Tacky on applications? And overall chances

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Can I include a sport I played (at the JV level) for 3 years but dropped because I didn’t have the time to play varsity and do an internship and robotics? It was a major part of my life for those years, and I was team captain, but I know I’ll hardly ever play it next year (maybe every other month I’ll fool around on the court with some friends). Even more debatable is debate (pun not intended, but I’m keeping it): I stopped really debating after freshman year, but I still help out with the tournament the school hosts and help fill the quota at Congress Districts each year.</p>

<p>Now for the Chance me:
Engineering at MIT, Stanford, UC-Berkeley, Caltech, Rice
Texan female; half European half SE Asian</p>

<p>SAT: 2380 (780 in Writing)
ACT:35 (36 on all sections except Science ->32)
SAT II: Math II: 800
Physics:760
Chemistry: 720
GPA: 4.57 (weighted), 3.96 (one B in Chinese)
Rank: 30/750 (4-5%)
AP: 5 in World Geo, Psych, Human Geo; will update with AP Lang, APUSH, and Calc BC once scores are released</p>

<p>Course load next year: AP Gov & Eco, AP Chem, AP Physics 2 (but I’m taking the C tests if I take the AP tests at all), AP Stats, AP Lit, Engineering Internship</p>

<p>ECs: Robotics: founded a team, first year (this past year) horrendous; this year looking better as a FIRST team
Choir (highest honor regional except qualified to state for a solo but couldn’t go)
UIL Academics: 2 subjects, both completely unrelated to engineering (Medals at District and Regionals, Team State championship)
Tutoring: all types of math and science, named most valuable volunteer
Youth [insert political party here]: assisting the governor campaign
Sport: JV for 3 years, decided not to play Varsity senior year in order to include internship
Debate: Best speaker (Novice Policy Debate)</p>

<p>Awards: National Merit Semi-finalist
Most Outstanding Girl in the grade two years in a row</p>

<p>My Common App essay will probably be about my very unique cultural background. Is that the right approach, or should I write about my struggles with robotics?</p>

<p>Recommendations will be excellent.</p>

2

<p>Don’t worry about it; your accomplishments and abilities are self-evident.</p>

3

<p>About the sport: no, if you quit, it doesn’t count (that’s atleast what my college counselor said). Remember top schools are reaches for everybody regardless of what you do and how good you are, unless your parents donated millions of dollars or you have a hook (recruited athlete or URM)</p>

<p>MIT: reach
Stanford: reach
UC Berkeley: reach
Caltech: reach
Rice: low reach/match</p>

4

<p>So does athletics only matter if you’re recruited?</p>

5

<p>I agree with @ssswims except for UCB, I would say that is a match for sure.
Chance back please :)</p>

6

<p>Does it help any to add that I scored 5s on BC Calculus, AP Lang, and APUSH?</p>

7

<p>@futureengineer15 Athletics do matter somewhat to show that you’re busy, but they won’t really sway admission decision unless you’re recruited. APs don’t help for most schools – they’re really used for credit not for admissions. They may help you a little though.</p>

8

<p>I would list your ECs, including the sport you did for three years. My kids dropped a few ECs, but they were things they only did for a year or two that they didn’t spend a lot of time on. Put them at the bottom of your list prioritywise, but I would show them.</p>