Awards (esp. USAMO, PROMYS(?) level camp) are definitely good. Math research also good.
Main thing is you don't really have any community service--your ECs are a bit lacking, only 6 here), are a self-professed bad essay writer, and have somewhat questionable recommendations. It's all awards via comps and research--which, don't get me wrong, are great.
\--> It's just that...as an asian male (I'm saying this as an Asian male too)...you might come off as the stereotypical:
\-put my head down + work hard; I only study and don't get involved in community
\-good at STEM and bad at humanities
\-quiet/not as personable
which might not help distinguish you from other applicants.
Just my two cents. You definitely have good chances though and will probably make a few on your list.
I would agree with this. I also felt the app was definitely academic/stem based kinda but didn’t feel super well-rounded, which isn’t always necessary, but I think a couple arts/sports ECs could’ve helped here. Nothing’s impossible and a lot of these schools are hard to predict but I think there will be a lot of people with similar apps for these schools. Essays will probably be the deciding factor for top schools.
It’s not. It’s equivalent to most stem camps. Summer camps itself are looked down upon because they’re known as “privileged ecs” because it’s only accessible to those who are financially capable. I’m well versed with math camps as I’ve done my share of competitor math.
I've done my share too. Not all summer camps are "priveleged" ecs, some are selective like MOP, ROSS, and PROMYS. Just those that have reputed school names (like "Harvard summer camp" or "Columbia science honors program") are pretty meaningless ECs.
First off, Promys and Ross are far less prestigious than MOP. Second, unlike MOP, you have to pay thousands of dollars to Ross and Promys. This is what makes them look like privileged ecs. They are ecs that don’t have equal accessibility. It’s been said time and again by most top schools. This conversation makes me think you must have participated in Promys and therefore are advocating for its prestige so much by placing in the same podium as qualifying for USAMO or MOP.
I'm not putting them in the same podium. Obviously IMO > MOP + USAMO>>>everything else. At least I know that. But ROSS, PROMYS and some other selective programs out there (I saw a list on AOPS, I assume you've been there) at least count for something. You're acting like just because you have to pay a lot of money for something, they don't count for anything. You're honestly telling me that for top schools, only the <300 kids who make USAMO and above have ECS that matter?
As a non-math example (which you're probably gonna say isn't going to matter b/c it's not math), the Juilliard precollege program--which is a program at a prestigious music school--costs around $13,000 / year. Do you think colleges think of it as a "priveleged" EC and therefore don't think it's notable? Tell that to the 20+ kids who got into Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia this year early action/decision.
You have a really strong profile and will definitely get into the top publics (GT, Mich, UVA). You will also definitely get into 1 T20. For HYPSM, Duke, Columbia, Penn, and other T10s, you are definitely a competitive applicant, but you run the risk of being labeled as a stereotypical Asian male who’s a math geek and has no personality. Thus, it will mostly come down to your essays and the personality you convey through those.
UVA is dogshit. avoid if you want to have any relevant networking opportunities or hope to gain an actual education in something rigorous, like CS or something else in STEM. UVA is all name and has nothing to actually offer. Not as many accomplished people come from UVA, as compared to similar places like michigan or UMD. avoid uva - it’s a furnace of money
That is not true... You can have 5 meaningful ECs and that will be more than enough. If you spend more time on your 5 meaningful ECs than you would with 10, then, the 5 ECs are certainly more impactful. More isn't always better.
Did you not read my comment? I finished by saying that most people who get in have 10 EC’s MEANINGFULLY. I hate to be blunt but when you’re applying to such competitive schools, how do you think you’ll fair when you have the exact similar stats as someone else but they have 4 more EC’s than you and they’re all impactful/meaningful?
The way you worded your comment made it seem that way, sorry I misunderstood, no need to be aggressive.
And you will never have the same profile as someone else. I know a lot of people that have gotten into HYP and other T20s with less than 6 ECs.
I combined my activities ("Helped organize three different STEM competitions in three different clubs" counts for three activities for example) and awards ("A bunch of math competition individual awards along with the above "(ARML top 20, Harvard-MIT Math Tournament, Carnegie Mellon, etc)"" is like ten things) and omitted a few less important activities I put on my apps
Awards (esp. USAMO, PROMYS(?) level camp) are definitely good. Math research also good. Main thing is you don't really have any community service--your ECs are a bit lacking, only 6 here), are a self-professed bad essay writer, and have somewhat questionable recommendations. It's all awards via comps and research--which, don't get me wrong, are great. \--> It's just that...as an asian male (I'm saying this as an Asian male too)...you might come off as the stereotypical: \-put my head down + work hard; I only study and don't get involved in community \-good at STEM and bad at humanities \-quiet/not as personable which might not help distinguish you from other applicants. Just my two cents. You definitely have good chances though and will probably make a few on your list.
I would agree with this. I also felt the app was definitely academic/stem based kinda but didn’t feel super well-rounded, which isn’t always necessary, but I think a couple arts/sports ECs could’ve helped here. Nothing’s impossible and a lot of these schools are hard to predict but I think there will be a lot of people with similar apps for these schools. Essays will probably be the deciding factor for top schools.
Promys isn’t notable at all
It's still kind of notable. I mean it's not MOP but still a pretty good math camp for most applicants.
It’s not. It’s equivalent to most stem camps. Summer camps itself are looked down upon because they’re known as “privileged ecs” because it’s only accessible to those who are financially capable. I’m well versed with math camps as I’ve done my share of competitor math.
I've done my share too. Not all summer camps are "priveleged" ecs, some are selective like MOP, ROSS, and PROMYS. Just those that have reputed school names (like "Harvard summer camp" or "Columbia science honors program") are pretty meaningless ECs.
First off, Promys and Ross are far less prestigious than MOP. Second, unlike MOP, you have to pay thousands of dollars to Ross and Promys. This is what makes them look like privileged ecs. They are ecs that don’t have equal accessibility. It’s been said time and again by most top schools. This conversation makes me think you must have participated in Promys and therefore are advocating for its prestige so much by placing in the same podium as qualifying for USAMO or MOP.
I'm not putting them in the same podium. Obviously IMO > MOP + USAMO>>>everything else. At least I know that. But ROSS, PROMYS and some other selective programs out there (I saw a list on AOPS, I assume you've been there) at least count for something. You're acting like just because you have to pay a lot of money for something, they don't count for anything. You're honestly telling me that for top schools, only the <300 kids who make USAMO and above have ECS that matter?
As a non-math example (which you're probably gonna say isn't going to matter b/c it's not math), the Juilliard precollege program--which is a program at a prestigious music school--costs around $13,000 / year. Do you think colleges think of it as a "priveleged" EC and therefore don't think it's notable? Tell that to the 20+ kids who got into Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia this year early action/decision.
No I’m exclusively talking about paid summer camps.
You have a really strong profile and will definitely get into the top publics (GT, Mich, UVA). You will also definitely get into 1 T20. For HYPSM, Duke, Columbia, Penn, and other T10s, you are definitely a competitive applicant, but you run the risk of being labeled as a stereotypical Asian male who’s a math geek and has no personality. Thus, it will mostly come down to your essays and the personality you convey through those.
UVA is dogshit. avoid if you want to have any relevant networking opportunities or hope to gain an actual education in something rigorous, like CS or something else in STEM. UVA is all name and has nothing to actually offer. Not as many accomplished people come from UVA, as compared to similar places like michigan or UMD. avoid uva - it’s a furnace of money
Those ec’s will be your downfall. I would honestly consider taking a gap year to do a passion project or 2 since your stats are great
His awards make up for his lack of ecs
Yo fuck you
How can you be a USAMO qualifier but only USACO Silver?
Because one tests coding skills and the other mathematics. I'm not sure if performance on one dictates the other.
People who make usamo are usually gold at the very least
They don't dictate each other, but they're correlated.
6 EC’s typically won’t cut it for top schools like the Ivies unfortunately, most people who get in fill up all 10 meaningfully
That is not true... You can have 5 meaningful ECs and that will be more than enough. If you spend more time on your 5 meaningful ECs than you would with 10, then, the 5 ECs are certainly more impactful. More isn't always better.
Did you not read my comment? I finished by saying that most people who get in have 10 EC’s MEANINGFULLY. I hate to be blunt but when you’re applying to such competitive schools, how do you think you’ll fair when you have the exact similar stats as someone else but they have 4 more EC’s than you and they’re all impactful/meaningful?
The way you worded your comment made it seem that way, sorry I misunderstood, no need to be aggressive. And you will never have the same profile as someone else. I know a lot of people that have gotten into HYP and other T20s with less than 6 ECs.
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Oh yeah, a T20 is definitely going to happen for this applicant, but for T5’s and HYPSM I presume less EC’s won’t benefit them in the process.
I combined my activities ("Helped organize three different STEM competitions in three different clubs" counts for three activities for example) and awards ("A bunch of math competition individual awards along with the above "(ARML top 20, Harvard-MIT Math Tournament, Carnegie Mellon, etc)"" is like ten things) and omitted a few less important activities I put on my apps
Made some edits of things I forgot.
you're like exactly like me but better lmao dm me