@Firebolt1176: The fact that you weren’t accepted at several schools who are known for focusing on the numbers (ie Caltech, Mudd) makes me wonder if there wasn’t something written in your recommendation letters that could’ve screwed you.
I hate to say it but you didn’t really do a good job with creating a story about yourself. You are obviously a great writer, but the logical flow that I see when quickly perusing your application is as follows:
Great test taker (high SATs)
/ CHECK
Does well in school (takes lots of APs, gets As)
/ CHECK
Interested in engineering
/ lots of competition - lets look closely here
How much passion for engineering? What has he done?
/ keep digging
Lots of very typical Asian things (symphony, science olympiad, etc)
/ What else? Nothing of national or international caliber??
WAIT! He did some stuff related to WRITING?? WTF?? What does this have to do with being a future engineer.
/ Move to Waitlist