<p>Hello, everyone, I'm from china, I've been wandering in this forum for some time until today i registered. </p>
<p>I found that here the so-called international studnets are all living in US, that does count to be international students? For me, I was only an exchange student to US for a year, and other than that, I'm Chinese in China. </p>
<p>I just took Nov. SAT in HongKong and the score will reach at the 28th. I have always been confused and worried about applying to another education system, because it is very different from the one i used to be. I have been reading all the posts these days and my feelings in this get deeper. All the stats i read, about GPAs about ECs, we don't have that in China, and i know they are important materials for applying colleges. But in China, because of the heavy school work(i'm in a top high school in china), we have been never allowed to or encouraged to work, to do community services( unless it's a school action), to develop a lot of other interests. I'm an active girl though, i tried to arrange a visit to a mental-disabled school by myself with other students, and I tried to find a job when it's really not encouraged in China, and many other things i did. I can say that if i were in USA, i'm probably with tons of ECs without the restriction and with tons of opportunites and encouragements. </p>
<p>I really don't know what to do with my application about ECs, i feel i'm so disavantaged, I wish i can show the colleges that i'm capable and passionate, but i am really lost now...</p>
<p>If you have any suggestions for me, that'll be a great support for me, I will appreciate them very much.</p>
<p>Don't worry, girl. Believe me, the adcoms know about your education system. Especially when it's China. I am from Germany, for example, and we don't have those ECs either. Nonetheless, people from my country get admitted to top colleges just as Chinese people get admitted to them.
Try to convey your passions and your activities in the essays, and you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Well,it seems that China and India have many things in common....
Here(in India),there are no such EC holders either,just the ones with high stats.........
Don't worry as aw5k said,Adcoms knows about the educational system of each country,And for those stats u read here in CC.........
You are bound to feel desolated,dont bother about other's scores and ECs(seriously,if u consider them at all,then u are bound to be in high desolation),Just BE YOURSELF!(I hav suffered from this...already,so,dont worry).......</p>
<p>yep. work hard on your personal essays. Im a chinese born canadian living in Shanghai rite now and I got to a regular Chinese high school. And its not true that you cant do anything extra curricular. I used to go to school in North America, and everything is independent. No one there ASSIGNS you community service, you just do it. thats y its called COMMUNITY service. ur supppose to do all those kinds of things during your spare time. BUT as aw5k said, colleges do know about other school systems, so dont worry about it too much</p>
<p>Right, the admission essay is what says the most about you. Many students only take all those ECs and community services to get admitted in top universities; that says more about their wish to feel superior to normal people than about their passion for knowledge and love for humanity. You are a great option for colleges, Suyi, good luck! ;)</p>