Chance me under RD?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Pomona College
1

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown):
1490
Reading & Grammar: 690
Math: 800

ACT (breakdown):
I took it once early in my junior year, but it was terrible, so I’m not going to report it.

SAT II subject tests:
Math 800
Chemistry 760

TOEFL
Reading 27
Listening 30
Speaking 28
Writing 28

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
4.0

Weighted GPA:
Don’t know yet, I just transferred to my hs this year. Last year was 4.27, and I’m taking 4 AP’s this year so it might be higher than that.

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
My school does not rank but I received a honor so probably top 5%

AP (place score in parenthesis):
I just started going to hs in America from my junior year so I’ve only taken two so far
AP Calc AB 5
AP Chem 4

IB (place score in parenthesis):
N/A

Senior Year Course Load:
a stupid study hall
marine science
ap psych
honors english iv
social justice
ap physics
ap calc bc
ap bio

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
I don’t really have any awards…

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Job/Work Experience:
N/A

Volunteer/Community service:

  1. I went to Tibet for three weeks on my own, to a Buddhist school under an invitation of my mom’s friend. I basically just lived with a local family, cooked for them, went to school with the kids, taught them English, Chinese, and Math. I’ve been planning to start a charity organization but haven’t gotten any change yet. I tried looking for help from Rotary and my high schools but nothing worked out yet.
  2. I’ve been volunteering at a summer camp since 9th grade. Starting from a teacher assistant, I worked as a team leader, a teacher, and now logistics. It’s related to my intended major (one of them… at least)
  3. I volunteered as a member of my home Province’s women’s union. We basically went to an elementary school where all the kids’ parents worked away from home. Also about kids’ and psychology stuff.
  4. I did Robotics in my junior year. More specifically FRC. I was the leader of Inventor during the build season. I did the chairman presentation for my team, and drove our robot at Girls’ Gen, and won 1st place in state.
  5. Tennis, but only one year in my junior year. Received a varsity letter.
  6. I worked as a radio broadcaster at my high school in China, and I wrote my own news articles. But only for one year during which I stayed there.
  7. Math tutor at my high school in junior year
  8. art stuff. national art honor society, fashion club etc
  9. Rotary club!!

Summer Activities:

  1. the summer camp I mentioned above… idk if that counts as one. and nothing else besides that.

Essays (rating 1-10, details):
common app: idk about how to rate it… 8??9???10??? i really don’t know…
I wrote about a math class at my American high school, and the differences between Chinese and American education. Than went back to my homeschool experience in China, and how I like the American one better and what I’ve done for it so far.
supplement: i have no idea what to write yet…

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1:
my honors english teacher. I love her and she loves me hahahaha. I think it’s a 10, but I haven’t read it yet.
Teacher Rec #2:
ap calc bc teacher. I’ve only met him on week when he said that I was his favorite student of all time. I did read his letter either but I bet it’s good, so 10.
Teacher Rec #3:
my ap psych teacher. I asked him questions almost everyday. and I’m always the one who’s earliest to class so probably he’ll write a good one. but he doesn’t know me as much… I submitted it because I wanted to be a psych major. 8/10
Counselor Rec:
She doesn’t know me much but she said she liked to work with me and she cried reading my common app essay so probably a 9??
Additional Rec:
both of my host moms in my junior year and senior year wrote me one. I guess it’s a different perspective, which shows me as a person in real life. I love both of them and I think they are both 10s.

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?:
yes

Intended Major:
economics, psychology

State (if domestic applicant):
junior year in OR, senior year in FL

Country (if international applicant):
China

School Type:
two public schools in China, junior year public, this year private catholic

Ethnicity:
Asian

Gender:
F ofc lol

Income Bracket:
low, super low specifically

Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
i don’t think i have any

Strengths:
none??

Weaknesses:
I went to four different schools in four years. I kindda had to… but the thing is that i don’t really have any school leadership bc of that
Also my grades were terrible in China… I had a lot B’s and even some C’s

General Comments:
i’m super nervous because I’m gonna need a LOT of financial aid… and since I’m an international student it’s gonna be need aware, almost need sensitive… and I have no idea how I’m gonna write my supplemental essay yet. so… idk…

please give me any comment and suggestion!!! I will appreciate it super much!!! and good luck gurls who are also applying this year!!

and please
please
please
say anything you like

2

You are not really any different than the thousands of other Chinese students studying in America which isn’t good for you. There are plenty of international students who are better than you and since Pomona is small, they are less likely to accept you compared to another international student even if both of you are economically disadvantaged. Also, you shouldn’t be reading any recommendations until they are already sent in. you waived your FERPA. Honestly, this may be harsh but, you are going to waste like a $100 on this app just to get rejected. If you have a specific major you like, I can help you find a school that would be a better match.

3

@Interested1945 Oh I’m sorry that was a typo about reading my psychology teacher’s recommendation letter haha. I did not read any of the recommendation letters.

4

@Interested1945 so your suggestion is not to apply? Thanks for your honesty… : (

5

@ ana_myt Yeah sorry. Honestly, you would better off spending your time applying somewhere that would be more likely to accept you. Good luck.

6

What do you like about Pomona? If you tell us what things stand out for you, we can suggest other, similar schools that may be a looking for someone like you. Also, if you don’t mind paying the application fee, you should definitely apply to Pomona. You can talk to them about your flexibility and resilience in having to navigate 4 different high schools. That is something most students don’t have to do, and if you have a compelling story, it could be a hook. FYI, Pomona is need-blind, so they are committed to meeting the full demonstrated need for all international students that apply for financial aid at the time of admission.

7

Based on your interest in economics as a potential major, you could find nice, accessible choices based on your academic record and standardized testing profile: https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html.

8

noooo you should do it! Chances are low for everyone. If you like the school, go for it!

9

I am also a Chinese student but applying from Chinese mainland for ED2! Not really an expert but I’d like to say go for it!!! Hope to meet you at Pomona next September!

10

your sat is too low for an international student, let alone requesting a lot of aid.
I’m also from China and studies at an international school, the average SAT of Accepted Students for Pomona at my school is 1550. ( This data is just for reference)

But I do wish you the best of luck!

11

I wish you all luck. It’s competitive for all, but you should definitely throw your hat in the ring. The worst thing is that you get admitted to another great school. It is somewhat of a crap shoot, and all you can do is put your best foot forward. Good Luck all!

12

It’s really mean to tell her not to apply. Pomona cares more about your story and personality than numbers in my experience. I never thought I would get in with my 1430 SAT but I did. If you have the ability to pay for the application then go for it! Make sure to apply to other schools that aren’t reaches but don’t let people discourage you from your dreams. Reach out to admissions officers too if you want advice on your application (: I believe in you!

13

If the application fee isn’t an issue, and you believe you can successfully complete your other application in time, definitely apply to Pomona. You never know what could happen in admissions!

As a current international student at Pomona, to clear some things up about Financial Aid, contrary to what @steenbee previously said, it is NOT need-blind for us. It is need-AWARE, but if you are admitted they will meet 100% demonstrated need. This is not the same as it being need-blind.

This being said, it’s true, that if you need a lot of aid and are international, you are going to have to be a pretty freakin amazing applicant. If Pomona is your dream, it’s time to get fired up about college admissions. Get to know your regional admissions officer, be innovative and different in your high school career, take on leadership opportunities if they present themselves! It will be difficult but nothing is impossible!