• How I Got In
  • Posts
  • Receiving offers from Princeton, Brown, Duke and more

Receiving offers from Princeton, Brown, Duke and more

Author

Jill
January 09, 2025

Today’s #howigotin.fyi features Kyle Tsai, who received offers from many prestigious universities including Princeton, Brown, and Duke! Take a look at what his application is like.

💯 Acceptance

Applied to 23 schools including 6 ivies: Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Yale, UPenn, Stanford, MIT, Uchicago, Rice, Northwestern, and more.

Received offers from: Princeton, Brown, Duke, Northwestern University (dual degree), University of Texas Austin, Rice Universty, New England Conservatory (NEC)

Waitlisted: University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Yale, Stanford

Rejected: Harvard, Columbia, MIT, CalTech

🌆Background

  • Attended a magnet high school.

  • Applied as a Chemistry or Biochemistry major to most schools.

  • Valedictorian in a class of 190.

💯GPA:

  • Weighted GPA: 4.75.

  • Unweighted GPA: 4.0.

  • Maintained straight A’s throughout high school.

  • Rank at School: 1st (Valedictorian).

🔖 Test Scores

  • SAT: 1600 (one sitting).

  • PSAT: 1510/1520 (National Merit Semifinalist).

  • SAT Subject Tests:

    • Math 2: 800.

    • Chemistry: 800.

    • U.S. History: 770.

  • AP Exams: 9 tests taken. Five 5s and one 4.

🏅Academic Honors

  • Finalist in the United States National Chemistry Olympiad.

  • Third prize in the Encore International Music Competition and second prize in the Great Composers International Competition.

  • 6A All-State Clarinetist (Grades 9 and 11).

  • Dean’s Scholastic Award recipient.

  • National Merit Semifinalist and National AP Scholar.

  • National Finalist for From the Top (Classical Music Program on NPR).

🤖Extracurricular Activities

  • Music:

    • Member and principal clarinetist of the Houston Youth Symphony for six years.

    • Submitted music supplements with applications.

    • Notable solo and orchestral performances.

  • Volunteering:

    • Involved in National Honor Society, National Invader Club, and SOAR.

  • Research:

    • Intern at MD Anderson Cancer Center, with research presented at a conference.

  • Math Club:

    • Treasurer (Grades 9–10), President (Grades 11–12), and AIME qualifier.

  • Houston Orchestra on Call:

    • Principal clarinetist performing at medical centers and care homes.

    • Piano soloist in volunteer performances.

  • Music Summer Programs:

    • Attended Interlochen Orchestra Program and Curtis Summerfest.

  • Social Media:

    • Created TikTok content focused on music entertainment.

  • Basketball:

    • Played on varsity team in Grade 11.

  • Student Council:

    • Treasurer (Grades 9–10) and Vice President (Grade 11).

  • Teaching:

    • Clarinet mentor for a fifth grader through the Sharing the Stand program.

💭Advice

  • The student emphasized that they do not know what specifically contributed to their acceptance but encouraged a holistic approach to applications. They invited questions and promised to address them in future content.

Read more stories like this: https://www.howigotin.fyi/

Original source of the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9TgE6olhx0