Advice for a Canadian?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Harvard is definitely my dream school, but of course I'm not counting on getting in. I'll give some of my stats so maybe someone can tell me how I can improve, and if I have a chance at all. I am a Junior btw.</p>

<p>I'm thinking of also applying at Stanford, Cornell, and maybe Columbia. I was also considering MIT and CalTech.</p>

<p>Grades:
Were relatively low.
Freshman- 90% overall average.
Sophomore- 92% overall average
Junior- Expected around 94-96% overall average (yes, i really just started trying this year)
P.s. our school is probably one of the worst schools in my city for lowering marks. it's really impossibly to have anything beyond a 97 average.</p>

<p>Tests:
Obviously I haven't taken them, but I'm doing my best to study alot. Expected scores:
Sat Reasoning: 2200-2300
Sat Math 2: 750
Sat Biology: 750+
Sat French: 800 (should i take w/listening or not?)
AP Bio: 5
(should i take more APs?)</p>

<p>ECS:
Were kinda scattered. I need advice here.
*Co-President and Founder, Earth Rights Club (supporting the environment and human rights)
*Editor and Science Columnist, Albatross (school paper)
*Semester exchange to France
*MedQuest- week-long program, job shadowing doctors, learning how to do MRIs, etc
*Deep River Science Academy- 6 weeks at a research institute, doing real research with respected Canadian scientists (i chose molecular biology) I earn two high school credits for this (since Im already taking two bios this year, I probably will only get one Physics credit)
*IMPACT conference- two day conference in Toronto, meeting with top business executives from around the world
*Member, Enrichment Committee- Planning workshops for younger kids to learn about various subjects (this year we're teaching history and physics with superheroes, ninjas and pirates)</p>

<p>Volunteer:
*Volunteer at the Canadian Cancer Society, planning fund-raising events (i havent personally done anything yet, but im starting in a week)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
*Part-time at Roger's Video, about 10-15 hours a week (about 5 months now)
*Part-time at my parent's Chiropractic Clinic, about 5 hours a week (more in the summer) (for about 5 years now)
*Worked part-time at the Sarnia Library for about a year, maybe 10-13 hours a week</p>

<p>Misc.:
*Fluent in French, taken French Immersion since kindergarten
*Enrolled in the gifted program for intellectually gifted students in the 98th percentile.
*Blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do (no other sports unfortunately)</p>

<p>I expected REC's to be really good, since I'm on good terms with almost all my teachers, and all the school staff know me because I get involved alot. I am also good at writing personal essays, but I can't know how good.</p>

<p>Any advice, ideas, suggestions? Do I have a chance? What other school would be good for me?</p>

2

<p>bummmppp. please...anyone? advice?</p>

3

<p>45.6% chance since you're Canadian.</p>

4

<p>lol is that just a random number? or an educated guess? :)
id rather 46% than 0% :)</p>

5

<p>Mariam, what do you mean? I heard you were less likely to be admitted if you were Canadian than from the States. Where is that number from :)?</p>

6

<p>why less likely when you're from canada?! :(
racists! lol.</p>

7

<p>Don't worry, I'm Canadian too :). It's not because we're from Canada, its because we are international applicants. I guess people from the States know more about the schools, the requirements and the subjects they are tested on (altough it depends on the country). Plus, if English is not your native language (like me), it's even harder. </p>

<p>But I think we can do it :)</p>

8

<p>English is my first language, but I started speaking french not too long after english:)</p>

<p>And any more advice? anythinggg? anyoneee</p>

9

<p>We are three canadians in here lol... to bad im an american citizen YAY ME lol.. sorry... :P... but hmm get more leadership positions... ur grades are good... but then again depends on ur school... u should do research at least... or get a internship in medicine... medquest sounds kinda week... i did all that and im still interning in the hospital...</p>

10

<p>how do you do an internship?</p>

<p>the only thing i could do would be like a co-op, but thats through the school, and it would take two periods out of my day, and i cant do that. </p>

<p>do hospitals let you do summer internships?</p>

<p>and what about research? where would i do that? i dont live near any universities really. the deep river summer program is all about research, does that count?</p>

11

<p>I say canadian because in Canada, the enrichment oppurtunities for EC's simply are not available. Cornell takes this into account and will pit you against other Canadians. Given that your EC's may not be as good as some Americans here, they are quite competitive for a Canadian.</p>

12

<p>mmm i applied to foreign institutes... one thing about ottawa is they want to limit u in terms of research opporunities... the people who are researching will only allow certain undergraduate students to work with them... high school students here in ottawa, hard to get research unless ur high school has IB program and connections lol... or if u live in toronto (and go to like University of Toronto schools)..</p>

<p>I got internship after coop to... i did coop in neurosurgery at the hospital... i do have OR opportunity so i started researching in that aspect... i've written an abstract etc... and i continued an internship at my hospital and 3 hospitals abroad where i was awarded certificates of distinction...</p>

<p>I come from a slightly financial disadvantage family... my dad is the single income and he works for the government... supporting a family of 5 (3 kids who wanna go to university) is hard...</p>

<p>The internships helped me a lot... i got to go all expense paid super fun!
(india and dubai)</p>