chances for a ukrainian student in a top university?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey everybody, I have a couple of questions and I would really appreciate any kind of help.
The thing is, in Ukraine we graduate after 11th grade, so should I mention only 11 years in the common application and leave the “12th grade” empty? or should I refer to the 11th grade as if it was the 12th? I really am confused.

Besides, I would like to know your opinion on my chances to get into a top college (Columbia, Harvard, Penn, NYU, Berkeley, University of Chicago?).
So, in general, I graduated both from a Ukrainian high school and a French one, at the same time, so I have both a French high school diploma with an honorable mention (Baccalauréat Général) and Ukrainian high school diploma with honors (gold medal, based on GPA and outstanding academic results). My GPA is around 3.96 and I am fluent in English, French, Spanish, Russian and Ukrainian.
I passed my SAT in November so I don’t know my results yet.
My possible major is international business.
I am currently on a gap year.

Unfortunately, my extracurriculars aren’t very impressing, compared to things I read about students who got into the top universities. Nevertheless:
I attend career oriented courses about project management and business, lectures on entrepreneurship etc.
For a year and a half already, I volunteer on big concerts all around Ukraine - I usually have a group of less experienced volunteers which I teach, help and which I am responsible for. I started volunteering at concerts with small audience (around 4000 people) and the last concert I volunteered on had around 50 000 people. At this concert, I was chosen out of 14 000 applicants for this job, as well as the other 50 members of my team. It is my biggest hobby, and I absolutely love it.
Also, I was in a school theater for about 7 years and we presented a play on an annual city drama festival in 2010 (in 8th grade which is considered high school), where I was awarded as the best actress.
I was volunteering in AHF Ukraine in year 2013, but only on one event, where we distributed around 7 000 condoms and were informing people about AIDS and HIV. It was only one event, so I don’t even know if it is worth mentioning. What do you think?
Besides, I won 1st and 2nd places in French Olympiads in Ukraine, on district and regional (city) levels of recognition respectively.
Right now I am working on a project that will take place in December this year, where I am hoping to raise money for Christmas gifts for orphans in Kyiv.

Unfortunately, we don’t have AP or IB in Ukraine, but I think that my high school was challenging enough - before I got to a French high school I didn’t really speak French, besides, I was attending both schools at the same time.

That’s all I have to say, I would love to hear any feedback. Thank you for your attention!

2

I forgot to mention that I have strong recommendations and I am n1 in my class.

3

Are you number 1 in Ukraine?

No one “passes” the SAT, you get a score which is measured against other applicants to a particular college.

Also Berkeley provides no financial aid to internationals. Can you pay $60,000/year times 4?

4

I don’t know, weird question. Every person that has a 4.0 GPA is number 1 in the USA?
Then I guess I am among the number 1s in the Ukraine.

And if I am applying to these universities, it means that I already know about the cost. I don’t need financial aid and, yes, I can pay 60 000/year times 4.

5

It is very difficult to chance you without those SAT scores.

When you get your scores, let us know and we will chance.

And, FYI, every person that has a 4.0 in the US is NOT number 1. There would be thousands of number 1’s.

6

Thank you, well, “Every person that has a 4.0 GPA is number 1 in the USA?” was sarcasm :slight_smile:

7

Since you are rich and can be full pay you should consider lower ranked schools where you are more likely to be admitted.

8

for example?

9

We would need your SAT scores to list matches.

10

no shot