Demographics: Asian Male, NY, prestigious catholic school that's free to attend (NOTE: the school is known to be rigorous but ik many other schools are too so maybe not as impt)
Intended major: Matsci Engineering (this is the narrative too)
Academics:
SAT: 1570 (800 Math, 770 English)
GPA: 3.82/4.0 cumulative *(*IMPORTANT school grades 4.0 as 97-100 and 3.8 as 90-96, also my freshman year grades were affected by extenuating circumstances so without it my GPA would be in the high 3.8s)
Coursework: School doesn't offer AP courses, but they do offer AP exams. Everyone's in the same level except math and language, where I am in the most advanced path for both (Calc AB equivalent and Spanish IV rn).
- Going to take Multivariable calc and Physics C equivalent senior year
Awards:
Scholastic Writing Gold Key and Honorable Mention (Regional 10)
USA Fencing All American/Academic First Team (National, 9,10,11)
All A's or above school award (10,11)
Projected National Merit Semifinalist (222 index for NY)
Extracurriculars:
National Level Saber Fencer: rated B25, nationally ranked in U20 and previously in U16, had a few good national performances (e.g. top 16 and 32 in comps)
Computational Matsci Research at local uni: basically did research assisting a prof. in using ML algorithms to find most optimal compound configs for quantum computing chips
Optics Matsci Research at different uni: going to do this summer with prof and PhD student, don't really know what its on but was a result of cold-emailing
Python Machine Learning Summer "Research": basically less deep than the other two, but i got paid a stipend for the three weeks i was in the program
Science Olympiad Captain: school's scioly team, medaled at regional in Materials Science category and competed in some other events
School Computer Club Leader: less strong than other ecs, but organized meetings
Service Club Chairman: leader of service iniative to tutor underprivileged kids in Harlem
School STEM Publication Pres Previously: Wrote various articles for the publication and organized logistics for the club
Columbia SHP: saturday classes in quantum computing/classical stats
Columbia Neuro Program: monthly neuroscience classes and gave a presentation at the end
Schools:
Princeton, Cornell (good school history), Northwestern, UIUC, Brown (bad school history), Columbia. CMU, UMich
Would appreciate advice on early round strategy if possible!