<p>Hey guys</p>
<p>I’m new to the forum and really in need of advice. I’m a year 12 girl in sydney, australia and I have recently taken to the idea of going to a US college. I just need some basic indication of my chances before I decide to pursue this thing any further.</p>
<p>So…
Background (not sure why this matters, but people seem to put it down): Chinese</p>
<p>Major interests: literature and languages (though not sure how this can be conveyed, there aren’t exactly any literature competitions here!)</p>
<p>EC:
Bronze, Silver, Gold duke of edinburgh award (100 hours community service as part of this)
Invited to attend Australian National Leadership Camp
School Prefect
3rd place (2 years) at Australian Heads of Independent Girls Schools Speaking Competition (current affairs team section)
Senior Counsel on school team for Bond University Mooting Competition 2005 (involved reading high court case on constitutional law and mooting based on similar concepts)
Passed Intermediate (8th grade) BBO ballet exam with merit
First places in National Chinese Reading Eisteddfod (but i only participated when I was younger)
Life saving awards (highest level achieved was Bronze Cross), qualified in Senior First Aid
Member of school debating team (awarded colors, equivalent of varsity letters)
Member of school choir
Member of school Interact club
Volunteer for Salvation Army Red Shield Appeals
Writer for School Magazine Committee</p>
<p>Academic:
Overall rank 1-5/230 at a top school (rank not finalised yet). Rank 1 in several individual subjects
Distinctions, High distinctions and medal in Australasian english, maths, writing, science, computing comps
Distinctions in Australian Language Certificate - French
Consistent school speech night prizes
Full scholarship at a prestegious private girls school in Aus
Possibly: [i mention the below not to be presumptuous but to give an idea of the very best that i could offer, so i can get an idea of “best case scenario” chances, in order to decide whether to pursue this whole US college thing or not]: Dux of school, top of state in one or two subjects, mention on premier’s list for all round excellence, UAI of 99.9+ (top 0.1% of state), scholarships to some unis in Australia</p>
<p>So from the above, I have 3 questions:
- A lot of my achievements sound better than they really are (e.g. australasian comps really aren’t such a big deal, so many ppl get distinction+; Aus Heads speaking comp is hardly aus wide etc.) - Do I explain all of this to admissions people for obvious honesty reasons, or does everyone just try and make their application as good as possible (i.e. don’t explain and let them think you’re good). Or do the admissions officers conduct their own research anyway?</p>
<li><p>Based on the above outline (i haven’t taken SATs yet), what do you think my chances are for williams college? What SAT marks would I need to get into williams?</p></li>
<li><p>What colleges do you guys think would be a good match for me?</p></li>
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<p>Thanks for reading.</p>