Sidfromaus

Hey guys...I am Australian. I am applying to MIT, Caltech, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, CMU, Upenn

SAT: 690CR; 800M; 730WR = 2220
SAT II: 800 Math2; 800 PHY; 780 CHEM

ACCOLADES:
Academic
- Top 40 students in the Australian end-of-year Examinations getting a national ranking of 99.90 percentile.
- 1st class honours for Maths at Melbourne University
- I received a ‘Prize’ (highest accolade) in the Australian Maths Competition (largest maths comp in the world) each year for the last 4 years;
- a HD in the IBM Maths Olympiad each year for the last 4 years;
- a HD in the ICAS Maths Competition each year for the last 4 years;
- a HD in the University of Canberra Maths Comp each year for the last 4 years
- High Distinctions in Australian National Science Competition for the last 2 years
- Australian Schools Chemistry Quiz for the last 2 years
- Maths Olympiad team in year 9.
- Go to the only selective school in the State – hence very competitive and rated in the top 10 schools in Australia.
- Received Academic Awards in the school for the top 5%, in each year of high school.
- Have a GPA of 99.9 on a 99.95 scale.
- An A+ average in all 4 years of high school
- I am currently doing a very rigorous year 12 syllabus and am also enrolled in a Maths course at Melbourne University. I am also self-learning the first year physics and chemistry courses.
- Also received the school Maths Prize – based solely on exam and internal test scores throughout the year.
- Class ranking is 1/351

- Last year, I entered the Young Achievement Australia where I was introduced to other business enthusiasts. 10 of us grouped together and created a company. The aim was to achieve business experience. We formed a company with a principle created by selling shares. 300 shares at $2 each were sold...hence $600 were raised. Using this principle, we created a company that sold season’s greeting cards to large companies. All in all, at the end of the year, we were able to create a profit after tax of $18,000. Hence the Return on Investment was 30:1 or 3000%. . Keep in mind that this is the profit after having donated 35% of the revenue ($14000) to charity, and paying a later tax of 30% ($7800). I was the FINANCE DIRECTOR.
(wrote my essay on it)

- 2 years back, I also helped register a direct trade between cricket bat manufacturers in rural India to direct retailers in Australia. This disposed off the middleman businesses, which were leeching off the low wages of India. Instead, by registering this direct trade, I was able to ensure fair wages to the cricket-bat manufacturers of a certain town in India.

Extra-Curricular:
- 4 years: School Debating Team
- Ray Willis Leadership Scheme (to address racial issues in society).
- 4 years: Environmental Action Group
- 4 years: Strategy Club
- 4 years: Pres of Maths Club
- 4 years president of the Business Club
School Sports Teams - 4 years: Cricket, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball, Rugby and Squash (Captain)
Compete at a State level in Basketball, Squash, Cricket and Rugby.

Leadership
- 4 years: Student Representative Council
- 4 years: House Captain
- 4 years: Red Cross School Ambassador
- Awarded the Bluey Truscott Scholarship... an esteemed distinction based on student’s performance in academics, extra-curricular activities and leadership.

Community Service
- Senior Residence: approx 120 hours each year for last 3 years
- Tutor children from the recent wave of Sudanese Immigrants.
- Red Cross Volunteer in the Youth and Education Services.

Work Experience – I have been trying to fund my education in America (fingers crossed) since I was legally allowed to work.
- 2 years: KFC
- 2 years: At a tutoring college. Started teaching (maths and science) when I was 16 - taught people older than me.
- Now do private tutoring
- Also worked for an insurance company in the last 2 summers as an assistant to the managing actuary.
- Accountant for Gloria Jeans

ESSAYS: Original and from the heart i reckon....If anyone would like to read them to analyse my chances in greater detail, i would appreciate it. One was about how the differnet societies have shaped my personality. The other was about my 2 businesses. A common theme in all my essays was about "following my passions"

Recommendations: Quite good i guess, cannot compare since i havent read others'

soccerstar18

Really good EC's, Community Service and Work Experience and Awards.

That 2200 could be a little higher for HYP, but your definately in at all other schools on your list. Also, are you asking for fin aid? Becuase that can totally change your chances if your international and need aid.

Rosh420

The word is definitely. Decent chances. That 690 in CR will hurt you though.

Sidfromaus

Nah i am not applying for financial aid unless it is needblind.

laserbase

if u do apply for finanacial aid does that decrease your chances or something? can anyone reply to me via PM...i probably won't go to this section again

dh0924

MIT, Caltech, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, CMU, Upenn
Since all these schools are TOP schools, there's no definite saying of getting in or not.
I'd say you have a GREAT chance of getting into CMU
slightly reach for Caltech and UPenn
and reach for the rest. [you have at a CHANCE of getting in all those schools, which is already ABOVE ABOVE ABOVE average ]
GOOD LUCK and I hope you get in your dream school
you're TREMENDOUS!

Sidfromaus

thanks guys...My favourite is MIT...but in the application, I was only able to include the major ECs and achievements, so i was wondering if this is normal - I didnt attach a whole list of achievements, coz i didnt want to brag too much. Would som1 be willing to read my MIT application coz that was the one i worked on most.

dh0924

well....i don't think you can improve your app anyways since it supposed to be due already..
but I'd be glad to read your application (if you insist.)

tp09

I say probably ... my brother got into Caltech last year (early) and he didn't have as many ECs as that. His test scores were a bit better though.

Elvito

highest accolade in Australian maths competition is perfect score, then its a medal, then its a prize. Prize is top 0.3%, medal is top 0.01% and perfect score is 10 students in the whole world approximately.

All reaches except CMU.

They will only choose one or 2 people from Oceania for each of those schools, and you are competing against people who have much higher scores, much more dedicated ECs, and Olympiad medalists.

Calcruzer

The GPA, perfect math scores and ECs should override the slightly low CR score.

I'm guessing you get into at least 5 of the top 7 schools, plus you will get into CMU (which is obviously your safety).

Good luck.

Sidfromaus

@ Elvito:

To be honest, I know many Olympiad medallists in Melbourne and Sydney atleast, and most of them have taken the national scholarships and are therefore planning to study within Australia. In fact, a few of them are doing Medicine where they will never do Maths again. I too have been offered scholarships from both ANU and Melb University which is basically a free education and $5K a year just to enroll in those universities.

But if there are others applying, I am sure they will have higher SAT scores than me, maybe even greater achievements, but I am sure that in terms of ECs, i think i may have an edge on them.

But thanks for being honest.

rob22

that's an extremely strong app ... you can never be sure with those colleges .. and that 690 may hurt you in CR, but your GPA/EC are amazing. good work and good luck!!

Sidfromaus

any other opinions, also can someone please define Reach, Match and Safety for me.
sorry but I am new to collegeconfidential.

Elvito

Oceania includes New Zealand as well.

Did you forget the 3 people in New Zealand who have 99.95? I know they have also applied to Yale and Harvard. They all got deferred though, meaning you will be competing with them. Good luck.