CHANCES AT TOP SCHOOLS - INTL GATECH, Vanderbilt, UChicago, UCLA

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I'm an international applicant who was recently admitted to Brandeis, UCSD and Pitt with a low SAT (didn't study much, about 1800-1900). However, I retook the SAT this january to see if I could skip intro math courses; to my surprise, I got a 2000 (700M, 640CR, 660W). My country is one of those where people tend to get REALLY low SAT scores and end up in top 50 US universities like NYU, Northeastern. During my time at high school I was kind of unmotivated/depressed and therefore had a GPA of 85/100 until the end of my Junior Year (That's the GPA I applied with). During my senior year, my GPA is 96/100 and I'm not even studying. </p>

<p>Back to the point, I'm considering declining these admission offers and applying EA/ED to top schools (Chem & Economics/Pre-med) like GaTech, Vanderbilt, Emory, UCLA, UT Austin, etc (Making up a possible list). I have magnificent ECs and 3-4 pages long recommendation letters from my school principal, and heads from the chemistry and biology departments of my HS. Also, I don't need any financial aid.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? should I wait another year to enter college (I'm a pre-med). Is going to the best possible undergrad institution worth more than a year of studies? Should I look upon transferring?. If I re-apply next year I would of course study for the SAT.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

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<p>I would suggest to you that Brandeis is certainly comparable to the “top schools” you mention. You are fortunate to have been admitted. Their selection criteria can be more diverse, but they had a record number of applications this year. Brandeis has the smallest student body of any top tier liberal arts research university which permits a more intimate learning environment with high powered professors and awesome research opportunities. And when it comes to pre med training and med school placement, it’s hard to beat Brandeis. You might want to take another look. </p>

3

<p>Also try this thread for some additional info:<br>
<a href=“Brandeis vs. Colgate vs. College of William & Mary - Brandeis University - College Confidential Forums”>Brandeis vs. Colgate vs. College of William & Mary - Brandeis University - College Confidential Forums;