Chances for Harvard EA and Princeton ED?

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I posted this in the Chances forum but didn't get a lot of reply. I guess posting this here might help.</p>

<p>I am an international student but attend US high school (4 years). My test scores are not final yet, but I kinda want to have an idea of where I am in the ballpark. I'm a rising senior planning to pursue a career in computer science.</p>

<p>Background (mainly for financial aid purpose):
Nationality: Vietnam
2nd generation to attend college.
My dad works for the Embassy, my mom doesn't work, sister attending graduate school in the Fall.
Income: < $24,000</p>

<p>Academic
Urban public school, average old SAT < 950
Not many people go off to colleges
SAT: 740M, 600V, 630W (taken in March of sophomore year)
Expecting 2200+ in October test
SAT II: 800 M2C
740 US Hist.
720 World Hist.
710 Physics (retaking Physics in November)
GPA: 4.00 Unweighted / 4.3 Weighted
CR: should be 1st in a class of 300+, but school doesn't rank
APs: Calc AB: 5
Calc BC: 5
Comp. Sci AB: 5
US Hist: 5
World Hist: 5
English Lang: 4
Waiting for Physics C, but expecting 4+
Senior Classes: AP English Lit, AP Chem, AP US Gov. AP Comparative Gov, AP Human Geo, and two classes at Georgetown
Most notable achievement: Intel ISEF in 2006</p>

<p>My ECs:
Various math/programming competition and awards
Varsity Ultimate Frisbee (since we don't receive an ounce of support from school, I'm practically the captain/coach/manager)
Captain/Founder of Science Bowl team
Co-Founder of Math Club
Member of Programming team, It's Academic Team, FIRST Robot team
200+ hours of community service (tutoring, library work, teaching)
National Honor Society
Will teach school's AP Comp Sci AB class next year (school won't hire a new teacher)
TA for Physics B/C next year
School Band</p>

<p>Summer activity
04 Tutoring
05 Summer Science Program (chosen as Class Rep.)
06 Coummunity Service, hopefully a research in astronomy.</p>

<p>Teacher recs should be great.</p>

<p>Please be brutally honest. I know the competition among international students is fiercer. Which one will give me the most chance? Harvard or Princeton?</p>

<p>I appreciate any suggestion. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>You can't apply to both Harvard SCEA and Princeton ED. You'll have to choose between them.</p>

3

<p>Yeah I know. That's why I asked which one I would have the most chance at.</p>

4

<p>I think you'd have a good shot if you weren't international</p>

<p>it's just that a lot of the international applicants applying to HYP have prestigious national/international awards</p>

<p>what happened at ISEF? did you win a grand award?</p>

5

<p>you need to retake your SAT, thats below the average of the international pool</p>

6

<p>So I suppose the SAT is the only thing that can help me now. WIll a 2300+ make much of a difference?</p>

7

<p>of course much of a difference, I think thats not the only thing but it is indeed important in your case</p>