<p>You know I haven’t really applied anywhere yet, so I think it’s really a bit too early to prepare myself for rejections. Secondly, the UK is my first priority, so they think I should aim only for some of the top schools in the USA. Thirdly, I said I might need it. But I don’t think I will end up applying for it, because I do come from a reasonably well-off family, and as I have said, my parents have paid for all my siblings. Fourthly, to answer tk23453237858930’s question, magazine rankings actually do matter, at least in my country. People don’t really know about small schools like they do in the US. Lastly, they think I have an impressive enough application (not to sound pompous or anything) to be able to apply to these schools, especially since the top students from my school have been gaining admission to them on a consistent basis.</p>
<p>@ bolour, yes, Berkeley is on my list.</p>
<p>hi guys, I realize I was a bit confused and confusing earlier, so let me clear the air a bit.</p>
<p>My Stats:</p>
<p>GCSEs: 11 A’s.
Class Rank: Top 5%
GPA: we don’t calculate it at my school, but it amounts to 3.85 unweighted.
SAT: as mentioned, my score was average (2070) the first time around. In 3 practice tests I’ve taken since then, I’ve had 2210, 2260 and 2280. Will take 2 more this week. 800 CR in all three. Writing 720, 770, 780. Math 690, 690, 700.
SAT II: Will take in October. Math II, Literature, Physics.
ECs: I’m Drama President, Lead Role in the play. I’m on the debate squad. Won 5 national/regional tournaments. Shortlisted for National Team. Hoping to be selected this year. Won the cup for best debator in our school, parliamentary and declamation.Editor/founding member of school literary magazine. Regular contributor to a National Daily Newspaper since July 2011. Won MUNs at home and abroad.
School: Highly competitive British style semi-boarding school. Our Head Boy is going to Princeton and was waitlisted at Harvard. Last year, a kid got into HPY, Stanford, Dartmouth. Others have been accepted at Brown, Cornell, Duke, Chicago, Penn, Northwestern, Berkeley, Vanderbilt, Middlebury, Yale, etc.</p>
<p>I’ve cut myself down quite a bit in terms of my list.
I’m absolutely in love with some colleges and though they may be reaches, I’m having a hard time letting them go.</p>
<p>Harvard
Princeton
Amherst
Columbia
Pomona
Penn
Dartmouth
Cornell
CMC
WashU
Vanderbilt
Berkeley
Georgetown
Michigan
Wake Forest
Fordham</p>
<p>Financial Aid: Discussed it with my parents and we agreed that we wouldn’t qualify for aid. They’ll be able to pay for me, and hope I can get some sort of merit scholarship, but that’s not a requirement.</p>
<p>So? What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Oh, And my number 1 choice is Pomona.</p>
<p>just a correction my UW gpa is a little more than 3.85, its 3.87 not that it makes much of a difference lol</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>Harvard
Princeton
Amherst
Columbia
Pomona
Penn
Dartmouth
Cornell
CMC
WashU
Vanderbilt
Berkeley
Georgetown</p>
<p>The above are almost all out of your reach with your current SAT scores. Being international certainly does not help either. Michigan and Wake Forest may be possibilities, although they are also very selective.</p>
<p>You said that your parents are not willing to let you attend a school that is ranked below NYU (which is a stupid guideline, but whatever). In that case I would tell you to be very prepared about the high possibility not attending school in the US.</p>
<p>Actually, what I meant by the NYU sentence was that they would prefer that I attend a school with a certain degree of renown/prestige in Pakistan. If I’m going to work in Pakistan, that is a certain pre-requisite.
I know my SAT score is low, I’m retaking it in May. Fingers crossed. I’ve also put Fordham on the list. Is that a solid safety?</p>
<p>Also, my brother is a UMich alumnus. Does that count for them?</p>
<p>SAT I 2nd Take: 2290 - 750 CR, 740 M, 800 W</p>
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<p>I love it! Of course you have an impressive enough application to be able to apply to these schools. The question is whether you have an impressive enough application to be admitted.</p>
<p>But look, bottom line is that if you are full pay, you will likely get into some, if not many, of your target schools. If you needed financial aid, you probably wouldn’t have a prayer. So, as long as your parents are willing to pay for you to go to their top choice schools, you’ll probably be fine.</p>
<p>The state schools, especially, are in dire need of funding, so they’re delighted to take full pay international students!</p>
<p>thank you dodgersmom! i just got my May score back too. way better than January. 2290. how much have my chances increased do you think?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Sorry, for purposes of this forum, I am neither bookie nor psychic, so I can’t answer that question. But congratulations on the improved score!!! :)</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Some top 30 LAC’s offer good merit. Kenyon offered my DS $20k/yr. Grinnell offered $15k/yr. Tippy top LACs are only need based.</p>