Applying to 8 schools, NC resident, 4.0 UW, 1530 SAT, Finance/Applied math

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US citizen
  • State/Location of residency: North Carolina
  • Type of high school: Public, extremely competitive residential school
  • Gender/Race/Ethnicity: Female, Asian
  • Other special factors: First generation

Intended Major(s)

  • Finance/Econ/Business and Applied Mathematics

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
  • Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 4.96/5.0
  • Class Rank: N/A
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1530

Coursework

  • I have attended 3 high schools now, freshman year did not allow for aps, sophomore year I took AP Calculus AB (scored a 5) and AP World History (scored a 4), Junior year I took AP Calculus BC
  • Current school only offers 4 APs and 1 requires a previous physics AP
  • The school I am currently attending doesn’t state anything (except the four classes) as honors or AP level because all the courses are college-level and weighted on a 5.0 scale
  • Spanish 1 in 7th grade
  • Math 1 in 8th grade
  • English 1 honors
  • Spanish 2
  • Math 2 honors
  • Math 3 honors
  • Biology honors
  • Concert Chorus 3 honors
  • English 2 honors
  • Spanish 3 honors
  • Adv Calculus Topics AB Honors
  • AP Calculus AB
  • Chemistry I Honors
  • Civics ; Economics Honors
  • AP World History: Modern
  • Ladies Chorus III Honors
  • American studies 1 and 2
  • Chorale
  • Chemistry Core - Atoms &
    Molecules and Chemistry Core - Reactions
  • Computing (Intro to Python) class
  • Data Science
  • Calc 2 (Took BC Exam)
  • Digital Agriculture and Engineering
  • Multivariable Calculus
  • Topics in Advanced Spanish: The Gothic and Supernatural World (Spanish 4)

Senior Year Courses

  • physics math intensive (2 semesters)
  • Film Studies
  • Ecology (has a research Component)
  • Differential Equations
  • Mathematical Modeling
  • Fundamental Object Oriented Design (FOODs) (computing class)
  • Chorale
  • Operations Research
  • Linear Algebra
  • Women’s Literature across The Globe
  • financial planning

Awards

  • 3rd Place at Colibri State Vocal Competition
  • 2nd Place at Colibri State Vocal Competition
  • 3rd Place for TiE Silicon Valley Young Entrepreneur Business Competition
  • Semi-Finalist at Vex Robotics Regional Competition
  • 4th Place at Sacramento State Karate Competition for Forms
  • 5th Place at East Bay Regional Demo Team Karate Competition
  • Level 7 Piano California Certificate of Merit
  • Level 5 Piano California Certificate of Merit
  • Level 4 Vocal California Certificate of Merit
  • Most likely to get the AP Scholar Award after BC scores come out this summer
  • Will send research into competitions
  • Will compete in national vocal competitions this summer
  • Competing at Nationals for FBLA this Summer
  • Sending essays for essay competitions this Summer

Extracurriculars

  • Democratik AI - Start-up Marketing Summer Intern
  • TiE Silicon Valley Business Program (Won Award against other student-run businesses)
  • iFeminist News Reporter (Same jobs as a Social Media Manager)
  • Non-Profit Board Member (I run the youtube and social media channels as well as talk to sponsors about sponsorships)
  • CRY (Child’s Rights and You) Club President
  • GenShe Club President
  • FBLA Social Media Manager (also attending National Level Competition for FBLA)
  • 60+ community service hours
  • MAA Karate Certified Instructor in Training (I have received my 2nd Degree Black Belt in Karate)
  • MAA Karate Demo Team Member
  • Have been taking vocal lessons since the age of 4 and have competed in competitions such as the ones listed above → Gone to level 5 and gotten State level certification merits based on Music theory knowledge and singing ability
  • Vex Robotics Team Member (Competed at Regionals and made it to Semi Finals)
  • Red Cross Club Secretary (have also gotten 40+ hours)
  • Private Middle School Math tutor (paid $20 per session)
  • Currently finishing (about to be published) cookbook author (cookbook focuses on teaching kids how math can be integrated in cooking and baking through various recipes)
  • Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honors Society) member and certified tutor
  • Black History Month and Women’s History Month Planning Committee’s Director of Outreach → Also was the mediator and creator of the Women in STEM Alumni Panel
  • Research conducted with Duke University on exploring how the trmB factor in micro-bacteria affects its growth
  • Independent study on the viability of cryptocurrency, possible publication
  • Playing guitar since the age of 8 and later taught private lessons to kids in my neighborhood (paid $10 per lesson)
  • Playing Piano since the age of 12 → Gone up to level 7 and received several State level Certificates of Merit (The certificates are based on music theory knowledge and playing ability)
  • Love and Second Chances Club Underclassman Representative
  • PVSA Club
  • Key Club
  • Asian Cultures Association
  • Math Club Underclassman Representative
  • Work at Mathnasium as a tutor ($14/hour)
  • Red Cross Club member
  • Amnesty International Club
  • Interact Club
  • Dance Club
  • Have various certifications (Project management, business certification, CPR…)

Essays/LORs/Other

  • American Studies Teacher → 10/10. She has previously written LORs for me which have gotten me accepted to other programs. We are close, she knows a lot about my ecs and has event attended one of my music concerts
  • Multivariable Calculus teacher → 9/10. Close relationship, she and I often talk about my interests in math and finance, she often asks for my help to tutor other students.

Cost Constraints / Budget

  • N/A

Schools

  • Safety: UNC Chapel Hill (I have guaranteed admission and tution grant → My high school is part of the UNC system so we get automatic admission. Only safety on my list) - RD? (Not sure if I should EA)

  • Reach:

Stanford University - EA
University of Michigan - EA
Columbia University - RD
University of Pennsylvania - RD
Duke University - RD
Northwestern University - RD
UC Berkeley - RD

Note: I’m not sure if my college list is too small. I wanted to keep it small since my safety is a good school like chapel

2

In what universe are you an “okay” student??

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You can also try for the full merit rides at schools like Emory, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest etc. if they appeal to you.

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EA is non binding, it just means your application is ready early and therefore you hear back earlier. So that’s what I’d use for UNC, especially seeing as it’s your safety.
Once that’s assured, you can apply anywhere you’d like!

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I’m unsure if the title was meant as clickbait or disingenuity. Regardless, I edited.

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Does this mean:

  1. Your parents have told you that all of the colleges on your list are affordable at list price or based on net price calculator results, or
  2. You do not know what your parents can afford.

?

If #2 above, talk to your parents about college budget before you finalize your application list.

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You list as first generation. That means that your parents do not hold degrees from any countries. Is it correct?
What is your family budget for college?
Did you try NPC for each school?

13

UMich and USBerkley would be OOS. They do not care about income and do not provide OOS merit usually. So COA will be $80+k. Can your family pay it? If not, remove from your list.

14

If you attend UNC would you be applying to Keenan? If I remember they have holistic admission so no guarantees.

Maybe NCSU as another safety? Strong in math.

If you’re happy with UNC maybe add CMU and Princeton?

15

Sounds like you’ll do great - wherever you end up - UNC or otherwise.

Best of luck - and congrats on your accomplishments. Very impressive.

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If you are happy enough with UNC you don’t have to apply to a long list of alternatives (could be none at all, actually).

That said, I wonder if you have considered any smaller colleges. Some people like them, and ones with good undergrad programs in Finance/Business you might consider would include Richmond and Bucknell.

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My parents are okay with paying for any of the listed colleges.

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18

The definition of first generation varies by school. Some define it as a student whose parents do not have at least a bachelors/4-year degrees from a US institution. Some schools also allow as first-get international students whose degrees are from other countries and whose parents are underemployed. I’m not saying that applies here…just that the definition can vary by school.

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While true, the number of colleges that only count US universities in their FG definition is small, and don’t apply to any of the colleges on the OP’s original list. And even then, it becomes even less important when the FG is high income, as is the case here

But asking OP to clarify is certainly valid

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Can you name even one school that defines it this way? As in a kid whose parent has a bachelors degree from the Sorbonne or McGill or University of Toronto or Cambridge or Oxford or University of Tokyo or University of Delhi would be considered first gen at the college?

21

I haven’t researched this because we are not first-get, but it came to mind because when we visited Wake Forest (not on OP’s list) they mentioned this specifically in response to a question that was asked at an info session. We visited just before they put in their new-this-year Early Action program, which applies only to first-gen.

Also one more interesting thing (to me). My parents both completed college degrees much later in life (late 30s) and shortly before I applied to college in the 1980s. I have mentioned this situation to AO at two colleges my D visited to just as a curiosity as to whether I would have been considered first gen. While they did not say a direct “yes” they were both somewhat flexible and interested in considering the quesiton. Just putting that out there for others who may wonder if they could qualify as first gen.

22

First Gen is not an automatic “We want this kid”. If you need to torture the definition to figure out if you qualify, it’s likely not worth it.

My own alma mater is putting a LOT of resources against First Gen. A lot. Not just admissions, but support, subsidies for internships, professional networking, access to fellowship counseling, etc. But the efforts are for “FGLI”-- first generation low income-- and a low income kid who is NOT FG has access to the same support. And an FG who is NOT low income or otherwise disadvantage-- is typically not included in the definition.

So don’t jump through hoops!

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Common App asks what school your parents attended. If you list Oxford or Cambridge and then first generation, I doubt it would fly at any school…
Also many students treat first generation as first generation in the US. However, that is usually not a definition at most schools.
I doubt that a child with a dad who has a PhD from Kenya will be considered first generation…

24

All right, let’s let the OP clarify FG, shall we?

25

UMCP has a great business school, terrific math department and offers merit $$.

Do NOT assume you are guarateed a spot at any of these schools (you’re positive you have a guaranteed admission at UNC-CH?). At highly competitive schools, you are up against thousands of other applicants with similar numbers. That said, adcomms at top schools know your HS program very well. If you will be happy attending UNC-CH, you should absolutely apply EA and give the application as much attention and respect as your other schools. UMCP, which is our flagship, has rejected top-stat kids who don’t show proper respect and timeliness. Personally, I don’t like the term “safety” – it’s somewhat demeaning, and many state flagships are hardly a gimme admit these days. I call it a “likely.”

UNC certainly isn’t a likely, except where they make exceptions for specialized HS programs. UMD doesn’t guarantee acceptance from the specialized programs, but they do love those kids and recruit a goodly number of them away from Ivies and MIT with full rides. Many of S’s friends took the UMD full ride, excelled there, and then went to Ivies/MIT/Stanford, etc. for grad school.

I will note that Stanford has Restrictive Early Action – looks like you are OK with your current list, but check carefully if you add other schools. Regular Decision and Restrictive Early Action : Stanford University

Having an EA acceptance in hand early in the process made senior year MUCH better for both of my sons. S1 had two EAs and UMD by early January, and those were three of the top four on his list. S2 had one EA (one of his top two choices) and UMD by January as well. We did not want to do ED due to financial considerations. This was a potential risk with S2’s favorite, but fortunately he was accepted.

Given the selectivity of your other schools on the list, you need to be VERY happy with your likely, because you may be shut out everywhere else. That’s no reflection on you, but of the competitiveness of the process. Three years at three diffferent high schools may also be a concern to adcomms. You’ll need transcripts from all three, and ask the guidance office at the first two schools to make sure they send a school profile so the adcomms can get a better sense of your academic background.

Your math is impressive and will help distinguish you. My older S went to a specialized HS, did MV, Lin Alg, Complex Analysis, Mathematical Physics, Discrete and the program’s entire catalog of CS programming courses (and TA’d a couple of them senior year). Won several major national science research/programming accolades, at least semifinalist level in three USAXX olympiads (finalist in 1), 9 APs (all 5s, 13 post-APs), multiple 800s, yada yada. Maryland was his likely admit, got a full COA ride there. He got into four of his seven schools (two with merit $$). He was a math major and took a lot of grad CS courses. This was a lifetime ago in college admission terms, but it’s only gotten crazier since.

A lot of kids at my sons’ specialized programs applied to UMD as their likely and then went for the stars. That’s an OK way to go, but only if you are truly happy with the likely. You also need to talk to your parents about the financial realities of $320k for an UG degree. It may be fine in theory, but the reality (especially if there are more siblings to educate) is another story.