Chance? Help with college choice?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>OK, here's the deal! I'm an international student (junior) from Eastern Europe. American-style high-school with good reputation. </p>

<p>BUT I don't really know to which universities to apply. Yes, I've made that top 10 list, but I'm afraid it's only based on reputation. I know I want to study international relations + econ of some kind + may be polit sci/hist - they are all close. but the main thing is IR. That is why I'm sure to apply to tufts. but could you give me advise on other really good and competitive colleges that will fit. tell you the truth, i will enjoy studying at an ivy league school, but i'm not sure which one is the best in these majors.</p>

<p>also I was looking at huntsman - I really like it, but I lack the language proficiency (unless I spend the summer studying german and finally learn it by the november sat). + i know nothing about taking APs - dates, level of prep...</p>

<p>I suppose you need the stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 6.0/6.0 (no APs at my school)
sat1 : m 800, cr 730, w 710, have an old one, too: m 780, v 630
sat2s: world his 790, taking the chem and physics in a week, still haven't planned anything about math 2c but there is plenty of time.</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<ul>
<li>Debate: prez, national titles in debate, public speaking, international competitions, international camps..., currently even coaching the team. in the club since 2002</li>
<li>MUN: prez, nat level conferences, awards, since 2003</li>
<li>Mock Trial: prez, it is not on a competitive basis in my country, since 2003</li>
<li>School Paper: Opinions Section editor, in there since 2003</li>
<li>Softball Intramural: prez, since 2002</li>
<li>Student Advisory Committee (I just can't learn to spell that word)</li>
<li>Basketball Team (only for keeping in shape + fun, reserve)</li>
</ul>

<p>Summers:
- worked as a translator last summer
- going to exploration at yale this summer</p>

<p>Recs: I can get pretty good recs, history teacher (us native) + philosophy teacher (also debate advisor, very elloquent)</p>

<p>Please help me find my dream school because I don't want to have only reaches on my list.</p>

2

<p>In terms of debate (and MUN) - </p>

<p>Yale is awesome. I'd say Yale is best in terms of MUN (won some award at an intl conference a year ago or something). All the Ivies have spectuacular MUN teams, though I'm tempted to say Harvard has a better Mock Trial, while Yale has the better MUN. </p>

<p>One of the best things about you being from Europe is that you did Worlds Debate - a style of debate that Harvard/Yale/(virtually all Ivies) sponsor. So you're set there.</p>

<p>I think you have a good chance, esp. if those are competitive national titles. Get rid of stuff like basketball team, etc. that really isn't your 'passion'. You should focus on specific ECs - 5 at most. If Mock Trial is not competitive, don't list it.</p>

<p>Berkeley has a fairly good MUN team (not THAT great), different style of debate (NPDA Parli and Policy), and an OK Mock Trial team. It is very hard to get into out of state and intl, but I'd apply anyway.</p>

<p>University of South Carolina has a great debate team; but its NOT a great school. :) Cornell is a lesser Ivy with a very good debate team; Northwestern is also pretty good. I'd check out winners of the APDA nationals tournament this year; as well as college policy - I forgot the acronym there.</p>

3

<p>Well, Well, Well!</p>

<p>ECs are not the only thing I'm looking at in college, and when choosing, what I'd look for is the debate club.</p>

<p>What about majors? What about my chances, not only EC-based?</p>

4

<p>Otherwise, thanx for the info. I forgot to mention sth else - I want to stick to the east coast, New England, Atlantic, the farthest west I'd look at is Macalester.</p>

5

<p>Cornell is a good choice. Its in NY, so I think that'd be a good place for you. Most of the Ivies are pretty good with the history/poli sci major, and I wouldn't be able to say which is better than the other, because frankly, I think they all provide an awesome education.</p>

<p>UP the writing and verbal SAT scores. If you're looking for that kind of major, you should really be better at verbal/writing than math. Ivies have been known to really want a good verbal score, anyway.</p>

<p>I'd say, depending on how much your 'national titles' mean, you'd have a good shot. The SAT scores do hurt you a lot here, esp. when you say that is your intended major.</p>

6

<p>There will be one list if you need no financial aid and an entirely different list if you do. That's vital information for any international.</p>

7

<p>well, I'll definately need fin aid, but what I saw is that most of the colleges have need-based aid, so the only thing I need to do is get accepted... otherwise I know the state unis don't give aid to internationals. Any other suggestions?</p>