<p>I live in one of the most mediocre countries in the world, where your grades don't matter and you can enrol at any university. Nobody in high school has ever worried about extracurricular activities (or grades) in high school, and there are no commissions, leadership roles, clubs, or honor classes. No one does volunteer work, or summer courses (don't exist). </p>
<p>This is the situation: I grew up in a country with a different culture with respect to ECs and cannot impress any university with those things. However, I do have arguably the best high school performance in my country (also got in the newspaper for that).</p>
<p>I cannot judge whether it is far from realistic or not to apply for top universities in the USA. I am very confident about my grades/recommendation letters, but all the other things No.</p>
<p>Should I stop wasting my time on the application process or is your high school performance really important and do they consider these kinds of cultural differences?</p>
<p>If it is true that there isn’t any clubs or leadership positions or student council, and if you convince the admission guy, you will have a chance. Though if it was good if you have founded some club…</p>
<p>Colleges don’t care about what “everyone else” was doing. What have you (specifically) done to make yourself stand out against your peers? If you were an admissions officer, what would make you think, “Well this kid is extraordinary compared to the others! We would want him here!”</p>
<p>I reckon you’ll be fine if the colleges you’re applying to are realistic in terms of your grades and SAT scores. As an international student, I know what you mean when you say ECs aren’t as important in your home country. But if you show admissions that you’ve done your best with the resources you were given, you’ll be okay :)</p>
<p>I have not taken the SAT yet, but I don’t expect an incredible score unfortunately. I understand what you said ThatAsian, I just stand out academically.
And saaaaammmyy, why do you think I’ll be okay then? Do you base that on experiences of other international applicants or your own?..</p>
<p>Admission committees have had previous applicants from your country so they will judge your application accordingly.
However, if you had your dreams set on US colleges you would have set yourself apart by creating volunteer situations, showing leadership in school, founding school clubs.</p>
<p>Your SAT/ACT scores will give you indication if you can succeed academically in college level courses.
Your performance at your hs while the best among your peers may not have prepared you for US universities.
Can you family afford the cost of university tuition, about 40K USD/year?</p>
<p>If you are one of the best academically in your entire country that certainly is impressive and will matter to them. How is such a thing measured? Do you have national exams?</p>
<p>You will not be expected to have started any clubs if it is just not done there. But it is thought that you would persue some interests outside of school.</p>
<p>Do you have any special talents, like art, music or athletics? What do you do with your time when you are not in school or studying?</p>