How can an int increase his chances?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Hey guys, im an international and im still a freshman. i will mention the stats that are worth mentioning here about me and please tell me what can i add/do to improve my chances at getting in Brown(ive seen the campus, i liked it…it is my dream school). i have three more years to improve, your criticisms, advice, comments would be VERY MUCH appreciated.</p>

<p>here are my stats;</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Asian(Filipino)
Location: Philippines
School: One of the best high schools in the country… accredited with the highest honor
(number four) by the school ranking organization thingy in our country----
Ateneo de Manila High School.
GPA: 3.6
Rank(as of now): roughly top 16% out of 600 students, it’s very competitive.
AP’s: My country does not offer AP’s
SAT I: haven’t taken, I’m gonna take it probably at junior year, expecting 720 or more on
Math, 670-700 for CR and 670-710 for Writing.
SAT II: same as the SAT I but I am expecting 700+ for Math and some other subject I am
good at (biology, chem, physics, etc)</p>

<p>EC’s:
Been playing golf for 4 years now, member of the varsity of the school and of the team of my golf course. I have won a number of tournaments (local).</p>

<p>Futsal varsity for the freshman year…it can change to football team next year hopefully.</p>

<p>Been playing the guitar for 4 years now(acoustic, a little bit of electric)</p>

<p>Joining the Debate team.</p>

<p>Academics:
Been an honor student all my life, only disqualified at times cuz im noisy, like my older bro </p>

<p>Part of the semi-honors section in my batch----there are a total of 15 sections, composed of 12 regular sections, two semi-honors and one honors class; each class is composed of 40-44 students.</p>

<p>Regularly accepts subject excellences (a grade of A in a certain subject) in math and science and art…sometimes english; not very often for the others(filipino-local language, AP-social sciences and history combined, CLE-religion)</p>

<p>Intended Major:Biology—Intended Career:Medicine;Doctor</p>

<p>I know being an international exponentially decreases my chances, but I have relatives in the USA who can adopt me and make me a citizen…Im considering studying there for junior-senior year at a private high school, if it WILL HELP(pls tell me your opinions). and other than getting adopted, what are other LEGAL ways for me to study there and not be part of the international pool?</p>

<p><strong><em>important-----schools here in the philippines are different in schools there in the US in a way that after the 7th grade here, we go to high school already, which means we SKIP 8th grade there, in a way…so would i have a hard time catching up if i study high school there?</em></strong></p>

<p>well, what else can i do to increase my chances?</p>

2

<p>Hello AteneoBlueEagles,</p>

<p>The only advice I can give you for now is to focus on your studies and have fun! You’re only on your sophomore year right now (I assume), and though it’s a good thing that you’re already thinking about college, it wouldn’t really get to you until your junior year, or probably even the summer after that. You should also think of befriending your teachers, especially during your junior year, whom Admissions people think are the most reliable sources during your application period.</p>

<p>It’s really great that you are setting your sights to higher things such as an Ivy League School, though you do have to consider that the Philippines also have really good universities such as ADMU and UP. But if you really do want to try and get in, then there’s absolutely no problem with that. I’m just warning you that it will be quite difficult since you have to take several more tests (SATs), write several more essays and fill out several more forms than your peers, and that’s still on top of the stuff you need to do at school and for the tests to your local universities.</p>

<p>So basically, what you have to do is to get good recommendations, write “killer,” essays, and to have good grades.</p>

<p>PS: Just graduated from AHS and applied to a few top-tier universities in the US including some Ivies, but unfortunately not Brown. Though I’ll keep the results to myself, I still decided to go to our UP. In our batch, there were only a few people who applied for schools abroad, some really had to since they were going to migrate, and settled for schools which were good but not really top-tier. Though I also have acquaintance/s who got into the top schools, yes, most of them were Ivies. But then that person decided to go to Ateneo. Again, don’t be blinded by the so-called American Dream since you already have great schools here. And as a lot say its Ivy-or-UP/Ateneo :P</p>

<p>You still have A LOT of stuff ahead of you, especially being in AHS. Live in the present and enjoy your HS life. And really, good luck, especially to your application (2 years from now), since that’s what we’re talking about anyway.</p>