<p>TL;DR: International student, got GPA from 2.8 to 4.0 in tough grading (with 3.7 highest UWGPA in my school), very strong ACT score of 33, moderate ECs, fluent in three languages, no need for financial aid, what are my chances?</p>
<p>I'm an international student at a prestigious American high school in Turkey where roughly 30% of graduates go to top universities in the US. Our counselors are well-known by American universities. Unfortunately I was a major slacker in my freshman and sophomore years and ended up with a bad GPA. Our school's grading scale is different than American schools but according to Foreign Credits, it equates to something like 2.8 for freshman and sophomore together (I know, very very bad) BUT I worked very hard in my junior year and my first semester GPA is 4.0 (and I expect the same for 2nd semester). Now my overall UW GPA will be 3.2 for 9th, 100th, 11th grade together. Also keep in mind that my school has a very tough grading system and the highest UW overall GPA is 3.7.</p>
<p>Oh and I took pretty challenging classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus AB, French 4, Arts Society Literature (a course unique to our school; the curriculum is somewhat similar to AP Art History but it also includes a big deal of writing and reading poetry), World History (taught in Turkish, AP course not offered), Turkish Lang & Lit, and some other irrelevant courses obligated by the Ministry of Education in my country. We only get to choose four of our classes. AP courses for humanities aren't available.</p>
<p>As for senior year choosing an arts class was mandatory so I chose Orchestra, others are Arts Society Literature II, AP English, AP Statistics, and the mandatory courses: Turkish History, Turkish Lang & Lit, other junk.</p>
<p>I got an ACT composite score of 33 (E:34 R:32 M:36 S:29 W:10), 2080 on SAT (600CR, 800M, 680W), which I most likely won't be sending to schools unless requested. I will be taking five APs (English Lang, Calculus AB, both Physics Cs and World History) and four SAT IIs (Math II, World History, French, Physics).</p>
<p>As for ECs:
-Blue Belt in Karate, took part in national tournaments.
-Played badminton for three years
-Play the piano since 2000, have certification till Grade 5 from Royal Academy of Music.
-Play the guitar (as a hobby)
-150 hours of community service
-Give piano lessons for free to elementary school children
-Work experience at a law office
-Speak English, Turkish, French fluently (106 on TOEFL, B2 on DELF)</p>
<p>No need for financial aid. My dream schools are: UCLA, UCSD, University of Michigan, U of Rochester, Boston University, Northeastern, Emory, Penn State, any suggestions are welcome</p>