Chance Me for LACs please

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi. I am an Indian male living in Singapore going to a prestigious international school. I have just turned 17 and I am midway through 11th grade. I will be applying to universities in about a year's time. Could anyone please tell me what sorts of universities I can apply to with the following qualifications. Note, these are the qualifications I have currently, so it is likely I will have more by the time I apply. I am undertaking the International Baccalaureate program. I am thinking of applying to the US (undergraduate level) for one of the following as majors: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology/Pharmacology. I would like to minor in ethics or history.</p>

<p>Predicted IB Score:
At present (from semestral assessments): 42
Eventually likely to be somewhere around 43-45 (hopefully)</p>

<p>IB Subjects: At higher level (Biology, Chemistry and Economics)
At standard level (Chinese B, English Lang/Lit and Mathematics)</p>

<p>Although I don't study it anymore, I also have a strong passion for History.</p>

<p>SAT I Score:
1930 on first try. May not be taking again.</p>

<p>SAT II Score:
Haven't done them yet. Planning on taking Biology and maybe Chemistry</p>

<p>Teacher Recommendations:
Likely to be good. Not much development as of yet as I am new to 11th grade.
Will definitely be taking 1 from my Biology Teacher. The other may come from my Chemistry/Economics/Maths/Chinese teacher.</p>

<p>ECAs:</p>

<p>In School</p>

<ol>
<li>Leader of History Club (Grade 9 and 10)</li>
<li>Grade 9 History Award and Grade 10 History Award</li>
<li>Awarded "Most reputed tutee" award in class.</li>
<li>Vice Chair of Bombay Leprosy Project (helps fundraise for lepers in Bombay) (Grade 10)</li>
<li>Recently became Chairman of Bombay Leprosy Project (in school) (Grade 11-12)</li>
<li>Short term member of SHILPA GC (group supporting a school for the mentally disabled in India)</li>
<li>Selected for School Ambassador Committee (helps look after new students, organize school events, student body communications)</li>
<li>Selected for school's International Forum Committee (helps organize forums regarding contemporary topics, world issues, economic problems in school)</li>
<li>Previously worked as a journalist for two school magazines.</li>
<li>Volunteering/volunteered for numerous charitable organizations</li>
<li>Singapore Airlines MINDS Center for mentally disabled
-Helping organize activities for primary children at my school </li>
<li>Volunteering at a home run by the Red Cross</li>
<li>Volunteering at Make-a-wish foundation Singapore. Administrative Work mainly.</li>
<li>Selected as delegate to represent school at Harvard Model Congress Asia 2013. Part of Arab League Committee</li>
<li>Part of Organizing Committee for UN Evening - a school event which celebrates diversity of culture, food, dance and music of different nations.</li>
<li>Active member of School Medical Society</li>
<li>Founder of School's first official Biology Society - involving discussions on biology related disciplines such as biopsychology, biotechnology, biochemistry, ecology, evolution and neuroscience.</li>
<li><p>Involved in a Student Advancement Council - relations between alumni of the school and current students.</p></li>
<li><p>I have also undertaken the National Youth Achievement Award/Duke of Edinburgh Award in Singapore - it is also offered by some other countries.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>-Bronze Award
- Silver Award
- Gold Award this year</p>

<p>Expeditions:</p>

<p>NYAA Bronze trip: Pulao Ubin Island (Trekking on island)
NYAA Silver Trip: Hong Kong (Trekking in mountains)
NYAA Gold Trip: Perth (Trekking in mountains)
Discover Korea Expedition: Seoul (Trekking in mountains)
Chiang Mai (Thailand): White Water Rafting
Tioman (Indonesia): Kayaking</p>

<p>I recently spent a week in Vietnam working at the blue dragon foundation on a service trip. The foundation helps rescue children from sweatshops and underage sex workers from China.</p>

<p>Outside of School:</p>

<ol>
<li>Tennis experience of almost 7 years (2 years on school team)</li>
<li>1st degree black belt in karate. Likely to be 2nd degree black belt by the time applications start. Almost 6 years experience so far. Style is influenced by taekwondo and so I am able to perform many kicks.</li>
<li>Hindustani Classical Vocal Music training for 5 years. Also participated in group performances at cultural festivals in Singapore.</li>
<li>Learning Chinese outside of school. </li>
<li>I am fluent in 4 languages: English, Hindi, Marathi(Indian dialect) and Chinese (relatively fluent).</li>
<li>Knowledge of several types of computer software - word, excel, powerpoint, bento, dreamweaver.</li>
<li>Worked with General Practitioner on several occasions.</li>
<li>Planning on another medical internship at a hospital in Singapore.</li>
</ol>

<p>This is my second thread as the first gave an incorrect indication of my SAT 1 score. Kindly chance me for the colleges below:</p>

<ol>
<li>Bates College</li>
<li>Bowdoin College (not submitting SAT)</li>
<li>Carleton College</li>
<li>Davidson College</li>
<li>Grinell College</li>
<li>Middlebury College</li>
<li>Pitzer College (Not submitting SAT)</li>
<li>Reed College</li>
<li>Scripps College</li>
<li>College of William and Mary</li>
<li>NYU</li>
<li>UCLA</li>
<li>UCSD</li>
<li>Brown</li>
</ol>

2

<p>Also I took the International General Certificate of Secondary Education Exams after 10th grade and achieved the following grades:</p>

<p>Grades can range from U- A*</p>

<p>English Language: A*
English Literature: A*
Cambridge International Mathematics: A
Co-ordinated Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) Double Award: A<em>/A</em>
Economics: A*
History: A*
Foreign Language Chinese: A*
ICT: A</p>

3

<p>Bates: High match
Bowdoin: Reach
Brown: Reach
Carleton: Reach
Davidson: High match
NYU: High match
UCLA: High match (can you pay full-freight to an UC?)
UCSD: Match
Reed: High match
Scripps: High match
Middlebury: Reach
Grinnell: Low match/match
Pitzer: Reach (it’s a reach for anyone)
W&M: High match/Reach</p>

<p>I understand why you’d want to attend college in the US, since colleges in Singapore are reaches for anyone. It is best to retake the SAT or take the ACT, in which case aim for 2100+/31+.</p>

4

<p>Many of your schools take need into account for international applicants. As part of the application you will be asked to certify to those schools that you can pay 100% of the cost plus transportation. Need directly and dramatically impacts chances for an international applicant at schools that take need into account. </p>

<p>Do re-take the SAT, if you can, as higher results would certainly help your chances. Also, do plan to take SATIIs. Consider trying Mathematics II in addition to Bio and Chem. Even at your test optional schools it will help if you can submit some strong test scores.</p>

5

<p>Thank you all for your advice! I’m not sure if I will be able to retake the SAT 1 because I will be preparing for admissions to UK universities as well and may have to take certain exams for them as well.</p>

<p>I have also found that many New York Colleges are especially good for science and/or humanities majors. Could you please chance me for two more colleges below:</p>

<p>Colgate University
University of Rochester</p>

<p>Also I was wondering if my parent’s income would be taken into account? It is > than $100,000. I have heard that applying for financial aid early may decrease my chances of admission? </p>

<p>If this is the case, then is it possible for me to apply for aid once I have gained admission at the university I want to go to? </p>

<p>If my GPA is at a certain level, will they grant me whatever small amount of aid I may require (as my parents may be retiring from full time employment due to age)? </p>

<p>Or will they give me an opportunity to get some sort of job to pay for part of the college fees?</p>

<p>Also, if I am interested in doing a double major, do they two majors have to be in the same area of study (for instance two science majors) or can they be majors in two separate areas of study? </p>

<p>Such as a major in biomedical sciences and a major in modern history? </p>

<p>Do I need to declare this to the admissions officers or can I wait until I have received an offer from a university? </p>

<p>Will applying for a double major or any other sort of rigorous academic package at the university early on hurt my chances of acceptance?</p>

<p>Assuming that I gain admission to one university and feel unhappy/disappointed for whatever reason, am I allowed to apply for a transfer to another university (being an international student)?</p>

<p>If I do apply for a transfer to another university, will that university ask for all my sat scores, teacher recs, ECs and all that - or will they simply look at my GPA obtained from my time at the college I am transferring away from and then admit me?</p>

<p>Thank you all for being so patient! I apologize for what may seem like many stupid questions!</p>

6

<p>Colgate: Reach
U Rochester: Low match/Match</p>

7

<p>Yes, your family’s financial status is very relevant to the admissions decisions. There is a great deal of competition internationally for the limited amount of financial aid offered to international students. </p>

<p>Most of the colleges on your list will ask you to certify as part of your application the exact amount in US dollars that you and your family can contribute. Your admissions decision and any offer of aid will then be made in reliance on that certification. You generally cannot go back after admission to apply for aid or to lower the amount you are willing to pay. </p>

<p>Most schools provide a page within the admissions section of their website to address particulars for international applicants.</p>

8

<p>Bump Bump!</p>

<p>Please can someone answer my question about whether the selection of a double major/specific major can affect my chances at a university.</p>

<p>Also, some friends recently recommended applying to USC. Would my SAT scores/predicted IB scores be competitive at such a university. And what is their science program like?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

9

<p>Depends on which USC you’re talking about.</p>

<p>U Southern California: Reach
U South Carolina: Safety</p>

10

<p>Ok although my SAT 1 score is quite frankly terrible, I recently took the Bio-M SAT II and scored a 760. Would that make up for the SAT 1 score or not?</p>

<p>The schools I’m looking at now are:</p>

<p>Brown
UCLA
UCSD
Hamilton College
Pitzer College (no SAT)
NYU</p>

11

<p>And would it help if I said I’m a student at a United World College?</p>