Hey guys! I’ve been poking around on CollegeConfidential for a while now, but finally made an account today. Smack in the middle of my junior year right now—pretty excited about college and curious how I’d do. I apologize in advance if I sound really bigoted or egocentric. I’ve just been told to leave nothing out.
BACKGROUND: Raised and born in China, attending Chinese local schools until 7, but moved to Canada for elementary school. There I perfected my English, and came back to China when I was 12, where I’ve been studying at an international school ever since. It’s a bilingual school with an American curriculum based in China, essentially, so hopefully there’ll be a cultural diversity bonus.
GPA: 4.00 UW, 4.32 W
ACT: 35 (36W / 36M / 35 R / 33 S / 10 essay). Only took once, not retaking. I’m planning to submit my ACT scores wherever I can.
SAT: 2280 (770M / 750CR / 760W / 10 essay). Only took once, not retaking.
SAT IIs: None b/c going down ACT route, but I’m up to taking Math II. Confident I can get 800 on it.
APs: World History (5). This year taking Calculus BC, Physics I, and English Lang. Next year planning for Stats, Physics II, Computer Science, and maybe Art History. ( denotes I’m pretty much absolutely certain I can score a 5. I think I have a decent shot at all of them, though.)
ESSAYS: I can write pretty good essays. My school also has a kickass college counselor (former chief editor of the Fiske books), who can probably help me polish them up.
RECOMMENDATIONS: AP English teacher (also the school newspaper advisor) and AP Physics teacher (also MUN club advisor). I think both are rather fond of me and both definitely have good stories and experiences to tell. I’ve known each for years. I go to a relatively small school (just a few hundred kids grades 1-12), so while I haven’t exactly confirmed with them, it’s highly unlikely I’ll be turned down.
RANK: school doesn’t rank, but pretty sure I have one of the highest GPAs in the school. (Small school, everyone knows about each other, word floats around.)
COURSE LOAD: taking max number of APs and regular classes, have been in accelerated everything that my school provided. It probably won’t compare with many U.S. schools, but based on availability, it can’t get much harder without jumping years.
ECs & ASSOCIATED AWARDS:
School Newspaper — 9, 10, 11, definitely 12 — writer since 9th grade, designer since 10th grade, editor since 10th grade, so I’ve been in the Editorial since 10th grade. My specific titles for newspaper are a bit… weird, but long story short, I’ve basically been the unofficial Head Designer since semester two of 10th grade and an “abnormally large” chunk of the Editor-in-Chief’s work. Newspaper is probably my #1 commitment for high school and I devote endless hours towards it each issue. The papers we print aren’t really “traditional” papers by any means; we always think of some crazy new idea to try out, like printing teacher finger puppet collectibles or collaborating with the Social Studies department teachers to make a History Day themed paper, and the feedback has been pretty positive for it.
Model United Nations — 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, definitely 12 — Executive Committee member (Secretariat) for all of high school, planning to run for Secretary-General for senior year (fairly sure I’ll get the spot, not saying this in ignorant way—no opponents and lots of support.) Will have attended 12 conferences by time of graduation, 90% chance being a student officer at 4 of them. I am also organizing a first-time MUN conference for my school, which is in the works but looking promising so far. I’ll be Sec-Gen for that conference if it pulls through.
World Scholar’s Cup — 8, 9, 10, 11, definitely 12 — it’s like the international sister of Academic Decathlon, but crazier. I was in the school’s pilot team and have been doing it ever since. Captained for grades 9/10, stepped back this year but still in the leadership. Regional awards include 1st place team (two years in a row), 2nd place individual, and a few other first places in events. Global awards include 4th place team and 10th place individual, and 1st place in an event. Overall, 35 medals from the past three years and 16 trophies.
Yearbook — 9, 10, probably 11 and 12 — in tenth grade me and two others basically made 90% of the whole yearbook, including searching for images and designing and everything. Probably will be continuing it this year.
Speech & Debate — 8, 9, 10 — a founding member and captained for grades 9/10. Have won 2nd debate, 2nd impromptu speaking, and 3rd oral interpretation at local tournaments.
Student Council — technically 9th grade only — was grade rep for 9th grade, didn’t run for the rest, though I’ve been a volunteer at every single StuCo event. I’m around so much that even now people still mistaken me as a StuCo member (though I doubt that bit’s gonna go on the college app.)
Volleyball Team — 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 — small school, so only one team, no JV/V. Only exceptional thing about this is dedication and focus, I guess. Never missed a practice. I’m good compared to my school, but I’m nothing in the U.S.
Soccer Team — 9, 10, 11, 12 — pretty much see above. Though I’ve missed a handful of practices cuz of MUN trips.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Did a one-month internship with ChinaDaily (a newspaper) as an editor and writer. Many of my works became published.
ACADEMIC HONORS:
High Honor Roll all-year-round
Have won the annual academic subject awards for Visual Arts, Mathematics, Physical Education (x2), Social Studies (x2)
Discovery Award and Collaboration Award for school’s History Day event
Scholar Athlete (x2, pretty sure I can keep getting it for the next two years)
OTHERS:
Represented my school once at a youth forum
TA’d for Graphic Design in sophomore year, already confirmed as an AP Physics TA next year, pretty sure I can pick up one more.
Planning to participate in a summer program or internship somewhere abroad this summer—hoping to get some tips or comments for that.
Mostly bilingual—my Chinese is a bit patchy, maybe 6/10, hoping it’ll count.
ETHNICITY/GENDER: … here comes the bomb. Asian female, applying from China as an international applicant. 
POTENTIAL MAJORS: Graphic Design, Mechanical Engineering, but I’ll probably be applying as Undecided. My background is so spread out and I have so many interests… any advice here?
SCHOOLS:
Reach — Yale, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Stanford (in descending order)
Match — None as of yet, really looking for suggestions. The no-SAT IIs is a constriction though.
Safety — University of Toronto
Yale is pretty much my dream. I’m actually really passionate towards attending Yale—it’s not one of those “pick an Ivy off the list and go.” Just a tidbit.
Sorry for the huge long post, especially if I sounded really arrogant! I definitely will NOT sound like this on a college app and I’ll definitely be controlling my tone. Also in a bit of a rush. Thanks guys!
I’ll look into those schools! I know I really should be taking some SAT IIs but the only time I can really take them is in May, weekend before the APs. My AP Physics I curriculum only covers half of the SAT II Physics material and I’m not really qualified to take anything else. I’m also going to be quite busy in March and April so I’m hoping there’ll still be enough colleges who are okay with ACT+Writing or ACT/SAT I that I can maybe duck that unfortunate hurdle.