<p>So maybe I’m kind of copying the other 09-er with a thread, but it was a good idea and I’m in the same position right now.</p>
<p>Basically…
Location: Northeast, Chicago, California </p>
<p>Area: Prefer suburban, but safe “in its own bubble” urban or well-connected rural area with a lot of stuff to do is okay.</p>
<p>Size: Small-medium schools where I won’t drown in a sea of faces or be suffocated if I don’t fit in right away. Class-sizes… Large lectures where I can multitask while listening (otherwise I fall asleep just paying attention to lectures, even if they’re really interesting) or discussion-based classes (love these). </p>
<p>Major: I’d like to major in applied mathematics or perhaps operations research. The programs should be pretty good and near or at the top of the field (they need not be emphasized at the school though). </p>
<p>Scene: I’m not really into the drug scene at all, but I don’t mind if people around me are as long as it’s not a large majority. However, I would like some balance of work and play. Academics should be very challenging, but there should also be SOME time to chill and have fun 
</p>
<p>Activities: The student body should be very active, and there should be a lot of activities available. I’m not athletic enough to seriously be involved with a sport, but I’d like to be involved at the intramural/club level. I loved the idea that I could participate in a varsity sport at a school like Caltech, but it’s definately not a necessity or even important. </p>
<p>Prestige: It all comes down to this 
Truthfully, I’ll probably be going to graduate school, so as long as graduate schools like the college, it’s okay. But prestige is still an important factor to my parents and admittingly, to me as well. It’s not the biggest factor, but it’s still important.</p>
<p>My basic stats are:</p>
<p>GPA: my school’s system is weird. 4.0/4.0 when colleges recalculate.
Rank: Top 1%
PSAT: 226 (expecting 2300+ for SATs)
SAT II’s: 800 Math II, 760 Biology, Taking Chemistry and Physics
APs: Will have 12 done when I apply, and 16 by the end of senior year. I also have a few “post-AP” classes in the math and sciences. </p>
<p>ECs: Very very good, but with nothing special (no big national awards). They are somewhat all over the place, but every activity is very important to me, and I have leadership positions or awards in all of them. Although I’m math/science-focused, I also do a lot of debate, politics, and writing things… as well as community service and working for the environment. I’ve also played piano since before I can remember, and have some kind of skill to show for it. I guess I’m kind of the well-rounded star-in-my-town-but-nothing-in-the-big-picture kind of person. </p>
<p>Now looking back, I realize that I wrote an essay. But if anyone has read this far, PLEASE help me, I greatly appreciate it. You’ll earn brownie points :)</p>