Chances for Singaporean student applying to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Cornell, UPenn?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi I'm an Indian National studying in Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) Singapore under an all-India scholarship from Singapore Airlines.</p>

<p>Curriculum: GCE A Level
Core subjects: Phys, Chem, Math, Knowledge and Inquiry (comparable to Theory of Knowledge)
Higher level subjects: Linear Algebra in National Univ of Singapore (NUS)
Consistently in top 10% of ACJC (08-09)
JC 1 (Year 1) result: 3 As, 1 B in KI
JC 2 (Year 2) mid year result: 4 As</p>

<p>SAT: Should get 2200+. Hoping for 2300+ though haha
Haven't taken SAT Subject tests yet, but will take Phys, Chem, and Math II</p>

<p>Achievements:
1. Music:
--Lead guitarist and vocalist in school band, the Soaring Eagles, in St John's High School, India (03-07).
--Band released its first music album in '06, and I composed and recorded the only original song in it.
--Contributed original songs to the second album that is due to be released later in '09
--Original songs incorporated into school diary (09)
--Won numerous local music competitions as part of the band (04-06)
2. Dance:
--Member of the ACJC Dance Society (08-09)
--Participated in SYF 09 Central Judging (International Dance): Bronze Award (09)
--Performed in Restless 5 and Restless 6, the society's annual showcases (08-09)
--Performed in other dances in and out of school (08-09)
--Danced for NUS chinese new year community involvement (09)
--Dance camp group leader (09)
3. Drama:
--Member of ACJC's drama club, ACSian Theatre (08-09)
--Cast and Dancer in major productions: Pride and Prejudice (08), Pied Piper (08) [Only non-theatre-studies student to perform in a major role in Pied Piper]
--Performed in numerous performances outside school (The Day I met the Prince, Tapestry) (08)
--Performed for ASEAN School Tours 08 when the secretary-general of ASEAN visited Singapore
--Performed for National Day community involvement in Singapore Zoo (08)
--Stage manager (backstage crew) for Inventio 08
4. Editorial Board
--Editor and graphics designer in the Ed board at St John's, India (05-07)
5. Debate
--2nd place in two local inter-school debate competitions (06)
--Best Public Speaker and Best Debating Team in the intra-school debate competition (06)
6. ACJC Orientation 09
--Orientation Group Leader
7. India Exchange Programme (08)
--Expedition Leader and Dance Instructor for the India Exchange Programme to New Delhi, Chandigarh (St John's High School), Agra, Jaipur (Nov-Dec 08), prepared team for 4 weeks
--Programme postponed indefinitely due to the untimely 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks :(
8. GREAT Programme participant (community involvement) (09)
--Organising the Youth X'travanganza cum Community Sports Day to raise awareness for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2009 (to be held on 12 July 09)
--Volunteerig to write letters in lieu of the Holland-Bukit Timah Member of Parliament for residents seeking reference to government self-help agencies
--Observing Ulu Pandan Community Centre Youth Executive Committee proceedings and learning about the Grassroots movement in Singapore
9. Others
--Chosen to participate in the Singapore Phys Olympiad from ACJC (08)
--Made it to the Indian national level Bal Shree Creative Writing Competition in grade 8, not sure if it counts (05)
--Have written a science-fiction-fantasy novel, awaiting offers from publishers. Sequel is almost complete.
--Scholastic Merit Award (08)</p>

<p>Recommendations:
--Teacher's Recommendations from Physics and KI teachers
--Counsellor Report from ACJC Arts Head of Department (also ACSian Theatre director)
--Optional Recommendation from St John's High School's Principal also (highlighting contributions made to school even after graduating, including contributions for the second music album and the India Exchange Programme)</p>

<p>Colleges I'm applying to :
-Harvard
-Princeton
-Yale
-Cornell
-UPenn</p>

<p>Other info:
-Require financial aid
-Thinking of applying 'single choice early action' to Yale, and regular admission to others
-Shortlist of prospective majors:
---Physics
---Mech engineering
---Aerospace engineering
---Engineering physics</p>

<p>Thanks for the opinions in advance! Please be frank :)</p>

2

<p>Hi, I am Frank =p. Anyway, here’s what I think:</p>

<ul>
<li>Harvard, Yale and Princeton - Seems well-rounded but lacks the “spark” needed for serious consideration of admissions as an international to those 3 schools. Rejected.</li>
<li>Cornell - Possible, especially if you apply to the Engineering school instead of CAS.</li>
<li>Penn - Around the same as Cornell.</li>
</ul>

3

<p>Hello people, I’m sorry I forgot to mention some achievements!!! Really sorry! Please consider these as well, and Frank, I’d be delighted if you could re evaluate keeping in mind these additions:</p>

<p>1.School House Captain 10th Grade (St John’s High School) (06-07)
–House won the First Runners Up trophy and Best Participation trophy
2.Was awarded the SIA Youth Scholarship by Singapore Airlines for two years of Pre-University study in Singapore. One of the 30 students to be awarded the scholarship all-India.</p>

4

<p>No change. </p>

<p>When I refer to “spark” - I mean things like SSEF Gold (or multiple Golds), Gold at SPhO, SChO, SBO, NOI, etc (I understand that as a non-Singapore citizen you cannot represent Singapore in the International Olympiads) or similar non-science achievements. </p>

<p>For example, from my school (HC) and in my batch, the one guy that got into YPSM (rejected at Harvard) had 4 Singapore Olympiad Gold medals in Math, Physics, Chemistry and Informatics putting him in the Top 10 in the whole of Singapore in those 4 subjects (he was a PRC scholar so he couldn’t represent Singapore internationally either).</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>I hope that is not your entire US college list. If it is, I hope you have a college in India or somewhere out of the US lined up already that you are certain you can get into. </p>

<p>These colleges are very selective, which means they are crapshoots for every student who applies. If you really want to go to college in the US, please expand your college list, and by “expand,” I mean find several colleges that are not nearly as selective as the Ivies, colleges that you can afford, and apply to them as well.</p>

6

<p>Yes I will be applying to NUS and NTU in Singapore too, where I’m quite sure of securing places. I want to know only of my chances for the US :)</p>

7

<p>Honestly, you have a great shot at Cornell and UPenn IF your SAT score matches up with what you wish. I don’t know why you posted HYP up there since everyone will say “crapshoot” to you anyway, so it’s useless. :)</p>

8

<p>He may have a great shot at Cornell or Penn without aid, but neither is need blind for internationals and the competition among Indians and those from Singapore is brutal.</p>

<p>To get into HYP, you would truly have to be one of the very top students in all of Singapore. They are only going to take a few each per year and they will take the most exceptional. And they get many, many applications from the wealthy who can pay in full and will be favored in this economy. Cornell and Penn are not far behind. Given your pool you would need to go to a solid tier below these schools to have a good possibility of a US college with aid, even with a 2300 plus.</p>

9

<p>Oooh, I didn’t see that the OP needed aid. If you need aid, then all five schools are mid to high reaches for you.</p>

10

<p>Do you know your predicted grades yet? 4 A’s, while commendable, hardly seems like a top score which most applicants from Singapore are likely to have (50% of RJ students and 40% of HC students have like 4 A’s or more, while 50% of ACS(I) students scored 41 IB points and up). You should also have taken both SAT I and II by now, if you’re applying for Fall 2010 admission. Taking (or retaking) the SATs amid A-level preparation could prove to be disruptive and hinder you from getting competitive grades.</p>

<p>Based on your stats as they stand, I’d say that HYP are high reaches, while Cornell and Penn are mid reaches for you. If your intended major is in engineering, you should probably look beyond the Ivies. Some of your intended majors are not even offered at HYP! You should also try to secure a Singapore scholarship (SIA perhaps?) so you won’t have to apply for financial aid, but such scholarships usually come with a bond.</p>

11

<p>I’ll get predicted scores based on my Prelim exams performance, and I’m quite hopeful of getting a predicted score of 6 As (Phys chem math KI PW MTL). My 7th subject is H3 Linear Algebra in NUS, for which ACJC cannot predict my score.</p>

<p>I’ll be taking my SAT II after my prelims, so I’ll be well prepared for it beforehand as the syllabi are generally similar to the A Level syllabus</p>

12

<p>Those top notch schools look beyond academics. Besides, many students from RJC/HCI/ACJC get predicted straight-As anyway.</p>

<p>Also, I would really urge you to expand your list of schools, especially the LACs. UPenn and Cornell are very stingy with aid for Singapore-based students and HYP are just… hard</p>

13

<p>Oh That is Wang Tengyao. A legendary senior. I am also from HC:)</p>

14

<p>hmm Hey fellow singaporean here.</p>

<p>I shall reiterate was frank said here.</p>

<p>U lack solid achievements which DEFINE a successful singapore application: SSEF, SPhO, SCHO, SMO, ISEF etc etc the list goes on. U need medals, awards, publications stuff like that.</p>

<p>And honestly, looking at your application, I really dont see you as a solid candidate who the ivies (except prolly cornell) would except. Mind you: u r competing amongst the best in the world</p>

<p>Having said that, ur lacking in solid ECAs could be remedied by ur SAT scores, ur solid academic performance (which the ivies drool over) and just great college essays.</p>

<p>For now, thats ur biggest arsenal bro</p>

15

<p>Only IF your SAT matches with what you said.
-Harvard (high reach… check the box saying you need financial aid)
-Princeton (high reach… check the box saying you need financial aid)
-Yale (high reach… check the box saying you need financial aid)
-Cornell (low reach… don’t check the box. It’s not need-blind for international students. If you check it… extremely high reach)
-UPenn (high reach… for financial aid: same as cornell)
All these schools are VERY competitive to get into. These are all opinions… so don’t be too down or too happy.
Umm good luck. you should apply to schools like University of California, Berkeley too…
Chance me anyone? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/810722-please-chance-me-these-colleges.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/810722-please-chance-me-these-colleges.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>International student requiring financial aid and you don’t have something that makes you really stand out, I’d say very little chance at HPY</p>

17

<p>This is random, but don’t people from Singapore tend to favor UK schools? Are you applying to any of those?</p>

18

<p>UK schools don’t provide financial aid, and having gone through 12 years of education modeled after the british, it’s not surprising why some might decide to try sth else. haha</p>

19

<p>hey thanks a lot for the replies!!! i wanna update my SAT scores:</p>

<p>SAT: CR W (Essay) Math Total
June 710 700 (8) 800 2210
October 800 720 (10) 770 2290
Superscore 800 720 800 2320</p>

<p>SAT Subjects:
Phys 800
Math 800
Chem **770 **</p>

20

<p>oh and @Awped, nope i’m not applying to the UK…i find that i don’t like their edu system a lot</p>