Im an international applicant, female, poc, wanna get a STEM degree
SAT 1: 1460/1600 740 R 720 M
SAT 2: havent recieved the actual scores but I expect 700+ in math1, 750+ physics
Got I perfect cgpa in sophomore year in my country’s education system,
I think I was 4th or 5th in junior year out of 400, but pretty sure in the top 10%
topped in chemistry in my batch ( 97%),
Senior year predicteds: 98/100 in physics, chem, math, comp science, 91/100 in english ( we dont have course levels as such but the curriculum is definitely in the same league as APs)
Been a national level swimmer (since 8th grade), national level waterpolo player (vicecaptain of the state team in senior year) and state level shooter
I also expect pretty decent recs since my teachers like me quite a bit
I dont have a lot of community service hours tho, and I require loads of financial aid ( my fam can pay only about 20% of the tuition fee)
Do I have a shot?
I think you definitely have a shot based on your gpa and scores. however, your ECs are a bit limited in quantity but it seems like you put a lot of time and effort into them based on your achievements so try to explain that. it’s really good though how you do a lot of community service so definitely highlight that! i’m not sure about financial aid, but if they are need blind they won’t take your socioeconomic status into account.
If you apply Early Decision somewhere, you cannot apply Early Action to other colleges usually. Check your schools’ guidelines.
I don’t think I really got my point across: I actually want you guys to chance me for these colleges, and I’ll apply ED to whichever school I have a better shot of getting into \m/
Well, that’s just the wrong way to choose which school to apply ED.
Based upon that statement, I would say apply to neither ED. Apply to both RD so you can compare financial packages, if accepted. The reality is as an international student, your chances are about half of the overall admissions rate. You stats are in line, but admissions is just so competitive.
I believe that your stats are really great, as an international student, though, it will definitely be harder to be accepted.
On that note, when @junior2017 said that your ECs are limited in quantity, I don’t fully agree with that. If you are truly committed to your ECs, and you definitely explain how your life has changed or whatever from them, then I do believe that that is a good amount of ECs. However, if, for example, you had 10 ECs but only did them like one time a year, then definitely would lower chances because less committed, etc.
I do think that it would be a better idea to maybe not apply ED, but RD, only because ED is a once-in-a-lifetime shot. However, with RD, you can GET THOSE VOLUNTEER HOURS UP because you are seriously lacking them. Why should a university accept you if you don’t want to give back to your community? If you RD, and show you love helping others with like 100+ volunteer hours, or even at least 50+, then I think(?) it will increase your chances, but that’s truly just my opinion.
I was thinking of applying ED because it’s got a greater acceptance rate than RD, and being an international student, as you guys said, does decrease my chances anyway, ED or RD. It does seem fair though, to increase my volunteer hours, but I don’t think I’ll stack up against the other brilliant RD applicants. What do you guys think?
PS: my common app essay is about how growing up in the rural parts of my country affected me as a person
Cornell turned need-aware this year. If you did your research properly would have known. I’d suggest you apply to Vassar.
I do know Cornell is need-aware now, but I’ll look into Vassar.
Thanks!
UPDATE: I just got my SAT2 scores
Physics: 800 Math 1: 740 (…I know)