<p>Good day,
I'm a student living in the Philippines, but I've studied under the French educational system since day 1. I hope to study in the US for my undergrad years.
I'm writing this, since I've been surfing the web a lot and found much contradictory information (thank you internet --') about how I can fare in the admissions process.</p>
<p>I'm in a french "lycee", or high school, and I'm already specialized in sciences (terminale, section S). By definition this is the hardest curriculum I could have chosen in my school, as I have about 38 hours of class per week.
My grades are, by french standards, excellent. My general average ("moyenne generale") is about 16.09/20. My recommendations are above excellent (I was able to read the recommendations before sending them out ;) ).
However, my SAT I score is just under 1900, something like 1860, and ACT is 27.
My essay, well... I made it as best as I could. Had it read by about 6 people, changed it, re-changed it, then I just wrote my heart out and sent it.</p>
<p>I've already had bac blancs (mock exams to the Baccalaureat), and I'm pretty happy with the results (17 in math, 17 in PH/CH, 15 in svt, 18 in english, 16 in philosophy)</p>
<p>Now I've applied to 9 schools in the US:
- Boston U
- Brown U
- Columbia
- Harvard
- NYU
- Princeton
- Stanford
- Williams C
- Yale</p>
<p>The reason why I've applied to those schools is because teachers in my school have strongly suggested I apply to top french schools (Sciences Po, Classes Prepa), but I prefer to try my luck in the US. I'm really not familiar with the american system, and since I'm from the Phils I can't talk to US admissions officers/guidance counselors. Please give me some realistic advice/opinion =)</p>
<p>Have you heard of Skype? You can most certainly talk to US admissions officers.</p>
<p>Other than BU and NYU, you’ve applied only to schools that have very low admissions rates and even lower for international candidates. An American with perfect grades and a 2400 SAT would not be guaranteed a seat at one of these schools except the 2 noted. Much depends on the activities they did outside of the classroom.</p>
<p>With your current SAT/ACT scores most of these schools will be very hard to get into. I do think you have a good shot at NYU and BU as long as you don’t need financial aid. All of these schools publish common data sets which show the stats of accepted students. If you’re not getting guidance, those will help you understand what scores and such schools accept.</p>
<p>Indeed I do know that they have VERY low admission rates, around 8-10% each right? I was just thinking that since my teachers suggested me places like Sciences Po and Louis Le Grand (which have abt the same acceptance rates), I’d try my luck in the US. Btw my teachers know what they’re talking about, since a lot of former students HAVE been accepted into those schools, but I believe I’m one of the first from my school to try the US.</p>
<p>For outside activities, I’m very focused on competitive sports: I’ve been to the South East Asian Games, representing my school and the Philippines twice (2009 and 2011), as well as many other national competitions. The only sports I play are basketball, football (or soccer, however you put it), and track and field.
I’ve done a few stunts as well in writing in the school paper and public speaking (natl. semi-finalist in a public speech competition in 2010), but I haven’t gone as in depth here as I’ve done in sports.</p>
<p>Btw my parents made it clear: if i dont get financial aid, there is a chance i’ll have to postpone college studies in the US. there is a real risk for me that NO FINANCIAL AID = NO US COLLEGE =( but even like 20-30% aid would be very helpful, we just need help for the cash…</p>
<p>And considering it’s well end of feb and that I’ve already sent out my application, is it still appropriate for me to talk to US admission officers? In france there is no such thing as that haha xD would you know any?</p>
<p>Your SAT is really low, which really only leaves you with a shot for Boston and NYU. However,
NYU, is not need blind and as it says on their site “There is very little financial aid available to International Students and NYU has limited resources for financial aid for International Students.”
Boston U, makes clear on their site
"Financial aid is generally not available to international students.</p>
<p>Eligibility for federal and University need-based aid is limited to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible noncitizens who are living within the U.S. for purposes other than studying.
International students applying for admission must therefore present evidence of sufficient funds to cover all tuition, fees, books, and living expenses for their study at Boston University."</p>
<p>I think you unfortunately had bad advice about where to apply. Sounds like your counselors don’t know the US at this point. SAT/ACT scores and deep ECs are very important. Sounds like you’ll have great opportunities in France, or take a gap year and look at the many excellent schools you could get into would aid.</p>
<p>hmmm i see. It’s just that, I thought I would be able to offset my SATs with my GPA. Anyone familiar with the French GPA system will tell you a general average of 16.1/20 is EXCELLENT, and I concede that my SAT scores are **** comapred to Ivy averages x).
I also talked to a rep. of Princeton, during an interview, and she told me that the SAT problem is manageable… to a degree. In the french system we dream of multiple choice questions: we’re given dissertations during 4 hours. To take the SAT, 100+ questions on a rate of about 1/min, is a stark contrast to what I’m used to. The princeton rep. told me that I should tell the admissions office about this, to make them understand why my GPA is so high, but why my SATs are so low.
Any truth to that?</p>
<p>The SAT problem is manageable… but that is generally in the case where ECs are deep/unique. Even then, all the people who are applying to harvard, princeton, etc have deep ECs, awesome SAT and scores equivalent (and in some cases, higher) than yours. A 16/20 is equivalent to a 94%, here.</p>
<p>Hi, I’m also a french international student and as a matter of fact I happen to have applied to some of the schools you mentioned : BU and Williams. I have to say, going through the US application process is very complicated for us international students. Just like yours, my SAT (1760) is very low compared to my grades : I have a moyenne g</p>
<p>well to close this chapter: here are the results. Out of the 9, i got accepted into 2 schools: Boston University and NYU. Both without financial aid. Also, I’ve been put on the wait-list on Brown University, and have been rejected in the rest.</p>
<p>Not sure why you applied to NYU. They offer no FA to internationals. BU’s FA for internationals is little if any.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t do as well as you hoped. </p>
<p>What are you intending to do now? Are you planning to retake the SATs and apply again next year or go to university in France?</p>