Hi. I am from a European country and would like to study at a top engineering school in USA. I am not your typical applicant, as I already have graduated high school (i.e I will be taking a gap year for various reasons) and am not from America. I’m looking to see if getting into somewhere like Caltech or MIT is feasible, and advice on how to move forward/make a good application.
My situation is: Though our school did have guidance counselors, mine was ridiculously incompetent and has provided very little information about American university applications, among other things forcing me to take a gap year (not starting application process in time). I barely know which tests to take and what essays to write, but I assume I have enough time to apply for enrollment in 2016.
Reading about all the impressive-sounding awards on here make me feel a bit disheartened. My country is not as competitive as the US, and there have been far fewer opportunities for me to prove my academic ability. My school gave zero awards or distinctions for academic performance (bar a few vague scholarships), even neglecting to acknowledge my top score in the national biology olympiad. My documented academic merits:
IB Diploma Total score: 36 + 6
*‘Native language’ Lit SL: 6
*English LangLit SL: 5
*Philosophy SL: 6
*Math HL: 6
*Physics HL: 5
*Biology HL: 6
*Chemistry HL: 6
*ToK: C
*EE in Philosophy: A (this is the best essay I’ve written. Is it common to supply samples of school work to an application?)
If it counts for anything, this was essentially the most rigorous curriculum available in my city. I don’t know my class rank, but suspect it was rather high. My physics and maybe other subjects may have a higher grade after I request remarking.
Before high school I participated in a few competitions in science and math, local and national with many high placings, most notably making top 15 in the EUSO (European Union Science Olympiad) national competition.
In high school: 11th best in national biology olympiad, next year the best with a subsequent high bronze in the IBO.
MENSA membership (I guess this is probably best to leave out?)
At least 99th percentile on my country’s equivalent of the SAT/ACT
ACT: 31 (I will easily improve this)
SAT: none. I do not know which ones to take? I would love to have some guidance on this.
I think I can get two or three teacher recommendations from teachers that I know I impressed and will probably put me in a positive light. I don’t think a counselor’s recommendation is applicable or available in my situation.
Reading here, there are many who have incredibly impressive ECs. I have never been pushed, by society, school or family, to pursue any ECs (aside from CAS). I don’t have thousands of hours invested in community service, and club life at my school has not been very permitting compared to American high schools.
My ECs, the most substantial and notable ones:
An interest in nature and wildlife, with many hiking trips, living on a farm where I keep bees and other animals, including rabbits and sheep. I also have a hunter’s permit and hunt with my family, which is a big legacy for me. Related is a big interest in rock climbing. I work at the family farm, which also runs a hostel, and with some hardships in getting it off the ground I can demonstrate that I work hard.
I have a passion for writing and reading, with engaging myself in writing communities online and have written several short stories and a novel. Head of math and science club at my high school. Engaged in a political party’s youth organization.
I’m afraid my application will sound much less impressive because of my environment and factors out of my control. Forgive me if I sound like a victim of circumstance. Is there anything I should do, besides the SAT and TOEFL (and which SATs??) to maximize my chances?
If I do outstandingly on SATs, and assuming I write supreme essays and get supreme recommendations, do I have a shot at MIT?
Thank you so much in advance.