Chances at very selective institutions

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am a senior from Kiev, Ukraine and I am currently preparing to apply to the very selective U.S. universities, such as Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Duke, Brown, Dartmouth, Chicago, and some other selective schools.</p>

<p>I have studied at Kiev Ivan Franko School for 11 years, and have excelled both academically and extracurricularly (although there are few extracurricular opportunities). I have become #1 in one of the oldest and best schools in Ukraine, in an especially demanding and challenging atmosphere. My curriculum was most rigorous, including 22 subjects each year taught on college-level. During these years, I have won numerous awars and olympiads in a wide variety of subjects.
My teachers recognize me as the most intellectualy gifted and motivated student they have ever taught.</p>

<p>During my junior year, I have won the Future Leaders Exchange Scholarship to study in a U.S. high school for my senior year. However, upon completing the program, I have to return back to my Kiev School, pass the examinations and graduate (in June).</p>

<p>Thus, I currently attend Lawrence High School in Kansas. The AP curse selection is very narrow and there are few opportunities for extensive academic participation (to which I was used in Kiev). However, I have taken AP US Government and Politics, AP Statistics, AP Li&Comp, independent study in AP calculus-based physics (the course that I needed was not offered in the school, so they had to design a special one for me), Newspaper (I have been chief editor of Kiev School newspaper for many years), Philosophy(extended learning lab for gifted students - second semester) and Aerobics. So far I got straight A's and A+'s on all of them. I have taken SAT I and got 770 Math and 670 Verbal score (I am concerned about the score being so low, but I also know that it is not the most important factor). I plan on taking SAT II in January. In addition, I am studiyng many subjects on my own, as I have to pass my Kiev examinations in spring. </p>

<p>My teachers also recognize me as exceptionally gifted in a vide variety of areas. One of them is writing/poetry and philosophy, for which I have earned numerous awards and recognition. </p>

<p>One of my primary goals for obtaining the best U.S. liberal arts education is to become a future leader of Ukraine. My aim is to learn as much as possible of the greatest U.S. ideas and principles that could be later used to build democracy. Today, Ukraine desperately needs people with the best world-class education, but, ironically, the brightest ukrainian people tend to emmigrate out of the country. But as millions of people are out on the streets protesting, ukrianians are finally starting to realize their identity. This is the new beginning for a new country that has yet to build democracy, and we desperately need the best of U.S. knowledge and experience (as the world's most democratic country) to guide us. I intend to become one of the leaders of this new beginning of our country, and work to build its future.</p>

<p>These are the primary reasons behind my applying to the vry best U.S. institutions, aside from personal motivation, such as the need to refine and challenge my intellect to become a prominent ukrainian mind.</p>

<p>In such circumstances, what would be your advice? Is my choice of institutions rational and do I stand any chance for admissions? What could be done to improve my chances? Is my low SAT Verbal score a problem? </p>

<p>Thank you very much for taking your time to read my message.
Nataliya.</p>

<p>wow, you seem really mature for your age....I think you have good SATs and excellent grades......this will open doors for you at ivies and other excellent liberal arts colleges.</p>

<p>i think you will stand out to selective colleges, b/c of your unique background & obvious ambition. My only advice is to keep working!</p>

<p>Elberet - channel some of your passion into excellent essays. Well crafted essays that show your heart will make you stand out in an international crowd. What lessons have you learned in Kansas? How is it like and unlike Ukraine? What attributes do you want to bring back to your homeland? Focus on the positive and the personal.
Take a look at Swarthmore and Amherst - they are superior institutions, very well known in the US, although perhaps not as prominent in Ukraine, and would be a good fit.</p>

<p>Yes, I agree with the previous posts. If you write a thread on here as well as you did, I'm sure you can write some dynamite essays, such passion and enthusiasm.</p>

<p>Jerod</p>

<p>thank you all for your support!! I think that the essays should be my major strength as well. I intend to write about the current situation in Ukraine, the prospects of the country and my ambition. do you think this will work?
thank you all again!</p>

<p>In your situation... If I can advice you.
Write them your plan. How and why you would like to be a leader of ukraine. That post looks very good.</p>

<p>I am the one who would like to emigrate from eastern europe. If you would like I can explain you why. Basically the matter is different in politics and in science. But I am sure that your plan to make the world better is great. If you let as many people for freedom, as there are in ukraine overall scientific potential will be dramatically increasing within next tens of years. It is good investition. Really good. </p>

<p>What makes world better for you? Which part is the most important, most influential?
Happiness? Progress? </p>

<p>But please, listen people. They are intelligent. Or, nevermind, even if not - they might have good ideas because of, let's say probability or butterfly in andes.</p>

<p>For further explanation: <a href="mailto:jpsi@o2.pl">jpsi@o2.pl</a></p>

<p>Cheers.</p>

<p>jpsi, thank you for yur comment. also thanx for support!</p>

<p>um.......no</p>

<p>abrandel05, absolutely no chances??? :(((((( why?</p>

<p>lol i meant no to Rhizome... i think you have a great shot and that surely you'll do well at any of the schools your looking into...You sound like a naturally strong candidate and I would definately describe your experiences in detail on the application in order to convey the breadth of their nature to the adcom...all the best!</p>

<p>abrandel05,
thanx very much! :))) I got really upset first))
Thank you for your advice also.
P.S. I'd say no to Rhizome as well..maybe something even stronger than NO.))</p>

<p>any other comments? witing for your advice!!!!</p>

<p>lol...it's funny YOU out of all ppl found this board</p>

<p>Are you applying for financial aid? I know some selective schools actually do take that into account for international students...so that may/may not hurt your chances...</p>

<p>I really like the passion u have for attaining ur goals, and im certain that it can be communicated to the people at the unis. Im an int'l applying to pton, cornell and duke with a 1350, sharing some of the passions that u have. Im certain that ul shine in the eyes of the adcoms if u can communicate well with them. All the best!</p>

<p>Elberet.
I have three words of advice for you: Harvard, Harvard & Harvard.
Good luck.</p>

<p>thank you all very much for your kind comments - they have made a big difference for me. Good luck to you people too!</p>

<p>"greatest U.S. ideas and principles that could be later used to build democracy"</p>

<p>hmmmm.... you have a chance as long as you don't sound like you've been brainwashed.</p>

<p>"thank you all for your support!! I think that the essays should be my major strength as well. I intend to write about the current situation in Ukraine, the prospects of the country and my ambition. do you think this will work?" </p>

<p>Not necessarily. The essay will need to focus on you. Make sure it's not a history essay or your thoughts of how the world can be saved. </p>

<p>What you experienced in the Ukraine and how that has shaped your personal goals would be appropriate. Your analysis of the political situation in Ukraine would not be. The colleges are very interested in you, what your values are, what your passions are, how you make decisions, what you experienced, who your role models are, etc. ..... They don't want a political pamphlet, but a personal essay.</p>