<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>(I have posted earlier, but this is heavily modified).
I'm in the first year of IB in Norway and I've come to the conclusion that studying abroad for me is very important, and after finishing the IB here I want to get out to the US as soon as possible</p>
<p>First of all, a problem I might be going to face is getting letters of recommendations, as it's not a normal procedure here at all. Surely, I can get something, but is it important that it is from a very 'special' person and does it have to be really good? Would a normal teacher do?</p>
<p>Basically, I'm into computer programming, so I would apply for computer science (or something alike) and I'm wondering about my chances at some of the top universities, in particular:
Stanford
MIT
Harvard and other Ivy-Leagues?
And in general, are Ivy League universities a lot harder to get into?</p>
<p>As for my grades, I'm currently taking the IB Diploma. I'm still in the first year, so there's definitely room for improvement and I haven't gotten predictions yet, but here is roughly where I'm at:
History HL 7
Physics HL 6
English A2 HL 6-7
Math HL 5-6 (Math SL 7)</p>
<p>Economics SL 6-7 (a 7 shouldn't be hard here)
Norwegian SL 6</p>
<p>Another thing I'm wondering about is whether Math HL is very important, and what would look the best, a 7 in Math SL or 5-6 in Math HL? </p>
<p>The thing is that my school actually doesn't offer Math HL, so I'm doing it through an Online course alone and I am the first in my school to have ever done it, is this a hook?</p>
<p>Also, I'm in a school of about 1300 and seeing as we're only 20 people doing IB. If I end up in top 1-2 of my class am I considered top 1-2 out of 1300 (whole school), or top 1-2 out of 20 (only IB)? The curriculum is different, but the IB is harder.</p>
<p>Then onto my EC's. Are they any good?</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Will have an approved CAS diary (roughly 400 hours split in action/service/creativity by the end of IB)</p></li>
<li><p>Programming courses at Stanford in 2010 got me interested into programming</p></li>
<li><p>Freelancing as a web developer since fall of 2010 (wide portfolio)</p></li>
<li><p>Establishing my own website (sort of company) that does web consulting, offers my services and features a blog about my discoveries in programming.</p></li>
<li><p>Have developed websites for people for free (as service, roughly 50 hours).</p></li>
<li><p>Proficient in: PHP, SQL, Python, HTML/CSS/Javascript, C++ and learning Java.</p></li>
<li><p>Programmed several games and I will have a graphing program (mainly for economics) ready be the summer.</p></li>
<li><p>Regularly attend Coding Dojo's with my uncle (basically partner-programming on exercises with experts in programming and who are known in the community, in their 20's, 30's 40's)</p></li>
<li><p>Started an initiative to giving Python programming lessons to fellow students at my school (roughly 20 hours, but will be more than 150 when applying and I plan on expandin the idea to outside the school)</p></li>
<li><p>I have worked and work as a news writer for one of Norway's most prominent game-coverage sites (for free) and have qutie a good recommendation letter from the editor-in-chief. (roughly 100 hours of service)</p></li>
<li><p>4 years ago, I was part of the initiative to starting a LAN party in the local area (computer party sort of, google it if your'e not familiar). At first it was small, but has since evolved and I am practically the sole owner (but working together with the management of a youth club). Last event in January we sold out 150 tickets and even had extra seats set up which were filled and are now in contact with another place that will give us about 600 seats. For this I have done various tasks: administration, website development, sponsor applications, etc. </p></li>
<li><p>Development of seating and swiping card system for the event above.</p></li>
<li><p>Member of Rotaract (Rottary youth organization) and have been giving some speeches there. </p></li>
<li><p>Attented the Rotaract Youth Leadership Awards and was awarded a diploma.</p></li>
<li><p>I am attending an MUN soon, which is Model United Nations and is supposed to be well recognized among universities. Basically we are assigned a country and run a model united nations at a location. This will be in Southern England, but I might go to the main MUN conference too, which is in Haag.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>As for sports, I played football until I was 16. I am now working out at a gym and taking tennis lessons (Probably not very important, but this at least, is included in the CAS diploma)</p>
<p>Then, I'm not really sure whether these are hooks, but I'll include them anyhow:
- I'm from quite a multicultural family where my parents originally came from the Soviet Union in 1991. (Now we're in Norway).
- That makes me half Azerbaijani/Russian living in Norway. I guess I'm of mixed, but mainly Azerbaijani (turkish) ethnicity.
- I speak English, Norwegian and Russian fluently.
- Alongside with going to primary school (1-8th grade) I also went to the Russian embassy and had Russian, Mathematics and History.</p>
<p>Hopefully you can pinpoint me in the right direction, and as you can see I have tons of questions and I'd love to get them all answered. If you have a school to recommend, I will gladly listen to you about that too! </p>
<p>Cheers,
Anton</p>