Future Plans for Int'l Student

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi. I'm an international student planning to study chemistry (specifically physical chem) in near future.
I'm now a turning junior (eleventh grade).
These are my stats until now, and I'd like to get some advice on what I should do from now to be selected by top schools. Thanks a lot in advance.</p>

<p>//Standardized Tests//
I haven't taken SAT/ACT, and I'm not acing in SAT, but getting near 32 in ACT. I haven't really studied much, so I think I should be able to enhance this score more during my junior year.
SAT II: 800 (Phy), 770 (Chem), 800 (MathII)</p>

<p>//GPA//
5.0</p>

<p>//Selective Classes I took during Freshman year//
In our school, we have mandatory classes and selective classes. So, I'll list selective classes I took last year.
- Math: Precalculus, AP Calculus BC
- Science: AP Biology
- Social Studies: AP US Gov & Pol, AP WH
- 2nd Lang: Chinese
- English: British Literature</p>

<p>//This year//
- Math: AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics
- Science: AP Chemistry, AP CompSci
- Social Studies: AP US Gov & Pol, AP Comparative Gov
- English: British Literature</p>

<p>//Acquired APs//
APs I got last year (freshman yr)
AP Physics B & C (all 5)
AP Chem (5)
AP Macro & Microecon (all 4)</p>

<p>//APs planning to take this May//
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC</p>

<p>//ECs//
North Pole Expedition (funded by national government)
CanSat Competition National Champion
Class President (Last year and this year)
Honor Committee (sth like Honor Code in major univs)
Dormitory Student Representative
3 awards from local science essay competitions
Admin of one opensource project translator's team
NSTEP Studybuddy (from 9th grade)</p>

<p>//Club Activity//
CanSat Club - founder
ACS ChemClub - founder
Club Activity Bureau (Student Body)</p>

<p>//Volunteer Works//
Mentoring for Students in Need (2hrs/wk)</p>

<p>I think this should be tentative description of my stats for now. My counselor has told me that I should aim for schools like HMC, Princeton, etc. I'm aiming for Caltech, Swarthmore, etc, as well as the schools my counselor has recommended. Also, I plan to apply for English schools (Cambridge, Oxford, etc) also if situations are favorable.</p>

<p>I'd like to get some advise reflecting on past successful international students on what I need to do for my junior year. That would be a nice keystone for me to use as reference. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>That’s a lot of impressive things you list, but some elements are confusing. For example, you say that you took classes in AP Calculus BC, AP Biology, AP US Gov, and AP World History in Freshman year, but that you took the AP exams for Physics B & both Cs, Chem, and Econ Macro and Micro. Aside from the fact that any 14 year old getting 5s in 5 science APs (Physics B, both Physics C and Chem) in the same year is pretty amazing, what happened to the other AP classes you were taking (Calc, Bio, and the 2 histories)? </p>

<p>And this year you are taking AP Chemistry (even though you already have a 5 in the AP), AP Calculus BC (again), AP US Gov & Pol (again), AP Statistics, AP CompSci, and AP Comparative Gov, but are planning to sit the AP in Biology (which you studied last year but not this year) and Calc. </p>

<p>Why would you take a class to teach you AP chemistry after you have already achieved a 5 on the AP? Or spend 2 years doing AP US Gov, which is typically a 1/2 year course? </p>

<p>I think that your school calls some classes AP that are not what US colleges would call an AP. Competitive colleges only call a class an AP if you actually sit the AP exam. Also, in the US you only repeat a class if you have done badly. If it is a two year course it will have something in its name that says that (World History I / World History II, for example). </p>

<p>As for junior year, your question is so broad: what are your options? What are your priorities? you have enough APs to apply to the UK universities now- why wait a year?</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your reply.
For AP, cuz I’m an international student, the semesters don’t follow the American one.
So, each courses starts at the halfway of year till the halfway of next year.
If I just list in what American students would have got,
It would be</p>

<ul>
<li><p>10th grade
Math: Precal
2nd Lang: Chinese
English: Brit Lit
AP WH</p></li>
<li><p>11th grade (so the course I’m taking currently)
AP Cal
AP Bio
AP US Gov & Pol
AP Brit Lit</p></li>
</ul>

<p>-12th grade (so next semester/ school year in US)
AP Stat
AP CompSci</p>

<p>The reason I’m taking AP Chem again is, cuz I don’t have any other class to choose from.
I took AP Physics & Chem in 9th grade (so before I went to high school, in my middle school), and we need to choose 2 classes from AP Chem, Physics, and Bio for each 10th and 11th grade course. I’ve already took Bio for 10th, and only remainders are Chem and Physics, which are both classes I have taken. Thus, I’m just retaking Chem. My counselor said she will make this clear when I write my app.</p>

<p>For AP WH and so on, the courses are AP; many students take AP tests after the course, but I’m just not taking AP test cuz I don’t want to burden myself with language/social studies subjects as I’m science-guy.</p>

<p>For AP US Gov, we spend a year cuz we are international student, and have minimal background on US government.</p>

<p>Could you check again reflecting this list? Thanks a lot.
I’m not sure improving in which sections will increase my chance of going to top schools, and get some financial aids.</p>

4

<p>Thinking about the post I wrote, I think I know what made you confusing :slight_smile:
In our country, high schools are 3 year,
so, 10th grade = freshman, 11th grade = junior, 12th grade = senior.
The APs I already got scores (science APs) are from 9th-10th grade courses</p>

5

<p>When you say the APs you already have, do you mean the score from the actual AP test, or from the class you take at school? That is, which AP exams (the ones given by College Board, not by your teachers) have you actually taken?</p>

6

<p>Yes the APs I said that I took are the ones I’ve gone through Collegeboard test - thus AP Physics, Chem, and Econ are the things I’ve received Collegeboard test.
In normal classes (including AP classes), I received all A’s from classes, thus making 4.0 UW GPA.</p>

7

<p>You definitely shouldn’t just focus on science subjects. Many international STEM kids make that mistake. If you can, take AP exams in other subjects.
You will be required to take some SAT Subject tests - same thing: showing range would be important (ie., scoring 750 in a non stem subject).
American colleges like to see you challenge yourself - since you’ve taken all possible classes in chem, see if you could have an independent study or, better, take the next level class at a university. Negotiating to get this would also be mentioned by your counselor as the skill and drive this represents is highly valued by American colleges; the fact you’re simply “retaking chemistry” will be seen as a negative (ie., you didn’t think of an alternative). At the very least, take a more advanced chemistry class via Coursera or another MOOC (for certificate, if possible).
In the same way, since you took Calc BC as a junior, you should find a way to take a more advanced Calculus class as a senior.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for your reply. I talked with my counselor to take MOOCs in my free time. For Calculus, there’s Linear Algebra in my senior class, so it shouldn’t pose any problem. I’m considering to take Comp. Gov. in my senior year if I need non-STEM subjects. Would this one subject be enough? Thank you.</p>

9

<p>Linear Algebra = Excellent (very, very, very few applicants take it)
AP Comp Gov = good idea.
Remember to take at least one non-stem SAT subject though.
MOOCs, especially in chemistry and with certificate, would be good. Local university chemistry class would be better, even if it’s a low-ranked university or an evening class.</p>

10

<p>@MYOS1634
Thanks a lot :slight_smile: and sorry to thank you so late :wink: I couldn’t access the net for a while.</p>