Incoming senior please help with colleges

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey Guys, I just signed into College Confidential and from what I've read in other posts, it looks like a very helpful site. I was wondering if I could get some help with colleges as I just finished my junior year and am currently on my summer break, starting senior year in August. </p>

<p>A little about me first:
Indian, 16 years of age (underage for my grade). I play the drums for Jazz Band and Concert Band for my school, and I have been playing for 8 years. Enrolled in NHS, SBC Vice president (in a high school of approximately 200-250 students); I play sports but they aren't varsity level sports so I am assuming there isn't much significance. I have won several awards at my school, and been part of a speech contest as well.</p>

<p>My school does not do a class rank but that should not be a big problem for me since my GPA is not particularly bad.
TOEFL scores are fine: 114/120
Cumulative GPA over my four years in high school is around 3.81. Last semester of junior year: 3.88
here's the worrying part: took my SAT in May and got a 1900 flat. I feel this is extremely low for the colleges I am planning on applying to, and I was hoping for some feedback on what my chances are.
I am taking my SAT 2s in October or so, and planning on retakin the SAT but I am worried neverthless about my current scores and would really appreciate any feedback based on my current scores.</p>

<p>Colleges:
1) Cornell University
2) UCLA
3) University of Rochester
4) Boston University
5) University of California Santa Cruz????? (safe?)
6) Purdue University (safe?)</p>

<p>What are my chances, especially for the top two colleges on that list?</p>

<p>Any help/feedback is greatly appreciated guys! ;) Thank u!</p>

2

<p>GPA is unweighted and on a 4.0 scale btw</p>

3

<p>Well, if English is your second language, the college admissions people are going to be more understanding, especially if it is the writing or critical reading that is dragging down your SAT score.</p>

<p>However, colleges, especially the good ones you are applying to, do have way too many Chinese and Indian applicants these days, so generally only the very best get in. But, like you said, if you are an immigrant/international student, the admissions officers will be more understanding. i would advise you re-take the SAT and write a good essay emphasizing your pride in your "heritage" (just because colleges like to hear that liberal PC bu llsh it).</p>

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<p>thanks USimperialist! english is my second language but then again my transcript shows HL english and I have an A in that class, so I was wondering why I was taking the TOEFL but apparently, most colleges require it for international students. I hope they are more understanding. Do the EC's look ok?</p>

5

<p>ECAs look good, though you may want to mention any leadership positions you have.</p>

6

<p>Do students with 1900s and a focused backgroudn in music (I attended APAC festivals and plan to audition for AMIS) as an extracurricular in addition to several service activities, stand a chance at Cornell? Anybody gotten in with such a low SAT score??????</p>