Horrible SAT scores...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Asian(Indian) Student / Canadian Citizen</p>

<p>I always thought the "Race" Option on the application is optional...</p>

<p>Currently in International Baccalaureate Program, senior year</p>

<p>Scores</p>

<p>SAT Reasoning:
1st Try. Math 690/ Reading 600/ Writing 610
2nd Try. Math 750/ Reading 600/ Writing 630</p>

<p>SAT Subjects:
Physics 770/ Math - Not Yet (October)</p>

<p>International Baccalaureate Levels:
Physics Standard Level - 7 (95%)
ITGS Standard Level - 5 (88%)</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities:</p>

<p>Lifesaving Society
Have been Pursuing since 2001
Fully Qualified Lifeguard,
Swimming/Lifesaving Instructor
Regional Swimming Competition Award - 5th Place</p>

<p>Air Cadets - Leadership
Member for the past 5 years
Corporal
Level 5 - Instructor
Drill Team - Most Improved Award</p>

<p>School - Reach For The Top (Trivia Game)
Member of Reach Team for 4 years
Competed Regionally, Placed 6th Last Year</p>

<p>School - Math Club
Top 25% Award 2 years in a row - Waterloo Math Contest</p>

<p>Instruments
Cello - 2 Years
Guitar - 1 Year
Bass Guitar - 1 Year
Piano - 1 Year</p>

<p>Community Service:</p>

<p>Science Outreach (Summer Camp)
Assistant Camp Instructor - 160 Hours</p>

<p>Local Library
10 Hours</p>

<p>Local Pool
Since the Beginning of this year, once or twice a week</p>

<p>Canadian Cancer Society
Designed Promotional Package
-Powerpoint Presentation for Volunteer Orientation
-Community Events Brochure</p>

<hr>

<p>As I'm from Canada, there is no point in me applying to regular state universities in the US, as the cost would be too high. And I doubt any state university would subsidize costs to an international student (would they?). So basically, all schools are my reach schools. My safety schools are in Canada.</p>

<p>Universities I want to Apply to:
(Descending order of interest)
Cornell - Early Decision
MIT
Stanford
UPenn
CalTech
UMich Ann Arbor
Northwestern</p>

<hr>

<p>Do I even stand a chance? Any suggestions for improvement? I was pondering about rewriting my SATs, but school's too hectic for that, and as I have SAT Math Subject Test Comming up as well. Please comment.</p>

2

<p>Class rank and class size? Is there a GPA of some sort?</p>

<p>Gender?</p>

<p>As of now...</p>

<p>Cornell - Early Decision: Unlikely/ REJECT
MIT: REJECT
Stanford: Very Unlikely/ REJECT
UPenn: Very Unlikely/ REJECT
CalTech: REJECT
UMich Ann Arbor: Unlikely
Northwestern: Unlikely/ Very Unlikely</p>

<p>UMich is a state school, in case you didn't know.
As an international applicant, asking for aid hurts your chances except at MIT.</p>

3

<p>I heard that Ivy League/Stanford/MIT are need blind for US, Canadian and Mexican citizens. Is this true? Yes, I did know Ann Arbor is a state school, but it is very highly ranked for engineering, so that is why its on my list.</p>

<p>Class Size - Roughly 25-30 students in each class
No Ranking system</p>

<p>Well there is a percentage system for each course, from 9th to 12th.</p>

<p>My average is around High 80s to Low 90s, varying from grade to grade, course to course.</p>

4

<p>Only 25-30 in your graduating class? That's really small.</p>

5

<p>Yo ECs and honors are really good. But ur SATs really bring u down.</p>

6

<p>Nah, i meant in each of my classes. I'm in a public school with like 1500 kids. Damn, if only I concentrated during last summer and wrote the SATs, instead of fooling around. </p>

<p>So how much of the "Holistic view" is in consideration for a student like me, with poor SAT scores, Med-High marks and average ECs? Gotta cure cancer before they admit me?</p>

7

<p>So that's like a 3.6-3.7, I suggest aiming a little lower.</p>

8

<p>Ivy Leagues are not all need blind for international students except at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton; the rest have a quota on international students. Stanford is not need blind financial aid for internataional students (including Canadian). As stated before, MIT is need blind for international students.</p>

<p>Holistic view is an euphenism in which colleges can basically do whatever they want.</p>

9

<p>you do not need amazing SATs for the top schools. Your transcript and your SATs just need to present an overall excellence in your academics. What really gets you in are awards/ECs/other achievements that make you stand out. But as stated before, your SATs and your transcript still need to paint a very nice picture of your academics. Unfortunately, for those top schools, you gotta bring up those scores</p>

10

<p>Penn is need blind for Canada and Mexico but not for other internationals</p>

11

<p>Is NorthWestern even worth applying for? It seems to have an average engineering program, something thats not worth paying 45k a year, let alone the admission fee, especially if the chances are low.</p>

<p>Does being employed help in the application process?</p>

12

<p>taking northwestern off my list...too many colleges to apply for...anybody have any opinion to offer?</p>

13

<p>im pretty sure a 1350/1600 is an exceptional score.</p>

14

<p>Is that the old SAT scoring system?</p>

15

<p>my advice is take the act. U of M does have great engineering, a lot of my friends want to do that there, although w/ your test scores you'll have a hard time getting in international I think. You definitely NEED to apply to some safer schools.</p>

16

<p>Best chance is with Cornell. Very little chance at being admitted to MIT, CalTech, Stanford or Penn. Northwestern is a reach and will surely be a reject if they sense that NU is not your top choice as too many other better qualified applicants are fighting to get into Northwestern. Michigan is likely, but no financial aid. Try Carnegie Mellon or Case Western Reserve. A 1350 is not a strong SAT score for any of your listed schools other than Cornell. Northwestern's engineering admits average between 1410- 1440.</p>

17

<p>"im pretty sure a 1350/1600 is an exceptional score."</p>

<p>yea exceptional for your state school. you're asian/indian.</p>

<p>retake it.</p>

18

<p>I would love to retake it, but I just don't have the time or the drive. I'd rather work hard and get my grades higher, and get a decent IB predicted mark than fret about the standardized test. I know this must sound like a really stupid decision, but somehow I've managed to convince myself. </p>

<p>Regarding safety schools, I'm not really going to apply to a safety school in the US because I might as well stay in Canada for that type of education.</p>

<p>The only thing that I can control now is the essay section of the application, which is turning out to quite difficult. Thanks for all the advice.</p>

19

<p>Well, after coming back to this thread after a year, with all the decisions in, it just proves that college admissions are just as unpredictable as ever. Somehow I didn't get rejected from every school I applied to =)</p>

20

<p>^ where did u get in?</p>