Chances and advices?

International Students
1

<p>In this moment of my life I am really thinking about my future.. xD I would like to get in a Institute of Technology. There are many schools, but I am an International Students and I don't know anything about American System...so I need advices. I have opened similar post in other forum.. (time ago I wrote on this forum..but know I have updated my situation..)
I'm 16 and I'm doing the third year. I haven't got yet SAT exams, but I have planned to take Math II and Physics and World History, maybe 800's. For the SAT ( 2100+). I will start to study this summer when I will finish school.</p>

<p>International Student
male-white
Italy, Rome</p>

<p>First year average 7 out of 10
Math School Olympiad
Rugby Team 4,5 hours per week + sunday match</p>

<p>Second year average7 out of 10
Computer Science School Olympiad
School Journal. Computer science articles.
Class Rapresentative, I was appointed by my classmates, I managed class problems with teachers and other things.
Sysadmin of a little forum. It was focused to gather all my high school's student, but we have had only 60 members, but it was a live experience.
Waterpolo 2 hours per week and Judo 1 hours per week.</p>

<p>Third year average 8 out of 10
Speech at UNiversity of ROme about Computer science during GNU/Linux day.
Physics School Olympiad
Computer Science School Olympiad
Trinity Exam level 7
Waterpolo 11 hours per week.
School Journal 11 hours per week.
Project Words of legality, an article about the problem of Microsoft Windows, I wrote about Windows7sins a FSF campaign.
Project "Scienza Narrata", a short story about science, It's a competition between high school students.
Course at school during the comanagment by the students. Course about Computer Science and Free Software.
Free Software Foundation volunteer, I have done many translations for them
I also matain my website, using a blog platform and a CMS.(but I don't know if it's important).</p>

<p>My Ec's are focused to my passions, Computer Science and Science (Astrophysics).
My average is good, we have different criteria, a decimal scale from 1 to 10.
With this situation I will have some chances? I have another year to work for it. One of the most important Ecs for me is Free Software, that is a social movement, characterised by ethical programmers and thinkers. I am doing some voluteer, translating from english into italian, and maybe this summer I will do volunteer for Free Software Foundation.</p>

<p>What schools do you suggest me? MIT would be a dream, (FSF headquarters are in Boston, I could help them..) but the admission is need-bilnded, so I don't know. I am looking for a school focused on Computer Science and Free (as in Freedom) Software, where research (scientific) is at the first level.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>edoardo</p>

<p>You need to read everything, and I do mean everything, at [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov/) Then you need to make an appointment with the counselors at the advising center closest to you. Here is the information for the office in Rome. [EducationUSA</a> - Center Profile - U.S.- Italy Fulbright Commission](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/Fulbright-Rome]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/Fulbright-Rome) The counselors at this center should be able to help you find good places to study in the US.</p>

<p>When are you going to take the TOEFL?</p>

3

<p>I know that website.
As I have said I have another year, I will take TOEFL next year, maybe on april ( I don’t think that It will be a problem). But with this EC’s and grades, have I a chance to get in <em>good</em> Institute of Technology (I mean top 15 of this rank [GRE</a> Guide - Computer Science Rankings](<a href=“http://www.greguide.com/comps.html]GRE”>University Rankings - Computer Science) , is MIT possible for Int.Students?), am I different? xD Which are the statistics about Int. Students? (I mean EC’s, grades, and SAT).</p>

4

<p>I’d say that your EC’s are average or even below average. Also, judging from your posts, I think you might have difficulties meeting the TOEFL requirements at the top schools if you were to apply now. Luckily, since you have lots of time to improve, I’d say that you do have as good a chance as anyone at the best universities. This of course assumes that you are able to get excellent test scores. I imagine you’ll score well on the subject tests but SAT Critical Reading may pose problems for you; then again, MIT does not require the SAT from internationals and many schools wouldn’t care about your language proficiency if you prove to be very good at, say, science or some other subject.</p>

5

<p>Yes, next year I will do an intensive course for TOEFL, this summer I will go to London to improve my english, and when I will finish school on june I will start to study for SAT I & SAT II an year before taking them. I want to focus my EC’s on my passions. I am afrad of my grades 7 out of 10, is it good? 10 usually is not considered…This year I should get 8 and the next I think over 8. I will have a strong recommendation letter by my english teacher.
When I will send my application form, there will be more EC’s xD. This summer maybe I am going to do volunteer for Free Software Foundation.</p>

6

<p>“But with this EC’s and grades, have I a chance to get in <em>good</em> Institute of Technology”</p>

<p>That is just exactly the kind of question the counselors at the Rome office can help you with. They have many years worth of experience and can tell you where students like you have been admitted before. Some of the advice that you need is specific to students from Italy.</p>

7

<p>I have sent them a message.</p>