<p>Hi, I'm an international student from the UK and am hoping to apply to HYPSM and also maybe some little Ivies such as Amherst and Wesleyan. Just in case you are wondering, I will be requiring financial aid.
GCSEs- 5 A<em>s 8 As and 1 B.
AS Level- AAAA
Predicted A</em>A<em>A</em> for A2 (13th grade)
My A levels are in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and History.</p>
<p>SAT- 2300, 800 maths, 800 writing, 700 critical reasoning
SAT II MATHS 2 - 800
SAT II WORLD HISTORY - 800</p>
<p>ECs:
- Led campaign to stop government funding cuts to local police force, involved interviewing members of the force, writing to relevant government agencies, carrying out public consultation events, and in the end being congratulated by my local Member of Parliament (equivalent to a US senator) for my efforts.
- Have been playing piano for about 7 years, regularly receive distinctions in piano grading exams.
- Have been playing violin for about 7 years, also regularly receive distinctions in violin grading exams.
- Rock climb at an indoor climbing gym about 4 hours a week, have been doing this for about 4 years. Also regularly climb outdoors around the UK/Europe, have climbed in areas ranging from Pembrokeshire, South Wales to the Pyranese mountains in North Spain,
- Play football socially with friends, etc. (Can someone please tell me if playing football socially counts as an EC??)
- Volunteer at a local Cancer Research charity shop (I think they are called thrift stores in the US ?) for about 2 years, 5 hours a week.
- Member on school's debating society, have also completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award.</p>
<p>Also have gleaming letters of recommendations from my teachers and from what I can tell very good essays. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>@abe1234 - you should have good to excellent chances at these schools. HYPM and Amherst will not factor your need for financial aid into the admissions decision, and meet full need for all students, including internationals. Apparently Stanford is needs aware but meets full need for those it accepts.</p>
<p>I’d recommend you choose a favorite and apply there EA…your chances should be better. You cannot apply EA to MIT as you are international…you will have to wait until the RD round. Apparently applying EA to MIT has little advantage anyway.</p>
<p>@bldrdad Hi, thanks for the advice. Do you think not having a really specialist subject that I really excel in in my ECs is something that might hold me back? Also in terms of EA should I only apply to a few colleges EA? Or would there be any drawbacks to applying EA to all the schools that offer EA?</p>
<p>@abe1234 - all of these schools (except for MIT, which does not allow international to apply early) have either restrictive early action or binding early decision programs. The rules vary, but all will restrict you from applying early to other private institutions. You should consult the individual school websites for specifics as they vary from school to school.</p>
<p>700 in SAT verbal for English speaking applicants is not very attractive to HYPSM. In fact, starting next year, the reading part will be cancelled. SAT 1500/1600 will be slightly below average for HYP applicants. Also your EC is nothing special, and HYPSM admission officers know the UK system very well, including your awards mentioned.</p>
<p>In your case, unless you have some hook, most of these schools are reaches ( Wesleyan can be a match, not sure if they are need blind). Try to look at other ivies and the top LAC as well. </p>