My University Application
Experience
Lillian Ma
Princeton University
Langstaff Secondary School
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
Outline
Academics
SAT I/SAT II
Extra-curricular Activities
Competitions/Awards
Volunteer
Summer Activities
Arts
Interviews
The Essay
Recommendation Letters
My Personal Timeline
Junior Year:
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Took SAT I in June
Senior Year:
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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
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!
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!
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
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!
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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/St
udents/ISSYP/
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
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!
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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”
Helpful Guides
www.collegeboard.com
www.princetonreview.com
http://www.petersons.com/
www.commonapps.org
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/ra
nkings/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!
Conclusion
Good luck on your application
process
Remember, everyone is different –
show them what is so special about
you