<p>Hello everyone!
I'm new to the forums so I hope you guys don't bite. Haha.</p>
<p>I'd like to know the chances of being accepted at top schools such as MIT, Stanford, UCB, Harvard, UIUC, Georgia Tech and CalTech.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of doing Computer Engineering and Science (which some schools call EE/CS, others CE/CS). Even if I decide later on that CE/CS is not for me, I would definitely want to do an Engineering major.</p>
<p>Note: I'm not sure whether this plays an important role in admissions, but I'm not from the U.S.. I'm from Brazil (so some of the things will be different in my profile).</p>
<p>Let's get to it.</p>
<p>SAT I - 2140
CR 730
M 750
W 660</p>
<p>(What I'm most worried here is whether my W score would hurt my chances too much, or whether my grades are good enough overall)</p>
<p>TOEFL (required for foreign students) - 117/120</p>
<p>SAT II - Have not taken it yet. Will in October for Math 2 and Chem. One question: Is it worth/necessary to take 3 subject tests instead of the 2 I mentioned?</p>
<p>GPA - Schools in Brazil do not calculate this for us. I have sent my grades from my 1st and 2nd year of H.S. to a company in Brazil who helps students apply for U.S. universities. They told me my GPA is 3.8, but I do not know how accurate their calculations are or whether they calculate further fractions (So I'm not sure if my GPA is 3.80 or 3.85, etc). I am also guessing this is an uw gpa.</p>
<p>(note: in Brazil we only have 3 years of H.S., so we use last year of Elementary's grades as 1st year of H.S.. I have sent my grades from 1st and 2nd year of brazilian H.S., which means 2nd and 3rd year or U.S. H.S.)</p>
<p>Class Rank: Schools in Brazil don't usually rank their students based on grade and my school is no exception. However, in this last year of H.S., my school started doing mock tests for the SAT equivalent of Brazil. Then they release a ranking (which includes the students of the senior year and the students of college-prep classes). I am usually top 100 or top 50 out of 2500+ students. In my class (about 50-60 students) I am usually at the top 5 or top 8. I don't know how I compare to the entire senior year (+/- 320 students).</p>
<p>In Brazil we also don't have elective classes. We take the classes that are on the curriculum, which is already quite an extensive list. Still, I'll list my normal classes (especially because I'm not sure what would be considered "standard" or what would be considered "extra" curricular.</p>
<p>Classes
History (World & Brazilian)
Chemistry
Biology
Math
Portuguese (Grammar, Literature, Writing)
Philosophy
Sociology
Theology (only in my 1st year of brazilian H.S.)
Physics
Geography
English
Chemistry Lab (2 years)
Physics Lab (2 years)
Biology Lab (2 years)</p>
<p>I also studied English ever since I was 8 years old (as EC). Finished the course last year, when I took the CPE and got a B.
Also took some cambridge tests throughout this english course:
YLE Starters (when younger)
PET (Pass with Merit)
FCE (Grade A)</p>
<p>Some other ECs
-Last year, I took a 2-week vacation/course/student exchange in Paignton, UK, where I had English classes. I went mostly for the experience of being abroad, far from parents. Being independent, responsible, etc.
-Marine Biology course (which is composed of practical and theoretical classes at the beaches of Brazil) in my 1st year of Brazilian H.S.
-Bronze medal in the Brazilian Olympiads of Astronomy and Astronautics. I also retook it this year. Waiting for results.
-Astronomy course offered by my school in the 1st year of brazilian H.S.
-20 hours of volunteer work
-Participation in 3 Model UN. (I wanted to take on another one this year, but my school missed the date for applying. So no one in my school can go this year. I'm thinking of organizing an in-school Model UN.)
-Participation in 3-4 Science Fairs (which are not mandatory in my school)
In these the Physics and Chemistry always attracted me most: I once created a Van Der Graaf generator, other time I made a calculator work using only lemons and wires, another time I changed the color of metal coins using an oxi-reduction process.
-Schools here don't usually give out Honors. But there was one year when I received three papers (on the at the beginning, one at the middle and one at the end of the year) saying how much I value to the school, how I represent an ideal student, etc.
-Brazilian Olympiads of Physics (Honor Mention - which is one ranking below bronze medal). I am retaking it this year.
-Brazilian Olympiads of Math - Got to the 2nd phase of tests last year (out of 3), which is already national level.
-Brazilian Olympiads of Chemistry - Got to 2nd phase of tests in my 1st year of H.S.) (out of 3), which is state level.</p>
<p>Other ECs (which I'm not sure If can be configured as EC. This system is confusing)
-Self taught how to basic programming. I know the basics of HTML, CSS, PHP. Am learning JavaScript.
-Art History Classes in my last year of elementary school and my 1st year of brazilian H.S.
-Drama Classes in my 2nd year of H.S.. I did a little bit of everything: acting on stage, acting on camera, directing a short film, editing short films (i edited all our school projects), script writing, etc
-Over 4 years of Oil Painting and Drawing classes when I was younger (I have some pretty good oil paintings to showcase). Also this helped me learn how to draw really well. I draw whenever I can nowadays.
-I am currently doing Catholic confirmation (is this the name? In portuguese it's "Crisma". I want to say "Chrism" but it sounds wrong.)
-Over the course of my H.S. Physical Education I tried many sports, inclusing Volleyball, Bad Mignton, Jogging, etc. Out of school I tried Rock climbing (which I loved), skiing, ice skating, etc.</p>
<p>It may be worth mentioning that, during my 2nd year of brazilian H.S., I took extra Chemistry, Physics and Math classes. It was a course offered by my school in which we discussed college subjects. It was basically learning these subjects more in-depth. The chemistry teacher who taught this course also taught me regular classes for two years and she wrote a Rec letter for me. She highlights this course in it.</p>
<p>I don't know what else to say. I guess I said it all. Maybe even too much. What do you guys think are my chances?</p>
<p>quick edit: Didn't realize how big the text was. Sorry for the long post.</p>