<p>I myself took five AS subjects last year, which are psychology, economics, math, chemistry and physics, and I thought I could continue all five in my senior year… but with the pressure of SAT, SAT2, TOEFL, essay writings and filling the forms… I ended up dropping physics. so my word of advice: if you really wanna do that, maybe you should take care of the SAT and SAT2 at the end of junior year, and finalize you school list in the summer.</p>
<p><a href=“my%20good%20friend%20got%20a%20D%20on%20pure%20math%20but%20800%20on%20SAT%20math”>quote</a>.
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<p>SAT math is not comparable to pure maths. SAT math is actually WAY easier. Even grade 10ers from my nation can do SAT math. It’s just about keeping silly mistakes to a nil.</p>
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<p>That was my plan eheh. Thanks anyway.</p>
<p>Applications, school list and essay in the summer. SAT during junior year, SAT IIs shouldn’t be a problem cause of my AS-levels.</p>
<p>SAT IIs have more portion of A level courses than AS. Another option would be to take SAT II’s just after u finish ur A level finals</p>
<p>@Sephiran</p>
<p>I do not think that saying there are limited ECAs in your school when you plan to apply to Top Tier 1s is a very plausible idea. These colleges look for people who can ‘step out’ of the opportunities that have been ‘provided’. Good applicants are usually the people who create their own opportunities. Besides, A-levels does give you a chance to step out of the school curriculum; a chance to self-study and take more challenges.</p>
<p>5 A-levels is not a great deal either. There are lots of students from Nepal and Pakistan who have 6 / 7 A-levels [straight "A"s].</p>
<p>But again, that does not mean that you won’t get accepted with the current academics. 5 A-levels is just fine. Focus on your ECAs, build good relationship with teachers, RESEARCH colleges well and write stellar essays.</p>
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<p>I won’t say it - I don’t think there’s a way (other than the essay).</p>
<p>My friend got waitlisted into the top 5 of Brown with NO ECs. I’m guessing they understood that his school had no ECs.</p>
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<p>My school offers a maximum of 5 A-levels. So I’m limited.</p>
<p>Will the colleges research my school and realize how limiting my school is?</p>
<p>@ssephiran</p>
<p>To reiterate:</p>
<p>Good applicants are usually the people who create their own opportunities. Besides, A-levels does give you a chance to step out of the school curriculum; a chance to self-study and take more challenges.</p>
<p>There are lots of schools that limit options to the no. of A-levels. But the British Council is always there to help you out with private registration.</p>
<p>And no, they won’t research your school. There are thousands of applicants from all over the globe. They simply won’t have enough time to do so.</p>
<p>@Sephiran</p>
<p>Let’s say you do follow the (very helpful) advice given by the other posters, and develop a strong EC profile, ace your A’Levels, score 2300+ on the SAT and write a killer essay. Are you anywhere near certain or even likely to get admitted to Harvard/MIT? No, you still have at best a minute chance of getting in- but that is not a reflection on your abilities, it simply reflects the reality of Ivy League admissions. When a large group of smart, talented students vie for such a limited number of spots (often with little to choose between them in terms of grades/SAT scores), the admission process becomes subjective and (from your point of view at least) arbitrary in a lot of ways. Luck will play a role as well, however good an applicant you are. </p>
<p>So are you sure you want to stake all your hopes on Harvard/MIT, given the small chance of getting in? Even at this early stage, you should consider researching some other colleges as well for which you have a more realistic chance- I am a bit out of touch with the US college scene these days but I am sure you can find a lot of information on this website. It’s fine and even admirable to target the very best, but you should also keep your options open and be mentally prepared for the possibility that you might have to go to a college other than Harvard/MIT.</p>
<p>Not to digress, but as an international student much of this will probably sound a bit strange. You’re probably used to the idea that the best students will go to the best universities, if that is how admissions work in your country. There is also usually a ‘threshold level’ beyond which you are pretty much certain to get into the college. For the top US colleges, though, there is no threshold level, and there is no guarantee that the best students will get in. Once you get around to that, a lot of the other pieces start falling into place- why you shouldn’t bank too much on any one college, why you shouldn’t take admissions/rejections as success/failure, why you should have a diversified college list comprising reaches, matches and safeties. And also why you shouldn’t take the process TOO seriously- from my own experience applying, I know how easy it is to allow the college admission process to take over your life. Don’t let that happen to you.</p>
<p>Taking the advice of everyone here, I managed to become the editor-in-chief and boss of the school newsletter (by talking to the teacher in charge), which is going to be lots of fun.</p>
<p>And I’m also going to create and own the school’s only club tomorrow (chess club) by starting a petition.</p>
<p>And if I have the balls to defy the administration, a student government.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot everyone.</p>