Hello,
I am a Jordanian senior living in the Middle East and very soon i will be applying to very competitive universities that include Stanford University (Early Decision) , UC berkley, UCLA, and Northwestern (of course i have other safety school that i will apply to). Could someone please tell me whether i have a decent chance at getting into any of these schools, or am i being too ambitious. My stats are the following.
Weighted GPA: 3.9 (My 9th grade GPA is 3.55)
Sat score: 1820 (will be retaken)
APs:
-World History: 5
-Psychology: 5
-Macroeconomics: 5
-Microeconomics: 5
-Physics 1: 2 (probably will not report)
-Seminar: 3
Ap calculus, spanish, us government, and research: will be taken in my senior year
-I will have three Sat subject tests for northwestern and the UCs but not Stanford (Physics, MAth 2, and Spanish)
Extracirriculars:
-3 years Varsity soccer (captain for one year)
-2 years Varsity volleyball
-Student government: Vice President 11th grade, Perhaps President next year
-Cofounder of a very creative community service project
-Cofounder of school website
-Mun (2 years)
- Dele Spanish certificate
- Honors for 4 years
I could really use some help by telling me whether i am being realistic or too ambitious.
Also, will my Ap Physics score hurt my chances given that I had a 93 in the class.
No, you are not being realistic.
I appreciate the honesty, but could you please tell me what is holding me down. That would help !
Your SAT score is not remotely competitive for those schools. You need to improve by about 400 points to have any chance.
You do not need to report your physics score.
Your weighted GPA doesn’t really help. What’s your unweighted?
You are in the 87th percentile, which is great, but kids in the 98th get rejected from those schools.
What do you want to study?
@BatesParents2019 For the UCs, since i have to decide, Industrial Engineering, however for Stanford i will apply undecided because i heard that that increases my chances.
If you want to study engineering you have an even lower chance than what NickFlynn said.
If you are serious about studying in the US, you have to look at schools that will accept you.
Look at Lehigh, Penn State, Rutgers, Stevens, SUNY SB, RPI and Purdue. Still, I don’t think your chances are fantastic, much better though.
@AnEpicIndian 9th grade: 3.625 10th grade: 3.75, 11th Grade: 4.0
Total: 3.8/ 4.0 (Unweighted)
3.9/4.3 (Weighted)
We have a weird grading system
@BatesParents2019 the reason i am even considering applying to these colleges is because i know they emphasise extracurriculars, which look pretty good. At least better than my academics stats.
I understand but you need a near perfect application. We all know kids with 2400 SATs that don’t get in those schools.
@BatesParents2019 of course i am considering other universities, these are my absolute reach.
Ps: nothing is impossible, i know someone who got into UCLA with the same SAT score, same GPA, but less APs and extracurriculars so i though hmm.
Well try, just be realistic. Northwestern, Stanford and Berkeley are much different than UCLA. The former are much harder.
Did the person get in UCLA for engineering with that SAT score?
I think you have an adequate chance IF you:
- Retake your SAT and get 2200+
- Don’t submit SAT, take the ACTs, and get a 32+
3)Write a magnificent essay highlighting exactly who you are and make sure you stay true to yourself
- Don’t listen to crap people say about applying “undecided” and do what you want to do
- Understanding that letting others tell you to deviate from what you truly want to do in your application is exactly what will keep you out of these colleges
Nope, not engineering. Got your point! Though are you suggesting that there is no point in trying?
@Starforward thanks for the motivation brother/sister !
You will get in a great school, but personally I would spend the time on better odds. Not those, unless you can get a 2300 at least for Stanford, Northwestern and Berkeley. 2200 for UCLA.
You will be happy in the end.
@BatesParents2019 @Starforward in regards of Sats, i have heard that the fact that i am an international student studying in the middle east plays into act when assessing Sat scores, isnt that true?
Stanford doesn’t have early decision, only restrictive early action. GPA at 3.8 UW is alright, but not the most competitive. It’d be better if you’re at the very top of your class. EC’s are alright, SAT needs to be 2200+ maybe even 2250+, as international competition is super fierce.
Don’t apply engineering unless you have a VERY good reason to do so. You don’t really have any EC’s that relate to engineering so you really need to explain why you want to go into engineering (perhaps a life experience that inspired you etc.)
Basically nobody has a decent chance at these schools. These schools all boast sub 10% admit rates for international applicant. You have safeties which is good.
You like every other international applicant, has an extremely slim chance at these universities. It’s just that international admissions is so competitive.
Also, make sure you can pay for these schools. UCB/UCLA give no aid. Stanford gives very little and I’m pretty sure Northwestern is the same. Expect to pay 55-60k a year if you get in so make sure your family can afford it.
UCB engineering, Northwestern, and Stanford are basically reaches for everybody, so keep that in mind. Don’t expect to get in as tens of thousands of applicants like you get rejected every year.
Finally, I’m pretty sure no matter where you live, they still expect at least a 2200 on the SAT.
Why are you picking the universities?Also in another thread you mentioned your SAT went from 1620 to 1820 - the likelyhood of gaining another 500 points is miniscule.
You should develop a more realistic list - and work hard on your classes and essays.
Do you want to go to school with many internationals or few. Your chances might be better at a school with an active push for international. Where have friends attended? What climate would you like? Do you want to be in a city or rural?