Chance a Rising Junior with Contrasting Spikes... again
Did this last year and things have... changed. So re chance me so I can figure out how to optimize my chances.
Demographics:
Gender: F
Race/Ethnicity: South Asian
Residence: OH
Income: Enough for no aid
Hooks: none
Intended Major: Computer Science
Academics:
GPA: Dependant on a few factors, will be anywhere from 3.90-3.96 UW at the end of this year (I burnt out hard end of sophomore year, so my honors chem grade was an 89 both quarters because my luck had every test share a date with a physics test and guess what took priority. I need an A on the final for this to be an A. My French teacher gave us a final that had the most obscure questions possible and brought down my grade cause she didn't like me, and I just should not have taken AP Physics C Mechanics this year cause that was the first time I actually struggled.) Weighted uhh probably like 4.4 ish? How cooked does this make me I've literally been a straight A student my whole life until now.
# Honors Dual Enrollment:
By the end of senior year:
AP: 14 APs (1 freshman year, 4 sophomore year, 4 junior year, 4-5 senior year)
Honors: (4 freshman year, 3 sophomore year,
DE: For sure DE Lin Alg, DE Multivar, some sort of DE compsci, and debating between AP stats and DE calculus based stats + DE discrete math senior year.
Also desperately trying to DE French because the only French teacher at my school hates me so much she put in a participation grade to bring my grade down to a B and can't justify it when asked :)
Senior Year Course Load:
Some sort of DE CS
AP Stats or DE Stats/DE discrete math
AP Physics EM
AP Music Theory
AP Lit
AP Macro/Micro Economics (if it's a social studies credit... else AP Psych)
Choir
Standardized Testing:
1430 PSAT without studying
Extracuriculars/Activities:
- Software Intern at tech startup
- BWSI Cog Works Participant
- Job at Live by Po-Shen Loh
- Co-President of Future Tech Leaders Club
- Creation of song recommendation engine for solo and ensemble using AI skills from Inspirit AI Summer Program to aid beginner students in song selection for an event that's a large part in the culture of our choir. Director has said that he anticipates keeping me coding for the choir, so lets see if this becomes a title.
- Choir (highest school offers, participates in highly competitive ensembles such as the [city] Pops and Disney Candlelight Processional)
- A cappella (Freshman 1 year, JV this year and unfortunately next year because politics prevent me from getting into varsity). I've taught parts and made tracks but no official leadership titles available... Yet. Applied for section leader this year, the first year it's a thing, so praying I get in. Does it detriment my app if I stay here? I'm lowk wondering if being in JV is even worth it.
- Sound Engineer for acapella (will be the sound lead next year)
- Math Club Co-President except we do nothing except regional comps and we are barred from doing more by teacher availability (both leaders teach math courses where people are almost always staying after school for help, so understandable)
- Classical Indian Dance for the last 8 years. Have passed all exams up to 3rd year and am working towards my diploma.
Awards/Honors:
USACO silver (trying to get gold/plat by end junior),
nth Place OHMIO Ciphering it was in the top 15 out of the top 100 in the state (although if you're an ohioan I'm literally like one of two girls and the only one in my grade so... shh)
5th Place showcase at a local tech conference
Outstanding 2nd Year Choir Member award (given due to my section leadership and the fact that I've coded for the choir)
Outstanding Choral Actor award (given to most expressive person in whole choral program),
10th grade math medallion (best math student in 9th grade),
9th grade math medallion (best math student in 9th grade),
OMEA class A superior rating in solo contest,
OMEA class B superior rating in solo contest,
Gold Medal in 10th Grade Division Rose Hulman Math Competition
Silver Medal in 9th Grade Division Rose Hulman Math Competition
Grand Concours Gold Medal 2x
Essays/LORs/Interviews:
CS teacher for sure he wrote all my summer program LORs and I got into BWSI soo I think he's solid.
Maybe my choir director if I need a humanites rec? He likes me a lot, but he's also seen me lose it a lot because late night rehearsals do bring out one's anxiety.
Either my boss at my startup, or my boss at live. Might ask both and use both strategically depending on if the school is more industrial or academic (because my boss at live... is a VERY well known figure in academia).
Application Plans;
Reach: HYPSM, CMU, Georgia Tech
Target: Purdue, Case Western, open to other options
Safety: OSU, UC Cincinnati
So yeah that's my app right now. I both f-ed it up and made it stronger this year. I guess I want to know if I have a shot, and what can I do to make myself have a better shot, especially since I tanked my GPA and had the worst competition season to date (as someone who's been primarily in academic comps thus far).
Thanks for reading guys :)