chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

<p>I'm a junior and I will be applying from an American school in France and this is my second time living overseas... (if that helps at all). Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Freshman year:
GPA: 3.6 (unweighted)</p>

<p>Sophomore year: i moved to France and am attending an American School there
GPA: I don't remember unweighted but 3.6 (weighted).
EC's: Model United Nations (attended a conference in Italy), Green Team, Kenya Club</p>

<p>Junior year: first semester: (I'm doing the IB diploma)
GPA: 3.3 (unweighted), 3.7(weighted) - yes, it's pretty low, but the IB is really hard.
Predicted IB score: I don't know yet but i know it's at least a 32
EC's: Secretary of HCMC Kids (a community service club), Founder of the Badminton Club, Green Team (hoping to be Pres. next year), Model united nations (attended a conference in December in Paris)
Rank: i think around top 20-25%? not sure.
race: asian</p>

<p>ACT's: hopefully at least a 29 (i did my First practice ACt test and got a 26; taking an ACT prep course soon)</p>

<p>Work experience: Last summer, i worked in Syria for the American Embassy. (paid job)
Volunteering: this summer, i will be volunteering for the UN in Syria.</p>

<p>Please chance me?
For those of you who don't know what the IB diploma is, it's basically a rigorous program that is equivalent to.. a lot of AP's.</p>

2

<p>First let me warn you about the ACT practice tests. They are normally a LOT easier than the real test. It really depends on the book you use. For example, I have Mcgraw hill and get 32+ on every section and 34-36 on the math one. BUT I know after taking the ACT once I will expect something lower. </p>

<p>The Best books are the red book and PR IMO.</p>

<p>That being said, even with a 29 you would be in the lower median range for CMU (at least the one in Pittsburgh). However I do not know much about the French location.</p>

<p>Your ECs are very interesting and certainly unique. </p>

<p>Sooooo I would say if you can crack 30 on the ACT you have a realistic shot for sure. </p>

<p>Being Asian will not help you get in CMU though.</p>

3

<p>i took the practice test in the red book</p>

<p>what’s PR IMO? is that Princeton Review?</p>

<p>oh okay thanks. do you think i’ll get in because of my EC’s since my grades aren’t that good…right?</p>

4

<p>You’re also an international student, which means you get zero financial aid whatsoever. That’ll give you a boost, weird as it might sound.</p>

5

<p>but i’m still a U.S. citizen… will that help? or do they just base financial aid on where you apply from…?</p>

6

<p>PR IMO = Princeton Review In My Opinion.</p>

<p>Sure, IB can be hard but so can AP’s…depending on the teachers of course. The point of IBs and APs is to prove you can do well at the college level. Well, supposedly…
Try to get that GPA higher and take lots of ACT practice tests.
Regarding financial aid you should email or call the admissions office. I don’t know if they base international status on residencey or citizenship. Did you file a FAFSA and the Carnegie Mellon aid app? </p>

<p>[Carnegie</a> Mellon Financial Aid](<a href=“Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University”>Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University)</p>

7

<p>Oh wow I completely misread your original post. I thought you were apying to a CMU branch in France. That really doesn’t change anything as far as test scores and gpa.</p>

<p>I believe financial aid requires a US federal tax return. So unless you live on an embassy or army base, I would say financial aid is not likely</p>

8

<p>lol i didn’t even know there was a CMU branch in France</p>

9

<p>Well, they do have a Study Abroad program for France: [France</a> - Study Abroad - Carnegie Mellon University](<a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/sab/VisaRequirements/france.html]France”>http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/sab/VisaRequirements/france.html)</p>

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<p>Lol I wasn’t saying there was. I just misread your post and assumed there was. Like I’m pretty sure there is one in Egypt. I think cairo.</p>

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<p>Unless the policy is changing for this year, finaid is based on residency location. My friend’s roommate is a Korean student, and his father is renting an apartment here in the states solely so he can qualify for financial aid.</p>

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<p>oh okay. i have a house in NY though… will that help?</p>

13

<p>Yeah, I think that makes you technically a US resident then, since your parents are probably filing tax returns if they have a house in NY.</p>

14

<p>oh okay.</p>

<p>any other chances? please</p>

15

<p>…bump…</p>

16

<p>Chances depends on where you are applying. I think you have a decent shot for H&SS.</p>

17

<p>what’s that?
I think i’m going to major in biology or something</p>

18

<p>Well biology would be MCS and according to the statistics you would be in the bottom 25% of the admissions pool. The odds are against you but if you stress your unique experience in France etc. you might have a shot.</p>

19

<p>hm your gpa seems a tad bit on the low side but cmu doesnt always stress academics but rather overall qualities and character. i was accepted into mcs with a 3.5-3.6 uw gpa as a math major so you should have a chance too if you raise your standardized test scores.</p>

20

<p>hmm. okay</p>

<p>so whats the minimum score i need to get on the ACTs?</p>