make a difference.
say it plain and simple. "selected to represent ___" at a MUN of Model Congress is meaningless. they dont care how many people voted for you. learn early: admissions officers do this as a job, and they are damn good at it. they can spot an embellised application miles away.

it is way too early, but try to focus yourself a little. ^^^ the word "passion" is big. find it

Senior0991 · 06-10-2009, 10:07 PM

^Would you tell Leonardo Davince to just paint? Ben Franklin to just be a scientist?

I don't think there is anything wrong with not being focused. The problem lies in the students that do everything but aren't passionate in any of their pursuits. The OP seems to have a lot of passions: math, policy (foreign, national, and schoolwide), athletics, music, and service work. If the OP truly is passionate about all this, which will probably manifest itself in the application, I do not think any adcom would frown upon his myriad activites.

DataBox · 06-11-2009, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesford

Make IMO

Sure thing! =)

DataBox · 06-11-2009, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senior0991

I don't think there is anything wrong with not being focused. The problem lies in the students that do everything but aren't passionate in any of their pursuits. The OP seems to have a lot of passions: math, policy (foreign, national, and schoolwide), athletics, music, and service work. If the OP truly is passionate about all this, which will probably manifest itself in the application, I do not think any adcom would frown upon his myriad activites.

Yes, my passions are math and policy (gov,ir), which I intend to further develop. Thanks for clarifying!

DataBox · 06-11-2009, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJDS

from someone who has participated in a lot of those activities, embellishing them doesn't make a difference.
say it plain and simple. "selected to represent ___" at a MUN of Model Congress is meaningless. they dont care how many people voted for you. learn early: admissions officers do this as a job, and they are damn good at it. they can spot an embellised application miles away.

it is way too early, but try to focus yourself a little. ^^^ the word "passion" is big. find it

Thanks for the advice, I posted those initial stats after completing freshmen year about a year ago. I definitely realized that there is no point in embellishment. Here are my updated stats (as of the end of sophomore year) that I posted earlier in the thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by DataBox

GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.3 W
Rank: 1/470
Mock SAT/ACT Ranges (w/o prep): 2200-2350/35-36
APs (so far): 5 (Physics B, Physics C's, Biology, Calculus BC), expecting 5's
I'm taking three SAT II's this Saturday (Bio M, Math II, Physics)

Significant Awards:
Mathematics: USAMO Qualifier x 2 (Index:250), AMC Perfect Scorer (150), Scored 10 on AIME, AMC School Winner x 2, CAML Perfect Scorer/CA State Winner, ARML 2nd Place (2009), 4th Place (2008), mathleage.org 2nd Place Winner, etc
Government/International Relatations : Congressional Award- Silver Medalist,Best Delegate at Stanford MUN Conference 2008, Best Delegate at Harvard Model Congress Conference 2008, Outstanding Delegate at Davis MUN Conference 2008, Honorable Mention at Stanford MUN Conference 2007 , Distinguished Delegate at Harvard Model Congress 2008, etc
Misc.: Swimming MVP, Received the top student in department award for 4/5 departments year (i.e. English, History, Math, Science), etc

Main EC's (will only list significant ones):

Mathematics
1. Math Club President (9,10,11)
2. ARML A Team Manager (9,10,11)
3. High School Mathematics Examination President (9,10,11) (Spearheading a mathematics contest for 10-25 local middle schools, scheduled to be held in early October)
4. Research (10,11)
5. Math Department Head and I are considering the possibility of my teaching a AP Calculus BC course (12)
6. WOOT
7. (Currently taking Multivariable Differential Calculus and Linear Algebra)

Government/International Relatations
1. Class President (6,8,9,10,11)
2. Harvard Model Congress President (9,10,11)
3. Site Council/Youth Advisory Council (9,10,11)
4. Model United Nations Vice President (9,10,11)
5. Congressional Internship (10,11)

Misc.
1. Varsity Water Polo, Swimming (9,10,11)
2. Community Service Work
*Over 300 hours volunteering in libraries and tutoring socioeconomically disadvantaged children
*Designed and executed a three week day program to educate orphans in rural villages in India (Am currently fundraising for the orphanage)

Allexas · 06-16-2009, 04:13 PM

You are an amazing applicant and I would definitely put my money on you getting in.

ewho · 06-17-2009, 11:54 AM

DataBox, which schools do you want to apply? and which schools do you think that you have less chance to get in?

DataBox · 06-23-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

DataBox, which schools do you want to apply? and which schools do you think that you have less chance to get in?

As I just recently completed sophomore year, I have yet to decide where I'm applying. Some schools on my current list are UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UCLA, Cal, Brown, MIT, Princeton, Caltech, Stanford, Yale, Penn, Georgetown, Harvard, and if all else fails-the local community college.

Frankly, I think that the only schools I have decent shots at are the UCs (hopefully I'll get in!), while getting into any of the other aforementioned schools will be rather difficult (but there's no harm in trying =D).

WhartonMaster · 06-24-2009, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DataBox

Frankly, I think that the only schools I have decent shots at are the UCs (hopefully I'll get in!), while getting into any of the other aforementioned schools will be rather difficult (but there's no harm in trying =D).

Why so pessimistic? You have a wonderful shot at all the schools you listed.

ewho · 06-25-2009, 06:08 PM

DataBox, I think that there is a very good chance you can get into local community colleges, with no finaid; a good chance to get into UCs with some kinds of finaid; and PSMC with not money. Which one do you pick?

Harvard is a tough one, there were about 10 USAMO qualifiers in two powerful New Jersey high schools in 2008, only one got in Harvard. However, one crappy high school near me had four people getting into Harvard.

Allexas · 06-26-2009, 01:24 AM

...wait, I thought finaid was based on financial status, not merit, what are you talking about ewho?

also, databox goes to a district where he is like the first olympiad qualifier ever, that will probably help for HYPSM

(he's also instate for the UCs, so i definitely see him getting into all of them with hefty scholarships)

ewho · 06-26-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

he's also instate for the UCs, so i definitely see him getting into all of them with hefty scholarships

That is that I meant. Also, it is a crapshoot at HYPS, nothing is guaranteed. You don't know what is helping/against you. Many times money is the issue.

Allexas · 06-27-2009, 09:02 PM

I thought most colleges were need blind?

rachael525 · 06-29-2009, 02:37 PM

ROFLMAO...what's with the tags on this thread?