Chance me! I'll chance back :)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>First of all, I am an International student who lives and goes to high school in Stockholm, Sweden.</p>

<p>SAT I - M: 790, CR: 610, W: 600, Total: 2000</p>

<p>It is not the best scores, but I study English as a second language and I am rather happy about these scores anyway. 2000 sounds better than 1990, so I was perhaps a bit lucky!</p>

<p>TOEFL: 109/120 (Writing: 27(/30), Reading: 27, Speaking: 27 and Listening: 28)</p>

<p>Strengths:
I have gotten all A's since I got my first grade ever, which I count as my best part of my application. I am not sure if an A is exactly the same as a "pass with special distinction" which is a translated version of the highest grade in Swedish high schools. Then we have pass with distinction, pass and fail. The percentage of Swedes getting all passes with special distinction is extremely lower than students with a 4.0 GPA. Grades are not on a curb in Sweden either. We have goals in each course which we need to reach in order to get our grade. My high school has been ranked as the best high school in Sweden for several years now and maybe 5-10% of our class will get the highest grades in all courses. I am one of those students. Sadly, this will not be as clear to the admissions people in the U.S. as it is to students and teachers in Sweden.</p>

<p>Teacher recommendations are great! (the teachers always appreciate my enthusiasm and my ability to ask good questions in class)</p>

<p>I help out a lot in my family company as well as home, which makes it hard for me to find time for other extra curricular activities. </p>

<p>Played saxophone since third grade and this summer I played at a music festival where Robyn and other famous Swedish artists performed. I wrote this adventure in my common app essay.</p>

<p>I'm Swedish Apparently, our work ethic is much appreciated in the U.S. I have heard this from many different sources. It is not something I would make up.</p>

<p>Flaws in application:
My essays are probably not the best, but I don't think I will be rejected by the schools because of them.</p>

<p>I am applying for a lot of financial aid. I know Amherst and Dartmouth are need-blind for international students as well, but the others are not that generous.</p>

<p>List of colleges I have applied to:
Colgate University
Dartmouth College
Middlebury College
Vassar College
Amherst College
Colorado College</p>

<p>Keep in mind that most colleges strive to become more diverse, and since we are not many Swedes who apply to college in the U.S, the chances for our acceptance at some schools multiply. There are 3 test centers for the SAT in Sweden and perhaps 40-50 students at most take the SAT each month. Of those students, at least half of them are recruited athletes. In Sweden all we have to do to apply to universities is to send in our grades from high school. Therefore, many students also take the test without following through with all of the applications because they don't think it's worth the exertion. A handful of people may apply to Dartmouth, Middlebury and Amherst, but probably no one will apply to the other schools on my list.</p>

<p>Now, what are my chances in your opinion from what information I have given you? Please motivate your answer! </p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>This is tough for me to chance because I don’t really know how these schools like international people, and how much they’ll forgive your relatively (very in some cases) low SAT I score, but here’s what I would say:</p>

<p>Dartmouth: high reach (for all)
Amherst: mid-high reach (for all)
Middlebury: low-mid reach (because of fin aid)
Colgate: high match/low reach (because of fin aid)
Vassar: low-mid reach (because of fin aid)
Colorado College: high match (because of fin aid)</p>

<p>But perhaps I may be too harsh. I’m not sure. All I know is that with that SAT score, Dartmouth and Amherst will be… challenging.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1281952-chance-nervous-junior-i-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1281952-chance-nervous-junior-i-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Thanks for chancing! Chanced you back. Anyone else want to chance me for a chance in return?</p>

4

<p>I think you’re in at all of those colleges except Dartmouth for this reason: You are swedish, bright, and obviously driven (hence the great ECs and grades). Your one area of weakness is your SAT score so if you can, DEFINITELY try to retake that to get a 2100+ - it would significantly help your chances.
Good luck to you sir!</p>

5

<p>I think Dartmouth is really the only major reach for you. However, you have a lot going for you. Your grades are good, and being international should only help you. You might run into some troubles regarding financial aid and your SAT score. I’d try to retake the SAT if I were you. I think you can get into all of those colleges if you bring your score up a little. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>Thanks! I don’t think I have that opportunity though to raisew my scores. I am already late with my subject test scores which will be sent in 2 weeks. Probably got 750+ on math II and at least a 720 on physics.</p>

7

<p>You have a 58 % chance of getting into Dartmouth College!</p>

<p>Haha, I bet that tool is bullet proof.</p>