Hi! I’m an international student who is wondering if I should apply for Carleton with financial aid (previously posted a thread asking about selective schools). I’m hoping to study neuroscience.
SAT I: 1530 - math 800, read/write 730
SAT II(took twice): Chinese with listening - 800, math II - 790 (on both tries), literature: 720 second try
Our school does not grade according to GPA, but based on what I was told I should be a predicted straight As/ A/B for all my subjects. We are not allowed to know what the grades submitted are, because they are submitting predicted grades.
No school placing available
Currently under the A level system, taking 1 H1 + 4 H2s (equivalent of AP, one way to see the connection is scoring an A in A levels is equivalent to 3 college credits) and 1 H3 (research based subject, only available to selected students who did well in their promotional examinations)
Overview for the A level curriculum: students are allowed to take a maximum of 1 H1 + 4 H2 + up to 2 H3s OR 5 H2 subjects, and a minimum of 2 H1 and 3 H2 subjects.
ECs/ awards:
- peer helper in school (Monday enrichment programme, selective)
- EXCO (management) member: programme manager in Mental Health Awareness Week 2017
- published 2 books: picture book “fighting BPD” and autobiography about anorexia recovery. The latter was reproduced (with edits) due to popular demand. The second edition also featured forewords provided by 2 professors from 2 local universities in my country (one director of department and one department head)
- gave 9 talks/speeches/workshops in schools (both within individuals schools and at cross inter-school events), at various external organisation events, and to professionals (Teachers, counsellors, medical professionals) related to the second book
- organising team member in student initiated volunteer project to allow underprivileged children access to literature (2018)
- leader of 120+ team for youth for causes and raised $13000 in 6 months
- part of volunteer and service management programme in 2016 (for business management in volunteer projects)
- one of 3 speakers representing graduating batch of VSMP 2016
- guest speaker as representative of volunteers at volunteer appreciation dinner YMCA Singapore
- initiated a booth in school to advocate for a veg stall
- founded student association as a bridge between existing resources and students who want to advocate for animal rights in their communities
- ambassador for vegan food finds website
- vegan food blogger - done collaborations and sponsored products etc
- leader of a group that got into top 10 finalists in youth innovation challenge 2017
- group is in top 4 finalists for a national inter-school business pitch competition
- member of entrepreneurship club in my school
- part of school orchestra for 10 years total (specially selected through music lesson in primary school so I entered the orchestra earlier)
- piano diploma (will likely leave out, but I love piano so may write about it in my essays)
total volunteer hours over 4 years of 200-300h
Academic honours: sadly nothing much but thinking of putting my business competitions here
Won an award for Chinese poetry writing in 2016, Chinese work is also published in a national anthology
Other schools I’m applying to (please also chance me for them <3):
- Yale REA
- Smith College
- Tufts University
- NYU
- Vassar College
- Columbia
- Princeton (?)
- Stanford + art supplementary
- Yale-NUS
- Williams
- Bates College
I will be applying to either Cognitive Science or Neuroscience (depending on which is available) in all of the colleges/universities listed.