<p>Hello everyone. Newbie here. </p>
<p>Just want to know how I fare. </p>
<p>A Levels (International version)
Accounting - A
Business Studies - A*
Economics - A
Geography - A*
Math - A
Further Math - A
English Literature - A*
General Paper - A
Chinese - A*
Sociology - A</p>
<p>SAT
Critical Reading - 750
Math - 800
Writing - 750</p>
<p>SAT II
Biology - 760
Chemistry - 740
Physics - 740
Spanish - 800
Japanese - 800
Literature - 770
Math I - 780
Math II - 770
US History - 790
World History - 790</p>
<p>High School Diploma from online high school: Penn Foster
GPA: 4.0 </p>
<p>ECs
I spent most of my time past year studying so I'm working on my ECs until applcation this Dec. </p>
<ol>
<li>Give English/ Speech tuition to a kid with speech disablity</li>
</ol>
<p>I'm thinking of volunteer work and expanding my tuitioning services... </p>
<p>Colleges Im applying to
1. Harvard
2. Yale
3. Princeton
4. Stanford
5. MIT
6. Columbia </p>
<p>Should I take APs next May? </p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Oh. And I’m 16 if that helps.</p>
<p>Wait… you ALREADY sat through 10 A Levels at the age of 16?</p>
<p>AND 10 SAT II?</p>
<p>I mean SAT II sure, nevermind, but 10 A LEVELS??</p>
<p>You mustn’t be serious because you can’t get A* in A Levels before August 2010, and you have 4 now?</p>
<p>I converted it because I thought it’ll be more help.
I’m sorry if I misled anyone. </p>
<p>Um yeah. I did. I was dissatisfied with my school program and life here so I decided to work hard and maybe get into a college in the states. But my parents won’t let me unless it’s top 10-20 because the local university here is 30th. </p>
<p>Again, sorry everyone.
And thanks for the feedback. How do you think I fare?</p>
<p>You’d fare extremely well academically, it will now depend on your ECs.</p>
<p>You wouldn’t need to take any APs, 10 A Levels is already ridiculous.</p>
<p>Did you know Cambridge and Oxford only want 3?</p>
<p>DId you self study all your 10 A Levels? THat’s a serious undertaking. Geez, even Literature alone makes me wanna die.</p>
<p>You’re taking CIE or Edexcel?</p>
<p>I just did my View From The Bridge paper, did you do this play? The paper was a killer for me :P</p>
<p>:) thanks to everyone who replied. I really appreciate it.
Yes I did that paper. I did a lot of reading on sparknotes, cliffnotes, etc and I can’t afford books so I stand and read at the 2nd hand store. </p>
<p>Any suggestions for ECs? I know a scholarship will need something that really "Pop"s. </p>
<p>What kind of volunteering will be good? I’m too young for internships here. And how do I track my hours?
Please I really need help with my ECs! </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>And @drelnis I did self-study all of them, 12 hour days at the library on weekends and late nights! Because I have to take high school online as my high school here won’t let me skip grades and get my diploma. </p>
<p>And the A Levels are CIE.</p>
<p>Well that way you might want to consider Cambridge and Oxford and less on American Universities, because although you have amazing academics, what matters heavily in Ivy admissions is the extra curricular activities you do. I don’t think extra classes is considered an EC? Your case is unique, most people are president of a dozen clubs, has done internships here and there, are involved in varsity sports, if you’re huddled in a library 12 hours a day every weekend it’s not going to look good. You will definitely get pass the academic rounds, but when they are looking at you personally, they might see that you are not involved with your school community, taking many classes outside of school (and taking high school online) will also mean you wouldn’t have a close relationship to your high school? Who are you considering to write your recommendations? This year you also got 12 blanks to fill in your EC activities on Common App.</p>
<p>If you’re not participating extra curricular, I’m afraid an Ivy education is not going to do you any good, I mean the great part about the Ivy experience is being in an intellectual atmosphere and taking advantage of research, athletic, and artistic opportunities that will be available to you. If you didn’t take part in any of this in your high school life, that definitely is a </p>
<p>Admissions in to British universities, however, focuses extremely highly on academics, you have 10 A Levels is definitely an amazing advantage, most people apply with 3-4 A levels, 10 is just bizarrely unique! Bear in mind you might have to discuss personal research and other academic achievements in British uni application.</p>
<p>What about awards and competitions? Involvement with school peers in anything? Theatre, band, sports, etc.?</p>
<p>The Ivies will be looking at passion and commitment to your extra curriculars, most people have consecutive years of activities with high leadership positions, beginning them in the end of your junior year is not a very good prospect.</p>
<p>But you know what, if you do really have that stellar A Level results and awesome SAT II, some place will definitely take you.</p>
<p>Can you do me a favour? Where are you applying ED/EA? I’m definitely interested in your admissions result, your case is really unique, I can’t get over the fact that you have 10 A Levels, that’s truly an accomplishment. Would you mind PMing me your situation mid-December when the replies come out? :)</p>
<p>I have until December to do something about it so what do you recommend? I can’t do everything so I need to choose wisely. </p>
<p>My friend and I are going to start a “Just Laugh” campaign this summer. Like a “FREE HUG” thing, but “FREE LAUGH/ JOKE” and it’s non-profit, of course, hoping to bring a smile/ laugh to someone. Since we started it on our own, will colleges be interested in that? </p>
<p>UK universities are not an option for me, sadly. Any way to get good ECs in there? </p>
<p>I take Hip Hop once a week, is that an EC?</p>
<p>@Drelnis
Sure thing, I’ll let you know.
But could you help me with my ECs? I have time to volunteer and everything but what do colleges look out for?
Being a captain in a school club is not an option as they elect again only next year.</p>
<p>I’m applying to
- Harvard
- Yale
- Princeton
- Stanford
- MIT
- Columbia </p>
<p>Not sure if I should ED/ EA.</p>
<p>Just so you know Harvard and Princeton doesn’t have ED or EA :)</p>
<p>Stanford and Yale has SCEA I belive, and Columbia has ED.</p>
<p>I don’t know about MIT.</p>
<p>About ECs there is really nothing one can suggest for you, what’d count is what interests you personally?</p>
<p>You like Hip Hop? Get a club going.</p>
<p>In a very short period of time there’s not much you can do about ECs, what’d matter is what’d matter to you (on your app you’ll have to write a short essay about one of your ECs as well).</p>
<p>On my part I have so many ECs that I pursue since middle school and has gained leadership position by junior year.</p>
<p>I’m spending half my life on ECs because I’m only taking 4 A Levels.</p>
<p>For one, I get involved with a lot of theatre in my school - it is what I love.</p>
<p>There isn’t a formal theatre club, so I initiated it myself, I’m already involved in more than 7 school productions as director and script writer. I’ve been performing every year since the beginning of middle school. Because of this longstanding passion, I’m going to write about it in my EC.</p>
<p>Your choice will depend on what’s available around you, is there anything you’re interested in that you can join at school?</p>
<p>Thank you Drelnis.
I know I don’t have much time, so I’ll do something that counts. </p>
<p>I think that people have a very closed mindset here and I am very passionate about that. I was thinking of initiating a group, like you suggested, for people who are not confident enough about themselves. And help people find the strength to love themselves… yeah kinda cheesy… </p>
<p>Anyway. I really admire you for being able to perform and everything!!
I’ll let you know about my results. Wish you all the best.</p>
<p>Thanks! i’m sure you’ll do fine, with exam results like this i’m sure you’ll get in somewhere great - even with minimal ECs.</p>
<p>:O</p>
<p>Hey, I have almost the same grades as you!! :)</p>
<p>AS levels: 9 A’s, 2 B’s
A Levels: waiting for the results (hopefully, 12 A’s)
O Levels: 15 A’s</p>
<p>SAT: 2320
SAT 2: taking 3 subject tests in the fall</p>
<p>ECs: decent. very independent-minded activities–that’s just how i am :)</p>
<p>Applying to:
Princeton (FIRST CHOICE)
Stanford
Dartmouth
Columbia
Caltech</p>
<p>Where are you ED’ing? </p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>And I am way older than you lol.</p>
<p>I am getting old… :(</p>
<p>@PrincetonDreams
Hey 
It’s only a 3 year difference, haha. </p>
<p>I’m applying to
- Harvard
- Yale
- Princeton
- Stanford
- MIT
- Columbia </p>
<p>Not sure about EDs. I’m still sketchy about the whole application thing.
My first choice would be Stanford/ MIT maybe. Not sure how I feel about the whole Ivy thing. </p>
<p>I’ll be working on my ECs with whatever time I have left. I hope it’ll all work out for both of us. </p>
<p>And 12 A levels? WOW!</p>