<p>I'm a foreign student. I'm going to this and next year's IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) and also went to the 2012 WRO (World Robot Olympiad). I have mostly As in school. My school has notable alumni and previous ivy league, mit students. I can ace the SATs and the Toefl, so that won't be a problem, how are my chances( a percentage would be good)? I'm thinking about majoring in mechatronics (or something similar) in tech universities or economics in the ivy league schools.</p>
<p>You didn’t really tell us that much about yourself and you haven’t taken your SAT yet, with such limited information about GPA/ECs, it’s really quite difficult to tell…</p>
<p>You do realize that mechatronics isn’t a major at top American universities, right?</p>
<p>@shawnspencer do you not know what the IMO is? Assuming he can do decently on the SAT (2200+ and he says he can ace it) and has good grades (3.8+), he’s in to both pretty easily. </p>
<p>@DiscipulusBonus I know, I wrote it that way because if I get into Mit I’d like to help in the mechatronics lab, but I should have phrased it better. What I meant to say was that I’d study the closest thing to mechatronics… Also, @theanaconda thanks for for your reply, @shawnspen I only mentioned my two biggest ECs and my academics on purpose.</p>
<p>@theanaconda No I’m afraid I don’t. I assume it is a very prestigious math competition. If it is as big as it sounds, then it should give you a boost, but I’m just not that familiar with it, sorry.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you OP</p>
<p>@shawnspencer thanks!</p>
<p>This is a question not a criticism or a disdainful remark : Do US universities consider participating in an event important or are they looking for prizes. I for one participated in this national event in France, and I didn’t win ( it wasn’t in a field i liked anyway) is that still considered valuable. Oh and btw if you’re participating in the International Olympiad does this mean you won it in your country, cause i signed up for the Math Olympiad in France but couldn’t attend as i had an official exam that day. Thanks for your answer 
. Oh and not to sound too nosey : I’m an international student as well, where do you come from ?</p>
<p>Hey @JeremyRotman, from what I’ve heard US universities consider participating (without winning) important as well, it’s certainly not as good but if another student applying has the same academics but you have some EC participation you certainly have the edge. It may be good for you to include the competition in your resume. And regarding olympiads, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you ‘won’. Usually in most national olympiads if you do good in one test you can go into the next round and there is one final round, and in most countries that I know of, those students may participate in trainings to choose teams for international olympiads, so, if you get into the last round and you do very good in the tests you’ll have the opportunity to go, so maybe next year try as hard as you can to go to the national olympiad, if you want extra information on this contact your national organization, and they may be able to provide you with more information. Also, I’m from Latin America. Hope my answer was good.</p>
<p>Very helpful - but I’m entering my senior year I don’t have much time left.</p>
<p>The top schools are extremely unpredictable.</p>
<p><a href=“Rejected-- but why? - #16 by Bay - Harvard University - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1129383-rejected-but-why-p2.html</a></p>
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<p>@theanaconda </p>
<p>That’s nonsense. </p>
<p>"@shawnspencer do you not know what the IMO is? Assuming he can do decently on the SAT (2200+ and he says he can ace it) and has good grades (3.8+), he’s in to both pretty easily. " </p>
<p>Are you serious? People with international Olympiad gold medals get rejected from those universities. </p>
<p>Guys, I know that no activity on earth gives someone a 100% chance of getting in, and that’s not the point of the thread, I was hoping for you to give me a %, that’s it, but thanks for the replies anyway. @wannabefeynman @Mangiafuoco </p>
<p>It seems that Ivys are really looking for personalities; and really who knows exactly what they want, good achievements and grades are great and boost your chances - you seem to have a good profile just ace those SATs - , but I guess they need some sort of extra spark, so really a percentage is hard as it’s no science. I am by no means - really not - a college admission expert, this was just my personal feel and opinion reading about people that got accepted or not. If people disagree with my POV please feel free to correct me 
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<p>Thanks @JeremyRotman </p>
<p>No worries, I’m new to all this American thing as well, so if we receive help or advice, it’s just easier for all of us, glad I could help .</p>
<p>When you are applying to the most selective colleges in the US, the only answer is to point to those single digit acceptances and let you know that most of the applicants were way up there in their stats and achievements. It’s really impossible to say, other than you look like you are certainly in the running. For some of the school, there are country quotas as well if you are an international students, and some of the ivys and most of the school that you did not mention are need aware for international students and that can be a factor too. </p>
<p>You can talk to the counselors at your school and find out what their experiences have been in getting kids from your school with your profile into US colleges, particularly the ones that interest you. Also ask those working with and in your fields of interest as to what the placement has been of top performers in those areas in terms of getting into the most selective colleges. That will give you some idea where you stand.</p>
<p>ok yes it’s possible, especially as OP is international, to get rejected but OP should expect to get in (fi eh was dom estic). </p>
<p>OP, how do you know you are going to next year’s IMO since I would imagine the qualifying rounds within each country for next year haven’t started?</p>
<p>The reason I’m asking is that if you are from a small country, then going to IMO itself is not that impressive. You have to win something there. But if you are from say China, it’s a given you will win at least silver, if not gold. Then I would say you will have a great chance at a school like MIT.</p>
<p>Regarding Harvard rejecting people winning top Science/Engineering awards, well it looks for different type of people. Among the international students, I think Harvard probably has the highest concentration of children of foreign bureaucrats. Also Harvard is not above worrying losing admittees to a more technical school like MIT or Stanford.</p>
<p>Well, you are right, I don’t know for sure, but it is highly likely, I said because if I’m asking for my chances I believe it certainly changes them.</p>