Chance me for UPenn, Cornell, Berkeley - Intl student

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi guy, I’m a vietnamese student applying to US universities this fall. UPenn, Cornell, Berkeley are the three top tiers on my list. Can you take a look at my stats and ECs and comment on whether i’d have any shot at these places?

I’m not applying for financial aid btw :slight_smile:
Intended major: Environmental Sciences/ Environmental & Sustainability Sciences/ Society & Environment

Stats
Grades: AAAA in Chemistry, Maths, Eng Lit, Economics A-level
SAT I: 2050 (this was from May test) -just retook this Oct, waiting for results
SAT II: Math II - 790, Chemistry - 780

Awards
-a few in-school awards for top grades in literature, economics, ICT, science, geography, maths
-bronze + silver prize for UK math challenge
-1st prize public speaking competition (9th grade)
-Best presentation for city enterprise challenge
-1st place city swimming with girl swim squad
-2 special awards from principal
-a few other awards on efforts, organizing school events

ECs
-Student Council (9-12)
-Eco-commitee (9-12): president, co-founder
-Community service committee (10-12): co-ordinator
-Mentoring system (10-12): peer mentor, founded school mentoring system, write for school blog on studying abroad
-Prefect (12)
-Founder of local community organization: (10-12) carried out project in 5 different schools to do book drives and provide English/ sex-ed/ health-ed classes for students in rural areas
-Chairwoman of seminar (11,12) where I organized 7 sessions for a top Hong Kong environmentalist to come to 2 cities in my country to deliver speeches on global warming
-Co-founder of online charitable bookstore (11-12) to raise funds and awareness for underprivlleged children, women, refugess
-Internship at national magazine (summer, winter break of grade 11-12)
-Camp mentor of a summer camp which assist children with mental, studying, social problems (summer grade 11-12)
-Piano (10 years) - lessons at a music institution and participant of drama group at the institution
-Swimming (6 years) - private training, swim team, swim coach for primary kids at school

2

Bump

3

Without your new SAT scores, it’s hard to make a concrete call. Other than that, you should be a competitive applicant.

4

Your SAT score is on the low side and not competitive for any of these colleges.

5

bump

6

Your SAT needs to raise up 200+
(For UPenn perhaps 250+)

7

Agree with @ancap1 and @uclaparent9. That SAT score is not competitive for Berkeley. If you can afford $55k per year at UC Berkeley, then up your SAT score to 2250+ to just be considered.

8

@“aunt bea” Is 2100 - 2200 considered competitive enough for Berkeley?

9

@uclaparent9 " How about my ECs? Will they be good enough for upenn/ berkeley/ cornell?

10

No. As an international candidate, you are also competing for spots with instate students who are coming in with SATS of 2300. Your scores have to be better than average at a California state public school, whose mission is to educate state residents whose parents pay the taxes to fund that school. http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/files/freshman-profiles/freshman_profile_berkeley.pdf

The UCs profiles include statistics for recruited athletes.

Also, you need to be aware that thousands of students have in-school awards, don’t list these in your application unless they have a reference to your major. It just looks like padding your resume. ECs are all over the place. Stick to a few that are meaningful.

Try some of the mid tier UCs. Berkeley and U of Penn are reaches. Not too sure about Cornell.

11

@“aunt bea” thanks for the information. apart from SAT how do my ECs look for berkeley?

12

Regarding you ECs quality, it depends on what is “bronze + silver prize for UK math challenge” ?
Is that a national level contest in UK? It that an individual award or a team award? If that is a prestigious award then elaborate on that in your application.

13

Look at some other schools.

14

@uclaparent9" its an individual award and its a math challenge for international math contest for students who study UK program.
apart from my awards what are your comments on my activities?

15

bump

16

You definitly tried to involve yourself in many activities but none really stands out for elit schools. I considered them average.

17

@uclaparent9 what do u consider stand out?

18

Honestly the only things which shine in your stats are your subject tests and subject tests are not even requirements for UCs. So for Berkely which perhaps (arguably!) less selective than the other 2, it would not make much of a difference!

19

I think you better take “aunt bea” advice!

20

For Cornell’s Environmental Science and Sustainability Studies major (in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), your application will be evaluated based on how well your course work and ECs support your passion and preparation for studying environmental science. In your listing of ECs, I don’t see much involvement beyond the conference on global warming that you organized. Do you have any other hobbies, activities or coursework that reflect your interest I’m the environment?

Also - as others have said, your current SAT score is too low to be competitive for the Ivy’s, including Cornell. At this stage I’d consider Cornell a definite reach.