Chances for an international?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m applying to Bowdoin, Brown, Colby, Colgate, Columbia, NYU, Northwestern, George Washington U, Vaderbilt, USC and U Michigan.

SAT: 1950 (CR: 660, M: 640, W: 650)
SAT II: 650 World History, 690 Latin
ACT: 28C (E: 32, M: 31, R: 24, S: 25)
Abitur average: 1.5 (roughly equals a 3.85 UW GPA)
My school doesn’t report class rank, and I’m not applying for FA. My intended major is either political science or international relations.

My ECs are very good in comparison to other Germans (due to the education system, there’s not much time left for ECs)

-Founded a quite successful social organization (LGBTTIQ) in 2013 (projects include: a islamic poetry slam, short films about rainbow families, a petition regarding marriage equality, etc.)

-head boy of my school (organized various events, gave speeches, etc.)

-13 years of playing the piano, I’m submitting a supplement to some schools. Repertoire: Chopin: Fantaisie Impromptu, Liszt: Liebestraum No. 3, …

-teaching German to refugees at the refugee reception center (that’s what my commonapp essay is about)

-conflict mediation, helped developing a new anti-bullying policy at my school

-Sports: Golf, Field Hockey, Taekwondo

-other music stuff: school choir, aural theory class (voluntarily, not at my school)

The topics of my essays (both commonapp and supplement) were interesting, but since I’m not native, I don’t know how well-written they were.
My recommendations are very good, I’d say, but that’s what everyone on CC says so I don’t know.

I know that most of the schools I listed are highly selective and that actual chances are difficult to predict. I also know that my test scores are really bad. I just received my ACT score, I really hoped for a 30/31+…

2

You must understand that even though your ECs are stellars these schools want outstanding standardised test scores as well.
Your best chance is at USC or NYU but even those will be high matches. Your sat score is slightly above the 25th percentile for USC.
Why don’t you have any safeties in your list?

3

I’m already accepted at Queen Mary in London and probably at King’s College London too. I only applied to colleges better than Queen Mary and KCL.

4

What about George Washington University?

5

George Washington has a test optional policy which means that it is not necessary for you to submit your test scores. I am not really sure about the chances of submitting these scores vs not submitting. But even then, your test scores are on the lower end.

6

what about the LACs? I heard that they care less about test scores and more about ECs…?

7

Apply to GW without your scores and you should get in. Good luck.

8

Thank you!

9

What about U-M? I heard that they like full-pay internationals…?

10

Your stats are a bit on the low side for UM, but you have a shot.

11

In case anyone who’s in a similar situation might be looking at this in future:

I was accepted to USC, Michigan and GW and waitlisted at Colgate, Colby and NYU. Also, as I stated, I’ve been accepted to King’s College London, which would be significantly cheaper for me as an EU citizen. Haven’t made a decision yet.