@momrath: Yes, my GPA is on a 4.0 scale! I’d love to apply to those, but I already think my list is reach-heavy as is– I’d love to apply to a few well-known research schools too. Brown was actually on my list for the longest time, but it was too selective.
I have quite a few extracurriculars that I’m dedicated to, but I’ll be moving schools next year and I don’t know if I’ll get to continue these activities– that would put me in a less advantageous position since I doubt I’ll get a chance to be involved deeply at the new school, hence my decision to apply to more matches. I’m also not very decorated in terms of awards, which further drives me away from the tippy-top schools.
@VaporeonKid, You have almost two years before you have to apply, so don’t start eliminating yet. Just make sure to have a few solid safeties, either in the U.S., your home country or any other place, then it really doesn’t matter whether the others are high matches or low reaches. There’s no reason not to include a couple of super-reaches.
There’s nothing wrong with your intitial list, but international admissions are unpredictable; you should submit as many applications as you can comfortably handle. Keep your grades up, do well on your standardized tests, focus on a two or three interests that you really care about and can incorporate into your essays, and you’ll be a solid candidate.
Awards are not a driving force in admission. What the top colleges are looking for is outstanding academic achievement and commitment to challenging non-academic pastimes. Depending on where you are from, your life experience can be an “extracurricular” in itself.
I will possibly apply to 1 or 2 safeties in the US, and the rest will be reaches/matches. However, my school limits us to 10 applications worldwide (probably to limit us applying to schools without doing extensive research :-? )
I’ll be taking the ACT in the fall of this year (No PSAT/PreACT for me, sadly), how high of a score would you suggest I aim towards? (I’ll also be applying to a few top-tier schools so I’m thinking about a 34+) Your statement about awards are reassuring—a large number of international applicants online seem to be major award winners and I don’t think I am (or will be, for that matter) that extraordinary!
@VaporeonKid, There’s no absolute cut off point for standardized tests. Just do your best. You may need to take it more than once. With a few exceptions, selective schools admit holistically – scores are important because they establish a benchmark, but they are not as critical as grades, extracurricculars, essays, and recommendations. And most importantly you want to convey who you are, what excites you intellectually, what you will be able to contribute to the campus community.
At your age it probably sounds ridiculous that you could contribute much of anything but the main reason that schools recruit high achieving international students is to widen the diversity of perspective both in and out of the classroom. (They also love full pay international, which it appears you are.)
As long as you have a reliable safety (that you wouldn’t mind attending) then 10 applications is enough. You may want to apply EA or ED, which can be a significant advantage at some schools, especially LACs.
