How's the situation for me?/Help?

Applying to College
1

<p>First of all I'd like to say that I'm sorry if this is not the right section and that I'd be very thankful you someone could help me out.</p>

<p>Hello, I'm 16 years old and currently in 10th grade (I study at an American school). I'm planning on applying to college/university in the U.S but I don't have that much certainty about my chances to get accepted. I'm thinking about taking the International Business/ Business Administration majors ( in an Ivy League).</p>

<p>The problem is that last year I went on an High School exchange program to Argentina ( for 5 months) and my averages were not that high ( the lowest was 7.5 but that's low). I'm currently being home-schooled and I'll go on another exchange to France in August, but this time for a year, so I can already expect some low grades. The thing is, will the colleges I apply to understand that my GPA and grades were not that high because I didn't speak the languages I was studying in? That bugs me a lot.</p>

<p>My GPA in 9th grade was not that high ( 3.34). My GPA for this year might be higher but I'm still not sure due to the grades I got in Argentina. My GPA in 11th grade won't be high because I don't speak French that well ( it will certainly get better in the second semester though). I took AP Environmental Science when I got to Brazil but I only had 1 month to study, I think I got a 3~4.</p>

<p>These are some things that I think might help my case:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>I speak 3 languages at the moment but it will be 4 when I come back from France. I also am a intermediate level Japanese student. </p>

<ul>
<li>I have lived in Brazil, Argentina and will have lived in France.</li>
<li>I wrote a book for a school project. It was supposed to be a short book and I took it further and actually wrote a pretty decent book.</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>

<p>-In Argentina I took part of the MUN model they had in Cordoba ( second biggest city there) and got a certificate for that and also one from the Department of Education and Culture from the city I was living in ( still a small one) saying I was an outstanding student in the delegation of South Africa. I think it counts more because it was in a foreign language, idk.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Certificates for being outstanding and valedictorian in my Japanese class.</p></li>
<li><p>I have some other from my school but I don't have them with me now.</p></li>
<li><p>I'll volunteer at the Latin America Committee in my city in France.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Do you guys know anything else that can help me? Should I try to take an AP in France ( it will be hard though..)? ( What else should I do in my Junior Year?) </p>

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<p>I'm thinking about taking a gap year after High School. My plan in to volunteer in Japan for 6~7 months, one month in another Asian country and 3 months working in New Zealand. I will apply to the universities in my senior year and if none of the good ones accept me I'll take the gap year and apply again ( the experience will def help for the major I want to study). Is that a good idea?</p>

<p>Thank you and I'd be great if you guys could give me some pointers.</p>

2

<p>For extremely competitive schools like the Ivy league your GPA will not be competitive. There are many other bright students who will have top scores that also will have top grades which you don’t have. Sounds like you’re more interested in travel abroad than doing well in school. That’s fine but you have to recognize what that does for you.</p>

3

<p>“Interested in travel abroad” is not correct. I won’t be traveling, I’ll actually be studying in a normal school. My 9th GPA was not high but I’ll do my 12th here in my native country but this time it will be high. I’m not sure if colleges count 12th grade though.
“than doing well in school” is also not correct. Have you ever tried studying in a foreign language? And my lowest grade was 7.5! Colleges have to acknowledge that.</p>

4

<p>Colleges do count 12th grade, but most students apply before they have finished so decisions are made based on partial grades. If you do poorly in your last semester, an acceptance can be rescinded.</p>

5

<p>As I’ve said, I’ll apply in 12th grade but if I don’t get accepted into any good college I’ll take the gap year and apply again. The major I want to take is International Business/ Business Administration and I believe having these experiences of living in other countries will really help. I think that 7.5 and studying in a foreign language is a pretty good grade. Not too many people can adapt that fast ( and I didn’t know Spanish before going there).</p>

6

<p>Friend: you’re looking to apply to schools with admit rates from under 7% to the low teens. That’s due to the sheer volume of applicants versus the number of slots. People have given you advice that no one, you included, can realistically say they have anywhere near a “good” chance. No matter what you do, you’d serve yourself well by having a wide list (i.e. more than jusy Ivy types) of targeted colleges.</p>

<p>One factor you’ve not included are ACT or SAT scores. If you can get a stratospheric score, that will assist you. But based on what you’ve said so far and while your travels are interesting and show initiative, you’re going to HAVE to show superior academic performance in some way or you’ll avoid be swamped in the Ivy applicant pool.</p>

<p>Look at it this way: why should a top school take you with mediocre grades in Argentina and France when they are turning down perfectly high GPA applicants *from *Argentina and France? You need to find some way of showing consistent top-level academic achievement. </p>

<p>I’m sure you’re developing a skill set that will be very valuable for you down the line – but with top level college admissions, it may be difficult to navigate.</p>