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by the way, please rate

Mainland Chinese male (came here in '93)
speak, read, write mandarin
No relatives in US, Parents went to college in China
Essay about how most my relatives are peasants

Very competitive Public School in NJ
10 AP's and 10 Honors classes by graduation
Rank: 25 of ~ 550
SAT: 780/780
SAT II: IIC 800, Writing 800, chem 780, Physics 800, UShistory 720

AP's: US His 5, Chem 5, Statistics 5, Span 3
National Merit Semifinalist NJ


ECs: not many, but very passionate
Violin: My foremost EC, didnt join many orchestras, only school orchestra, chamber orchestra, and All state
but I focused much more on soloing and duets, quartets, etc.
im amateur, performing concertos and showpieces at parties, recitals, bookstores, etc.
my repertoire includes most of the Romantic concertos, Paganini caprices (which many violinists believe are the hardest pieces ever written) and Ernst Polyphonic studies (I think are harder)

I will send cd w/ paganini caprice #1 and ernst study #6
I am sure a VERY small percentage (less than 10 people) will send paganini caprices to ANY college (not just harvard) this year. I am also 100% sure NO ONE (not 1) has ever sent or will send this year, Ernst studies (due to their enormous difficulty and relative obscurity) to ANY college. Not being arrogant, but IMO for someone not familiar w/ violin.


Others include state science olympiad (2nd out of approximately 800)
DECA Business: Got 2nd overall in county and 5th in state

Summer research at Upenn w/ World famous professor who will write rec, and who also published my work at a NIH conference

the usual clubs and volunteering, nothing special

I want to get rec from my violin teacher (philadelphia Orchestra) and my summer boss (who is one of the most influential people in science, nobel prize caliber), but is 4 recommendations too many?

Thanks everyone

By E_L (E_L) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 10:53 am: Edit

Another violinist! Paganini Caprice #1 is a great piece to send, but I think you should couple that with a movement from a romantic concerto (Mendelssohn, Saint Saens, Bruch, etc.). I have no working knowledge of Ernst Studies, though, so you could always send three pieces.

Your test scores and ECs (esp. violin and research) are great, but your class rank may be just a little low for Harvard. Other than that, show your voice and character through your essays and I think you will have a good chance of being accepted.

By Firebird12637 (Firebird12637) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 07:53 pm: Edit

geez...pretty good stats...almost same as me (moved here in '96)...we have different "hooks" though

good luck w/ Harvard