Alan Song
- How did you feel when you heard that you were the finalist for the National Merit Scholarship?
I didn’t feel that excited because most National Merit Semifinalists will become Finalists.
- What are some characteristics you believe helped you achieve this award?
I believe that the most important characteristic I have shown to get this award is integrity. I believe that integrity is the first thing that the National Merit Scholarship Corporation looks for when selecting finalists.
- What is your academic area of passion and why?
Computational Chemistry. I chose this subject because I love both the variety of chemistry and problem-solving in computer science. This subject puts those two together, and I’m currently planning to pursue it in college.
- What are you planning to pursue in college?
Computational Chemistry.
- Do you know where you are going to college?
I think I will be going to Caltech, but I haven’t decided just yet.
- What did you choose to write about in your main essay for the National Merit application? And why was it meaningful to you?
I wrote about the process of managing a multitude of different activities in junior year, hopping between chemistry competitions, debate, and more.