I would appreciate any sort of idea of my chances of admission to the schools I’m applying to!
I am applying to Columbia Early Decision (even though I have no chances, I’m still going to apply so I don’t have any regrets and so my parents would stop nagging me about it), Georgia Tech Early Action (my dream/ideal school), Emory University, New York University, and University of Florida
Already Accepted (as of now) into University of Central Florida (Backup School)
School Type: Public
Location: Florida
Race/Gender: Asian
Prospective Major: Mathematics
Unweighted GPA: 3.81
Weighted GPA: 4.63
Class rank: 13 of 581
Candidate of Cambridge International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma
SAT I Scores
SAT I Math: 780
SAT I Reading and Writing: 690
SAT II Scores
SAT II Math II: 790
Will take SAT II Chinese w/ Listening (Predicted Score: 800)
Extracurricular Info
-Vice President of Interact Club (A Service Club) – Highly involved; organized and monitored many fundraising events such as a Barnes and Nobles book fair, Rise Against Hunger, Relay for Life, etc. and service projects such as volunteering with local food banks (member since freshman year, officer since Junior year)
Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honors Society) – will be running for an officer position soon; member since sophomore year (when it was first created in our school)
UNICEF Club – member since its initial creation in sophomore year; raise funds to help children around the world (ex- Trick or Treat Fundraiser)
NHS (National Honors Society)
NAHS (National Art Honors Society)
Volunteered for a non-profit organization that worked with pet adoptions
Awards/ Recognition:
Honorable Mention for photography: The Scholastics Art & Writing Awards of 2018 (Issued by the Northeast Florida Art Education Association)
Passed the highest level (level 6) of the HSK Exam (a Chinese Proficiency Exam administered by the Chinese government)
Certified CIW Internet Business Associate
Certified CIW Site Development Associate
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (sponsored by the Rotary Club)
AP Exams:
AP English Language and Composition: 4
AP Statistics: 4
AICE Exam Passed (equivalent to AP; it is sponsored by Cambridge University)
AS Level:
AICE General Paper
AICE European History
AICE English Language
AICE Thinking Skills
AICE Psychology
AICE Geography
AICE Marine Science
AICE Math (Pure Mathematics)
A-Levels Passed
AICE US History
Currently Enrolled in:
AP Calculus AB/BC
AICE Chemistry A-Level
AICE Economics A-Level
AICE Literature A-Level
AICE Global Perspectives A-Level
Work Experience (Had to work often to support my family)
Mathematics Tutor: Tutored peers in subjects ranging from Algebra 1 to Pre-calculus, as well as SAT math, and Statistics
Part Time Manager/ Lead Waitress at a local Japanese Sushi Restaurant: work from 30-40 hours a week (a lot less during exam season) for all four years of high school
Lead Waitress at another Sushi Restaurant for a summer in Junior year —> yes I had 2 jobs a one point
When you’re preparing your app, think about not just what the colleges are looking for but what about you is unique and shows your strength, resiliance. I’m not an AO, but I suspect two of the strongest parts of your app were the things that were listed last. There will be thousands of applicants who have served in the common school clubs but few who did all their school work and ECs while working to support their family. Working to support your family as a teenager while still getting top grades and contributing to your community is very impressive; this is a key part of you that should be at the front and center of your app and essays.
I really appreciate you taking your time to respond to me! Do you think it would be better to highlight such working experiences from an essay I wrote myself or from a recommendation letter from an employer? I’ve already written my generic common application essay about falling in love with math, but I would not mind changing it, just that would it be too arrogant to write about this myself? My counselor has already written a recommendation letter about how I had to balance work and school at the same time (I don’t know the specifics since I don’t have access to them). The sponsor of the school club is writing a recommendation letter about my involvement and leadership position in the club. I have my calculus teacher write a recommendation letter for me as well. How can I further elaborate on this to make myself stand out among other applicants?
It’s not arrogant at all to disclose what you learned from and persevered through by working to support your family. That is a very compelling story and it’s not common, especially among top students. There are thousands of students who discover they love math, but how many are working at 14 to buy groceries while still exploring their love for math? Through working, you will have life experience and growth that shapes you as a person and allows you to bring a different perspective to a college. All top colleges are seeking a diverse range of views and experiences - be sure to show how you bring that.
Your story about what you learned, how you succeeded, your ability to juggle multiple demands is what’s important and the best way to tell that is in your essay. A LoR from your employer isn’t key, what is key is how you describe the experience, the growth, how it shaped your perceptions, how it will continue to be part of what you bring to college.
Selective colleges are actively seeking to increase admissions of students who have challenging financial circumstances yet still have proven themselves successful. Don’t be shy about talking about what you’ve done, just avoid making it a sob story. You need to let them know the context (financial and family challenges) of your success so they know what an achievement it is, not so they feel sorry for you (because that’s not what they base admissions on.)
Good luck - if you continue to bring your work ethic to college it will matter little which college you go to because you have all the tools you need to be successful.