<p>I was accepted to CA.
Stats!
GPA: 4.0 (unweighted)
SAT: 2390
SATIIs: none
APs: 4 on AP Stats sophomore year, taking AP Chem this year
Extra-Curriculars: Columbia SHP, science & math honor societies, class council, community service, other random things
Recommendation Letters: science one (physics teacher) was amazing, math one sucked (she used the wrong student’s name in the middle of the year)
Essays: I must have sounded really passionate about science because I don’t really know why they accepted me! Some of the people here have stats that actually scare me. :/</p>
<p>@TheBalticSea - In the fall I took neuro and now I’m in relativity. Relativity is way, way better but I’m missing so many classes (four lol) that I don’t think I’m going to understand/remember as much as I could have.</p>
<p>@alyssa6 - That’s actually kind of funny because that happened to me too! (with the teacher) Now I’m not really sure what to do…both options sound amazing.</p>
<p>I emailed Mr. Bowdon and he said that the “alternate list” is just what they call their waiting list.</p>
<p>Neon, out of curiosity have you taken physics or calculus? Relativity sounds awesome, I was planning on taking that next year. If you have any interest in astronomy (which I suspect you do -_-), cosmology is a good class. the grad student who teaches it is nice and explains things well. also, you get “snack time”-- surely the highlight of every class-- and use the awesome 3D projector to look at models of the universe.<br>
Perhaps we’ll pass each other tomorrow without realizing it c: If you see a blonde girl with a green messenger bag, that’s probably me.</p>
<p>Ahhhh I almost took cosmology this spring but then my friend said she was taking relativity so I erased the order I put my classes in literally right before I mailed it! Lol yes, I am interested in astronomy. (: I’m in honors physics right now and honors precalc (my turn… -_-) but I’ve done a teeeny bit of calc from MIT’s open courseware thing so I’m not totally lost in class.<br>
If you see a girl with curly brown hair and (probably) gray uggs tomorrow, that’s most likely me. :P</p>
<p>About SSP - which campus did you apply to? You probably said it but I don’t feel like going back to find it. :/</p>
<p>Ah, I was going to ask how you were managing to follow… I took astrophysics and then cosmology (which, apparently, are pretty much the same class), but I don’t think i really absorbed anything until the second go around. despite dr. applegate’s assurances, picking up calculus on the fly is easier said than done =)
I may yell neon tomorrow in that little plaza in front of pupin and see if anyone responds. i have a cold, though: i bet even I won’t hear me.</p>
<p>I applied to CA, too-- in theory I could rearrange my finals schedule to go to NM too, but that would be verrrry inconvenient. Then again, as someone on the waiting list, I’m not sure I have the luxury of convenience -_- it’s good to know they take us precalc people, though! i thought that might be a deal breaker. there is still hope!</p>
<p>Yeah! I thought I wouldn’t get in because of precalc (among other things) but guess not. Keep your hopes up! That would be pretty cool (or weird since I have no idea who you are) if we did two programs together. (: And if you yell neon I’ll definitely look around to see where it’s coming from & if I can find you I’ll yell back :P</p>
<p>For those who are applying next year with awful scores…and stats…here’s a confidence booster.</p>
<p>-ACCEPTED to NM campus-
SAT: 2020. math: <<690>> >:)
PSAT: 194 (f**k.)
Ethnicity: Asian. Imagine my parents’ reactions…to everything.
SAT II: 710 on chem
ACT: not taken. not planning on taking it, either.
AP Exams: 3 on both AP Chem&Stats
All AP courses taken: freshman-none. sophomore-chem/stats. junior-calc ab/eng lang/us history/bio
Sucked on the PLAN test, too embarrassed to put scores up.
Rank: 1
GPA: 4.1… -ish?
Resident of NM.
Extracurricular: in everything possible. president of a couple clubs. won quite a bit of competitions, but mostly in music/writing… not athletic (but a golfer). volunteer. a lot of experience in random things, but nothing extremely in-depth. I guess you can say well-rounded?</p>
<p>On application:<br>
Favorite Science: food technology, because I read Fast Food Nation.
Free time act.: interior design.
World I come from: Hispanic-dominated/Asian
And the rest…I answered all of the questions…not individually…my answers were a bit scattered, but they came together in the end. <em>really</em> wrote about my positive outlook on life. I don’t think I wrote <em>anything</em> negative. and I emphasized the stories I’d heard from SSP alumni. also over-dramatized a few things, but those were only for a humorous effect.
Recommendations sucked. math teacher just put my name on a template recommendation he had. science teacher…didn’t know me so well.</p>
<p>See? I probably have the worst profile of everyone here.
I did NOT think I was going to get in. But…perhaps my writing skills truly are phenomenal. … =.="</p>
<p>And also…I do have a strong work ethic. But I happen to love my social life a little bit more.
I have always wanted to go to SSP…ever since my brother went in with an amazing profile. I’ve waited 4 years.</p>
<p>But anyways, my point is: you don’t have to be incredibly smart or have all these amazing things on your resume…I believe they really are looking for a wide variety of people…so in short answers, make yourself stand out!</p>
<p>As I said a while ago, I was placed on the alternate list. When I received the email I clicked reply and sent an email just saying that SSP is still my number one choice and I thanked them. However, now I’m worried because it says that if you would like to rescind your application from the wait list, then to reply to the email. He hasn’t responded to my email and now I’m worried that he may not read the email and assume that any response indicates a desire to leave the wait list.</p>
<p>This may be a silly concern but I would appreciate any thoughts on this…</p>
<p>SAT: 2130
PSAT: 203
AP’s: Calc BC, Chem, Bio, Stats, WHAP, Human Geo, Art Hist
grades aren’t amazing, A’s and B’s
EC’s: bunch of chess stuff, went to nationals for chess, president of chess club. MUN, Qualified for AIME and then some other minor stuff.
Rec’s: teachers didnt know me well, prbly weren’t too bad though
Essays: I had no experience writing them, so i bombed the essays. when i wrote it, it seemed clumsy and offhand.
rejected b/c sophomore, dont have outstanding grades, weak essays/recs/SAT’s</p>
<p>Accepted to NM campus!!
SAT: 2260. (r: 740 m: 800 w: 720)
PSAT: 235
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
I’m taking 6 IB HL classes (Physics, Math, Computer Science, Economics, English, and Chemistry) and 1 IB SL (Spanish… haha yeah I really suck at languages)
Rank: 1
GPA: 4.0
Extracurriculars: I didn’t really talk about my ECs very much on there. I do a lot of cliche stuff. President of Prom Committee, Students for the Environment, and the Student Body. Treasurer for Interact and NHS. Vice Chair for Global Issues Network.</p>
<p>Essays
Favorite Science: I talked about how much I love physics. It was full of straight-out gushing. Not very impressive.
Free Time: I wrote about how much I love to rap… yeah… So that was kinda weird. I emphasized the fact that I’m a white jewish girl with no rhythm too.
World I come from: I live in Kenya so I really tried to play this one up. It was painfully dramatic. “I come from a world of two extremes…” I am ashamed of this one.
For the rest, I talked about Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Hanayama Metal Puzzles, and wanting to go to SSP to meet “people like me”, whatever that means.</p>
<p>I am SO excited about this! I rarely use capital letters in the middle of a sentence. So this is a big deal! It’s totally unexpected too because my stats are pretty lame. I’m very typical. Can’t wait to see all you untypical peeps there!</p>
<p>^ I think I just answered you in the group on facebook? >_<
Anyway…I don’t really remember specifics but the easy math section is easy. The science section is mostly bio and chem, and then a little earth science and physics (circuits & f=ma). The challenge math section is hard, but if you don’t freak out you should be fine! (:</p>
<p>Don’t sweat it much, it really doesn’t seem like studying is worth it. Check out some earlier AMC10 questions if you want an idea of challenge math. The best advice I can give you is to eat at Dinosaur BBQ afterward -_-</p>
<p>and neon, no luck this time! i actually sprinted off the campus to make a train so i could begin working for 12 hours on a research project that i had to present this morning but didn’t quite understand until this afternoon…</p>
<p>Hahaa no problem I did the exact same thing! >_< I got there pretty early because my train gets in early…I looked for you (blonde hair, green bag) but no luck. I’m actually not going back until the last class though…</p>
<p>@neon, i’m missing the next 2 also. i almost got kicked out last semester-- i had to come in late to make up half a class (java teacher –> tough attendance policy) Have you noticed the blaer dynasty?</p>
<p>to the acceptees, by when do you have to make your attendance decision?</p>
<p>Yeah, what’s the absolute final day you have to say yay or nay by? I’m an alternate that would like very much to have the opportunity to go to SSP :)</p>
<p>I actually just emailed Mr. Bowdon about that (I still have some things to work out with my physics teacher but I’m on break), so if he responds, I’ll let you guys know!</p>
<p>@TheBalticSea - Um, no, I have not! What do you mean by that? I made sure I’m only missing four this semester, I just have to remember to get notes for these last two! I’m scared lol</p>
I made sure I’m only missing four this semester, I just have to remember to get notes for these last two! I’m scared lol</p>