My University Application Experience

1. My University Application Experience Lillian Ma Princeton University Langstaff Secondary School

2. Self - Introduction • Born in Beijing, China • Moved to Toronto, Canada in 1999 • Began thinking about applying to US colleges in grade 10 • Applied to 13 Universities • Prospective Major: Integrated Science – Biochemistry

3. Outline • Academics • SAT I/SAT II • Extra-curricular Activities • Competitions/Awards • Volunteer • Summer Activities • Arts • Interviews • The Essay • Recommendation Letters

4. My Personal Timeline • Junior Year: • Took SAT I in June • Senior Year: • Took SAT II biology in November • Took Math II in December • Took Chemistry in January • Took AP Chemistry, Biology, Calculus AB, Physics B in May

5. Academics • Take challenging courses if you are capable • All marks matter! (not just your “top six”) • Try to learn beyond the course curriculum • Access your strong courses and weak courses and balance out your time the yield the best result • Try to take diverse courses if possible • Don’t procrastinate!

6. SAT I • Start studying early! • Generally taken in May of your junior year • Try to aim for a 2100+ score • Plan a schedule to improve each areas • Know “why” you made mistakes and figure out how to fix them • Word Smart, Grammar Smart • Short Essays – know how to pace your time • Practice, practice, practice!

7. SAT II • Generally taken in June of your junior year • Make sure you know how many you need and whether they fulfill your requirements • Most SAT II may require extra studying of materials not taught in class • Generally aim for over 750 • May be easier to take one earlier in the year, such as in January

8. AP • Take them if you are interested in that field • Self-studying – must start early! • Make a plan! • Order textbooks online – collegeboard.com for information • Take notes from the textbooks • Do the practice exams!

9. My AP Exams • Self-studied Biology, Chemistry, Calculus AB and Physics B in 2nd semester of Grade 12 • Talk to Guidance Counselor – arranged to take the exam at another school • Bought Zumdahl’s Chemistry, Campbell’s Biology, Walker’s Physics • Don’t have to know “everything” on the textbook – look at past exams for guidance

10. Competitions (Math and Science) • Canadian Math Open, AMC, AIME, Euclid • Science: University of Toronto Biology Competition, Chem 13, SIN Physics Contest, Olympiads • Require extra studying and practicing previous exams • Go over your school notes or AP notes – they help! • Research them on google!

11. Competitions (Others) • Debating Competitions (Hart House, Queens, Western) • Richard Ivey Case Competition • Literary Competitions (Research them!) • Mock Trial Tournaments • Try for them if you get the chance! • Most of these you can find out from your extra-curricular activities counselor or teacher

12. Extra-Curricular Activities • Start to get involved early! • Stay committed and contribute as much as possible • Better to focus on a two or three than to dab in many • They can reflect your diverse interests

13. My Extra-Curricular Activities • Senior Director of Multicultural Show • President of Debate Team • Co-Head of SOS Darfur • Head of Journalism in Yearbook • Mock Trial Team Lawyer • Prefect

14. Arts • Special talent – Instrument, voice, dance, fine arts • Find a Studio and make a recording • Research the requirements (Some universities require particular compositions and time limits) • Know the DEADLINE! It is usually much earlier than your applications deadline

15. Arts – The Piano Requirements • Recommendation letter from your instructor • Resume of all your past awards, works, and diplomas • CD (usually 10 min long) – No DVDs or tapes • Do it only if you are beyond the amateur level!

16. Volunteer Work • Commit! • Choose something that you that you’re interested in exploring • There are many opportunities – try to go outside your school community • Possibilities: Hospitals, Libraries, Ontario Science Centre

17. Summer Activities • Stay Active! Do something meaningful or enjoyable • Attend camps, travel, volunteer, study for AP and SAT • Explore your interests – this is a good time to do something unique • Plan your summer activities ahead of time! (in February or early March) • ISSYP, Music Theory Classes, York Central Hospital Volunteer

18. ISSYP • Physics camp for Grade 11 students across Canada and world • 50 chosen Canadian students and 50 chosen International students • 2 weeks in Perimeter Institute • Learned from the top physicists in the world • Meet many new friends • To join: http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/Outreach/Students/ISSYP/

19. College Applications • Research all the requirements and deadlines, and read the application early! (in the summer) • Make yourself a calendar or an agenda • Know your aim – choose an appropriate amount of colleges to apply • Each college has its own definition of “excellence” • Check whether you want to do Early Decisions

20. College Applications (Continued) • Generally take a very long time to do • Send the materials early – don’t wait for the day before the deadline – interviews are sometimes a first come first serve basis • Make sure you track your applications • Read over the applications many times – make sure it’s errorless!

21. The Essay • Make the essay reflect who you are • The “significance” of the topic does not matter – how you interprets it matters • Making up experiences usually does not come out naturally • It is a long process – start months earlier from deadline! • Read several examples: “50 successful Harvard Essays” - Book • Know your tone and writing style

22. The Essay (“Continued”) • I wrote about “personal growth”– a childhood experience meeting my best friend and a childhood experience at a bus stop • The best essays are usually about experiences that you have a passion for • Make every sentence count • Try to avoid trite topics – eg. Winning a competition • Get them edited by teachers, peer, parents • Essay length – anywhere from 400 words to 1000

23. Recommendation Letters • Important to set you apart from other applicants • Get teachers who know you best • Give them resumes of yourself • They will also be rating you! • Letters should also reflect your passion and personality – anecdotes may help • Letters should support what you’ve mentioned on your application • Different schools may require different types of letters

24. School Reports • Rank matters – so keep your grades high! • How heavy the workload that you’ve taken on is also important • Set a good impression on your guidance counselor • Photocopy the applications but make sure the signatures are originals!

25. My Interviews - Princeton • Lasted about 75 minutes • Rabbi • Synagogue • Asked questions about my favourite books, my passions, my hobbies • Talked about extra-curricular activities • Very relaxed and fun

26. My Interviews - Harvard • Lasted 100 minutes • First Canadian Place – conference room • Lawyer for Osler & Hoskins • He was very talkative and sharp • Asked questions about world issues and business news • Asked family background (mother and father education and occupation), public or private school, my rank, SAT scores • Asked how much I knew about Harvard • Was extremely thorough • Mainly did the talking - a lot about Harvard’s history • Spent a lot of time comparing Princeton to Harvard • Actually hinted that I am likely be accepted to Princeton

27. My Interviews - MIT • Lasted 90 min • Starbucks • Architect • Talked about my hobbies, interests • Talked about the different course offerings at MIT • Very nice and helpful

28. Tips for Interviews • Dress nicely – business casual • Bring a resume and/or a small work that you are proud of (eg. Yearbook graphic) • Read the newspaper for the week of • Go to the homepage of the university’s website and read the news • Prepare some questions that you would ask • Go over your application – keep your answers consistent • Show your passion and be motivated • Interviewers “will” ask for your extracurricular activities and hobbies – prepare for that • Show interest in the University • Be confident and be yourself –“you’ve prepared for this all your life”

29. Helpful Guides • www.collegeboard.com • www.princetonreview.com • http://www.petersons.com/ • www.commonapps.org • http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php • Various blogs from college’s admissions websites • Princeton Review’s “How to get into America’s Elite Colleges” • “50 Successful Harvard Application Essays” (1st edition and 2nd edition) • “On Writing the College Application Essay: The Key to Acceptance and the College of your Choice” By: Harry Bauld • Princeton Review’s “The Best 366 Colleges” • Do your own research on google and amazon: There are many, many more!

30. Conclusion Good luck on your application process Remember, everyone is different – show them what is so special about you