I hate sounding like a broken record but...

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Could you put all thoughts about the fact that I am worrying like the other kajillion students on the planet aside, and tell me what my chances are of getting into some of the larger-name undergraduates? Thanks!</p>

<p>Junior year, international student, Year 1 International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate (not using IB grades for my application though)
GPA: 3.6-3.7 so far/usually... Top 10-20% of class. Academics aren't my thing.
SATs: Not done yet. <em>gasp</em> But I'm hoping they'll be decent-ish.
ECs for 2-3 years: Science fair since elementary school, highest level of violin, can play piano and guitar, musical theory, science olympics team captain, business program director, web design competition, coordinator of a district mentorship program, co-founder/vice president of school environmental club, volunteer for local volunteer organization/aviation museum/city philharmonic orchestra/science center/etc., spent my entire summer 2007 as a science camp counselor</p>

<p>Employment: 2 month temporary position as a software documentation writer/editor for a medical software engineering company</p>

<p>Awards/Recognition: Selected nationally to compete at ISEF twice, national science fair awards, regional fair awards (including best of fair), city volunteer award, science olympics awards, academic awards</p>

<p>Summer Programs: Chosen as 1 of 40 around the world to be the national representative at NASA program in houston (2008), national summer science/technology program (2008, not overly prestigious but still recognized)</p>

<p>The "unique" aspect of me!: I do research in stuff nobody has done before, and it has potential to be economically sustainable, marketable and efficient. I am the first person at my school/community to do this sort of thing.</p>

<p>This is the overview. I can't remember everything I've done.</p>

<p>If you have good news for me, do it lightly so I don't inflate my ego and get disappointed when acceptances come around.
If you have bad news, give it to me straight.</p>

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<p>Wrong forum.</p>

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<p>Sorry! Will a moderator please move this to the appropriate thread? </p>

<p>Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience.</p>

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<p>Bump, please! Thanks.</p>

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<p>Anybody? People are avoiding this thread like the plague...</p>

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<p>What schools? I have no idea what you mean by "larger-name undergraduates."</p>

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<p>HYSPM, UMichigan, Georgia IT, Other Ivies, Purdue, Rice.</p>

<p>Anybody recommend any other engineering schools?</p>

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<p>HYPSM- I don't really think you will make it in. Sorry
UMichigan- You should make it in
Georgia IT- You should make it in
Other Ivies- Worth a shot, but probably not
Purdue- You should make it in
Rice- I would lean toward you making it in</p>

<p>My advice? Score high on that SAT and pray that they love you. Your GPA is what is killing you right now.
Also,
"I do research in stuff nobody has done before, and it has potential to be economically sustainable, marketable and efficient. I am the first person at my school/community to do this sort of thing."</p>

<p>Maybe nobody in your school/community has done this, but there are probably a lot of people in the world who have done this, and at HYPSM, tons of the kids applying have done some sweet research. My advice? Let your research show but don't be cocky.</p>

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<p>Thank you for your input!</p>

<p>As for the GPA thing, I don't have an actual GPA... I converted it from my percent average, which is 91. (I made the assumption that a 4.0 GPA is 93+) And this percent average is based on ALL of my overall marks so far. </p>

<p>I also heard a rumour from a fellow international student in my country who got into Columbia: They automatically scale up my marks by 5% because our courses are more difficult. Can anybody verify/dispel this theory? If they really do, I have a 4.0 GPA. If they don't, well, nothing I can do.</p>

<p>Thanks for the bit about research as well. Nice to keep that in mind.</p>

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<p>"I also heard a rumour from a fellow international student in my country who got into Columbia: They automatically scale up my marks by 5% because our courses are more difficult."</p>

<p>I doubt it, but kudos if they do. I would email the admissions people and ask. Also, having a percentage average of 93+ doesn't guarantee a 4.0, rather you have to have all As. The difference is that you could have a 93+ average with a couple Bs mixed in, but you would not have a 4.0
Hope this helps :)</p>