Chance a Canadian...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>Since I'm Canadian, as most will know, our marking system is significantly different. I have a meeting Monday to sort out what exactly some of my stuff is. But for now I'll give you the basic standings... feel free to leave your thought...</p>

<p>Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Country of residency: Canada
School type: Private (Baptist)
SAT: M 730 CR 740 W 750
11th grade average: 89% (taking the hardest courses available to me)
12 grade average: 95% (taking hardest courses available to me. Calculus, etc)
Languages: English, also fluent in French and know some Gaelic</p>

<p>Basketball: 9th grade
Soccer: 9th grade
Federal political experience: head of youth marketing and research for the elected government federally (10th-12th)
Provincial political experience: head of youth marketing and research for the elected government federally (11-12th)
Work experience: President and CEO of my own company (started in 9th). This month will do $50,000. 2011 projected earnings of $750,000-1,000,000.
Financial aid: Not needed
Church: Member of church finance board </p>

<p>Recommendation letters: from the premier of my province, from two teachers, and from a federal minister with a very high-profile cabinet position. </p>

<p>Minor hook: First of my direct family to attend a US college
Minor hook: Overcoming the death of my grand-mother last year, who was like my mother for many years
Minor hook: Political experience. Having met the Prime Minister a few times, have had a meeting with the Prime Minister prior to the current one, and actively talk with the current premier.
Minor hook: Born in Canada, moved to Bermuda for seven years and have lived in Canada since
Minor hook: Travel a lot (now almost always by myself). I frequently fly to London, New York and Toronto. I just topped my 200th flight . Outside North America I have been to the UK, France, Italy, Russia, Japan and Switzerland.
Minor hook: Going on a trip to Bolivia with a local charity in the new year.</p>

<p>Major hook: Obviously, since I'm applying to top undergrad business schools, the major hook is my business and the obstacles I've overcome to get to a point where it's doing very well. It clearly shows a drive, passion and desire to learn more about business. It also shows competence when it comes to finance. My parents combined make under 150k/yr. I started with the money I made working at Wendy's the sumer prior to 9th grade.</p>

<p>My essays are excellent and from talking with admissions officers and the dean of admissions at a few of the top undergrad business schools they are very enthusiastic at my chances, personality and business.</p>

<p>...My EC activities are weak, but I play off of that in one of the minor essays. Running a business has instilled in me many values that universities look for via team captains, etc. </p>

<p>One of the major helps I've realized through the past week is the fact that I need no financial aid. Wasn't aware, correct me if I'm wrong, that that's a big deal to colleges due to the lack, or non-existence of financial aid for international students.</p>

<p>It's probably possible to get a letter of recommendation from the Prime Minister, if that would really make a difference, but I prefer getting them from people I know well and actively talk to. </p>

<p>What it will come down to, in my opinion, from talking to deans of admissions and feeling out the admissions process is how heavily they weigh my business. Which they've seemed to value very highly.</p>

<p>...They say they aren't looking for "cookie-cutter" people coming into Harvard, Yale, etc and I'm certainly not that but perhaps I lack the certain cookie-cutter form (in academics) that's needed. </p>

<p>Harvard
Wharton
Duke
University of Texas Austin</p>

<p>Feel free to suggest any others.</p>

<p>Cheers,</p>

2

<p>Also will get a reference from a Harvard alumni who now runs a nine-figure corporation. Should I only give this reference to Harvard or also Duke, etc?</p>

3

<p>bump</p>

<p>(10 char)</p>

4

<p>Anyone?
.</p>

5

<p>While reading this, I had an overwhelming sense of “Who ARE you?”… </p>

<p>Im programmed to think if something sounds too good to be true, it is… so Im not going to lie Im skeptical.</p>

<p>However, lets assume its true, all of it (I mean, you have no real reason to lie)</p>

<p>Your marks show an upward trend (one that ends in 95% no less), so that is very good.</p>

<p>SAT scores are right in the range for all schools</p>

<p>ECs are ****ing fantastic. Congrats on running whatever business it is that has projected revenues of $1 mill</p>

<p>I wouldnt say any of your “minor hooks” are hooks at all, but all provide for amazing life experiences that you can write about in essays and just make you an overall more interesting person.</p>

<p>Having a letter of recommendation from the Premier is cool, but I do think they only want teacher reqs (Im not sure on this one)… I just know the letters are meant to speak to your character, so if the Premier is someone you know well enough that he can vouch for your character, not just your work ethic, then it can be a massive help. PS no one likes Stephen Harper, a recommendation letter from him is moot :stuck_out_tongue: haha</p>

<p>Best of luck in admissions! As for the money, it doesnt matter at Harvard or Wharton, as they are both need blind for intls. It might matter at UT and Duke though. Either way, you got the money to go any school you want, so dont worry</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the reply!</p>

<p>Yes, it’s all true. The only thing I’d worry about is my course load not being incredibly tough, although I take the hardest courses available to me so there’s nothing I can really do there. </p>

<p>Didn’t think they were really “minor hooks” either. But wasn’t sure how to classify them and include them into my applications. Places like Harvard, I believe, do only say they want teacher recommendations.</p>

<p>But if I can get one from a federal cabinet minister, premier and hopefully Harvard alumni I figured it couldn’t hurt. Not sure if I just include them as “extra” in the application or?</p>

<p>Cheers for the reply,</p>

7

<p>Looking for more opinions/comments.</p>

8

<p>My question is why do you want to go to college when you’re already earning a million dollars?</p>

9

<p>It sounds like you’ve got a great chance at those schools. As a Canadian, do you feel that Mcgill’s prestige is up there with top american universities? I’m just curious because that seems not to be the case, based off of its selectivity and acceptance rates.</p>

10

<p>@503rep those are projected earnings. Just like any projected earnings they are not concrete by any means. Going off of '09 earnings I would’ve been very happy with a 100/yr but am obviously doing much more than that. </p>

<p>I’m looking more towards long term goals, opposed to the short term goals/money. I’d gladly give up a million guaranteed income to work at an investment bank of my choosing with a starting salary of $200,000. That’s where the long term growth, and lack of a income cap will occur.</p>

<p>@talladeganights Saw a really good post a few weeks ago that really got me going on prestigious US schools. It basically confirmed, and reinforced, my current thoughts that any school below the top 15 in the US will be comparable to McGill or even Waterloo.</p>

<p>But no matter the academics you’re taught you cannot replace the atmosphere and people you’re around at a Harvard or Yale, etc. That’s where the amount of money you pay really pays off.</p>

<p>McGill, in terms of academics, will sometimes rank in the top 20 of business schools in North America. But in terms of prestige it wouldn’t even crack the top 50. </p>

<p>Cheers,</p>

11

<p>Looking for more opinions/comments still.</p>

<p>…Thanks for all the replies thus far.</p>

12

<p>Looking for more opinions/comments still.</p>

<p>…Thanks for all the replies thus far.</p>

13

<p>Last bump.</p>

14

<p>I’d say you have a very good shot at all of them, especially if you can highlight your business in your application, as that is very impressive. If you wouldn’t mind, what is your business’ name?</p>

15

<p>@Strikeb4ck has my part of my personal name in it so would prefer not saying. :)</p>

16

<p>Weak ECs? You have the single greatest EC I’ve ever heard. Makes me jealous as heck.</p>

17

<p>I suppose I consider it “weak” because I don’t have many EC’s except for the business and a little political involvement.</p>

<p>Just kind of a unique situation, so hard to say if I’m wasting my time or not.</p>