Do I have a shot at SFS?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

<p>As the title suggests, Im looking to apply to SFS. I know that the competition is extremely tough for a school like Georgetown, but if you could just give me your honest opinion on my chances of being accepted, I would appreciate it. Thanks.</p>

<p>Male, Caucasian</p>

<p>SAT:2280 (CR 760 Math 720 Wr 800)
SAT 2:Chinese (800), MATH 2 (750), Lit (770)
AP: Chinese-5, Calc AB-4 (Taking APUSH, CHEM in Spring)</p>

<p>Academics:
My School does not rank the students, however, my College counselor basically told me that I was in top 5 in my grade (out of only 130...). This may seem uninteresting, yet my school sends AT LEAST 20-30 kids every year to the level of schools that I am applying to - there are roughly ONLY 3 letter A grade equivalents in ANY given class, so having an A (even an A-), is like being the best in the class. Also, my school does not place the name AP, on any given course description (like many Northeastern Prep schools.</p>

<p>-Latin 1-4
-Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, AB Calculus AP, Multivariable Calculus
-Chinese 1-6
-World History, US History to 1900, Contemporary Chinese History, Contemporary US History
-English 9-12
-Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry II</p>

<p>I have had A's or higher every year in each class, except for math....which was a B in both fresh/soph years...</p>

<p>Also, I just got back from School Year Abroad China, where I spent my Junior year studying Chinese in Beijing while living with a Chinese host family. The experience was amazing, and the academics were grueling. I was able to skip 5 level of my American school's Chinese after being back.</p>

<p>Extracurricular:</p>

<p>-Model UN (10-12)
-Quizbowl (10-12)
-Chinese language School (3 hours/Sunday) (9-12)
I began in the Bilingual level 1 class and I am now enrolled in the level 10 Native Speaker class, the highest in the entire school. I am the only non-chinese person to do such in the school's history.
- Chinese Culture Club (9-12), President (1 year)
-Red Cross Club Founder (1 year)
- Red Cross volunteer (3 years)
-Volunteer at a NPO dedicated to blind and visually impaired children's education (10-12: over 170 hours total), every Saturday morning at 8 AM til 10.
-Taekwondo (8-12), Blackbelt (1 year)
-Interned at a local hospital for over 80 hours during the summer: shadowed Cardiologists, observed open-heart and catheter surgeries, performed (not kidding, not sure how this is even legal...) a renal stent placement.</p>

<p>In China</p>

<p>-Calligraphy class weekly(75+ hrs)
-Traditional chinese instrument lessons weekly (75+ hrs)
-Taught English to 60 4th graders at Migrant School in Beijing Slum weekly (60+ hrs)
-I took care of orphans who have undergone surgery for conditions such as cleft pallet weekly (55 hrs).
-Wrote a 10 page research paper on the Migrant Phenomenom in Beijing, includes original research from interviews with workers, college professors, and the highest ranking police officer of Haidian District in Beijing. To be published along with other students research.
-Went on Study Trips to remote areas such as Yunnan (borders Thailand and Burma), Guizhou (borders Vietnam), Fujian (across the strait from Taiwan).</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Oh not sure if it counts, but I speak Danish (mother is an immigrant) and travel there every summer. Also, I grew up in Singapore and Malaysia for 7 years before coming to the US. I have written some essays regarding my background.</p>

3

<p>Anyone.....?
40 views, not a single post.</p>

4

<p>You are competetive on all counts. Obviously, one can never say anything for sure, but I wouldn't say there's anyone more qualified than you, although many may be equally qualified. It's great that you've shown a focus on Chinese. What is your GPA?</p>

5

<p>My school doesnt have GPA or rank. I have A's in everything but math (B.......), so Im not sure where that puts me in terms of exact GPA.</p>

6

<p>I think you will be a competitive candidate as well, it's just a question of putting together a unique application. You obviously have an interest in China that you can focus on so you might as well make that the unifying thread of your application, but you can also mention that you are well rounded and have done community work and if that's something you want to continue mention that too. Here's a list of social justice organizations at Georgetown <a href="http://socialjustice.georgetown.edu/students/organizations/9538.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://socialjustice.georgetown.edu/students/organizations/9538.html&lt;/a> if you want to mention a specific group or if you don't see one you like you can talk about something you'd like to start.</p>

7

<p>Thanks a bunch sportula. I wrote an essay specifically about my experiences teaching English weekly at a Migrant School in a Beijing Slum, and the profound impact that those kids had on me (not bs'ing, Im being extremely honest). </p>

<p>Could you tell me a little bit about your experience at SFS? (if its not too personal) what has it led you to do currently? </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

8

<p>yeah sportula, what do sfs people do when they graduate? it's hard to find this information online.</p>

9

<p>My experience was not defined remotely by academics, they were kind of an afterthought for me in school. Instead it was defined by my social justice work and I'm currently getting my masters in social work.</p>

10

<p>Isn't SFS self-explanatory? The state department which is located in DC, checks out the recent graduates very heavily and encourages them to get Master's and experience before entering the Foreign Service. There is also the Civil Service, which unlike the FS requires less traveling.</p>

<p>Going to the SFS is useful because of the college name it carries if you're trying to get high up on the chain of command in Washington. Under then that, a degree from the SFS is like getting a degree from any accredited college.</p>