Chance Me for Vassar, U of M (Ann Arbor), Emory, and/or Rice Please!

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hello, everyone! I’m a rising senior who’s getting a bit worried about college apps; I’m homeschooled, so I really have no idea how I compare with the rest of the 2019 graduating class. Any input is SO welcome, as well as any other schools you personally like or think I could be a good fit for! (By the way, I’m a Michigan resident, so U of M may be easier for me.)

DEMOGRAPHIC
Asian-American female, Midwest
Low income, will be applying for fin aid and Questbridge
Father is realtor, mother homeschools me

INTENDED MAJOR: Computer Science and English

STATS
SAT: 1510 (760 EBRW, 750 Math), 18 Essay
1480 (750 EBRW, 730 Math), 20 Essay

SAT Subject Tests: will take Aug 25, last time I scored 740 on Physics and 710 on Math 2, trying to get better

Unweighted GPA: 3.96 out of 4.0
Weighted: 4.54
Class Rank: N/A (I have a graduating class of 2.)

AP Exams: APUSH (5), AP Eng Lang (5), AP Eng Lit (5), AP Comp Sci A (5), AP Calc AB (4), AP Bio (3)

SENIOR YEAR COURSE LOAD (DE = dual-enrollment)
AP Calc BC, Fundamentals of System Support (DE), General Chemistry 1 (DE), Latin 4, Japanese 4, Theater, Cinema, and Film Production, Technical Writing, Personal Finance, Statistics (DE), Engineering Physics 1 (DE), Mobile Applications Development (DE), World Literature

SUMMERS
Freshman year: vacationed abroad in Taiwan (parents’ home country), babysat, attended Dale Carnegie Leadership Camp
Sophomore year: Girls Who Code, 7 weeks
Junior year: Joyce Ivy scholar for Barnard’s pre-college program, 4 weeks studying psychology of media and Shakespeare, worked at New York City Center (an Off-Broadway theatre), started interning with a comp sci professor

EXTRACURRICULARS
Ballet: 12.5 hr/week, examined in and passed Grades 1-5 of the Cechetti method, performances at nursing homes and annual productions, 7 years

Volunteering: companion to children with special needs (2.5 hr/week), usher and writer of monthly newsletter at local theatre (5 hr/week), 2 years

Vocal lessons: 3.5 hr/week, also go to choir, 2 years

Spero Ergo Sum: personal blog, 2 hr/week, 4 years

Internship with professor at local university, studying AI and chatbots: 10 hr/week, 1 year

Eloquentia: Submissions Manager, 4 hr/week, helped start the literary magazine in 9th grade, went from Graphic Designer to Co-Literature Editor to Submissions Manager, 4 years

WORK
4 weeks at New York City Center, ushering, scanning tickets, and managing Coat Check

AWARDS/ HONORS
Joyce Ivy Foundation Scholar
AP Scholar with Distinction
Choir varsity letter
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: 2 Honorable Mentions, 4 Silver Keys, 1 Gold Key (all for writing)
Medusa Mythology Exam: 2 Coronae Olivae, 1 Gold Medal
National Latin Exam: 3 Gold Medals with Summa Cum Laude
National Latin Vocabulary Exam - 1 Bronze Medal, 1 Gold Medal
National Roman Civilization Exam - 2 Gold Medals
Classical Scholar’s Exam - 2 Gold Medals
Classical Literacy Exam - 2 Gold Medals

2

…another homeschooler? another taiwanese american homeschooler who grew up in suburbia? also a rising senior? also 6 aps? and 18 sat essay?
and learned japanese?

cool o.o
that’s probably the extent of the similarity though…

and now i just feel horrible because there are people like me but with actual CollegeConfidential™ stats

anyways,

i guess… from the past three years of stalking other threads, your scores look good enough, lots of focused extracurriculars… pretty damn good chance at any of those schools. anything more wouldn’t make much of a difference. blog and all the latin stuff are awesome, good mix of volunteering, internships/programs, and work… esp. with DE next year.

Def try to get closer 800 on math 2, that’s something doable. 1510 is… still maybe at the could be improved level… if you feel its worth the couple hours and mental prep (i mean at this point trying to get much higher is only about concentration/bringing mistakes as close to 0 as possible)

3

Looks great, youn have a very good shot.

Good academics, test scores, female CS, in state.

Very bland, typical Asian resume will work against you.

Should also consider CMU, if you ED you also have a chance. CMU campus is very urban, right next to Pitt. Purdue, Illinois, Michigan Tech should also be in play for you just in case.

Good luck to you.

4

You have a good shot at Rice, especially through QB. Rice takes many students through the Questbridge match program. At Rice, it would be fairly easy to double major in another subject and English, especially with your AP credits. Once admitted, you can major in any subject(s) except music and architecture which require audition/portfolio. If you apply to the School of Humanities, you might stand out from the horde of STEM applicants. Rice gives course credit for 4 and 5s. https://registrar.rice.edu/students/ap_credit

5

Thanks so much, everyone!

@matchagalaxy Can I just say that this coincidence is the coolest thing ever?? And please don’t put yourself down, I bet you have so much to offer! Honestly, when I was writing this out, I felt like I didn’t really have anything either–I think we (especially everyone on CC) are too harsh on ourselves. ^^

@Houston1021 That’s awesome! I’ve been doing research and starting to like Rice more and more; if I get QB, then that’s definitely going on my list for matching. ^^

@Kadel1023 Thank you! Could you elaborate on what “typical, bland Asian resume” means?

6

Yes, sorry I tried to be a tad funny. Let me go into details.

A lot of competitive schools, are known to turn down a number of really good Asian applicants because they simply cannot admit 70% of their income class Asian.

Many have great grades, good SAT scores, speak multiple languages, tough family values, played piano or violin…etc, google Asian and find the stereotype.

Anyways, I am applying to Michigan too and I am hoping to get in as well.

Side note, I have similar stats and yes I am Taiwanese American too.

Good luck.

7

@Kadel1023 Ah, ok, that makes sense. Thank you!

And good luck to you too!