Advice for international graduate student

<p>Hello guys,</p>

<p>I'm an international student preparing to apply for graduate study at US universities. </p>

<p>I plan to pursue a PhD in music composition. </p>

<p>My undergraduate gpa equals to a 3.7, I have a Master's with merit from a UK university, my TOEFL is 105 (iBT) and my GRE is 146 verb., 150 quant., 4 an. writing. </p>

<p>I have strong recommendations and portfolio. Decent essays, papers. </p>

<p>Last year I only applied to some ivy league schools (Columbia, Princeton, Cornell) plus Stanford and UCSD. I rejected by all of them.</p>

<p>This year I am considering UC Berkeley, UCLA, U of Michigan, U of Miami, Brandeis U, U of Iowa, U of Florida. </p>

<p>What do you think about my chances being accepted to the aforementioned schools with a scholarship/teaching assistantship? </p>

<p>Any recommendations and advice would be much appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>