Chances?

Colleges & Universities California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hey there, sorry to bother with another chances thread. </p>

<p>Stats:

  • I attend a Science and Engineering magnet program in central New Jersey
  • best combined SAT I = 2270(720 V, 800 M, 750 W)
  • SAT IIs = 800 Math 2, 800 Physics, 740 Chem, 710 Bio
  • barely top 5 % of class
  • APs:
  • Biology (9th) = 5
  • Statistics (10th) = 5
  • Chemistry(10th) = 5
  • Calculus BC (11th) = 5/5
  • Computer Science AB (11th) = 5
  • Physics C: Mech (11th) = 5
  • Physics C: E and M (12th)
  • English (12th)</p>

<p>Major Awards:

  • 2nd in US National Science League: Chem
  • 2nd in US National Science League: Physics
  • AP Scholar w/Distinction
  • National Merit Commended Student</p>

<p>Major Activities:

  • Lead Guitarist of my own progressive rock band
  • Lead Guitarist of school Jazz Band
  • Guitar for 8 years
  • Captain of school Physics team
  • National Honor Society member (head of tutoring program)
  • JSA participant</p>
2

<p>Your stats are pretty good, as far as test scores and AP scores go. But you don’t seem to have anything that distinguishes you from the rest of the applicant crowd. Could you care to enlighten us about the US National Science League?</p>

3

<p>Thanks for replying… the National Science League is a 40 question contest taken at your school. (I believe its affiliated with the Continental Math League.) Check out this link for more information. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.continentalmathleague.hostrack.com/Natsci.htm[/url]”>http://www.continentalmathleague.hostrack.com/Natsci.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>hmm… i dunno, nothing seems that distinctive, i mean yea, your scores are great, but thats really not what counts the most… unless you really show your passion for math/science/engineering in your application, id say you have a slim chance…</p>

5

<p>Hmmm… Well, I have done a number of research projects in the Science and Engineering program I attend. I have done work in robotics (bguilding a robot to traverse a maze using a PIC, as well as implementing a unique maze traversing algorithim), digital interfacing (currently building a video camera device that focuses on a target as it moves), and laser communications. (Will be working on this in the next semester.)</p>

<p>Will mentioning these research endeavors improve my chances? (Even though they aren’t necessarily for Intel or some other big science competition.)</p>

6

<p>yes, you must include that, show your knowledge of your field! that will help ALOT</p>

7

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<p>How could you consier not mentioning them? We ask you what you do outisde of school, especially in science and math, for a reason ;-)</p>

<p>Ben</p>

8

<p>Haha… The only reason I was hesitant about mentioning these things is that since I did not enter into a science competition, I thought my research would be brushed aside as BS.</p>

<p>I suppose that if I clearly explain what I did, it will be taken more seriously. Indeed, I shall mention these things in my application.</p>