Asian guy who wants to major in physics...please help!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>My stats simplified:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.4 (my school had a harsh grading system)
rank: N/A
ACT: 33 (may take another and am expecting at least 35)
SAT I: taking this October, let's assume it's a 2350
AP: Computer Science AB 5, Calculus BC 5, Microeconomics 5, Macroeconomics 4, Physics B 4, Physics C m 4, English Lit 4, Statistics 4, Chemistry 4</p>

<p>Activities:
Founder and President of official school philosophy club
internship in a university science lab
intership in International Herald Tribune
Internship in G Star, game exhibition company
Orchestra 2nd Clarinet
regular member of state organized enviroment preservation group</p>

<p>Awards:
Essay contest bronze prize, among others
Award in AMC(American math Competition)
2nd Place in City Computer Science Contest
Lacrosse Nationals 2nd Place (in Korea)</p>

<p>Reccom: let's assume they are good
Essays: let's assume they are great</p>

<p>How are my chances for:</p>

<p>MIT
CalTech
Harvey Mudd College
Northwestern
Carnegie Mellon
Brandeis
George Washington
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</p>

<p>Help, please!!</p>

2

<p>You live in the United States?</p>

3

<p>Yea are you in the US? How did you play in Korea? Who do you play for in the USA?</p>

4

<p>MIT and Caltech are reaches
Harvey Mudd, Northwestern, CMU are match
Illinois, Brandeis, GW are safety</p>

5

<p>Thanks, ccri!!
Oh I forgot to mention something important... I'm an international student from Korea. The 2nd place in lacrosse nationals can be misleading because the virtually no Koreans play lacrosse.. it was a very small tournament, and I would never do anywhere as well in the States.
Will my being an international student make it a lot harder for me?</p>

6

<p>gameandwatch: I think being an international student can either make or break your chances. It really is going to depend on how you 'pitch' yourself towards MIT.</p>

<p>You have to keep in mind that MIT is looking for someone 'special'. They aren't looking for the typical and stereotypical "4.0, uuber godly smart in science and math". They are looking for actual people that really, really want to pursue it. Considering this, it really is going to be up to you to make yourself individual through your essay, personal response, and interview.</p>

<p>Scores can really get you far, but it is ultimately in how you portray yourself in the applications that can get you into MIT.</p>

<p>As for other colleges, I think being an international student can be an advantage. But it is as I said previously, it really depends on how you 'pitch' yourself.</p>

7

<p>Thank you shadowing... your advice is inspiring. I guess I'll have to put a lot of work into my essays..</p>

8

<p>Mudd is definitely a reach, not a match.</p>