Chance/Match an Ex-Valedictorian - 4.0 UW, 1510 SAT, Asian studies major [home school with college courses 11th-12th]

[goldie_202]

Demographics: Female, Southeast, Homeschooled (attended public school grades 9-10), parents make ~100k per yr

Intended Major: Asian Studies

SAT: 1510 (750 RW, 760 M)

UW/W GPA and Rank: 4.0 UW, 4.72/5.0 W, (rank 1/600 in 9-10th grade but I can’t really use this anymore)

Coursework: Full Dual Enrollment schedule, courses at T30 and local 4-yr universities (15-19 credit hours each semester so about 7ish courses per sem), only 3 AP courses from 9-10th grade, AICE Cambridge Diploma w/ Merit (which was most of my course work in 9-10th).

Four years of Spanish (2 yrs of college Spanish)
Three years of college Mandarin
Four years of college-level bio, chem, and physics
Last math is college calc II
Majority upper-level courses

I do not have access to AP or IB courses.

Awards: Coke Scholar Semifinalist (awaiting finalist results), National Merit Scholar Commended, NISL-Y Finalist (15% ar), Global Leadership Award Winner (awarded by a Canadian organization)

Extracurriculars:
Brand Ambassador (1 of 6) for a large county-wide program: implemented county-wide college and career readiness projects; ; 100+ students in program. (grades 9-11)

Chapter President [of large portion of my state] for an English tutoring program (based in China): Run all volunteer operations and recruitment; direct passion projects and facilitate tutor/student relations; tutor; provide guidance and English lessons to Chinese students with Down syndrome. (grades 11-12)

President/Founder of an advocacy and support program for students with auditory processing disorder: connected over 100 children with apd, organized international outreach efforts and developed a global digital program for children in foreign countries. (grades 9-12)

President of volunteer-based tutoring program: provides free tutoring and mentoring for elementary and middle school students, reaches international students in Latin America and China. (grades 9-12)

Girl’s Varsity Swim Team Captain (grades 9-10): nominated as girl’s team MVP 2021-22, member on swim team 9th-11th. Also participated in club swimming and water polo for 8+ years and national level lifeguarding competitions.

Member of a large humanitarian organization based in Taiwan (500+ hours committed to community service from this) (grades 9-12)

Medical Assistant (paid work) (grades 11-12)

Lifeguard (paid work) (grades 11-12)

A few more language and community service based ecs but those are the main ones.

I take care of my three younger siblings who are also homeschooled (two are homeschooled due to their disabilities). My mom can not work as she has a severe chronic disease so I spend a lot of time taking care of my family.

Essays/LORs/Other:
Essay: I wrote my ps about my experience being one of the only non-Asian students at a Buddhist school. I spoke about my hair/dreadlocks + cultural and language barriers and personal growth. (medium to moderately strong)
LORS: Got LORS from my profs at the T30 university (where I took my core classes) and the person who runs the county-wide program I’m in (who knows me very well). This was tough but I think they are decent.

Schools:
(Applied ED1 to UChicago and got rejected; applied Tulane EA and got deffered; University of Miami premier scholarship finalist; accepted to all 5 safeties with scholarship)

Vanderbilt ED2
HYPSM but Princeton is top (RD)
Columbia Dual Degree (Trinity College Dublin) (RD)
Duke (RD)
UCLA (RD)
UC Berkeley (RD)
George Washington University (RD)
UNC Chapel Hill (RD)

open to reverse chance mes too
thank you <3

[islandmama1]

Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished! While your credentials are very impressive, you don’t mention cost (other than your parent’s income). The UC’s you have on your list (UCLA/UCB) will likely be unaffordable for you at $70k/year+ as an out of state student. Others can comment on your chances relative to aid/costs for the rest of your list.

Wishing you great luck with your remaining applications!

[thumper1]

Good luck to you! You have a great college application resume. Your list here is filled with reaches, but at least one works out and is affordable.

You have your sure things with scholarships…so it sounds like you are all set!

[tsbna44]

Congrats on what you got so far. It sounds wonderful.

I think it’s safe to say with the Chicago and Tulane result that it would be too difficult to chance you.

I don’t know what your cost structure is but I would personally be hesitant to give up the possible Miami opportunity which likely is at least free tuition - and going ED at Vandy does that.

A free tuition at Miami far trumps Vandy…unless you have need or Vandy is just so far up your list that it’s worth paying hundreds of thousands more (if you don’t have need). Usually the programs come with enrichment too, on top of money.

Also, when you say Princeton is top - is it top of the remaining (then why ED?) or just top of the HPYSM?

If you’re likely in at Miami, I’d say GW is realistic too.

Best of luck.

[goldie_202]

Tysm for your advice! I do demonstrate need to a decent extent, and Princeton is my favorite among HYPSM. I applied ED2 to Vanderbilt back in early November and just found out about UM today. There is still one more round to go for the UM scholarship, so I’ll definitely have to think it all through. I’m hoping the Tulane deferral was due to a lack of demonstrated interest + yield protection, but I can only hope. Thank you again for your great advice!

[tsbna44]

Where are you in thus far?

Miami meets need - not sure what yours shows.

Tulane doesn’t necessarily.

Forgetting Tulane didn’t admit you - where does it stand on your list? If you’d rather be in at Miami or the safeties, then let it go. One can’t worry about - why you didn’t get in although deferred is not denied. Depending on amount of need - Tulane is, I believe, need aware and that could impact any student if their need is what the school deems too much. Nonetheless, do what you need to do to stay in the game if it matters to you (LOCI, update #s etc) but don’t let it get to you.

What is your goal post grad with the Asian studies degree? My daughter is an International Studies major/Asian focus as well with a dual poli sci - and she just attended her school’s DC semester this Fall and worked at a prominent think tank.

It may not matter where you go given the major - depending on what you seek afterward.

Congrats on getting to the final round of Coke…that’s a great get.

Best of luck

[merc81]

With respect to potential additions to your list, you might benefit from looking into the Asian studies departments of some purely undergraduate-focused schools, such as Colgate, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Amherst and Hamilton.

[goldie_202]

I’ve gotten in to five in-state safeties so far. I applied to Tulane on a whim and will likely just move on atp. That’s amazing for your daughter! Super cool. I have interest in some paid PhD programs, but I’m honestly unsure at this point.

[goldie_202]

Thank you!

[tsbna44]

Then don’t overthink it. Just do great wherever you go !! Let us know if you get Miami.