<p>Hey Everyone!</p>
<p>I've been feeling a little de-motivated and blue these days, and am starting to get pretty nervous about university admissions. I've been lurking on CC for a few years now, but have never thought about posting in the Chances thread (because I know all schools are a reach). At this time tough, I really need realistic opinions on where I stand, and what I need to improve on right now (no sugar coating).</p>
<p>I understand the stress that fellow seniors are going through right now, so I would be more than happy to give you a chance back! </p>
<p>Schools: Penn CAS (ED), Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, Princeton, Washington St. Louis, Rice, Emory, Middlebury, Vandy Don't really have any match schools since I'm an international student that's requesting FA</p>
<p>Intended Major: Public Policy or Political Science
Sex: Female
Race: Asian (Chinese)
Applicant time: International ***REQUESTING FA. This is the primary reason for my stress and de-motivation. I feel like I won't get into any American universities because of the extremely high standards they will hold me against. I've also gone too far to turn around now :/ If I really want though, my parents will find the way to pay. I don't see the point of making them do this. </p>
<p>Stats: </p>
<p>SAT: 2200 (750 CR, 760, WR, 690 MA) Will be retaking this in October
SAT IIs: World History (700 bombed it), Literature (740), Chinese w/ Listening (800, not born in China tho)
APs (all self study, school offers no AP or IB): AP Psychology (5), AP Eng Lang (5), AP World (5), AP Euro (5), AP Comp Gov (5)
Unweighted GPA: Around 3.88
Rank: Top 7% (ranked 13 out of 350 last time I checked in March, probably dropped since then though) </p>
<p>Awards: Top three in Regional Debate Championships, Qualifier to Provincial Debate, Finalist for largest debate tournament in my country, some district/regional public speaking awards, finalist for a law cup, a lot of MUN awards, National AP scholar (for my country)...nothing too significant </p>
<p>Extra-curriculars:</p>
<p>Model UN (grade 8-12)</p>
<p>-On Secretariat (high positions) for a few national MUN conferences hosting a few hundred students (had to go through a very selective process)
-Exec of school club, Secretariat for school conference
-Staffed, directed, delegated over twenty conferences. Many awards. </p>
<p>Politics (grade 8-12)</p>
<p>-Elected Premier of regional mock political group (started from grade 8 and climbed up)
-Intern at local politican's office
-Co-founder and writer for youth political blog thingy
-Elections officer a few times (paid), youth rep for political party</p>
<p>Gender Equality (grade 9-12)</p>
<p>-Researcher/Social Media manager for a girls empowerment book (written by a retired women's rights activist). To be published in 2015
-Co-founded/organized a girls rights conference
-Founder of a international non profit branch, a youth rep for that NGO as well (featured on newspaper a few times for this)
-Volunteered at the rape relief shelter for a long long time (very inspiring) </p>
<p>Speech Debate (grade 8-12)</p>
<p>-Exec/Coach for school teams, helped organize school tournaments
-Some dece awards (See awards section)</p>
<p>Non-profit</p>
<p>-Co-founder for a pretty big non-profit (in grade 9?), manage over 100 volunteers/staff
-Went through a selective process to partake in the opportunity to organize a sponsored entrepreneurship conference
-Developing a makeup app but not going to put that on application </p>
<p>I also tutor piano and violin for free, have RCM levels in piano, and am a violinist at a youth symphony orchestra. </p>
<p>Teacher recs will be great. They've both known me since grade 8 and have seen my growth as a person. </p>
<p>Whew, sorry for the long list. I'm not trying to brag or put unnecessary extra curriculars in -- it may seem like a lot, but I've been doing them for awhile, and it took a lot of effort to get these positions. Basically, I am kind of relying on my extracurriculars (passion hopefully?) to give me a hand, but I don't feel like that's going to help too much. Working through math books right now, but I feel like my SAT score has stagnated. I really wouldn't be fretting so much if I didn't need FA. Good thing is that Penn is need-blind for my country, but I will still be competing with a very intense international group. I would be happy going to a university in my country, but after all this effort and stress, it would be kind of disappointing (not gonna lie...all these hours spent on SATs and APs...). </p>
<p>URGHHH sorry for this rant. Just at this phase in my life where I'm feeling down in the dumps. Can't seem to find the motivation to do my apps and study SAT math. I will get over it soon and stop being so sensitive</p>
<p>It would be great if I could get some suggestions for more suitable schools!</p>
.