<p>Hey! </p>
<p>I am an international student who hails from Saudi Arabia. Maybe some of you know that the education in Saudi Arabia is not like that of United Sates, so I am really encountering some difficulties in standing out in my application, but not to mention that I am one of the best ten junior students in my country. </p>
<p>Stats:
9th grade: 100%
10th grade: 99.6%
11th grade: 100%
(I don't know how I can put that in a "GPA" form) </p>
<p>Standardized tests:
SAT I: 400 Reading. 460 Math. 490 Writing. (An extremely bad grade, but that was my first time. And I will be retaking it in October and December)
SAT II: Math I 720 Physics 760
ACT: Composite 32</p>
<p>ECs:
- I have been an Islamic sciences student for 10 years, reached the highest level of the course, which is an introduction to Islamic philosophy. And now I am taking advanced courses in Islamic philosophy. Also, I have been associated with teaching kids Islamic sciences for 3 years.
- Political activism and cultural criticism. I participate in well-known magazines and newspapers, and a member of several youth organization in my country.
- The leader of our school's soccer team. Also, I am a professional player in my country. Played in different leagues and cups. </p>
<p>But one thing to add; ECs do not really exist in most of Middle Eastern countries, so this is scaring me a little bit. I am afraid that my ECs will lead to a distraction and my application won't seem that interesting. </p>
<p>"Top-notch" colleges I am planning to apply to; </p>
<p>Duke (Early decision)
Brown (The only reason why I am applying is Ruth Simmons and Providence, to be honest)
Haverford
Bowdoin
Davidson
Northeastern</p>
<p>(I understand that I posted this in another subforum, but it wasn't the right place to post this in. Plus, I would like any moderator to delete my other thread. Thank you!)</p>
<p>you probably wont get into top notch colleges.</p>
<p>Unless you improve your SATs tremendously-to the 700s at least-you have no shot at getting in. Sorry. 
Chance me?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1168046-thread-has-interesting-title-ill-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1168046-thread-has-interesting-title-ill-chance-back.html</a></p>
<p>Ooh, Bowdoin’s on your list. Bowdoin’s a special case. For it, I would say you have a very good shot at acceptance. Play up the political activism college. Also, try looking at colleges that are SAT optional; Pitzer College in Claremont, California is another one.</p>
<p>One thing I didn’t mention, I am not going to attach my SAT scores, I almost got a perfect score on the ACT. And that’s what I am planning to attach in my application. </p>
<p>Thank you, guys!</p>
<p>Yeah, I just noticed that. Try knocking it up to a 34 and I think you have a 70+% chance at Duke, 20-30% chance at Brown, 90+% chance at Northeastern, and 50+% chance at Haverford and Davidson. Are you applying for FA?</p>
<p>Not really. My country will grant me a full-paid scholarship once I leave.</p>
<p>Is Bowdoin more selective than Duke? And can anyone make a list of good liberal arts colleges which are not selective?</p>
<p>My sister got into duke with a 32 act, and your professional soccer Career is more impressive than the majority of other ECs out there, just make sure that you can focus on your strengths in your essays and you should do fine!</p>
<p>While 32 is a very good score, somewhere around the 98th/99th percentile, it isn’t near perfect. I disagree with StevenF that you’ll need a 34 for a 50% chance at Haverford. The 75th percentile ACT score as listed by **************.com is a 33… Raw acceptance rate is at 24%. It is a very difficult school to get into, but I doubt an ACT score higher than the 75th percentile average would be needed just to get a 50% chance. </p>
<p>In addition to an interesting academic background and unique extracurricular activities, I’d say you have a decent chance at Haverford. It never hurts to get scores up though. It’s interesting to note that neither collegeboard nor haverford’s website lists ACT scores.</p>
<p>Edit: Oops, didn’t realize the website would get censored. PM if you want the citation.</p>
<p>FYI 32 act is 97th percentile, and about 1.5 million take the act every year, so approximately 45,000 people scores better than you, and these people are the ones applying to schools like Harvard and Yale , etc. Just to give you a rough idea. However, you are quite unique, so I’d say you have a little higher chance than the national average (about 8% in an given year)</p>
<p>I truly believe that a Middle Eastern with an ACT score of 32 is quite unique. No one here can get more than 29, so I have a feeling that I will stand a chance. </p>
<p>Another question, are the SAT-optional LACs like Bowdoin and Bates hard to get into? And I am leaning toward LACs now, so I think I will make another list that only consists of liberal arts institutes.</p>
<p>Forget about the SAT don’t send it in, since you have a good ACT score at 32, take the ACT one more time and see if you can improve it.</p>
<p>I am not planning to send my SATs anyway. </p>
<p>But I really think that a Middle Eastern student with an ACT score of 32 is somehow unique and outstanding. It’s almost impossible to find someone with such a score here. </p>
<p>Anyway, I don’t think I will end up applying to Duke anymore. The liberal arts experience seems remarkable and astonishing, and I don’t think I wanna miss the chance to be a undergraduate in an American liberal arts institute.</p>
<p>Colleges look at you in rears to their overall applicant pool, so a 32 ACT is still 97th percentile, even if you live in Africa. You will stand the same chance as a upper class white male from California in regards to Standardized test scores. You need to place more emphasis on your unique ECs rather than your supposed “unique” teat scores.</p>