<p>I'm gonna apply ED to Smith and here is my status.</p>
<p>Objective:
SAT I : 2080 ( CR630 Math760 WR690) Will take another time in October
ACT: /
SAT II: Math II 780 U.S. History 760
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): Dont know GPA, but is placed in the top 40% of a very competitive school
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank
AP (place score in parenthesis):
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Top Ten Youth on Campus in 2010; Area First Prize in the Shanghai Students Post Cup English Contest for Junior School Students of Shanghai 2010</p>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<p> Extracurriculars
1. the news group of school TV station(leader);honored with "Gold Medal Student's League" of Shanghai and "Best Students' News" second prize of Shanghai
2. Community drama club (every Saturday afternoon)<br>
3. Class leader of schools International Cultural Festival. My class gave a show about Denmark and honored with the first prize and highly praised by Danish Consulate General of Shanghai.
4. class leader of different campus art activities such as English Film Dubbing Contest, Singing Contest, Photo Competition, etc.</p>
<p> Volunteer/Community service:
1. Community cleanups
2. Mentor of the community summer class for kids (teaching some simple English and having games with them)</p>
<p> Summer Activities:
Sold sunglasses and used the profit to fund surgeries for the cataract blind.</p>
<p> Essays: My draft is basically about learning about the world and my place in it through other people.</p>
<p> Teacher Recommendation: I think it will be written by my history teacher and English teacher or the instructor of school TV Station.</p>
<p> Interview: Will request one
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: No
Intended Major: Undecided
Academic interest: History/Sociology
Country (if international applicant): China
School Type: Public (TOP 5 in Shanghai)
Ethnicity: Asian
Income Bracket: above average</p>
<p>Personality overview
Strengths: Good management and organizing ability and leadership; Strong curiosity for new and challenging things; Tenacity towards difficulties; Caring about what is happening in the world; Easygoing; a good observer; Earnest working and have a strong sense of responsibility
Weaknesses: Lack of confidence sometimes; Lack of equanimity and easily gets nervous</p>
<p>Will i be a good fit for Smith? Any suggestions, comments, and opinions will be highly appreciated! Thank you!</p>
<p>I think you are a very strong candidate. Your credentials are similar to those of my own daughter who is now at Smith. And as an international who is not seeking financial aid, you would be a desirable admit on the part of the school. Good luck!</p>
<p>Objective:
• SAT I : 2220 ( CR-780 Math-770 WR-650)
• SAT II: Math II-700/U.S. History-710/Literature 730)
• GPA : No GPA in my school
• Rank : school does not rank but in my ‘A’ Levels finals i <em>think</em> i was the top in my course.
• no AP or ACT
• Scored 3A*s (>90%) in 3 principle subjects but a C in another (was sick on exam day and missed a whole question - did not provide explanation though i realise now it’s a mistake not to do so)</p>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<p>• Extracurriculars
Represented Secondary school (2008/2009) in various competitions (Volleyball, Taekwondo, Drama…) Had positions in those clubs too (vice-chair, treasurer, etc).
Started and ran the environmental society - did not manage to achieve anything amazing with the society. (at least, not on paper - gained lots of experience in campaigning though!)
Was a delegate representing my country in an regional seminar and an international conference.</p>
<p>• Volunteer/Community service:
Raised funds for charity
Actively involved in environmental activism
Team lead for a project to increase volunteering in my country - gained recognition from ministers and ministries, local celebrities, national media outlets,etc.</p>
<p>• Summer Activities:
Interned for an NGO.
Worked full time and was tasked to organise events and take the lead on certain projects (mostly with a social focus)</p>
<p>• Essays: About my passion for social causes and volunteering. Some of my friends think it’s pretty good. Maybe 7/10?</p>
<p>• Recommendations: Not great. School officials/teachers here not used to writing very personal recs. Most of them already have a format for what they write. Also, wasn’t so close to my teachers that they’d know me so well for a stellar rec.</p>
<p>• Interview: Did not request one</p>
<p>Other
• Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes will need a lot
• Intended Major: Engineering
• Academic interest: Econs, Environmental science, and everything! Love LACs.
• Country (if international applicant): Malaysia
• School Type: Private
• Ethnicity: Chinese
• Income Bracket: Er. By american standards, quite low i would think.</p>
<p>Overview
• Strengths: Took a gap year, and quite clear and driven with regards to my purpose and goals. Very passionate about social work. Have working experience. Quite matured (?) maybe. Strives on stress, hardworking, outgoing, etc.
• Weaknesses: Took a gap year, so ‘older’ than most other freshman applicants - i’m 20 this year. Grades not so consistent. There’s a C in my final report, though all A’s in my MYR, following that there’s a couple of B’s here and there. Courseload wasn’t very rigorous in my ‘A’ Levels - not sure if they consider it that way though. Also, the fact that i’m international AND need a lot of financial aid.</p>
<p>What do you guys think? I applied ED2 and if i get in with FA i’ll be so ridiculously happy but if i don’t … well it’s not the end of the world :’(</p>
<p>ps: sorry yilinxie for jacking your thread! I didn’t wanna start a new one.</p>
<p>I think you have a very good chance at acceptance. Your stats are similar to those of my own daughter who is a sophomore. The face that you need FA should not be a deterrence, although the school is “need aware,” especially for internationals. Best of luck in your application. I believe you will make it!</p>
<p>Well, as The Dude says in “The Big Lebowski,” some new “stuff” has come to light. Apparently lilredboxes is in her second go around as a college applicant. She does not make this clear in the recent posting. Could have an impact on her app, not certain. I usually take these posts at face value and don’t go hunting around for past posts which might contradict/enlighten the current situation. My bad I guess. In any case, I must temper my enthusiasm for this young lady’s chances.</p>
<p>Bossf51, do you think the fact that lilredboxes has applied to college before makes a major difference? I’m not sure it does. I haven’t looked her up before posting this response, but it strikes me that theoretically she just has more experience and might need to explain what she’s been doing since the last time she applied and how she’s a better candidate this time.</p>
<p>hi there! yup it’s my second round - but i have not applied to Smith College before. I didn’t think it’d be a big issue so i didn’t include that in my post I did certainly explain in my app how i spent the extra year. thanks much for the input anyway!</p>
<p>Lilredboxes, I just glanced at your CC posts from last year. It seems you applied to very, very competitive schools. This time I hope you have a good spread of colleges from competitive to less competitive to which you’re applying, since this is your second round. You comment your teacher recommendations aren’t great plus there’s some variance in your grades; those could give the admissions office pause in accepting you. Smith becomes more competitive if you need lots of aid, which you said you did. If you did something really outstanding for your gap year and you have a terrific recommendation or two from that experience to include in your application, that could help.</p>
<p>“Smith becomes more competitive if you need lots of aid, which you said you did.” </p>
<p>I should clarify that this is true for internationals. Smith’s policy for internationals is called “need-aware.” </p>
<p>Lilredboxes, I don’t want to discourage you. I want you to succeed in attending an American college; that’s your dream and it’s a good one. I hope you’ve applied to some other excellent schools that are somewhat less competitive. No college is perfect; you will find both excellent professors and uninspired professors at any school, and wherever you go, you will have to do your research to find out which ones from whom you want to learn. You can get a great education at many American schools. I’ve seen this over and over again with college students I know.</p>
<p>Thanks so much CarolynB yes i applied to a bunch of really competitive schools last year and in hindsight, not applying to more safeties is a huge mistake. You give good advice, one i wish i listened to more carefully last year year.</p>
<p>I do hope i can report back with good news soon!</p>
I did certainly explain in my app how i spent the extra year. thanks much for the input anyway!</p>