ACT 36--Chances and school suggestions?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I've posted a chances thread a month ago but no one responded, but now I've got new ACT scores and I'm posting this again. (Please reply~) I know I probably won't stand a good chance at an elite college because my weak ECs. Really weak EC's. But it is already not bad for a student in a Chinese high school. Please chance me!!</p>

<p>I'm applying to Wellesley, UMichigan, UIUC, Purdue, possibly MIT, and I don't know. I'd probably apply to another five or so schools. (Considering Middlebury, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, some other LACs) </p>

<p>Chinese Female
US citizen living in China
High school senior now, public high school, sends many grads to top schools (200<em>top Chinese...1 or 2</em>Ivy...)
Will apply for financial aid</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>Class Rank: top 10% (or maybe 5%? school doesn't rank, best midterm 8/400)
Class Size: 400</p>

<p>Scores:
ACT: 36 (35E, 36M, 35R, 36S)
SAT: 2210 (highest 720CR, 800M, 710W) <--Bad compared w/ ACT, not sending if possible
SAT IIs: 800 MathIIC, 800Chem, 800Phys</p>

<p>Significant Extracurriculars (not really "significant" though):
Model UN
Scientific research (science club activities)
Drama club
Lead vocal in choir
Some odd little music activity (whistling:)
Volunteer/Service Work:
volunteered at an Earthwatch program in western China
Honors and Awards:
AIME participant for 2 yrs
National essay contest prize*2
other little awards for English and math...</p>

<p>Other stuff:
one mediocre rec...I saw it...ratings were not so good...one really good rec
essay on irregular schooling experience, which is pretty good I think
3 months of high school in US (9th grade), all A+'s, sending transcript
pretty weird transcript in Chinese high school, with a couple of scores in the 80's, and fluctuating grades (ugh). (It is hard to all 90's--test difficulty fluctuates and teachers don't care about grades.) Hardest courses definitely.</p>

<p>Thank you very much for reading all this!!</p>

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<p>Should get into Mich</p>

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<p>alfabet, living in China is an "EC." :) Present it as such in your application -- e.g., in your essays, activities list, recommendations. </p>

<p>You're very close to your life situation and probably don't realize how valuable the experience of living in an undeveloped country can be. Colleges are looking for kids who will contribute to the diversity of the campus community, in the classroom and in informal interaction. You should amplify what you could contribute.</p>

<p>I'd also suggest that you look at some schools that do not attract so many Asians. Middlebury falls into that category. There are plenty of other good LACs at which Chinese are still URMs. Look at Williams, Macalester, Grinnell, Bowdoin, Smith. </p>

<p>What kind of school do you go to? Is it an international school or a local Chinese school? Teachers at non-Western schools often don't understand how to write an honest but flattering reference. You should avoid sending the so-so reference. Find someone to write you a good one. If there's no one else at your high school that you can ask, then submit a supplemental recommendation from a mentor or sponsor.</p>

<p>Good luck and let us know how you do.</p>

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<p>Come To Swarthmore</p>

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<p>to momrath: Thanks so much. I go to a local Chinese school, where teachers tend to write, um, very generic evaluations. I don't really know what a rec looks like--what is honest but flattering? I "good" rec comes from my English teacher, who was my group's mentor in MUN. She let me see it (both teachers did) and it had specific pieces of information (a particular class discussion, that sort). I can't tell how good it is, only that it's better than the other one.
Also, what's URMs?
Thanks for the great advice. ^-^
to Classof08: still working on app!
to tetrisfan: oh really? I do hope so. ;-)My essay wasn't so good.</p>

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<p>I should've checked before asking. URM, underrepresented minority, right?
Any other schools where Chinese are still URMs?
Thanx:p</p>

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<p>uh-oh! my act essay score is 9! what should i do? would this affect my chances?</p>

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<p>results as of now:
Wellesley (ED)- deferred
UMich - admitted
UIUC - admitted</p>

<p>thanks, everyone!</p>

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<p>you were deferred from wellesley?!? </p>

<p>oh damn, thats rough, good luck on the regular admission schools =]</p>

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<p>I didn't use my ACT score there. My SAT's don't look as good I think--but the October ACT didn't come out until way into November, and I wasn't really sure how I did (got 34's in practice tests). Anyone know if I can submit my ACT scores as some sort of a supplementary material?</p>