senior reflections
TRANSCRIPT
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Senior Reflections
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Cathy Xu
• Lynbrook, 2010• Berkeley, 2014
• National Merit Scholarship Finalist
• GPA: 4.0• SAT: 2300
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Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
O Career and Technical Student OrganizationO Meet other students and business
professionalsO Prepare résumé, interview skills, and
networking
O Local, State and National levels of Leadership
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• Conferences and Competitions
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Art• pursue a non-
academic passion!• prepares a supplemental portfolio for
college• yes, there arecareers in the
arts!
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Grade Point Average (GPA)O More important than the SATs!!
O Please do not try to inflate your GPA
with 100% AP classes
O Pick a balance that challenges, but doesn’t overwhelm
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Standardized TestingSAT/ACT SAT II/AP Tests
O Usually taken in the fall of junior year
O I recommend getting them over with as early as possible
O SAT/ACT classes recommended
O You do not need to take the class at school to take these tests…
O But it’s better if you do
O Usually taken May/June of junior year
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High School Math and Science Competitions
Tony HoLynbrook Class of 2010
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BackgroundO Harvard 2014 Computer ScienceO SAT: 2400O Math and Science FocusO Varsity Volleyball and Orchestra
Player
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Two Flavors of Competitions
O Math and Science TestsO OlympiadsO Local
CompetitionsO More Problem
SolvingO Quick Thinking
IntensiveO Time Crunch
O Math and Science ResearchO Science FairO InternshipsO More Process-
Based ThinkingO Money IncentiveO More Time
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Math and Science TestsO Olympiads
O Biology (USABO, USABO Camp, IBO)O Chemistry (USANCO, USANCO Camp,
ICO)O Computer Science (USACO, USAICO,
IOI)O Physics (USAPHO, USAPHO Camp,
IPHO)O Math (AMC, AIME, USAMO, MOSP,
IMO)
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Math and Science Tests (cont.)
O Local CompetitionsO Science Olympiad (Regional, State,
National)O Science Bowl (Regional, National)O WondercupO Stanford PROCOO Many Math Competitions
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Personal AchievementsO USABO SemifinalistO USACO Top 10 in NationO USAPHO SemifinalistO 3 time USAMO QualifierO Various Local Winnings
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Math and Science Research
O Science FairO Regional FairsO State Fairs (CSSF)O International Fairs (ISEF)O Siemens CompetitionO Intel Science and Talent Search
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Personal AchievementsO Synopsys Championships Grand
PrizeO CSSF Honorable MentionO Intel ISEF 2nd Place ($1500
Scholarship)O Google $1000 Special Award
O Intel STS SemifinalistO $1000 Scholarship
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Math and Science Research (cont)
O InternshipsO Best experiences in high schoolO Self-seekingO Programs should not hinder
opportunity
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Personal AchievementsO Stanford Bioinformatics Laboratory
O SMIR ProgramO Summer 2009
O Google NYCO Summer 2010
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Math and Science
1. Start Early2. Try Everything3. Determine Your Strengths4. Reap Benefits from Strengths5. Apply Strengths not only for
College but for the Future
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Caroline Tan
Yale University Class of 2014
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Summer Opportunities
Focus on the humanities and social sciences
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IntroductionO 3 months of no homework or schoolO Bottom line: be productive, don’t just
stay at home playing video games or sleeping
O Internships, summer programs, volunteering opportunities, work experience, traveling, college classes
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InternshipsO Paid or Unpaid internships
O Opportunities to work in large corporations or organizations for work experience
O Perfect for high school students because less time-consuming
O Possible internship opportunities O Nonprofit organizationsO Political offices
O Congressman Honda’s OfficeO Vision New America
O Corporate internshipsO NASA, SmithBarney, Bank of America, etc
O Check school’s College & Career Center website
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Summer ProgramsO University summer programs
O Stanford University EPGY ProgramO UC Cosmos Program: focus on science researchO Columbia, Upenn, Yale, Harvard, Cornell, etc. programsO Cultural immersion programs
O Summer campsO Lynbrook Speech and Debate Summer Camp (
www.lynbrooksd.com/camp)O Junior State of America Summer SchoolO Camps for all types of interests: math camp, dance
camp, chess camp, horseback riding camp, etcO Leadership camps
O National Youth Leadership Conference
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VolunteeringO Volunteering opportunities are everywhere:
O Join a volunteering club at your school for easy access to events: Key Club, Octagon, Interact, National Honor Society, etc
O Many different forms:O Community service clubO TutoringO Homeless shelter, animal shelter, youth
activism, hospital, school events, etcO www.volunteermatch.org
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Work ExperienceO Corporate
O Can apply for paid internship in a corporationO More difficult to get, higher rewards
O RetailO Clothing stores such as Old Navy, Pac Sun etc
O Foods IndustryO Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Togo’s, Yogurtland, etc
O Self-employedO TutoringO Babysitting
O Usually need to be 16 years old or olderO Might need a California work permit (can find online)
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TravelingO New experiences and perspectives
O Good starting points for college essays or writing in general
O Good sources of inspirationO Expand horizons
O Global citizens are prized by colleges
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College ClassesO Opportunity to enroll in community
college classes for college credit or learning experiencesO De AnzaO San Jose City CollegeO West Valley College
O Talk to high school guidance counselor about registration process
O Must be at least 16 years old
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Contact InformationO Email me at
[email protected] if you have any further questionsO High school lifeO SAT/AP testsO College applicationsO Anything!
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Meera SureshO Senior at Lynbrook
High School, Class of 2010
O Attending De Anza CollegeO Accepted to Berkeley
O GPA: 3.81O SAT Score: 2330
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Meera Suresh (continued)
O ActivitiesO Member of Sunnyvale
Youth Council (2 years)O Vice president of
Sunnyvale Youth Council (1 year)
O Over 170 hours of community service
O Member of Debate Club (4 years
O Debate captain (1 year)O Kumon Learning CenterO Instructor (1 year)O Member of FBLA (3 years)
O InterestsO Used to play violin for 6
years, in orchestra for 5 years and quit.
O Focused on singing Indian music (8 years)
O Competitive AwardsO National Merit Scholarship
SemifinalistO Finalist in Harker debate
tournamentO Quarterfinalist in Stanford
debate tournamentO 1st place in multiple singing
competitions
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Social LifeO Key Factors that influence your high
school life socially:O The type of school you attendO The friends/acquaintances that you
makeO AcademicallyO Extra-curricular activitiesO Builds character
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School LifeO Alcohol and Drugs
O Regardless of the school, alcohol and drugs circulate
O Ways to prevent getting involved:O Make sure your child has the right type
of friendsO Talk to your teen openly and ask them
what they’re take on it is.O Make sure they realize the
consequences
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School Life (continued…)
O RelationshipsO It’s not uncommon for high school students
to start datingO It can be a time commitmentO Make sure your teen is capable to balance
academics and a relationshipO Dances
O Sometimes at school or other fancier locations
O Fun and casual; intermingling with everyone
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Joining ClubsO Variety of clubs
O Joined several freshman year O Narrowed it down to a select fewO Wish I stuck to more clubs throughout
the yearsO Debate Club
O Learned skills that helped me academically
O Great way to meet different people throughout the nation
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Sunnyvale Youth Council
O Get involved with the cityO Meet teens from different schoolsO Variety of ways to participate in
community serviceO Learn skills such as:
O LeadershipO OrganizationO Hands on experience that will equip
you for college/career.
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Justine Yan Yale University
O Reporter for the Tri-City Voice local newspaper (2 years)
O Manovill Holocaust History Fellow
O Creative Writing Club founder & president (3 years)
O Penchant Literary Magazine, founder & Editor-in-Chief (3 years)
O Debate Captain (2 years)O We the People Civics Team -
California 3rd Place
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• Journalism• Poetry, fiction
(creative writing)• Cultural
Anthropology• Chinese history,
culture, politics, society
Summers &O California State
Summer School for Math and Science (COSMOS)
O California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSA)
O Ohlone College courses
O Stanford National Forensics Institute (SNFI)
O Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)
Interests
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2400…It means I got lucky.
What does this number mean?
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California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)
• Creative Writing focus
• Friends, mentors• Inspiration,
motivation• Later, led school club
and established a literary magazine)
• Led to leadership positions in an outside organization (Youth Speaks)
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Youth Speaks
O Spoken word poetry
O Performances, workshops
O Local activism, empowering others
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Working as a ReporterFOR THE
• My first job: paid internship• Improved professional writing ability• Interviewed community members, covered local
events• Gained experience reaching out and accessing
information, opportunities
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Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)
• Highly selective humanities program for incoming seniors
• Free of cost • Prestigious – well known by elite colleges• Gain amazing friends, mentors• Experience (similar to college living and learning)• Inspiration!
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Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)
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Holocaust Center of Northern California
O Manovill Holocaust History Fellowship
O College-like experience: lectures and discussions
O Access to amazing historical resources
O Activism: taught several sophomore classes at my high school
O Wrote a final thesis paper
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The SAT I
O Not creative but it’s such an important stepO Linked it to my long term goalsO Repetitive practice, like a sportO Really have to believe in yourselfO A class provides support, guidance, and
structure to studyingO Gain pacing, endurance, strategy
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Carl ShanUC Berkeley 2014
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High School Involvement
Academic Extracurricular
O 4.2 W GPAO 2300 SAT
O 780 Math II SAT II
O 780 Literature SAT II
O 800 Physics SAT II
O Lynbrook Speech and Debate Captain
O Nationally PublishedO Teen Ink MagazineO Midnight Musings
O Locally PublishedO San Jose MercuryO Sintao Daily
O Kumon TutorO Lynbrook Math TutorO Basketball Coach for
Mentally Challenged Youth
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DebateRole in my life:
O LeadershipO Articulation and
Clarity of thoughtsO Communication skills
keyO Extra-Academic
KnowledgeO PoliticsO Philosophy
O Friends
Successes:
O Champion of UC Berkeley, St. Francis Invitation. O Top speaking
O Finalist at Harker Round Robin
O Self-Confidence+Public Spekaing
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“Forensics and College Admissions” by Yale Professor Luong
“State and national award winners have a 22% to 30% higher acceptance rate at top tier colleges and being captain of the debate team “improved an applicant’s chances by more than 60% compared with the rest of the pool.”
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Lessons Learned
Strong Work Ethic
Networkif you go to a nearby intellectually charged school, make networks
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Achieving SuccessO What really matters?
O Don’t sacrifice what you love for what you don’t.O What will matter in 50 years?
O Passion is the fuel for actions.O Find what you love. Parents, honestly
assess this.
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RegretsCollege School
O Not Researching Colleges In-Depth
O Not knowing what I wanted to study and become
O Lack of focus
O Didn’t take GPA seriously.O Didn’t realize importance
O Slacked off first two years.O GamesO Didn’t apply self
O Didn’t build strong network of motivated peers
O Didn’t participate in school spirit. O Apathy.
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Final Thoughts
An achievement does not make a person.College Acceptance/Awards only recognizes.
The person makes him or herself.
"A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."