Chance An International, Please!!!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm from Estonia, will major in Political Science (with a possible minor in Psychology) and need almost full FA (I know, a killer). The colleges that I have chosen are:</p>

<p>1) Yale (SCEA)
2) Princeton
3) MIT
4) Berea
5) Bates
6) Oberlin
7) Colby
8)Washington & Lee
9) Macalester
10) Grinnell</p>

<p>Please tell me what are my chances in each school</p>

<p>And my stats:</p>

<p>High School - small, very competitive, often said to be the best in my country (the competition for one place was 1/20 the year I entered), has sent some people to Harvard, Columbia, Vassar, Oxbridge and 100% of its graduates go to a four-year university (also have the highest examination results in my country). If I would stay in Estonia I would go to the leading university in here.</p>

<p>GPA - about 4,6/5 or 93% but it's not actually calcualted. This is based on my course grades and I have about 110 courses in high school.</p>

<p>Rank - also, school does not rank, but I should be 3/29 (I know, small class. But again, very very competitive)</p>

<p>Courses - we don't get to choose our subjects but follow the national curricula. so, we have about 20 different subjects throughout high school (meaning that every year I have the same 20 subjects) This gives a very strong base but has a negative effect on my GPA. This year we actually had some electives and I had the most difficult course load possible.</p>

<p>SAT - not taken yet, but shouldn't actually be very difficult. I'm sure I'll get atleast 2000 on the reasoning test and 700 on subject tests (Physics, US History, MathII)</p>

<p>Backround - white, but grandmother from a small minority group and grandfather from Ukraine</p>

<p>Awards:
III place in History olympiad 2006
III place in G5 debating contest (G5 - the 5 best schools in Estonia) 2007
A diploma from the President's Historical Research contest 2006
A diploma form the National Archive for Historical Research 2007</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:
1996-2006 gymnastics/showdance
2008 ballroom dancing
2001-2004 art school
2006-2009 debating (one of the organisers of Tallinn Open - an international debating contest)
2008-2009 judge in various debating competitions
photography + photo editing
2008-2009 the school choir
2008 „Security Policy and National Defence“ – course in university, earning college credit, will continue in autumn (with a different course)</p>

<p>Work experience:
2007 - translated scientifical research from English into Estonian
2008 summer - worked as a shop assistant in a phone shop</p>

<p>Volunteering:</p>

<p>2008 – Clean Estonia
2007 – planting trees
2006 – cleaning forests from garbage
(all this is very popular in Estonia and is almost the only volunteer work possible)</p>

<p>As for my college preferences... I'm not sure. I seem to like almost every environment - small town, big city, you name it. I've lived in both and understand that both have their pros and cons. I would like to go to a smaller school (15000 undergrads is too much). I'm mostly looking for east coast schools (easier to travel from Europe + I like the weather).</p>

<p>With many schools I just feel they are right for me. Yale, Oberlin, Colby and MIT seem to be my favourites right now. With the others I'm not so sure, maybe I just don't know enough about them.</p>

<p>I greatly appreciate your help :)</p>

2

<p>If you get at least a 2000 on your SATs, you definitely have a chance at Colby and Oberlin.
You should try to get at least a 2100 (preferably higher!) for the Ivys and MIT</p>

3

<p>Anyone else?</p>

4

<p>1) Yale (SCEA)--Reach (sorry)
2) Princeton--Slight Reach
3) MIT--Slight Reach
4) Berea--Match
5) Bates--Match
6) Oberlin--Safe Match to Match
7) Colby--Safety to Safe Match
8)Washington & Lee--Safe Match
9) Macalester--Match
10) Grinnell--Safety to Safe Match</p>

<p>Apply also to Columbia. Great political science program also. Likely to want internationals in this major--particularly from former Soviet Union countries like Estonia. Slightly easier to get into than Yale, Princeton, and MIT. You are a Match to Slight Reach there.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>P.S. Four former US Presidents graduated from Columbia--and its in the heart of New York City where you would find a fairly large Soviet immigrant population. You'll need about a 2100 to 2150 SAT for Columbia.</p>

5

<p>Thank you!
Why is Yale more of a reach than Princeton? I know they are both reaches (great ones) but I guess Yale is more because of SCEA (more competitive pool)?</p>

6

<p>Yes, SCEA will be a more competitive pool. Plus, Princeton is more competitive for the sciences, while Yale is more competitive for majors like political science, economics, engineering, and philosophy.</p>

<p>Ever see the US TV show called "House". It supposedly takes place at a medical center at Princeton. Why?--Because Princeton is known for their medical programs. And supposedly, Dr. House has his medical degree from another well-known medical school, John Hopkins. </p>

<p>P.S. There's a new TV medical show coming out next season called "Hopkins" located--you guessed it--at a John Hopkins medical center.</p>

7

<p>I love House :)</p>

<p>Maybe I should forget about Yale SCEA and do an early review at Berea..in that case I would love another EA school but haven't found a suitable one..</p>

8

<p>bump</p>

<p>Anyone else, please?</p>

9

<p>yeah def apply to columbia - and what about uni Penn, middlebury and dartmouth?</p>