Advice needed~! THanks a lot!

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hello everyone! I want to try applying as an international student to a college in the USA. My parents think I have no chance of getting into an ivy (well, so do I) but I'd like to try anyway, even if no one takes me in, it's ok coz at least I tried you know, lol. Well, anyway, I have no idea of what I should do, as an international student, do I get any interviews? Or is there such a thing as early decision/action and regular decision for international students? Please help me out cause I'm totally freaked out! Here's some of my stats, not all of them, just a few of those that I could rmb without looking at my resume. What are my chances into any ivy league? Preferably ones located in Boston or Massachusetts?</p>

<p>High school:
private girls' school with good reputation</p>

<p>Academics:
Top 1-3% of the year every year</p>

<p>EC:
debate team member
prefect
secretary of hogben house, senior science club
vice chairlady, recreation officer of student union
advanced public speaking class
international youth leadership programmes</p>

<p>Sports:
Swimming (medals each year)
Long distance running (3000m)
Kayaking (qualified by HK canoe union)</p>

<p>Music:
violin, music theory
Choir</p>

<p>Other interests:
Writing (poetry, short stories)
Drama (wrote several plays for school productions, leading role in a few drama productions)
Choral speaking (group and solo verse)</p>

<p>Awards:
won top prizes in interschool debating competitions as team member, district debating championships.
holder of 6 scholarships (including good performance in english, geography and good conduct+academic result)
Champion of Science Competition (senior section)</p>

<p>SAT & TOEFL results:
Dunno...taking them in the summer this year.</p>

<p>Hooks?
Never stayed in the same city/country for more than 2 years since birth until I moved to HK 8 years ago. So I've basically lived in places spanning from poor, tiny farming villages in the mainland china to Boston of the USA. I dunno if that counts as a hook or something? Coz I think it's pretty special and it was hard for me to get adjusted to the different languages used in the different countries, like I was speaking great mandarin when I lived in China, but then I had to go to the US and started learning English from nil. Then I moved to HK and started learning chinese+cantonese from nil. It took me a LOT of time to catch up. Also, my dad used to study in Harvard and he does know some professors at Harvard who might be willing to write me a recommendation, so I dunno if that's an advantage.</p>

<p>Whatever, I think my chances are really low, I'm guessing half of you out there have got higher scores, but with a ton more ECs and awards. I have NO international award either...talk about no accompolishment! ARGH...I might get valedictorian this year, but I'm well aware than tons of valedictorians are turned down by the ivies each year. Well, guess it won't hurt to try. </p>

<p>And has anyone heard of the United World Colleges? Do you think I should try applying? It's very hard to enter where I live, but what about in other countries?</p>

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<p>United World College, like Junior College (JC) right? Yes I've heard of them, I know a friend who just graduated from the UWC in Singapore. I believe she is now studying in the University of London. Are you from one of them? If you are, I'm guessing you went in the IB system and did not take any APs, which is not a problem I think. What are your IB results?</p>

<p>Are you an American citizen? Also, are you applying for financial-aid? Several of the ivies are "need-blind" but as an international applicant, it would be to your advantage if you do not need aid.</p>

<p>As for interviews, the school will contact you. It is possible to do interviews through the phone but most likely (especially ivies) will have representative alumni around the world who can interview you. I'm guessing you're now in Hong Kong?</p>

<p>It would definitely increase your admission chances if your dad went to Harvard and knows professors there. Email them and express your interests. Are you graduating this year and planning on attending college in Spring 2006? or 2007? If you're aiming for 2006, you better decide quickly! Time is running out...</p>

<p>And hey, you should definitely try! You never know with ivies like Harvard and Princeton; they don't always base their decisions on perfect SAT scores or a long list of EC's. Go for it!</p>

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<p>Hey~ thanks a lot!
I'm not studying in the United World Colleges now, but I'm planning to apply for them this year to the one in Hong Kong. There are no AP or honor classes in Hong Kong, so I have no information on that field. If I want to apply to overseas colleges, do I have to have a GPA score or something? Btw, I'm applying for 2007 so I think I still have time.</p>

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<p>I guess....lol</p>

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<p>", I have no idea of what I should do, as an international student, do I get any interviews? Or is there such a thing as early decision/action and regular decision for international students?"</p>

<p>My suggestion is that you find out this basic information by checking the web sites of the colleges that interest you. That's a far more reliable way of getting info than relying on anonymous strangers.</p>

<p>"What are my chances into any ivy league? Preferably ones located in Boston or Massachusetts?"</p>

<p>It also would be helpful to you if you used a search engine to find out exactly what the Ivy League is and what the colleges are. For instance, the Ivy League designates a football league. It doesn't designate exactly which colleges in the US are best. My guess is that what you mean is that you'd like to go to a select college in the US. There are many select colleges, some of which are more highly ranked than are some of the Ivy League colleges.</p>

<p>It's basically impossible to estimate any chances now since you apparently haven't yet taken the SAT. Once you do that, you can compare your scores with those of students at the colleges that interest you. Most of the time, you can find a profile of the incoming freshmen class on the colleges' web sites, and that will show you the middle 50% range of SAT scores as well as other information. </p>

<p>Also check out the "common database" links that are pinned to the top of one of the CC boards. Those link you to very specific info about the composition of students in colleges' freshmen class.</p>

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<p>thanks a lot~
i do have predictions of SAT results by my form teachers...
so at least I have an idea of what level I'm at.
But even full scores won't get me in the ivies lol.</p>