Will Siemens/Intel Help My Chances? (Chance for MIT, Others)

Colleges & Universities Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>I have done research in chemistry at USC over the summer and I will be publishing a paper as second writer as well. I want to do Siemens/ITS but the problem is that my mentor doesn’t exactly support the idea of these competitions. I am wondering if doing Siemens Competition or Intel Talent Search will dramatically help my chances. </p>

<p>Applying:

  • MIT EA
  • Stanford
  • Harvard
  • USC (Legacy)
  • UCs</p>

<p>Academics:

  • Troy High School [IB - Very Competitive School] in Fullerton, California
  • Full IB Diploma Candidate / Troy Tech
  • Unweighted GPA: 3.93
  • Weighted GPA: 4.67
  • UC GPA: 4.82
  • Top Decile (Top 1% But School Ranks Only Using Deciles)
  • SATs
    — SAT I: 2350 - Reading - 800 / Math - 800 / Writing - 750
    — Biology: 750 / Chemistry: 770 / Math II: 800
  • AP’s - Euro (4), Comp Sci A(5)/AB(5), Chemistry(5), APUSH(5), English Lang(5)
  • Planned AP’s - Calc BC, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Spa, AP Phys C E/M, AP Phys B, AP Eng Lit
  • IB’s - Chemistry SL (5)
  • Senior Schedule: AP Calculus BC (Math SL and College Credit), Computer Programing/Discrete Math (Comp Sci HL and College Credit), AP Gov/AP Econ, IB Philosopohy/TOK, AP Spanish IV (Spanish HL), AP Physics C, AP English Lit (English HL)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:

  • FBLA (10-12) - Chapter Project Leader (11, 12) - Led service projects in teaching community about fiscal responsibility/business
    — Placed multiple times (1st, 4th, 5th places) at state
  • Chess Club (9-12): President (10-12) - Played in local/state tournaments. Rated 1100ish
  • Orchestra (9-12) - Involved in orchestra all 4 years of high school. (Violin)
  • Volunteering - 300 Hours+ - Local Hospital / Tutoring
  • Programming/Web Design - Local competitions, built various websites (for FBLA, organizations)
  • Summer Research in Organic Chemistry at USC (12)
    — 300 Hours+ / Written a paper</p>

<p>Honors and Awards: (Bunch of Junk)

  • Placed at various local chess tournaments
  • Placed at some local programming competitions
  • IB Diploma (Pending)
  • National Merit Scholar Semifinalist/Finalist
  • NHS
  • AP Scholar, etc.
  • Top 100 Students (Top 33 From Each Class)</p>

<p>Essays: Writing about yourself sounds easy.</p>

<p>Recs: Junior English Teacher, Junior Math Teacher, Orchestra Director

  • All very good rec writers. Orchestra director has known me for many years.</p>

<p>I know I’m lacking in extracurriculars and I am to blame for that xD.
Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>I’d say you have as good of a chance as any–EXCELLENT test scores and pretty good ECs. Make sure your mentor sends a rec to MIT as well.</p>

<p>As for the competitions, Siemens is in time for both EA and RD, but STS is in time for neither. (Although MIT would check the finalist/semis while looking at apps…?) It’d be a HUGE bonus if you did well in Siemens, MIT loves practical science ECs//science fairs.</p>

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<p>And goin to Troy High School would definitely be a plus. You said you volunteered at the local hospital…would that be PVHMC by any chance?</p>

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<p>Rondo, that was pretty much what I was looking for. Thanks!</p>

<p>@ TomJones, Sorry, I volunteer at St. Jude Med Center in Fullerton. :O</p>

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<p>Haha yea, well good luck. I’m from nearby ;] and I’ve heard about Troy…freaking intense. Brian Kim and all those other geniuses.</p>