haha, believe it or not, I still dont have my diploma... The school says they're gonna mail them soon though. I wasnt in on the rough housing so much at the ceremony, but as you can plainly see, it takes a crapload of time to sift through all the paperwork involved with trying to delay the delivery of diplomas... (Yay for alliteration!)

I didnt take the ACT either, but I know what kind of scores they're expecting... For all categories you need around a 28 since its supposed to be an easier test, but I dont buy that. The way I look at it is that the ACT is an easier test for people that aren't good at math, while the SAT was geared more towards the systematic/logical thinkers. The SAT has been altered though, in the very first few years in which it would affect me, (and it did) they decided to add on a blasted writing section complete with an essay and enough mc grammar questions to make you go bonkers.

On that test I pulled a 2180 (780 math boo.... 710 writing, and 690 reading). I think that the SAT lends itself easier to have success on because of the scoring system and the numerous books and courses devoted to beating the SAT. Now, if your family has enough money, I would encourage them to enroll you in a SAT/ACT prepatory class to learn to think like the SAT or ACT. Will Benesh, the valedictorian of our class got something like a 2340 on his SAT after taking the test. I would actually encourage you to switch to the SAT, because during your junior year you get to take the PSAT. If you do well enough on the PSAT, you'll get scholarship money (anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000). His parents paid for a $500 class and ended up with a $2,500 scholarship for scoring 230+ on his PSATs. It's a good investment in my opinion if you have some time after school in the fall to spend one on one with SAT prep people. You could also do the books and stuff, but in my opinion, it doesnt work as well. People watch you at these things as you make mistakes, and they immediately correct them, which is why they're so effective. I would strongly encourage you to do this during your junior year.   

This summer and the next... you need to be busy. They ask you questions on the MIT application as well as several others about what you do during your summers. You want to tell them that you did something completely crazy... something that you built, or some group or club you became a part of, or some internship you took part in, or... you can sign up for their college camps if you feel strongly about one college or another (I think cornell has a good engineering one if youre interested in engineering). 

The Ivys are very random in their selections... I think that you have both an advantage and a disadvantage in being a hardworking minority. (disadvantage in getting into MIT or Caltech where you might come across like another crazy math/science guy). Be sure not to over or under emphasize this fact. Try to use everything YOU about you in order to create a good profile of yourself. 

Be sure that the portfolio you build is something interesting that you can talk about in the short response sections of the essays. Having 125+ UIL math/science awards for me didnt get me any closer to the ivys. Academics are cool, but just dont make it the crutch you lean on. Academics bore academic people like Harvard because EVERYONE they admitt has got something similar.

Bear in mind that these schools are going for diversity. They are trying to put together a very successful student body which needs different people for different reasons. Dont try to guess their reason for wanting you, because this may lead to you trying to change yourself. Be yourself, and youre bound to be assimilated into the right college.

Oh, and my stated major at Vassar is computer science. I am certain that this will not hold. As of right now, I leaning more towards premed or biology. The only thing I know for certain is that I want to eventually come back and teach HS when I retire. If I end up back in Texas... I might just build up an unstopable NS team.. Who knows?!

Zack