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What are my chances? Feel free to shoot me down, cause I am wide open to your input.
Asian male, from suburban Texas college town. father professor of finance.

stats:
SAT I: 1600
SAT II:
Chem: 800
Writing: 750
Math IIC: 800
Class rank, 1/514
GPA weighted, 4.49, unweighted around 3.8 i would guess.

now is the bad part: ECs are decent but not solid:

*State competitions, placed and part of winning team in current events and social studies

*Concertmaster or second chair of school orchestra

*Awards in orchestra, pretty pointless stack

*Founder of volunteer group, resting homes, local

*Member of local symphony orchestra

*Treasurer of orchestra and sophomore rep (probably wont get elected senior year)

*Stuco leadership committee (not really leadership position but named that...any advice on what is ethical to put?)

*French club, numerous national and state awards (sound great, but national can have like ties between many students)

*Working at university Center for Int'l Business researching.

Some more crap...

more questions...my major is business but i hear that this is highly populated by Indians...my aunt says to put my second favorite major (writing or history or poliscience) but my parents say that might be unethical....need your help....

Essays will be mediocre...ill try hard but am not a great writer.

PS FOR THOSE THAT GOT IN, I NEED STATS....
thank you

By Missmolly (Missmolly) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 12:13 pm: Edit

Is Wash U your first choice school? I think your chances look good at Wash U, but what other schools will you be applying to????
Work on your ecs. Try to focus on 2-3 ecs. Wash U likes kids who have specific interests...

By Trebleclef829 (Trebleclef829) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 05:16 pm: Edit

Wash U looks like a good fit for you. I agree that it is good to focus on deepening your interests in a few thing. Are you considering Combined studies? Wash U is noted for encouraging double majors and majors in two different schools (for example a degree in Business and a degree in Arts and Sciences for History). Also, if Wash U is one of your top choices make sure to show great interest in the school. Think about what you like about the school and about the school of business and let them know how interested you are. They have a long waitlist, and are rumored to waitlist very qualified candidates (I myself was recently accepted off of that notorious waitlist).

On a personal note, I think that it's great that you are trying to keep the ethics in the college application process. I had a 100% genuine app, but I have seen many people who lie to form a more "ideal" picture that is inauthentic. It's refreshing to see your commitment to that...don't lose it!

Good luck, and I think that you have an excellent shot at getting in.

By Trebleclef829 (Trebleclef829) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 05:25 pm: Edit

stats:

SAT 1440 V730 M710
SAT II Writing 700 MathIC 710 Literature 720

GPA: 4.11 w cumulative 4.0 unweighted
Salutatorian
AP Bio, AP U.S., AP Euro, AP Enviro, AP English Lit, AP Spanish Language
all honors and AP

VP and lead soloist/cantor of the Glee Club
President and lead soloist (flute) of the Orchestra
Student Council Executive Board
Founder of Reading Buddies Program
Kids Can Free the Children member
All County Chorus
Long Island Choral Festival
Byzantine Iconography
Tutor of English, Math, Spanish, and Biology
Math Team - Varsity

Tri M Music Honor Society President
National Honor Society
NY State Science Honor Society
Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society
Spanish National Honor Society

Work as Night/Weekend Receptionist at local Roman Catholic Church
Eucharistic Minister
Cantor
Youth Group

Coca Cola Scholars Program Finalist
WSCGCA Scholarship
Poetry published in a few magazines and anthologies
Presidential Service Award
Christian Courtesy Award (highest nonacademic honor)

By Mahajan2005 (Mahajan2005) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 07:07 pm: Edit

TrebleClef, thanks for the encouragement! Wash U is interesting about double majors but I am not sure about my major yet. Maybe that is a better reason to pursue a double major.

Miss Molly: I would focus on two ECs...that is a great idea but i am in my senior year so not much wiggle room...any suggestions on how i can deepen focus in one area? Also, about ED, i am not sure whether i will apply to Wash U...are the chances radically different? My aunt and uncle say Wash U is safety, but I am like !!!! that is not true. Wash U is very competitive. I think they are thinking of admission process twenty years ago...

I am interested in business, law, history and (my parents hate me on this one: archaeology)!...

By Trebleclef829 (Trebleclef829) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 09:22 pm: Edit

While your SAT scores and grades are high, Wash U has become MUCH more competitive over the years and has risen in rank rapidly (and still rising). Therefore, I don't think that they're a safety for anyone. Definitely show your interest in the school, as they have had a bit of a stigma (that they're NOT happy about) of being a safety school for potential Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford students. Therefore, if you want to go there say it loudly and make sure that they know.

In your senior year, evaluate your activities and try to focus on a couple ecs. This is hard for overachievers like you and me who try to do a lot of different things and have varied interests. Really think about what you're doing, why you do it, and why you like it. You want to show them a passion that you have in that short answer question about your favorite activity. It's great to be well-rounded, but it's bad to appear like you don't have any true passions. Pick one thing you truly love and explore it, examine your interest, and think about how it can help benefit and enrich your life and the Wash U campus life.

By Mahajan2005 (Mahajan2005) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 11:25 pm: Edit

Thank you...and thank you for the glass of icy water over my head...i cannot see any school as a safety. i just cant grasp the difficulty of these admission processes yet.

in any case, i love the violin but am, alas, not that good at it....i have done lots of activities with it but am not good at it...as in, not statewide known.

By Trebleclef829 (Trebleclef829) on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 12:37 am: Edit

In the admissions game, it's hard to predict the outcome. I've seen kids with perfect SAT scores and grades get rejected from schools while other kids with 1300 SAT scores and mediocre grades get in. There are certain schools that will accept you on the basis of your grades, SAT scores, and extracurriculars, but there are some schools at which practically no one is guaranteed a spot. I was waitlisted at Wash U, Georgetown, Haverford, and Swarthmore, but I was accepted with scholarships at Smith, Wellesley, GW, Bryn Mawr, and Mt. Holyoke. With more and more applicants applying to every school, there are few guarantees. However, I am sure that with your grades, scores, etc. you will be able to go to a great school. With that in mind, I would apply early decision to your first choice school. If I had, I am sure I could have been spared the dreaded waitlist. None of the "most competitive" schools are a sure thing for just about anyone. Much luck to you in the upcoming months. It seems long and arduous, but the light at the end of the tunnel is eventually getting an acceptance letter somewhere and getting to go to college!

By Mahajan2005 (Mahajan2005) on Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 06:49 pm: Edit

Thanks. any more tips?

By Missmolly (Missmolly) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 09:51 am: Edit

Mahajan,
Mahajan,

Concentrate on music....and business...Do you teach music?

My son got accepted at Wash U regular decision. His ecs were mostly about music and math. He tutored kids in math (all ages), and worked with viola students. His stats: 34 ACT, and 1500 SAT (730 V/770 M). Your scores are better. I think Wash U will notice you. Build on music and business ecs. Are you interested in other schools??? Washu U should be a first choice school for students. As a parent, I am totally impressed with Wash U.

By Mahajan2005 (Mahajan2005) on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 06:10 pm: Edit

I do not teach music...excellent idea, but I think I would scare kids! I might though if I get time, for money and for some experience.

Wash U might not be my first choice due to money...I am definitely trying to see what happens.

Business, I have not done much, just trying to find out more about it myself.

Thanks and Congrats!

By Alphakitten (Alphakitten) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 12:24 am: Edit

I used a format for my resume that I found in the book "Rock Hard Apps" and basically I had the

activity or award name - number of years - hours per week/weeks per year spent doing activity - description of activity or award (but keep it snappy, just get the point across in a sentence or less)

I included a lot of untraditonal stuff like what I spent a lot of my time doing. For insance 2 of my activities were music and reading and I listed my favorite artists and authors.

It's hard to describe but you should go to a bookstore and check out the book. I really think the format helped them understand my ECs.

Your academics sound great, but the essay really is important maybe you should get an English teacher you respect to edit and advise you a couple times before your finished draft.

Good luck!

By Mahajan2005 (Mahajan2005) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 12:57 pm: Edit

thanks a lot for all the ideas! I am definitely becoming more interested in the college...

By Uknowwho42 (Uknowwho42) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 01:46 pm: Edit

Are you applying to Olin or ArtSci? Apply for a scholarship or two. They also give out merit-based aid at their discretion that you don't have to apply for. Personally, I think you definitely have a good shot. Just make sure to make your app creative. I included a CD of some of my original guitar music, a copy of my school paper which I was editor of, and a few other extra things - don't be afraid to step outside the bounds of the app itself. My rank and scores were worse than you, but I had more ECs and what I thought was a unique essay. Get involved this summer and in fall and work hard on your essays and you'll be in good shape. Good luck!

P.S. - If you come visit, feel free to let me know. My dorm and room are gonna rock.

By Mahajan2005 (Mahajan2005) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 02:15 pm: Edit

I think i will apply to the humanities or business...is that the difference between olin and artsci?

Thanks a lot!

By Uknowwho42 (Uknowwho42) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 03:09 pm: Edit

Yeah basically. Wash U is really open about switching between schools and doing majors between them. If you're unsure about business, apply to artsci. Applying to Olin straight off is for people who are definitely settled on business as their major (although you can still switch out at any time). In artsci, you'll be able to take Olin classes and easily switch into Olin if you decide for sure to focus on business.

By Mahajan2005 (Mahajan2005) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 05:43 pm: Edit

which one is harder to get into? by what you are saying, it seems like Olin...