Chances for Ivy, amherest, williams, CMC, Uchicago, ND, NW, rice, nyu, Gtown, Stanford

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey guys,
I just want to know how my stats are. Let’s just start with my background.
First of all I’m a first generation german and my parents are refugees from sri lanka (escaped from genocide), because of that I don’t really feel to fit in anywhere so I’m not sure which ethnical background I would count myself into.

I’m from a extreamly humble background and I’m living in a bad area with almost no college grads, I’ve been to a bad school which didn’t even allow me to go to college (we segregate after 4th grade). And a lot of my former friends have criminal records, one of them joined ISIS 2 years ago. One of my uncles been to prison, the other one joined “LTTE” and passed away.
None of my parents went to college (due to the conflict in their country) and my dad can’t work because of an incident and he’s also suffering from severe Depression, my mom is working 2-3 Jobs to pay the bills.

During my first High school years(5-10th grade) I helped in the school library and was in the founding team of 5 people whom created a Project which is still active in several other schools in my district. After graduation everything changed, I did an exchange in the US for about 1 year unfortunately I got into one of the 10th most dangerous towns in the respective state (Even had some friends who were experimenting with meth), however I was member of the debate team and took also part in some business competition at the local community college and helped out in the local senior homes. Once I came back to germany, I got into one of the most respected High-schools in my state (the german vice-president visited my school).
At that school I’m currently learning my 4th language Mandarin (I’m fluent in German and English, I understand Tamil)

My other EC’s include:
Internships at an international financial consulting firm and small one’s at a restaurant and the local PC shop.
I’ve been a boy scout.
I’m a trained “study assistant” and I have teached Immigrants and refugees.
Active member of the 2nd biggest political party in Germany
Finished an Economics course at a Top5 University. (I’ve got a recommendation letter from the professor which states that I’m a “perfect” student)
Strong curriculum (would get 32 credits at Uchicago)

I don’t really know how my ACT is going to turn out, however my GPA is strong enough for LSE and I might get into Oxford (UK). So how are my chances?

2

Oh yeah I will be applying for financial aid.

3

The whole Gymnasium and Arbitur thing shouldn’t hamper your chances in the US. I’m personally of the opinion that you shouldn’t be forced into separate schools that limit your future in fourth grade. But that’s a discussion for another thread.

In your essays, try to describe the sucky background (sorry if that came out wrong, no planned reflection on you) without sounding whiny if at all possible. (tbh, yikes.) You have strong ECs and in the eyes of admissions people, you’ll add a ton of diversity. Most US universities are need-aware for internationals.

Your academics are good.

Unfortunately, US universities aren’t too friendly to internationals. So make those essays fabulous. I really hope you get in, though.

4

Well hence I’m in a Gymnasium now it doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m just wondering if I had a good chance, preferably at the lower ivies(Brown), Amherest/Williams/Duke or atleast NYU/CMC, and since NYU stern accepts the Abitur I’m pretty sure I will get into it, I’m just wondering if I should apply for ED, is it really true that it doesn’t make a difference if you’re apllying RD or ED?

5

I’m not sure why awesomepolyglot thinks that your academics are good, as you have only said that you have a GPA of 3.5 or better. Btw, that GPA that does not mean that you are a strong enough applicant for LSE: that is their minimum if you are in a school that uses a 4.0 grading scale, and must be backed up with substantial test scores; from Germany a 1.3 or 1.4 on the Arbitur or an 85 on the Bacc (and similar marks for Oxford).

Your ECS (as presented) don’t show any particular focus or depth, and that combined with no stats (ACT / SAT; Arbitur marks) means that nobody can tell you anything meaningful.

6

At some schools, Early Decision can boost your chances marginally by showing your dedication and interest in the University, however it is binding and unless you are 100% sure you want to go there, don’t apply ED. “Lower Ivies” don’t exactly exist, and the least selective are Cornell and UPenn. I would guess you have a solid chance at Amherst, Williams, and Duke if your ACT is a 30 or above. Your sad backstory helps a ton, and might give you a boost in the eyes of some colleges. My friend from Africa with a single mom got into Washington University (average ACT of 33) with a 25 because of her background. But like awesomepolygot suggested, write about your past without sounding whiny. Talk about how you grew because of your struggles and how you won’t let them hold you back. Good luck!

7

@Germankid00 I would disagree with the statement that US schools are unfriendly to foreign students. The issue is all the foreign students apply to the same schools so they reach a limit.

My suggestion is to turn the page in US News at least one more time up to the top 50 for both universities AND colleges and look for schools with a low level of international students. These schools want you guys. The Catholic schools in particular.

Also, don’t refer to Brown as a “lower Ivy” because you need to be in the top 2-3% of all students to get in.

If your GPA is a 3.5 then you should look for schools that accept B+ students not the ones you listed.

8

Why do you guys think that my GPA is a 3.5?
Also you can’t really compare the American GPA to the Abitur, LSE extreamly distinguishes between the Abitur and the GPA, once you reach their “minimum” Abitur grades it’s not about your grades anymore and more about your background/EC’s. The GPA is a totally different thing (4-5 AP exams all with the grade 5), also many US schools give out credit for the Abitur (usually worth around 1 year of college). So I would say that my academics are extremly good (I would get into all the european targets Bocconi, ESSEC, HSG etc.).

No offense but I think that some answers might not be that much knowledgable regarding international admission…

9

@Germankid00 Be very careful what schools you choose to apply to. Many schools that may meet full demonstrated need are NOT need blind to international students. The first one that comes to mind on your list is Duke who will count your financial needs as a negative since you are international. I would go through your list and check to see if you’re schools are need blind for internationals. Also NYU is known for being really bad with financial aid so be aware. You may have to re-evaluate your list because there is a very real chance (if all the schools are need aware, i’m not sure) you get rejected from all the top schools.

Also its pretty snotty to treat some of the schools you have placed on your list as beneath you considering you don’t even know your SAT/ACT scores yet. I would say depending on your test scores and if your gpa is as good as you say you will be a very competitive candidate at any of the schools you listed (provided they are need blind).

10

Well I ranked them more in terms of recruitment than academics, I didn’t mean to offend anyone as I know all these schools are pretty much remarkable regarding their curriculum.

11

@Germankid00, I actually know quite a lot about LSE & Oxford admissions. You said

LSE says that they want a GPA of 3.5 or better. If by GPA you meant your marks on the Abitur / sub-tests (or IB), then you should have said so. In the absence of any other information in your original posts, there was no way to know anything about your academics. Saying that your marks are enough for Essec (bar admissions tests, depending on the course you are applying to) doesn’t actually give prospective ‘chancers’ much to go on.

And btw, while

may be true in theory, in practice Chicago caps how many credits you can actually get for AP/IB/etc towards your degree.

12

Alright, let’s just keep it like that. I didn’t really want to upset anyone. I’m just wondering if my background (let’s just forget about the grades for one moment) would be strong enough, for the schools mentioned in the title.

13

Not possible as presented. You have an interesting, even unique backstory, and an assertion that you have top marks. You have no provided no standardized test scores or grade information, and your ECs -again, as presented, boil down to:

Participation in school activities (debate team, volunteer in library)
Part of a group that started something that still exists
Some community service (senior citizen homes, study assistant)
Internships- financial consulting firm, 2 small firms
Miscellaneous: boy scout (in the past); participation in a political party, competing in a local business competition
A (summer?) course in Economics
Multilingual

From a US point of view for top tier schools that is very very thin. Your parents history, and your childhood sound very hard, but your story of you is missing. There is no thread of continuity evident between your activities, no evidence of leadership or depth in your activities, and no indication that any of these mean anything in particular to you. There are places where there may be something, but the fact that you used to be a boy scout is not going to get you anywhere at schools where they have literally dozens of Eagle Scouts applying. Being a member of a political party is something that almost everybody is once they are old enough to vote: what does your ‘active’ membership mean in practice? Did you win the competition you entered? If not, did you keep trying? how is it linked to what your interests are? etc.

14

So I need to get my story right? Thanks! That’s actually something I can work with,
well I only joined the boy scouts so I may not get discriminated anymore, which I think shows that I pursure my happiness, I don’t give up just because one might be in a more favourable position because of their background.

The school project is promoting “creative common” music, something which I’m really proud about hence I’m a huge fan of open source, as well as the idea, that technology like the internet shouldn’t cost anything. And it’s quite succesfull it’s been there since like 5 years with 5 or 6 other schools, even one for kids with special needs, thus making the idea of “creative common” more relatable for many more students as well as the facts that it allows students to participate at something which they’re interested in. There was even a Article in a TV show regarding out project, and it got nominated as one of the must succesfull projects in germany.

Also living abroad for one year at the age of 16, should show that I’m able to adapt to a different society which in combination with the many languages I speak, clearly indicates my multi-cultural skills.

Being in a political party means, that I helped organizing events and participated there, which again should show some of my leadership skills. Also I talked to a lot of people regarding the refugee crisis, europe is facing, and helped people integrating into the german society. Since I myself know how it is like not to fit in, thus should show that I’m really passionate about giving back. Keep in mind that being a Teen in a political party is extreamly rare in germany.

Also being a trained “study assistance” also is quite a time dedication, while usually you would get paid by offering your services, I offered them for free, again to help the not priviliged in my neighborhood and my circle of acquaintances.

Also the internship really points out my interest in the financial world, which is supported by the economics course I took at college (150 hours) which were offered parallel to school (more workload). Making it clear that I want to study economics, which in combination with my community service and political engagement should make it clear, that I’m a well rounded student. Which does everything to succeed (indication of my work ethic).

Keep in mind that community service and political service is extreamly rare, which fortunately many schools are aware of, just to give you some insides. My college professor thought that I would have an outstanding chance at pretty much all the continental european schools.

15

@Germankid00 apply. and take my word on this one: DO NOT TAKE THESE FORUMS SERIOUSLY. I honestly think you should apply and look, you can make a GREAT future for yourself, In Sha Allah, even if you dont get into any of the colleges youve listed above, i think you should apply, but apply to other schools that are life changing but not so elite. i genuinely think you have a bright future ahead of you and yeah, since you are an international student you should take a look at schools with great financial aid packages for international students, you may also want to keep note of all the application fee money youre sending in. add princeton/ harvard to your list although i think princeton would be a better choice but dont hope for it, never ever set your hopes high because these admissions are highly arbitrary for many people. youll be competing against a much much competitive applicant pool as its international but i want you to apply to places that are cheaper and offer great education, apply to University of Warwick in the UK, apply to unis that you can afford just in case they dont accept you or give financial aid. i really want you to go to a place that wont put you in debt and honestly, you’ll do great wherever you go, dont believe that if you dont get into the above schools you wont have a future, you will, apply to some state schools with low out of states i think uk unis will be highly favorable for you though tbh, plus they have lower fees, but you know, apply to both places. dont apply to a bunch of places for the name okay? apply to the places you genuinely see yourself at.

16

@Germankid00, now you’re talking. Find a thread, an arc that links together the things that are particularly important to you- your story. Remember when you write that showing not telling is important. You can expect that you will have to leave out lots and lots of things that feel important to you, and that it will take several drafts to get to a tight, focused essay.

@ephemeraldays29, I’m not sure what your point is, but as far as I can see all the posts here are constructive. Obviously, everybody should take any advice with at least a grain of salt, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t useful things to be found (as you know, from having your own questions answered).

17

@collegemom3717 you’re definitely right, there is a lot of constructive information available here but i believe a lot of people tend to look at college confidential forums as holy grails with accurate information on getting into college which is false, especially in the chance me forums. We know as much about someone getting in as they do. you’d be surprised to know how many people take this platform as their fundamental medium of college help.

18

That’s fair!