Hello, I am an international student, not indian or asian (no racism intended :D) and would like some input on my reach schools. (No worries, I am also applying to matches and safeties)
Anyways, here it goes
GPA: Unweighted 4.0 (school doesn’t weigh)
ACT: 35C (36M, 36S, 34W, 32E) / I also did SAT and got a 2280 but I am not sure whether I should send it.
SAT2: Biology 770 / Math 2 800 / Physics 800
APs taken: AP biology 5, AP English lang 5, AP calculus AB 5
APs going to take: AP macroeconomics, AP chemistry, AP physics C (both parts)
ECs:
-Multiple volunteering types in my home country during summer (80 hours total)
-Sport in my local club
-Electricity and water authority in my country organised a robotics competition and I was selected (no positions since it is still ongoing but I am going to include it nonetheless)
-A lot of leadership positions and extracurriculars in my school that I cbf to list lol
(^^here is my weakness but i think I have a valid reason. Probably not gonna mention tho so I don’t look like I’m giving excuses)
Recommendation:
Economics teacher: I don’t know but I heard she gives really good ones. 8or9/10
Math teacher: 10/10 for sure. She loves me and thinks I’m some sort of genius lol.
Counsellor rec: should be good
Essays: (really counting on this part)
-Common app one: I’m not sure but I think this is a 15/10. Almost everyone who read it told me its the best college essay they’ve ever read.
-Supplements: Not done yet but trying hard here.
Well, anyways, the schools are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia and UPenn. I know these are all rather far-fetched but I just want to know whether I should even bother.
Your stats are good. The ivies are hard for everyone. Even with your numbers, the chances are still low. Still apply if they’re your dream schools. You’re good enough to be a competitive applicant.
What schools are in the rest of your list? Go apply and apply those 4 Ivies, but just consider them super reaches. You should also have a mix of realistic reaches, matches and very likely (i.e. safety schools). These should total 6 to 8 schools (not including the Ivies).
Also, don’t forget that the Ivies are not the top 8 schools in the country. There are plenty of other top schools to apply to that are academically and intellectually equivalent, particularly depending on your major and academic interests.
Lastly, if you are looking for financial aid, you need to be aware of these schools’ policies on need-based aid for international schools.
@londondad Yeah I understand what you mean, I have 2 safeties, 3 matches, and 2 realistic reaches. I just want to apply to these as a sort of “you never know” since I figured these admissions can be very subjective and sometimes just a stroke of luck.
You should definitely apply to all those schools since you are a competitive applicant, but realize that Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia and UPenn are reach schools for anyone. You should broaden your college list beyond just Ivy League schools, especially as an international student.
^ First of all, I was very supportive of the OP and did encourage him/her to apply to those four Ivies as I think he as good as shot as most kids who are qualified (which is still a relatively low percentage). Second, I truly believe that for just about all kids, they can get just as great an academic experience at Tufts, Middlebury, Duke, Georgetown, Northwestern, Michigan, etc as they can from an Ivy. Third, I have a reasonable number of examples of friends whose international kids’ credentials were as good or better than the OPs and they got turned down (or waitlisted) by every Ivy. Those kids are all doing very well at Oxford or Cambridge. Fourth, it is immature of you to insult other posters when they are trying to be helpful to the OP.
No need for venom. There have been many, many students with perfect SAT scores and GPAs, extremely rigorous courses, lots of deep achievement in extracurriculars, and still got rejected. With college admissions, try to avoid the word “definitely.”
Although I am impressed by this record, and I do agree that it wouldn’t be unrealistic if he got accepted into an Ivy.
^^ that is not true about Goldmans and Morgan Stanley. I have
friends there from Georgetown, BC, Maryland, Fairfield, Notre Dame and Northwestern. (And many more)
Morgan Stanley has recruited from
GU since when I was in school in the 80’s. Also, Stern is not an Ivy.
Lastly, the OP did not mention any interest in investment banking. There are many other careers one can to aspire to.
@dudelMniceAFtbqh if a rep from one of those schools bragged about the school he repped it MUST be true and accurate. I mean Donald Trump went to Wharton and everything he says is true.
Nevermind that in terms of IB Michigan, Middlebury, and G’town do better than a number of the ivies … rolls eyes in an exaggerated manner.
Not to pile on, but first, obviously GS and MS recruit from a ton of schools. Second, who cares about GS and MS, that’s not where the smartest people go. Third, I’ve never seen Stern referenced exclusively with Wharton and Harvard, it’s simply not at the same level. Anyway, OP looks qualified, but it takes a decent amount of luck for any of the listed schools.
@Multiverse7 There’s obviously no particular place they go. If we want to constrain it just to finance there are several places that come to mind, but the point is that no top students are going to Goldman or Morgan Stanley (with the exception of the ultra-exclusive groups).
