chance me please!!! I am so confused!!! ><

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>Hi everyone, I am an international student who has studied in a very competitive (ranked top #100 high school in US News) high school in U.S. for two years. I am a senior now, and I hope you guys can chance me at University of Chicago, Cornell and UVA (I know I don't have a chance at MIT, but my gf is solid at MIT. So if you think I still have a chance at MIT, tell/comfort me.) My SAT and GPA sucks so much, will that influence me a lot?</p>

<p>I am not applying for any scholarship. Will this help me a lot?
SAT1: Verbal: 610 Math: 800 Writing: 610
SAT2: Math IIC: 800 Physics: 790 USH: 670
Unweighted GPA: 3.72</p>

<p>1) AP Courses:
AP Calculus BC: 5 (11th grade)
AP Calculus AB Subgrade: 5 (11th grade)
AP US History: 4 (11th grade)
AP Physics B: 5 (11th grade)
AP Biology: 4 (11th grade)
AP Microeconomics: 5 (11th grade)
AP Macroeconomics: 5 (11th grade)
AP Statistics: (12th grade)
AP Psychology: (12th grade)
AP Physics C Mechanics: (12th grade)
AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism: (12th grade)
AP Chinese: (12th grade – self study)
AP Computer Science AB: (12th grade – self study)</p>

<p>2) College Courses (Harvard Extension School)
Financial Accounting Principles: A- (12th grade)
Multivariable Calculus: A- (12th grade)
Linear Algebra: (12th grade)
3) Awards:
Individual:
1. Certificate of Distinction Award: American Mathematics Competitions of the Mathematical Association of America, 2007 & 2008.
2. Member of National Honor Society, 2008.
3. Best Robot Design Award in Belmont High School Robot Design course, 2007.
4. Ranked 22th out of 400 in Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, November, 2008.
5. AP Scholar with Distinctive Award, College Board, 2008.
6. Ranked 9th in individual scores in Greater Boston Mathematics League, 2008.
7. Qualifier for American Regions Mathematics League, New England Division, 2008.
8. Massachusetts Mathematics Olympiad Finalist (Ranked No. 56 in Massachusetts Mathematics Olympiad), 2008.
Team:
1. Team 2nd place in Massachusetts Economics Challenge, Massachusetts Council on Economic Education, 2008.
2. Team 4th place in Harvard Pre-Collegiate Economics Challenge, 2008.
3. Team 3rd place in New England Math Conference, large school division, 2008.
4. Team 3rd place in Massachusetts Math Conference, large school division, 2008.
5. Team 3th place in Massachusetts State Science Olympiad, 2008.</p>

<p>Activities:
1. Co-Founders and Director of Public Relations for A Thousand Wings, a non-profit organization to donate money for students in poverty in China, 2007~present.
2. Vice President in Math Team, 12th grade. Participant in math team, 10th, 11th and 12th grade. (Belmont High School)
3. Vice President in Business Club, 11th and 12th grade. (Belmont High School)
4. President in Breakdance Club, 11th and 12th grade. (Belmont High School)
5. Participant in Computer Science Club, 10th and 11th grade. (Belmont High School)
6. Participant in Asian American Club, 10th, 11th and 12th grade. (Belmont High School)
7. Participant in technology and background support for school theatre performance, 10th grade. (Belmont High School)
8. Participant in Science Club, 11th and 12th grade. (Belmont High School)
9. Peer Tutor, 12th grade. (Belmont High School)
10. Participant in Philosophy Club, 12th grade.
11. Perform Breakdance for school’s Diversity Week, Asian Night, Dance Club and other groups. 11th and 12th grade. (Belmont High School)</p>

<p>Volunteer:
1. Teacher assistant at IBM Hometown China Beijing , Beijing, China: 2007 summer.
2. Tutor AIDS Orphans at You-an Hospital, Beijing, China: 2007 summer.
3. Volunteer at McLean Hospital, Massachusetts: 2008 summer.
4. Volunteer at Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University, Massachusetts: 2008 summer.</p>

<p>Please chance me at U Chicago, Cornell and UVA!!! Thank you so much!!!!!!! I really don't know if I can get in because of my horrible SAT scores and GPA.
I appreciate your help, thank you so much!!!</p>

2

<p>you know, as an international student, you have the option of either applying to MIT with the SAT I and the 2 SAT II's or the TOEFL and 2 SAT II's. . .I'm choosing the latter.</p>

3

<p>I hope you have a chance. . .I have your stats. . . lol</p>

4

<p>Thanks. But I am mostly concerning about U Chicago and Cornell. I feel my GPA is really bad for U Chicago. So do I have a 50% chance at Chicago or something like that?</p>

5

<p>Well, UChic is a college that focuses on essays. . .is your essay good??. . .I'm not sure if Uchic is need-blind for international . . . if it is not need-blind (meaning Finan. aid isnt a factor in admissions) So check if Cornell and UChic are need-blind (UVa is not need-blind meaning it increases your chances by not applying for aid, MIT on the other hand is need-blind, so it won't make a difference whether you need aid or not). . .Your GPA is good considering the AP's you took. . .plus, MIT said they like students with a "healthy amount of B's." I'd say your in at UCHIC and UVA, not sure about MIT and Cornell (to make you feel more confident, I know a guy that got into MIT with around a 1200/1600). . .good luck!!</p>

6

<p>Thanks. :) I think my essays are above average at least, if not excellent.
U Chicago is my dream school. So I would be satisfied if I could get into there. And U Chicago is not need-blinded. Chicago's scholarship for international students is very limited.
Thank you for chancing me. :)</p>

7

<p>anyone else? thanks! :)</p>

8

<p>Cornell is need-blind, don't know about UVA though. Your stats are ok (I would try to increase CR though, if possible).</p>

9

<p>Thanks! Am I looking good for Chicago?</p>

10

<p>Yessir. I'd say with a polished essay, you're in. Don't worry about the GPA, UChicago places a lot of emphasis on their essays, which would definitely pull you through. SAT score isn't looking too hot, but again, based on your overall stats I think you can pull it off.</p>

<p>Best of luck, mate!</p>

11

<p>Looking good for chicago, cornell and uva.</p>

12

<p>What I sometimes don't get is that where people with so many ECs put the ECs on the application? The space is so limited! Do we send a CV or something?</p>

13

<p>thanks, everyone. :) I will try my best for chicago. :)</p>

14

<p>You have some very nice ECs and awards. It's pretty evident that you've done a lot of math/physics related stuff out of class, and your proficiency in those subjects is mirrored by your SATII scores.</p>

<p>I think if you write some really good essays then you've got a decent shot despite the low SAT I score.</p>

<p>Best of luck - I hope you get accepted at your dream school ;)</p>

15

<p>Cornell is not need blind to internationals, only to Americans, Mexicans and Canadians.</p>

16

<p>Arjun, screenshots of my conversation with Cornell's Financial Aid Office:</p>

<p><a href="http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/3776/55039761od5.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/3776/55039761od5.jpg&lt;/a>
<a href="http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9840/19761958mn2.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9840/19761958mn2.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Need-blind means not looking (being "blind") at the need (financial need). Not covering 100%.</p>