2024 Online Seminar Q & A - part 3

Today, I am posting the third part of our Q&A series summarizing the online seminar from the 2024.

We received so many questions during the 2024 online seminar that, in the process of answering all of them, we have now reached part three. Please note that these answers are in response to real-time questions submitted during the seminar.

Question 1) Is it possible to get into a top STEM school without taking Multivariable Calculus?

Answer: This question is about concerns regarding how top STEM schools would evaluate students who only take AP Calculus by senior year. Based on the admissions results of our students over the past three years, there have been no students admitted to MIT, Stanford, or Cal Tech without taking Multivariable Calculus. However, while there were no such cases for these three schools, there were successful admissions to Top 20 schools among students who took only AP Calculus.

Question 2) Does taking Regular Calculus in 11th grade hurt my chances of admission?

Answer: This question is from a student who is considering switching from Honors Math to Regular after receiving a B in the current Honors course, regardless of whether their major is STEM or non-STEM. Moving from Honors to Regular is generally viewed negatively. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean failure in college admissions—it depends on other factors, such as extracurriculars (EC) and activities. While it may result in some point deductions from the perspective of math performance, it is important to consider the bigger picture in terms of overall evaluation.

Question 3) Is taking only five AP courses from 10th to 12th grade too few?

Question 4) I’m considering a major in business or marketing—would taking only five APs be too few?

Answer: These two questions are similar, so we’ll address them together. Regarding the number of APs, in the past three years, all our Top 20 college admits have taken at least five AP courses. While it’s not strictly the case that taking more than five guarantees admission or fewer than five guarantees rejection, there were no admitted students from our academy with fewer than five APs. Please note that it is important to aim for scores of 4 or 5 on the AP exams. We encourage students to focus and aim for top scores on their APs.

Question 5) What do you think about Passion Projects?

Answer: This question is from a student currently working on a Passion Project with a friend. Many others have also asked about external projects. Before answering the specific question, let’s go over some basics regarding extracurriculars (ECs). For ECs to have impact, students need to show:

• Interest – This is demonstrated by simply participating in an activity that reflects the student’s interests.

• Commitment – The extent of a student’s dedication can be seen in the frequency and duration of their involvement in the activity.

• Recognition – Finally, receiving recognition from others helps prove the sincerity of the student’s interest and passion.

Ultimately, the process can be thought of as "interest → commitment → third-party recognition." It is also crucial for students to expand into other areas. If an academic interest connects to volunteer work or a passion project, it can demonstrate authenticity. When receiving recognition, it’s important to have official certifications or endorsements from recognized organizations. Regarding the student’s Passion Project, it’s a good initiative, but instead of just working with a friend, it’s recommended to have oversight from a certified professional or to collaborate with a recognized institution.

Question 6) Is it beneficial to join a varsity team in a sport that is not commonly played by Asians?

Answer: When colleges evaluate applicants, they do so holistically, so it’s difficult to attribute results solely to participation in a particular sport. However, there is data showing that being on a varsity team for a sport that is not commonly played by Asians can be somewhat beneficial. Colleges look for grit, teamwork, and individual roles in sports, and excelling in these areas can help. Again, playing a sport that is less common among Asians can be somewhat advantageous.

Question 7) Is it helpful to take Pre-calculus during the summer and then skip to Calculus BC?

Answer: This question is about whether taking Pre-calculus during the summer externally and then jumping to Calculus BC is beneficial. If the student is taking a summer course as part of a grade-skipping process, it is generally viewed positively because it shows a willingness to challenge oneself with more rigorous coursework. However, if the student is simply bypassing a course offered by the high school, this can be seen negatively. In the questioner’s case, it doesn’t seem like a disadvantage.

Question 8) I am a 10th grader without a decided major. I’m unsure how to spend this summer since I haven’t yet chosen a major for activities like summer camps or research.

Answer: This question reflects concerns about engaging in research without having decided on a major and whether doing unrelated research would be a waste of time. It’s unrealistic for high school students to clearly decide on a major and then conduct research related to it. Colleges differentiate between students who have engaged in research and those who haven’t because research shows the student’s ability to think critically and develop logical arguments. Even non-STEM students among our successful applicants have conducted science research, so research is a valuable activity that showcases intellectual curiosity. The research topic doesn’t need to perfectly align with the eventual major.

Question 9) Is it impossible to get into a top-tier university without sports participation?

Answer: Based on the admission results of our academy, none of the Top 20 admits lacked sports-related ECs. One reason we emphasize sports ECs is that Harvard even categorizes athletes separately in their evaluations. However, it’s not an absolute requirement. There are cases of students who were admitted to top universities without sports ECs, though they are rare.

Question 10) How significant is consistently getting published in literary journals, aside from essay contests?

Answer: This question asks about the influence of being published in literary journals. Colleges assess whether a student will be able to handle coursework and write papers in English. Strong English GPAs, rigorous AP courses, and high SAT/ACT scores help address these concerns. Essay contests and getting published in literary journals are good activities because they demonstrate English proficiency and can alleviate any concerns colleges may have about the student’s ability to handle the language.

Question 11) I already have an art-related EC. Should I add music ECs as well?

Answer: The reason music and sports ECs are often highlighted is because they clearly show students’ ability to focus and persevere in achieving results. However, music and sports are not mandatory. If a student has been consistently working on another area of interest and has achieved results, it’s okay not to have music or sports ECs. The key is to have an activity that demonstrates focus and performance over time.

Question 12) I received a score of 5 in English during my first semester of 11th grade. Will this one low English score prevent me from getting into a good college?

Answer: This question seems to come from a student on the IB track. It’s not an ideal situation, but one low score in English won’t prevent you from getting into a good college. It’s a good idea to try to raise the score in the second semester and aim for high grades in difficult subjects in 12th grade. If you can demonstrate academic excellence in English-related extracurriculars, it would also help.

Question 13) I’ve been participating in orchestra outside of school. Is it okay to join the school orchestra in 11th or 12th grade, or should I pursue a different EC?

Answer: It depends on what the student has been involved in so far. If the current ECs can expand into other areas—such as connecting academics to volunteering or passion projects—it may be better to continue with those. However, if there aren’t any strong ECs that demonstrate passion, joining the school orchestra could be a good option.

I hope that this third part of our Q&A series has helped answer your questions. Please feel free to contact us at A-One Institute for further inquiries.