Chances for Top Schools! Thanks you!!!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>Could you please chance an international student for the following schools: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, UPenn, Duke</p>

<p>Here are my stats</p>

<p>Objective:
-SAT I: 700 C, 740 W, 770 M
-SAT II: 790 Bio, planning to take Chem, Math2, Physics (expecting around 800)
-Unweighted GPA: - (sch does not calculate)
-Rank: ~10% (sch does not rank officially)
-AP (place score in parenthesis): - (sch does not offer)
-A Level (predicted): AAAA A1 AA Distinction (perfect score)
-Senior Year Course Load: Most rigorous (alot of people take it though)
-Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): RSI Distinction, Taiwan Science Fair First, ISEF Finalist, Local Science Fair Gold, Local Science Talent Search Finalist (and other random scholarships/prizes/awards)</p>

<p>Subjective:
-Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Science research (P), Interest club (P), Red cross (officer), Interest club (officer), Peer support leader etc
-Job/Work Experience: Waiter, Student researcher, Newspaper youth writer
-Volunteer/Community service: Street parade volunteer manager, International conference facilitator, First aider, Fund raising, Resident's comittee, Community youth executive committee (officially ~400hrs)
-Summer Activities: EPGY, Fulltime research (at the same place for 3 consecutive years)
-Essays: Family violence/divorce leading to an incident that changed my outlook
-Teacher Recommendation: not sure (should be good?)
-Counselor Rec: not sure
-Additional Rec: RSI
-Interview: not yet</p>

<p>Other
-Country (if international applicant): Asian
-School Type: Large public (super competitive)
-Ethnicity: Chinese
-Gender: Male
-Income Bracket: may or may not ask for fin aid
-Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First gen on father's side?</p>

<p>Thank you very much! Good luck in your own endeavors!!</p>

2

<p>Your SAT1 is borderline for most of those schools, but since it seems you've done a lot of other impressive stuff (isef, usamo, rsi). You also get a bit of a break being an Int. student. I'd say you have a very good chance of getting into at least a few. Chinese is NOT URM though, sorry, haha I'm in the same spot. Some of those places (esp. Harvard and Princeton) are a hard call for almost everyone, but emphasize your obvious strength in science.</p>

3

<p>bump??</p>

<p>topspinwu: Yeah, I am rather worried about my SAT1, esp when there are so many people getting 2300-2400 in my school (it's super competitive) but unfortunately I don't think I am able to improve on it further. Btw I didn't do USAMO... Do you think those schools will think that i'm just a one trick pony (research)? Thanks for your advice!</p>

4

<p>If you consider that a lot of students aren't even "one trick ponies" (I mean "well rounded" students with simply a bit of comm. service, good SAT, and 4.0), I'd say having at least one area where you seem to be VERY strong is quite advantageous. I mean, a medal at ISEF is quite a bit more unique than saying you did 60 hours at a soup kitchen while juggling a few ap classes. It's true that colleges want to see that you have some aesthetic balance in your life, but big accomplishments in a specific field are very special.</p>

5

<p>You have a good chance at Penn and Duke. Stanford is also very possible if you can pay full. The rest will be REALLY hard.</p>

6

<p>topspinwu: thanks... i guess i will focus on this area first. </p>

<p>moizuhk: actually because of my army situation (i can apply multiple times, so i will only apply to my top choices this year) i probably won't apply to Penn and Duke. Is Stanford significantly easier for internationals who can pay full? To be honest, i don't really have much hope at HYP is it?</p>

7

<p>I think your best chance is at Duke.. and your chances there are minimal.. I would say you will be rejected at the rest.</p>

8

<p>Your chances are actually almost as good as it gets for an applicant from Singapore due to ISEF, RSI, SSEF and A*TS (would be better if you get an SPhO, SCho, etc... Gold medal as well) , but the chances at HYP are almost always a crapshoot anyway, what with Harvard's overall admissions rate being 7.4% this year. Concentrate on your relationships with your subject tutors and your essays. Good luck =p</p>

9

<p>Are those the only schools you are applying to? The general advice usually given on these forums is to have several safety/match schools as a back-up. All the schools you've listed are very difficult to get admitted to for everybody.</p>

10

<p>dsultemeier: Yes, i know those schools listed are absolutely top-notch and extremely selective. Like i've said, i will be serving in the army, so that gives me a few shots at applying for schools - hence I won't be applying to safeties/matches in this year since I may want to try for the top schools in the next application window (i know it's complicated...) Thanks for your advice! :)</p>

11

<p>frankchn: what do you think are my chances with UK universities? Or even the local school of medicine? If I don't get into my top US choices this year, I will strongly consider the other options :)</p>

12

<p>bump? any other advice/suggestions?</p>

13

<p>Rosh420: I would definitely want to go to Duke and I've heard lots of wonderful stuff about it :) Just curious, why do you think I have a greater chance at Duke (say compared to UPenn?) Thank you!</p>

14

<p>bump!!!!!!</p>

15

<p>bump again!!!!!!</p>

16

<p>Harvard: Always reach
Princeton: Always reach
Yale: Always reach
Stanford: Reach
Columbia: Reach
UPenn: Reach
Duke: Don't know</p>

<p>Find some safeties. Can't always apply to reach schools, you know. And with this year's admission rates, you REALLY can't count on the "What Are My Chances?" thread because it's all a crapshoot. :)</p>

17

<p>Puddly: Thanks. Just curious, what does "Reach" mean though?</p>

18

<p>bump? more advice/suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!</p>

19

<p>Reach means it takes more than luck to get in there</p>

20

<p>bump? By the way this is an incomplete list of successful applicants from my sch: RJC</a> Success Rates 2001-2003</p>