Chances - Special case!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I’m a Year 12 Chinese girl currently studying in England. The following are my stats… Dunno if they’re helpful because they’re under the British system. Also included some of my past history in Hong Kong before I came to England in Year 9.</p>

<p>Basically -
In Year 7-8 I studied in Hong Kong;
In Year 9-12 (now) I study in the UK.</p>

<p>I’m looking into entering schools of the Ivy League (if possible) to do Physical Chemistry-related subjects, possibly Chemical Engineering.</p>

<p>SAT scores:
(1st time)
Verbal: 610
Math: 700
Writing: 650 (Essay: 9)</p>

<p>i’m disappointed with the Math really, because I was very careless!! registering for the January SAT I, hope my luck improves… Aiming to get at least 750 for maths so that will push my overall to at least 2010. (not sure if i can get higher scores though.) Will do SAT IIs next year, taking Phyics, Chemistry and Maths IIc.</p>

<p>GCSE grades:
Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, German, Geography, Economics, Chinese, RS: A* (the grade above A only applicable to GCSEs)
English language, English literature: A</p>

<p>A Level grades:
AS: Music - A
AL: Chinese - A</p>

<p>Expected A Level grades:
Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Music - A</p>

<p>Achievements:</p>

<li><p>Academic: Year Prize in Year 9, 10, 11; PTA Scholarship offered by Secondary School in Year 7</p></li>
<li><p>Music: ABRSM Exams – Piano (Grade 8 distinction), Flute (Grade 8 distinction), Singing (Grade 6 distinction), Theory (Grade 5 distinction); Guildhall Exams - Drumkit Grade 4; 6th Form Music Scholarship offered by school</p></li>
<li><p>Duke of Edinburgh Awards (consists of Community Service, Sports, Skill and Expedition sections): Bronze Level, doing Gold Level at the moment</p></li>
<li><p>Speech & Drama: LAMDA Exams – Acting (Grade 5), Prose & Verse (Grade 4), Spoken English (Grade 4)</p></li>
<li><p>Life Saving: Bronze Medallion, Life Support Certificate</p></li>
<li><p>UKSMT Mathematics Challenge:
Intermediate – 2003, 2004,2005 Gold
Intermediate Olympiad – 2003 Distinction, 2005 Merit
Senior – 2004 Silver</p></li>
<li><p>Responsibilities: Deputy Head of House 2004 – 2005</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Extra Curriculars:</p>

<li><p>Music: member of College orchestra, College choir, flute ensemble, madrigal at school</p></li>
<li><p>Outdoor Pursuits: Besides the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, I joined Outward Bound in Hong Kong in Summer 2003.</p></li>
<li><p>Girl Guides: Member of Hong Kong WK 2 Coy, 2000 – 2002</p></li>
<li><p>Sports: Kung Fu, Member of School Fencing Team, 2000 – 2002</p></li>
<li><p>Young Enterprise: IT Director</p></li>
<li><p>Camps: Programmes for the Gifted and Talented and JSITC (a summer IT camp) organised by the Chinese University Hong Kong</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Summer Work Experience:</p>

<p>UK: Worked for a week in a biochemical company
Hong Kong: Worked for a month in a chemical company</p>

<p>Community Service:</p>

<p>Taking care of senior citizens around the town every weekend, worked in a charity shop in town, performed regularly at school charity concerts</p>

<p>Chances at:
Cornell
UC Berkeley
U of Minnesota
Princeton
Stanford
MIT</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>You cannot even speak English correctly, "I'm a Year 12 Chinese girl" - As long as you do not do that on the application process you stand some chance; however, I don't know how many colleges want a 12 year old attending them but than again I'm not a college master.</p>

3

<p>Don't pay attention to what the person above me said. She just misunderstood you.</p>

<p>Glexia-in England "year 12" means twelfth grade, not that shes 12 years old. lol</p>

<p>someone_special-all i can say is that your EC's are a little all over the place. You might want to narrow it down to two or three and expand on them as much as you can to show that you are focused.</p>

<p>And although i don't know that much about the exact statistics of Cornell's average freshmen profile, I'm guessing that that your SATs are a bit on the low side (remember we're talking about the Ivy's here!). </p>

<p>What i would tell you like i would tell anyone else is go ahead and shoot for the top but have something to fall back on too. Especially being an international student. :)</p>

4

<p>I'm sorry I am so use to American English, my apologies</p>

5

<p>haha dun worry about it Glexia... i was a bit surprised to read your reply at first but then i realised what was happening...</p>

<p>thx for clarifying lily.</p>

6

<p>Wow, your GCSE marks are phenomenal! I'd say they more than make up for your SATs. I wouldn't say your ECs are "all over the place"- I think they show that you excel in a broad range of areas. I think you have a good shot at any of those schools- but definitly work on the SAT (buy a book or something). Good Luck!</p>