Chance a French Application to Ivy League

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, my name is Vincent, I am 18 and I am french.
I am currently applying to Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, and Duke.
Here is some information:</p>

<p>-First of my class in high school , and even of my cohort during 12th grade, in a High school ranked among the (French) Top 1%.
-I did very well in both scientific (maths: 1st, physics: 1st...) and liberal arts areas (Philosophy: 2nd, Hystory: 1st...)
-I received the french equivalent of the "highest honors" 7 times worth 9 during the 3 last years.
-SAT 2: Math lvl 2 (800) ,french (800), Spanish (640)
-TOEFL: 96/120
-I had the opportunity to travel a lot (China, Bangladesh, Africa...) and I wrote some very nice essays about that in my application.
-I also had the chance to be recommended by great personalities.</p>

<p>However, I have a probleme...</p>

<p>I am french, and I have lived in france since my birthday. My parents are neither American nor English. So, I learnt english in High school, and my level is weak...
Indeed, I got:
SAT: CR:540 / W:510 / M:700</p>

<p>Despite that, I have been interviewed by all those Universities...
The Harvard Alumnus said that my application was really original and that, among the 30 french who are applying to Harvard College, I am the only one who is not a "native english speaker"</p>

<p>I do my best to correct it, and I m currently at UPenn, to follow an "English Language Programme". I took the SAT1 one month ago, and if I had the opportunity to take it again now or in 2 months, I am sure that I will get between 600 and 700, which is great for a foreign student. Moreover, thanks to the interviews, the different universities are aware of that, and I ask UPenn to send a letter asserting that I am improving a lot and that I will be ready !</p>

<p>I got 800 to the SAT2 Math II really easily, and I did everything to explain to universities that the SAT1 did not evaluate my intellectual capacities, but my language skills.
For me it was just a language test...</p>

<p>Do you think that such a weakness, which can be quickly corrected (I need few months), may discalify me ?</p>

2

<p>Up !
Please, just need your opinion :/</p>

3

<p>None of us can do more than speculating about your chances. Accordingly, use a huge grain de sel de mer before jumping to conclusions. </p>

<p>To make it short. it would take a miracle for you to gain admission to Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, and Duke, at least this year. Your basic problem is that you seemingly had no real direction or sound advice regarding your SAT tests and your choices of schools in general. For instance, you calim to be be a top student in Physics, but you took two language tests --including your own! The Math Level 2 is a good score but not uncommon among strong applicants. In your case, the 700 on the SAT mitigates its impact on admissions. </p>

<p>I doubt that much can be done this year. Perhaps, you should investigate if the same schools might entertain you applying next year. This might allow you to complete your English courses, prepare for the SAT adequately, and compile a more conventional list of target schools. Another option would be to enroll in one of the best European schools and focus on a transfer application for the schools that allow transfers. One last option would be to repeat your last year of high school in the US, but that gives you only one semester before the applications are due. All in all, this is probably not the news you expected to hear.</p>

<p>As far as the interviews, remember that the interviewers are not admission officers, and that their input represents little to nothing in the grand scheme of things.</p>

4

<p>i don’t want to crush your dream, but my D applied 3 years ago at those ivys and got rejected or waitlisted, she is French and took the satI sat II and got 2100/2600 and 32/36 on the act being also battalion commander in the jrotc coast guard and had travelled all over the world with an internship in Spain and China…etc… she also speak Mandarin… she got waitlisted at Georgetown University and John Hopkins and Chicago, rejected at HYP… I wish you good luck! bonne chance…</p>

5

<p>xiggi: </p>

<p>I did not take SAT2 in physic or chemistry because I did not understande the questions.
I tried a translated one, and I got 800 very easily…
I did not have the vocabulary to understand the question. That’s it.
Moreover, my math SAT1 score is not amazing because it was the first time and because I did some careless mistakes. But i m in the average…
Tanks for your answer !</p>

<p>ginger2: </p>

<p>I know, but my SAT 1 scores are the only “big” weakness…
I was told that scores were only a part of the application process…
I do not want to be pretentious, but my skills in Math and Physics are much higher than those of American student finishing high school, and I proved it in my application (through essays…).
Did your D speak english fluently ? (PS: She had a great application :o)</p>

6

<p>Beyond your SAT (and TOEFL) scores, the problem as I see it is what they represent and what you have admitted, that you are not sufficiently fluent in English. While you may be amongst the best of the best in France, if you attend any of the schools that you listed you would be in classes with the best of the best native English speakers. Classes will be taught to their level of language skills, not yours. I fear that the admissions officers would consider this too high of a barrier to admit you. I think xiggi gave you good advice.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for giving me those answers !</p>

<p>cltdad:
I plan to study Mathematics, which is my first academic interest…
Language skills are less requiered.
Moreover, i m in UPenn, and I will go to London during the summer break !
I improved a lot, and I think I will be fluent in 3 months…
I took the SAT before going to the US, as I said, if I got the opportunity to take it now or in 2 months, I think that my CR and W scores would be acceptable…
And I did everything in order to admissions officers include that.
UPenn wrote a letter asserting that too…</p>

<p>Do you think that Admissions can trust me and believe me ?</p>

<p>Thanks !</p>

8

<p>FRVincent- You are competing for spots at the colleges you listed with other internationals who have better CR, W and TOEFL scores.
Apply again next year when you improve your test scores.
Or update us if you got into one of your desired colleges.</p>

9

<p>Actually you are not totally right… Even if I agree with you.
Indeed, the Harvard alumnus told me that among the 30 french, I was the only one who is not a native speaker… The other ones are son of alumni currently living in france (for exemple her daughter is now in Harvard).
I think we must be differentiated… But anyway, you are right… Admissions do not really care about that.</p>

<p>But some people, (Alumnus from Princeton and Harvard) told me that, thanks to my rank in france, and thanks to my Scientific skills in particular, I got some chances to be accepted.</p>

10

<p>FRVincent-
I meant to convey to you that your competition at the schools you listed have higher scores but you still have a chance despite your perceived inadequate scores.
You’ll know soon.
Good luck to you and let us know if you have success.</p>

11

<p>Thanks Batllo…
I just found out that test are the most important part of the application.
That’s why I am really scared, because my english scores are weak…
Anyway, I will let you know in 30 days…
I hope it will work, because I was enrolled in one of the Top French school (european equivalent of HYP), And I gave up to try that way !</p>

12

<p>As we say in America, FRVincent, you decided to…</p>

<pre><code> Go big or go home.
</code></pre>

<p>I’ll translate if need.</p>

13

<p>I understand literally, but we do not have such a sentence in french, and I do not understand the meaning.</p>

<p>Can you explain me ?</p>

<p>Thanks !</p>

14

<p>It is a compliment to your willingness to give up your spot at the prestigious French university for a chance at an American university with no guarantees of acceptance.</p>

<p>Go big=aiming for the elite US universities
or go home=knowing if you fail you have lost something like your spot at the tippy top French university
In your case, failure is not an option.</p>

<p>Too bad about not taking the SAT II Physics test especially if that is a strength.</p>

<p>Caltech and MIT are more forgiving about lower CR, W and TOEFL score if you are a math and science beast.
Whatever happens, you have a bright future.</p>

15

<p>I agree with cltdad. The issue is not one of test scores, but of English fluency. Whatever the course, math or otherwise, at the elite colleges that you’re targeting, it will be taught at a quick pace, and subtlety, fine distinctions will be the norm.</p>

<p>It doesn’t help your cause when you claim that “in 3 months” you would have attained the language fluency that’s needed to be successful in the elite colleges to which you’re applying. It’s much more likely that it would take take you 2-3 years to get to the level of deep fluency in English, and I would encourage you to deal with this reality both personally and also in your communication with admissions. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be applying to elite colleges now. Actually you’ll be better positioned to attain the necessary English fluency if you were a student pursuing your degree, then by taking special language courses, or studying for more tests. But it will be hard at first, especially at the colleges to which you’re applying. That said, perhaps one or two of the colleges to which you’re applying are willing to take the risk inherent in your situation.</p>

<p>I disagree with some of the posts that encourage you to spend a year attaining fluency and reapplying. In practice you would mostly likely lose that year, with no real assurance that reapplying would make any difference, and practically speaking you’ll lose some appeal as a viable candidate because of the delay.</p>

16

<p>Hi vincent, </p>

<p>I am French as well , are you applying for this year , or next year ?
I want to apply in some colleges , but I do not know what are my chances.Could you tell me if you get in or not ? </p>

<p>Thanks !</p>