Can't decide which college to apply early.. HELP!

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Hey CCers, I’m a rising senior in South Korea. I’m not trying to be one of those chances people, but I seriously can’t find out which is the best strategy for my early choice.</p>

<p>Here are just my basic stats, scroll down if you don’t really care…</p>

<p>BASIC
Ethnicity and Gender – ASIAN MALE
Status – INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT (S Kr)
School Type – Very prominent school
GPA – 4.15(W)
SAT1 – 2290 (CR700-M800-W790) still working on my CR
SAT2 – 3200 MathIIC, Physics, Chem and Bio-M
AP – 5’s on 13 subjects</p>

<p>MATH
144/150 on AMC 12
12/15 on my AIME
2-year consecutive AMC school champion (got a medal from MAA)
silver and bronze medals in Korean Mathematics Olympiad(KMO)
Final Korean Mathematical Olympiad (FKMO) Qualifier (2 years)
4 week job experience as a math TA in a summer school for middle schoolers</p>

<p>ECON
bronze medal in Korean Economics Contest for high school students
Global Enterprise Challenge Finalist - Creativity Award</p>

<p>BIO
research paper on Mesenchymal Stem Cell differentiation
paid internship @ renown stem cell lab for 2.5 months this summer</p>

<p>OTHERS
200 hrs in-school tutor (math, java and econ)
Interviewed Mr. Ban, UN Secretary General
student newspaper editor, acapella, cello, dance and church activities
various voluntary works in and out of Korea…
HOBY WLC Ambassador (KOREA)
Singapore SYC Ambassador (KOREA) – this is like the WLC of ASEAN+alpha countries</p>

<p>Well that was my profile… You can see that my stats are mostly in math, then econ and bio. I also like computer science, but I only have AP CS AB 5 as proof of my ability.</p>

<p>-- My greatest pursuit in college (in this particular order)</p>

<h1>0. salary right after graduation (if it’s over 60k per year, i’d say ok)</h1>

<h1>1. great mathematics and other(bio & econ & com sci) department</h1>

<h1>2. I feel really bad to say this but I live in Korea so I must think of global prestige</h1>

<h1>3. little or no core curriculum</h1>

<h1>4. great acapella club (I love MIT logs btw)</h1>

<h1>5. lots of asians… esp Koreans</h1>

<h1>6. great food</h1>

<p>Now the problems I face</p>

<li><p>I really LOVE math.
Problem: I don’t want to stick with pure math in the future. rather, I want to utilize them in either biotech or finance.</p></li>
<li><p>I like biotech and finance equally.
Problem: I don’t think there’s a link that connects the four subjects comprehensively: Math, ComSci, Bio, and Econ… Is there?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>3(THE REAL QUESTION). My first choice college is MIT, my second choice is Princeton (strong math undergrad)…
Problem: Internationals can’t apply early to MIT, and no one can apply early to Princeton. Where should I apply early? I was thinking of either Stanford, Wharton(Jerome Fisher actually) or Caltech, but are there any other colleges that you think can fit my pursuit? which would increase my chance for early… Jerome Fisher or Stanford?</p>

<p>P.S. does anyone know about the Vagelos’ Life Science & Management program @ Penn? How does it compare to the Jerome Fisher program?</p>

2

<p>Stanford, better chance</p>

3

<p>thanks, but by ‘chance’ I mean to get accepted as many as possible… well honestly, if applying to SCEA doesn’t increase my chance for RD @ stanford, why not apply the harder Jerome Fisher for ED?</p>

4

<p>^ because ED is binding. meaning that if you’re admitted to Wharton you will be obligated to enroll there and you will not be permitted to apply to MIT (or if you have already applied, you will be obligated to withdraw your application)</p>

<p>You shouldn’t apply ED unless its your first choice</p>

<p>By the way, I can’t believe you interviewed Ban Ki-moon as a high school student, that must have been a phenomenal experience</p>

5

<p>“#0. salary right after graduation (if it’s over 60k per year, i’d say ok)”</p>

<p>I LOL’d.</p>

6

<p>If all of the above is true, early decision is not for you. You need to go RD so you can actually apply to your two first choice schools.</p>

7

<p>As everyone else has been pointing out, if you apply ED and get in, you’re stuck with that school, meaning that even if you could have gotten into MIT RD, you wouldn’t have the chance to find out.</p>

8

<p>Some other schools with the programs that you want and lots of Asians include Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, and Cornell. Cornell is 14% Asian, but the other two are around 21%. I don’t blame you for hoping for early decision. It would save a lot of time and stress. However, you are likely to do well in admissions even during the regular season.</p>

9

<p>Stanford is non-binding but you can’t go early to other schools…generally it is very difficult to get in early there unless you are an amazing candidate, but after looking at what you posted, I can’t imagine they are going to have many internationals more qualified than you.</p>

10

<p>Amazing stats your AIME score is 33% higher than mine D:
You should definitely apply to SCEA!</p>