Chance a stereotypical Indian for HYPSM

What Are My Chances?
#1

<p>I'm an Indian Male that goes to a good public school.</p>

<p>Current GPA (Unweighted): 3.97</p>

<p>I've taken the following APs:</p>

<p>Physics B,Cs
Biology
Stats
Computer Science
Calculus BC
Chemistry</p>

<p>All 5s</p>

<p>SATs:</p>

<p>MathIIC, Bio, Physics - all 800</p>

<p>Extracurriculars and Awards/Acheivements:</p>

<p>USPho/USABO/USNCO/AIME Semifinalist (but low score on AIME)
NM Finalist
Quizbowl Nationals Top 5
200+ Hrs Community Service</p>

<p>Math and Science Research</p>

<p>Canada/USA Mathcamp</p>

<p>Some leadership besides this..</p>

<p>SAT: 2320</p>

<p>A bit one-sided perhaps, but not strong enough for MIT in my opinion.. (no research awards or olympiad finalists)</p>

<p>What do you guys think? And how could I make my app stronger?</p>

#2

<p>
[quote]
what do you guys think? And how could I make my app stronger?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Grades are good, now do something significant and original with your time to (risking using the trite term) show some passion outside of the classroom. I have no idea what you did for the community service hours, but try connecting it to the subjects you're interested in so that it's something you can talk about in essays and interviews. You have a good chance for top schools if you can present yourself successfully.</p>

#3

<p>Thanks for your prompt response!</p>

<p>I have some music-related activities outside of school. Community service also music-related.</p>

<p>Strongly agree that I need more "passion." :)</p>

<p>Will work on it.</p>

#4

<p>Agree with everything said. Show your passion for something so that you can stand out from the pile of applications they're going to get.</p>

#5

<p>If you know enough to know that you're a stereotypical Indian applicant, then you should also know your own chances.</p>

#6

<p>HYPSM is a crapshoot for anyone and if I believe what I read on CC, a lottery for Asian males. </p>

<p>You may have a reasonable chance at MIT but What are your other schools?</p>

#7

<p>It will be incredibly hard for an Asian to gain admission into an Ivy. Your Olympiad results are very impressive so you would certainly command attention, although like I'd say to anyone, expect nothing. Good luck!</p>

#8

<p>While my emphasis on science and math is pretty stereotypical in Asians, I think my olympiad performance is pretty good. However, studying for olympiads tends to make a crappy essay topic, so something else is obviously needed. But playing an instrument isn't uncommon either. :)</p>

#9

<p>I think the grades are good, though the SAT could be a little higher,which might hold you back a little. Olympiad results are great which can help. You show a clear aptitude for math/science, but is there any interest that will help you stand out? Maybe you could try to publish some of the research that you did. Otherwise, you'd have a chance, but I don't want to say "good" b/c HYPS are just too tough to get in to. But you'd have a better chance at the lower ivies.</p>

#10

<p>
[quote]
I think the grades are good, though the SAT could be a little higher,which might hold you back a little.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Untrue. False. Negatory.</p>

<p>edit: didn't mean for that to sound rude, in case it does. But it's simply not true. The SATs are like a bar. If you're under it, they won't look at you (in most cases). But if you are over it, they will continue looking at your app and really not look at it again in considering your admission. And 2320 certainly reaches the bar for every school in the country.</p>

#11

<p>For an essay topic, speak extensively about your research. That'd be interesting (maybe?).</p>

#12

<p>@born2dance94. I understand that a 2320 is a great score, but especially for asians applying to HYPS...They may or may not need to be taken again, but IMO it would help. I'm not a complete proponent of the "bar" theory. A person with a 2380 will have a higher chance than the same person with a 2300 even though 2300 would pass most "bars."</p>

#13

<p>i think that you will do very well applying anywhere. Ivys are always pretty iffy for everyone but i think you have a decent shot.</p>

#14

<p>@dblazer not really. I forget who but someone earlier quoted an admissions officer from HYPSM (i think it was MIT but I'm not positive), who said after glancing at the SAT score to see if it fits the school profile, he never looks at it again.</p>

#15

<p>Saw an interesting study somewhere that showed exponential returns for higher SAT scores, which is kind of disturbing. Essentially a difference of 10 points actually mattered MORE in the 2300-2400 range than in lower ranges (in terms of admission percentages). Of course, this could be correlation not causation, and most admission officers do say that it doesn't matter that much.</p>

#16

<p>I agree, I definitely think that a 2400 is better than a 2300 for college apps, though not by much, and I've heard college admissions reps say effectively this. However, only retake the SAT if you yourself also care... I doubt it will be a huge thing.
What is Canada/USA Mathcamp?
Anyway, MIT is a reach, but possible. You are a bona fide candidate but unfortunately college apps is pretty random so that's why it's a reach. Ideally, people like you would have good chances but I've seen many better applicants than you get rejected... and many worse than you get in.
Write good essays.</p>

#17

<p>@Bobtheboy:</p>

<p>Canada/USA Mathcamp is a pretty unstructured, relatively prestigious (among math camps) camp. There are graduate-level math courses or you can do a project if you want.</p>

<p>Yep, I figured that was the case. Any thoughts on my chances for the other 4 schools?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

#18

<p>I meant to say the same for all of them.</p>

#19

<p>Youre a real contender for HYPSM, but keep your options open. Dont get your heart set on a brand name school- apply to some safeties. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT are all crap shoot schools- there is still a chance you wont get into any of them.</p>

#20

<p>Submit the math project for Siemens and Intel STS. See what happens.</p>