Transfer Student- MIT, Caltech, Wash U, Harvey Mudd

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi, I will graduate from Johnson County Community College this coming May. I’m planning to apply to- MIT, Caltech, Cornell, Harvey Mudd, Carnegie Mellon, and UI at Urbana Champagne. I plan to major in electrical engineering. I attached my resume, and I’ll appreciate your thoughts about my chances and any other comments.
Education:
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas 2005-2007.
Cumulative GPA: 3.92.
Honors Program & Civic Honors Program.
SAT II: Math II: 800; Physics: Taken 720; TOEFL: 109.</p>

<hr>

<p>Academic Awards:
• Academic Excellence Team, Spring 2008. Selected as one of four students to represent the college on its first quiz ball team.
• Great Planes Regional Honors Council, Spring 2008. Selected to present and discuss physics paper. Only representative from JCCC.
• President’s List, Fall, 2007; Spring 2007; Spring 2006.
• George and Virginia Semb Science Scholarship, Fall 2007. One of three students who received this award; the only international recipient.
• The President’s National Service Award- Gold Medal, Spring 2007. The only recipient at the college.
• Leadership Award given in honor of Dr. Larry Tyree, Spring 2007. One of five students who received this award; the only international recipient.
• Phi Theta Kappa’s highest level of enhancement/ involvement in the community, Spring 2007.
• Outstanding Student Award, Spring 2007. Only six students in the college receive this award each semester.
• Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Spring 2006.
• National Dean’s list- Spring 2006.
• Dean’s list- Fall 2005.</p>

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<p>Extracurricular Activities:
Athletics: Jiu Jitsu
• Second place in the Jiu Jitsu National Championship, 2007.
• United States Martial Arts Association (USMA) competitor of the year, 2007.
• Second place- Karate Kansas City, 2006.
• Seventh place in the World Championship in Jiu Jitsu (International Jiu Jitsu Federation), 2000.
• Israel’s National Jiu Jitsu Team, 1999-2001.
• First place- Karate “Sport and Peace Championship,” 2000.
• First place- Karate “Sport and Peace Championship,” 1997.
• Israeli National Jiu Jitsu Champion- black belts adults, 1999.
• Israeli National Jiu Jitsu Champion - black belts adults, 1998.
• Israel Karate Shotokan Champion- black belts adults, 1997.
• Israel Karate Shotokan Champion- green belts adults, 1997.
• Israel Forms Karate Team National Champions, 1996-7- youth.
• Israel Karate Team National Champions, 1996-7- youth.
• Israeli National Jiu Jitsu Champion, 1996 and 1995 - youth.</p>

<p>Community Service:
• Teach martial arts to kids with disabilities, 2006-Present.
• Classroom Partnership Program-lectured to youth church groups about my country, Fall 2007.
• Christmas in October, Fall 2007.
• Adopt a Soldier, Spring 2007
o Initiated the program and served on planning team.
o Collected non perishable goods and sent them to soldiers in Iraq.
• Adopt a Family- Adopted a quadriplegic woman and a family in need. We collected food, clothes, housewares, and remodeled homes, Spring 2007.
• Relay for Life, Spring 2006 and Spring 2007.
• Jenna E. Pinker Memorial 2KM Race, Fall 2006 & 2007.
• Leadership Award given in honor of Dr. Larry Tyree
• Trick or Treated for food for needy families, Fall 2006.
• Camp Blue Bird- Worked with cancer survivors, Fall 2006.
• Volunteered in New Orleans- Spring break, 2006.</p>

<p>Clubs and Organizations:
• Phi Theta Kappa, Spring 2006-present. Scholarship and Fellowship Officer (2006-2007).
o Increased membership rate by 60% by the fall semester and doubled previous years’ averages by spring semester. As a result our chapter received the Platinum Pinnacle National Award.
o Help current officers plan events and projects for the chapter (2007-2008).</p>

<p>• International Students Club, Fall 2005-present.
o Organize and implement activities for international students.
o Serve as “consultant” for the leadership team (2007-2008.).</p>

<p>• Student Senate, Spring 2007-present. President (2007-2008); Senator (Spring 2007).
o As president, emphasized the importance of a team work. To date, we almost tripled our fundraising money, and created more events for students.
o Represented the student body on a number of committees and helped drive legislation calling for designated smoking areas on campus.
Student Senate Committees:
• General Assembly (Spring 2007-present) – The Student Senate meets on a weekly basis. I have been conducting the meetings since August 2007.
• Green Committee (Spring 2007) – initially formed in order to ban the smoking from the campus. We wrote and presented the proposal to the President of the college and to the Board of Trustees. Our proposal was accepted, and this is the first year that we have designated smoking areas.
• Service and Fundraising (Spring 2007-present) - The committee plans fundraisers throughout the year in order to raise funds for student activities and other charitable costs.
• Executive Board (Summer 2007- present) - We, the executive board members, meet on a weekly basis for receive updates and plan ahead.
• Budget Committee (Spring 2007-present) - The committee members recommend the amount of funds that the Senate needs to allocate for a certain organizations or events.
• Dollars for Scholars (Spring 2007 & 2008) - We planned and executed fundraisers for scholarships.</p>

<p>College Committees:
Campus Wide Committees-
• Counselors Committee- One out of two students on committee comprised of counselors, Dean of Student Activities, and faculty, Spring 2008.
• Foundation Board Committee- Represent the student body in the board’s meetings. Committee is comprised of board members from Johnson County and JCCC administrators, Spring 2008.
• Dollars for Scholars Teams Committee – Students and Advisors, Spring of 2007 & 2008.
• Diversity Committee – Serve as the only student representative on committee comprised of the College President, administrative directors, and faculty, 2007-2008.
• President’s Council – I am the only student in the council comprised of The College President, deans, and administrative directors, 2007-2008.
• Educational Affairs Committee – One out of two students on committee, Spring 2007.
• Academic Technological Advances Committee – One of two students on committee comprised of administration and faculty members, Spring 2007.
• Health Clinic Advisory Committee- Solely represents the student body in selecting a health clinic provider, and planning the health clinic. Committee comprised of Dean of Student Life, Director of Student Life, and advisors from the Nursing program, 2007-present.
• The College Strategic Planning Committee – Serve as the only student on committee comprised of The College President, deans, administrative directors, and faculty, Fall 2006-present.</p>

<p>Ad Hock Committees-
• Tuition Increase Committee- One of two students examining the impact of a tuition increase in the next fiscal year along with the Dean of Student Life and representatives from the administration, Spring 2008.
• DPS Committee- One of two students working on committee comprised of The President of the College, Director of Department of Public Safety (DPS), Dean of Student Life, local police officers, and few advisors. Shapes the policy of DPS in regards to whether officers should carry firearms and makes recommendations to the board of Trustees, Spring 2008.
• Hiring Committee for Manager of Student Activities position- One of two students who worked in conjunction with the Director of Student Life and a few advisors from different organizations, Fall 2007.</p>

<p>Other-
• Leadership Retreat – The President of the college, deans, administrative directors, and I spent a day with a consulting company leading a leadership workshop. Fall 2007.</p>

<hr>

<p>Work Experience:
Math Tutor, Johnson County Community College Math Resource Center (2007-2008)
• Tutor nineteen to twenty hours per week.
Owner, Gobi Dance Bar and Morrison Pub (August 2004- July 2005).
• Owned and operated a night club as a joint partner (50% share holder) in Israel.
• In charge of inventory including negotiating with providers, bars, and personnel.
• Earning increased by 62% over a one year period. In fact, we built another pub that opened for operation a couple of months after I sold my shares.</p>

<hr>

<p>Additional Information:
• Three years in the Israel Defense Forces- I started in the Special Forces, but because of my shoulder injury that I sustained in the Jiu Jitsu world championship six months before my military service I was transferred to a military academy where I instructed combat fitness and self defense to cadets. July 2001-2004.
• Certified martial arts instructor since 2000.
• Fluent in English, Hebrew, and French. Also, able to converse, read, and write basic Mandarin.</p>

<p>One more thing, I have earned 70 credit hours- and I have one B grade from my first semester.</p>

<p>Thank you,</p>

<p>A.A</p>

2

<p>Don’t inundate us or anything, haha.
You look like a good match everywhere but maybe MIT. Also, I know very little about Caltech’s transfer admission rates.
You definitely come off as passionate and well rounded if not overly intense. Keep in touch, I’m excited to see where you end up.</p>

3

<p>I dont think you can put a karate championship from 1996 on your application…</p>

4

<p>I dont mean to sound rude, but i think alot of your “Achievements” are not really achievements (in regards to the college application achievements). I was really confused on the whole “college committee” wth is that? Also, there is not enough space on ANY college application to put all that. Furthermore, anything below HS and College does NOT count, unless you are a national achiever or even a state achiever. You need to condense; less is more.</p>

<p>Colleges dont like to see a laundry list; they would rather see 2-3 things a student is REALLY passionate about.</p>

5

<p>Your chances are pretty low at all of these schools. Transfer rates are extremely low and you’re coming from a CC. Personally I don’t think you’ll get in anywhere for sure, so you should definitely apply somewhere else as well. For Caltech is depends on how well you do on their transfer exam.</p>

6

<p>as far as the 1996 karate championship, since you have continued it until now. you could put it. but you’ve also been a martial arts champion more recently, so i would focus on those.</p>

7

<p>As far as the resume, all the committees are part of my college involvement, which is important to colleges (MIT essay question is about involvement in the college).
Why do you think that I’m not suitable for MIT?
I’m aware that my chances are low, but I’m still going to do my best and hope for the best …
And, I’m applying to two safer schools too.</p>

<p>Thank you for your comments</p>

8

<p>no, he/she cant put the 96 karate championship on his/her app - his/her resume is another story. most apps only want your awards achievements from high school on, with more emphasis on the college ec’s(your a transfer student after all, not a first year applicant).</p>

<p>you cannot individually list every single accomplishment dating back to elementary school, so focus on High school +, unless otherwise noted by the application. </p>

<p>you could, however tie it into an essay, but that would be a stretch…</p>

9

<p>I’m 25 years old, sadly…lol. But all of these accomplishments are from 6th grade and on…
I’m sending me resume as a supplimental/ additional info, together with an essay that explains why I chose a community college.
In my essays I tie my community service to my martial arts stuff.
I posted the resume so you’ll be able to have a ballpark figure of my chances, and if you have any suggestions how would I make it stronger/ more appealing.</p>

10

<p>I’m sorry to say this all of those schools listed are impossible to transfer. They hardly accept community college student as a sophomore or junior. Maybe, you can apply as a freshman if you can take SAT 1 and get a super high score.</p>

11

<p>Time will tell… I’ll do my best and I’ll keep you posted.
Thank you for your replies.</p>

12

<p>It’s easy to say never or impossible…History is made by the ones who dare.
I’m not saying that I’ll be the one, but I’m going to try my best for sure.</p>

13

<p>I don’t know about chances, but I’m busy recommending to everyone NOT to go to UIUC, especially if you’re capable of getting into private schools that are equal or better. The problem with a school like UIUC, where I am now, is that it is very easy to get accepted if you’re in-state. This means, many people who simply <em>do not care</em> about school are wandering around the campus, making life miserable and difficult for those of us who actually care about academics. I’m trying to transfer to a private school from here because of this very reason. Sure, it’s considered to be ranked up there with MIT and whatnot for engineering, but while on campus you definitely do not get a sense of this at all.</p>

14

<p>Remove your pre HS stuff. You have very good chances–just write great essays and you shouuuld be alright.</p>

15

<p>I’m sorry to say this all of those schools listed are impossible to transfer. They hardly accept community college student as a sophomore or junior. Maybe, you can apply as a freshman if you can take SAT 1 and get a super high score.</p>

<p>Definitely wrong</p>

<p><----- a transfer to Harvey Mudd College </p>

<p>Personally I think you stand great chances at UIUC, Cornell, and CMU. Caltech, Mudd, and MIT are all a bit tougher and a bit randomish, but not impossible. </p>

<p>Also, Kudos on the blackbelt in BJJ; we have an ex-UFC/WEC LW belt-holding fighter train us here in MMA/BJJ and he is only a brown belt; it takes a lot of effort compared to that other crap.</p>

16

<p>The reason why im saying this is he is an international student. For international students, it is not highly chance to get in those schools. I would say citizen has a lot more chances to transfer those schools. Everything is hard for international students.</p>

17

<p>oh your from jccc?
i went to blue valley north for my freshman year!
great place, overland park</p>

18

<p>Your age may be of concern to some of the schools. Coming from community college should help. I am not sure as to how admissions officers will react to martial arts. CalTech & Harvey Mudd will be the most difficult. Due to your age–age 26 when you matriculate next year–I think that your only sure bet is UIUC. Your situation is interesting and your best chances may be at larger, public universities that are more accustomed to, and can better integrate into the campus community, non-traditional students.</p>

19

<p>I’m in CA. I went also went to CC like you. There are tones of students who are getting 4.0 GPA and good EC and stuff, but they still get rejected those schools. And, I saw one international student who has 2200 sat score, 4.0GPA and really good EC like you. He applied stanford, mit, harvey mudd and berkeley but got rejected all. If you are citizen, it is different story though.</p>

20

<p>I didnt reply lately because I was busy w/all of the applications… I apologize.
Thank you all for your replies.
I thought that UIUC is a great school (from reading reviews and ratings), and what you wrote is new to me. I appreciate it and give it a lot of consideration as I choose which of the schools to go to (if accepted).
Hmmm… When I first posted my question here I wanted to get feedbacks from you and I did, but they werent consistent as I hoped they’ll be. Thus, the impression that I’m getting is that it’s hard to predict the chances and that one needs a great deal of luck. Given the list of the schools its not surprising.
Do you have any suggestions about what things to emphasize from my resume on the MIT and Mudd essays? </p>

<p>Again, thank you.</p>