Chances at Swarthmore

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

Hey! Sorry to bother you guys. I’m an international student from Nepal (under represented nationality? plus not many applicants from Nepal to Swarthmore). What are my chances of getting in?

SAT I: 2250 breakdown (CR-700, M-800, W-750)
SAT II: Biology E/M 780, Math I- 800
GPA: 82% which is a really good score in my school.
Rank: school doesn’t rank but probably top 10%-ish
No AP courses or whatsoever cause they’re not available in any schools in Nepal

Subjects and predicted results: A level- Physics(A), Chemistry(A), Math(A*), Biology(A) and General paper (A)
The minimum credits required to graduate is 7. I hold 9 credits.

Financial aid: will be needing a lot :confused: parents can afford 8K a year. To what extent will that work against me?

EC activities: president and founder of debate club (2yrs), numerous debate and public speaking awards (inter-school and regional), Honorable mention award in Nepal’s first and really big International MUN conference, Vice chair of a committee in another big international MUN conference (~500 students), attended other international MUN conferences in India and Nepal (passionate about debating)
Class representative (grade 10), 250+ hours of community service (which includes 80 hours volunteering in a hospital), took the initiative of building a library at a remote village in Nepal, Executive member of school’s Interact club (1year) promoted to Secretary in my senior year, have been playing badminton for 4 years- school team captain, represented school in an inter-school badminton tournament, interned at a bank for 3 weeks during winter break, attended several writing and debate workshops, writer at school magazine, recently i’ve joined a music institution where I’m learning guitar, also I tutor 2 8th graders (3hrs/week), member of numerous other clubs (poetry club, math club, theatre club etc)

(There are rarely any research opportunities/ science related activities available in my country to high school students)

Intended major- Biology (looking forward to a premed track, aspire to become a doctor after working at a hospital, also because of my already existent interest in sciences)
PS- will be attaining an American citizenship through my mom once i turn 20 so one less obstacle to get into med school

Teacher recommendations: 9/10, 9/10 maybe
Counsellor recommendation- 10/10 (knows me really well )
Common App Essay: 9/10? (Wrote about how my aunt is an inspiration to me and how she’s been able to carve a niche in my personality, taught me not to despair in the face of peril)

Thanks

2

Decimal GPA?

3

I’m not an expert by any means, but your stats sound pretty impressive. I just go in early decision with similar stats. (but APs) and extracurricular activities (badminton, literary magazine, and peer tutoring, too!), so that seems like it may bode well for you :smile:

The only thing that might be limiting you is your GPA, if I’m reading it correctly. An 82% seems equivocal to around a 3.0 gpa, which is low for the school. But then again, you said that you have As in all your classes now, so… maybe I’m reading it wrong?

4

It’s not GPA lol sorry. schools in Nepal don’t grade students on the basis of GPA (i don’t have an idea about the gpa system of grading and idk why I mentioned it) It’s actually the average marks across 5 subjects that i’m taking

5

And there are no AP classes available either

6

I honestly don’t understand the “GPA” system either; my school (in the US) grades the same way as yours. Don’t worry if an 82% seems low at other high schools. If it is considered a very good grade at your school, the admissions officers will only take that into account.

7

thanks :slight_smile: