<p>Hi, I told myself I wouldn't post a chances thread, but now I feel the need to, so here goes. I'm applying to Stanford, MIT, Berkeley and Princeton (all RD). Before you tell me that I have no safeties - I'm only applying to 4 schools in the US because I will only go if I get into a top school. Also applying to the UK. I don't actually expect to get in anywhere in the US, so acceptance = ecstasy.</p>
<p>International student (Europe).</p>
<p>Ethnicity: Indian (Asian), dang
Gender: Male
School Type: Small private school</p>
<p>Academics-
Dunno about my GPA because my school doesn't do that, but here are my grades:
IGCSEs: 10 A*s, 1 A (these aren't too well known in America)
Full IB diploma, will have a prediction of 42-45 points with 777 in Math, Physics and Economics HL.
Rank: My school doesn't rank, but might be Top 5%
SAT: Total: 2000:740M, 620CR, 640W (retaking, hoping for 2200+)
SAT II's: Not taken yet, but hoping for 780+ in Math II and Physics and 700+ in French.</p>
<p>Classes:
IB full diploma: Math, Physics, Economics HL, English A1, French B, Chemistry SL</p>
<p>Extracurricular Activities and Awards (Hah i wish i had awards...):
- President of student council and head of house (kind of like a prefect)
- One of 3 leaders of a charity organization. During my time in the organization, I've helped organize about a dozen events and we've raised about 40,000 euros.
- Model United Nations
- Played guitar for 6 years, drums for 4 years.
- Photography - I sell my photos on a stock image website.</p>
<p>-Awards: (only school awards lol, we don't really get award opportunities here)
- Academic Achievement award generally given to top 2 students. Received 2 years in a row.
- Subject awards in Biology, IT, French, Italian, Economics and English (how I got this award is beyond me. I think it's only because of coursework, for which I got 98%)
- Won the school talent show lol.</p>
<p>Recs-
- Teachers - Haven't written them yet, but hopefully they will be good because the teachers I will ask for my recs know me really well. I will probably also get a supplementary rec from the chairman of the charity organization I work with.</p>
<p>Hooks: None</p>
<p>Stanford Personal Essay:
I wrote one essay about photography and how I thought of it as a game of business, compromise and logistics as opposed to plain art. Don't know if I will use it though.</p>
<p>I feel like my application is a bit generic and as an international student I need to take advantage of the diversity aspect. Is it worth sending the essay on photography or perhaps writing about a big EC of mine, like the charity organization? I'm trying to show who I am and the way I think and I feel that the essay on photography reflected this. The reason I didn't want to write about the charity is because it might come across as the usual "people in africa, hunger bla bla bla". What are your thoughts?</p>
<p>How big is being president of student council in America? How highly do people generally rank it as an EC? Because I'm not putting it as my top one..</p>