Chances(just let me face the reality and how can improve)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

International from China
9th grade in China, GPA: 3.3
10th grade in China: 3.1
Exchange year in California, first semester schedule
Algebra 2: A
Career: A
Film appreciation: A-
US history Honor:A-
Chemistry: B-
American literature: B-
GPA:3.78

Moved once, second semester
Honor precalc: A-
Advanced photography: A-
Honor chemistry: B
USH: A+
American literature: A
Anatomy:C
GPA:3.78

After I went home in summer, I came here continue my study, as an eleventh grader again, in a catholic school in Maryland
AP calculus AB: B
Honor psychology: A
AP US gov: A
Religion: A
Honor physics: B
Honor American liter: A
GPA: 3.74
PSAT: 162
Took first sat: 1620( CR:450,M 640, W:530), intend to take act in April and sat in May again, TOEFL this month

Ideal senior courses:
Honor statistics
AP European history
Honor environmental science
Religion
Honor British literature
Honor Covil War/ Cold War
French 1

EC: varsity basketball one semester
Model UN in China
International club( intend to run for office)
Green club( intend to run for office )
Exchange student
Post crossing ( a program exchange postcards)

Intended major: social sciences- political science, history, sociology, or international relations, and journalism
I listed about 20 colleges I’d love to go.
Is there any colleges I definitely can’t go?
Umich, UNC- chapel hill, UCB, UCSD, UCSC, Minnesota- Twin cities, UMD-College Park, Wisconsin-Madison, UGA, UIUC, UMass, Uconn, Michigan state, San diefo state, UT Austin , Uwashington Seattle, Ohio state, jacobs(in Germany)
And UBC, Toronto or McGill in Canada?

2

I would say that you’re a very long shot at Michigan, UNC, UCB, and McGill. You definitely have at least a shot at the rest!

3

Yep. I admit that. Thanks!

4

Your SAT aggregate score (1620) will significantly undermine your competitiveness; diligently prepare for your April and May standardized tests, they are crucially important.

5

UT Austin, UIUC, UMich, UNC, UCB : High Reach

UCSD, Minnesota - Twin Cities, Wisconsin - Madison : Low Reach

Michigan State - Match/High Match

6

Hopefully you’ll get higher scores on the actual SAT/ACT than on the PSAT.
Also, what’s your parents’ budget?
Will you be considered “in state” for tuition and admission purpose in the state from which you graduate?

Umich, UNC- chapel hill, UCB = probably out of reach (or high reaches)
UCSD, Uwashington Seattle = reach, even if you gain +200 on your SAT, but worth trying if your parents can pay the COA (~55K/year)
Minnesota- Twin cities, UMD-College Park, Wisconsin-Madison, UGA, UIUC, UMass, Uconn, San diego state= good matches if SAT 1800s/ACT25-26
UCSC,Michigan state, San diego state, Ohio state, jacobs(in Germany) = quasi safety if 1750s

, , UT Austin = highly unlikely due to the process for OOS admission (I think only 9% admits for OOS?)
UBC, Toronto or McGill in Canada = will depend on ACT/SAT + SAT subjects/AP scores in subjects pertaining to what you want to study

7

Concerning on my family’s budget, I don’t even think about good private universities because even if I can get in, I won’t receive any FA from them. 55k is the highest my parents can support. BTW can you please advise me some good LACs which might offer me good finical packet?

8

@MYOS1634‌

9

You’re looking for merit aid, then - at an academically serious college, regardless of location - is that a good summary?
What else are you looking for in a university (as there are still hundreds of possibilities)?

10

@MYOS1634‌ ehh, for LACs, I’d prefer top 100 if possible, and chance to study abroad.

11

OP: The “top 100” institutions include MANY LACs (Williams, Davidson, Kenyon, Swarthmore, Colgate, and MANY others), they all have overseas study opportunities, and some have generous merit-based FA for internationals (which most first-tier National Research Universities do NOT offer).

12

Look at these different colleges: Denison, Dickinson, St Olaf, Rhodes, Hendrix, Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, Brimingham Southern, Hampshire, Eckerd, Goucher, Chapman, UDayton, Willamette.
Do some appeal to you? Which ones?

13

I read something about st.olaf before. There are senior applying Dickinson too. Maybe plus Hampshire too. These 3 are most attractive to me. @MYOS1634‌

14

Dickinson and St Olaf have excellent study abroad and science programs. St Olaf also has superb music programs and is closer to a big city. Dickinson is strong in social sciences too.
Hampshire is totally different - it’s part of the 5-college consortium and is the “hippie” one, with no grades and you make you own curriculum.

15

update: SAT CR:520 M:690 W: 580 Combined:1790
AP Human geography: 5
AP US Government:5
Senior schedule
AP US History
AP European History
AP English literature
AP biology
Honor statistics
Revised school list
Fordham
Beloit
Depauw
Fordham
Ohio state university
Penn state,
UCI
UCSC
Gettysburg
Dickinson
St. Olaf
Macalester
U of Wisconsin
U of Minnesota
U of Washington
Illinois Wesleyan
Tulane
Thank you guys

16

Assuming your parents can, indeed, afford 45K+, this is a very good list
I’d remove DePauw unless you’re very interested in drinking alcohol and in Greek life (and, as an international, if some fraternities/sororities require recommendations it may be hard to do.) Gettysburg is also fraternity and alcohol heavy, although not as much as DePauw.
You may want to remove tOSU, perhaps replace it with U Maryland (due to proximity to DC).

For Penn State, absolutely apply before Nov 30. If you’re available mid June, check “summer session”. Indicate that you’d be interested in Paterno Scholars (in the space where you can give personal information).

17

The thing for UMD is that I didn’t meet the English proficiency on TOEFL. It requires 100 while I have a 96. Why summer session for pen state is advised to attend?
My family can afford 45k but it may seem uneasy. So I’d like to only afford 30k-35k for some liberal arts college because they have more financial aid.
Thank you for your advice!

18

It’s quite possible a 96 would be considered close enough to a 100, especially if you attend a Canadian school. Email UMD Admissions and ask them.

Checking “summer session” gives you a second possibility - it means that if they’re unsure about admitting you for the Fall, they admit you in the summer where you only take 2 classes that you’d normally take in the Fall, and you take 4 classes in the Fall. This way it guarantees you have everything to succeed.