From High School to University

1
From High School to University

• Jiayang Jiang
• A.Y. Jackson Secondary School
• Columbia University

2
Topics

• A Little Introduction About Myself
• General Timeline
• SATs
• Extracurriculars and Volunteer
• Competitions and Awards
• Summer Opportunities
• Recommendations
• Essay
• Interview

3
Introduction About Myself

• Beijing (8 years)
• Singapore (5 years)
• Toronto (5 years)
• United States (? years)
• Mathematics
• Computer Science

4
General Timeline

• Grade 9-10
• Participate in a lot of activities
• Have fun!
• Grade 11
• Take SATs
• Research universities
• Grade 12
• Early application
• Essay, application forms, interview etc.

5
SAT

• SAT Reasoning
• Critical Reading
• Math
• Writing
• SAT Subject (2-3)
• Math I/II
• Physics/Chemistry/Biology
• French/History
• etc.

6
SAT

• Top universities expect
• 680-770 for each section
• gt2100 total
• Prepare early!
• Borrow books from library
• Attend classes
• Take Reasoning in Grade 11
• Take Subject in Grade 12
• Practice, practice, practice!

7
Extracurriculars and Volunteer

• Develop interests, leadership, friendships
• Help others and the community
• Show commitment and achievement
• Try a variety of activities
• Sports
• Academic
• Cultural
• Environmental
• Newspaper
• etc.
• Do what you enjoy with passion

8
Competitions

• Involve yourself in as many contests as possible
• Math Contests
• AMC, AIME, USAMO
• http//www.unl.edu/amc/
• COMC, CMO
• Euclid, Fermat, Cayley
• http//cemc.uwaterloo.ca/
• HMMT
• http//web.mit.edu/hmmt/www/

9
Competitions

• Computer
• CCC
• http//cemc.uwaterloo.ca/ccc
• ECOO
• http//ecoo.org/ecoocs/Contests.html
• DWITE
• www.dwite.ca
• IBM CASCON
• http//www-304.ibm.com/jct09002c/university/studen
  ts/highschool/index.html
• Chess
• Other

10
Summer Opportunities

• Do not sit around and do nothing
• Universities will ask how you spent the past few
  summers
• Examples of things to do
• Camps (Shad Valley etc.)
• Volunteer Work
• Job
• Travel

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Shad Valley

• Science, technology and entrepreneurship camp at
  various Universities
• Gain knowledge
• Develop leadership
• Develop friendships
• Very fun!
• Camping, hiking, rope climbing, movies, late
  nights, whale watching, nuclear power plant,
  Western Night etc.

12
Recommendations

• Build good relationships with teachers, principal
• Let your guidance counselor know you
• Other recommendations

13
Essay

• Show your writing ability
• Show your unique character
• Let the reader remember you
• Good topics
• Extracurricular activities
• Personal triumphs
• Interests
• Influences
• etc.

14
Interview

• Universities choose you
• you choose universities
• Show your personality
• Prepare answer for common questions
• Prepare a list of questions to ask

15
Resources

• www.collegeboard.com
• www.princetonreview.com
• www.shad.ca
• www.olympiads.ca/
• www.google.com

16
Wish everybody enjoy your high school life and
succeed in your university application!

• Thank you!