<p>i'm a 16 year old malaysian, will be graduating high school this december. I am planning to study in harvard, princeton, brown, cornell, carnegie mellon, boston, duke. I have not taken my SATs yet but would like to know more about my chences in admission to these ivies. like we all know, it's super hard to get in these few unis.. </p>
<p>here are some of my track of academic results... oh.. btw... for the malaysian education system... we do not give GPAs.. but if we would to consider A's as 4, B's as 3, C's as 2 and D's as 1.. my GPA would be about 3.9 to 4.0</p>
<p>1)my school does not rank students. However, i am having an estimated rank of top 5% in my entire class.
2) for the Malaysian version of O-levels, i obtained 10A1's and 1A2 for my forecast results.
3) i obtained distinction for international schools math competition organized by the University of New South Wales, Australia. (was top 2% among participants)
4)I participated in the Malaysian Chemistry Quiz. </p>
<p>As for my ECs...
1) I am a national level swimmer. i have represented my state in many national level swimming meets such as the malaysian invitational open swimming meet and the national age group swimming meet. won many medals.. records too.
2) I represent my country in triathlon and open sea swimming meets, and some were participated by Ironmen. won several times... $$$ too!!!
3) I am a national level debator, representing my school in national level debates, though i didn't emerge as the champion.
4) I hold many leadership posts in school, class rep for 4 consecutive years, president for swimming society, president for english club.
5) at the age of 12, i was awarded National Nature Award by the government for my service towards the environment. (too long ago)
6) i have participated in an environmental protection programme by WWF last year.
7) i take part in public speaking and other quizes. at school and national level.. won a few (eg. National Law Olympiad)
8) after high school, this december, will be starting a research about biological science.. if it is a success... i'm hoping to see it in a professional journal...</p>
<p>OKOK... i may have not ot my SAT scores yet.. but i think i'll do kinda well.... probably 2200 to 2400... will be doing my a levels first.. not applying this year... </p>
<p>and i would really appreciate it is u guys could just share ur opinions on my chances of admission.. thanks!!!!!!</p>
<p>Harvard, Princeton, Duke--if you are not top 2% of your school, these are all reaches.</p>
<p>Now let me discuss your age, because that has come up here before:
At 16, many colleges will not admit you unless you are planning to come here with a guardian. The reason is simple--if you are not an adult (which means 18 here in the US), the school may assume some liability if something bad happens to you while here at college. In particular, while they may admit you to their school, they are unlikely to allow you to get housing in the dorm system like normal freshmen would. For this reason, many will just not admit you at all--particularly a public university. (I notice you are applying only to private universities, so you may have a better chance at these--but still the age is a MAJOR problem.) Also, keep in mind that a lot less internationals are admitted to these schools than US or Canadian students, so you really have to find against a very competitive group to be admitted. This is why the rankings may seem harsh--but really aren't.</p>
<p>Brown--slight reach
Cornell--slight reach
Carnegie Mellon--match
Boston?--Well it's a nice city--but there are two different schools--Boston College and Boston University. I'll rank you for Boston College, since it's slightly higher rated--and that seems to be what you are looking for in a school--</p>
<p>For Boston College, you would normally be a match, but the school is a religious school dedicated to a Catholic education. Based upon your lack of any religious extracurriculars, and the fact that you are probably not Catholic, I'd rate you as a slight reach.</p>
<p>Woah, Calcruzer, is that really true about the age thing? I mean, I'll be 17 when I go to college and so will a lot of people I know, and that hasn't presented a problem that I know of. I mean, what about kids who skipped a grade? Does American grade override age?</p>
<p>liang, Your background would be of interest to many schools. Before I comment I'd like to ask a few questions:
Do you require financial aid?
What is your ethnic/religious background?
Would you be interested in swimming competitively at college?</p>
<p>Assuming that your grades, scores and rank stay where you predict your statistics will just serve as a foundation. What will get you into these highly selective schools will be what you can bring to the campus community.</p>
<p>Malaysia is a country that is very little understood in America. Assuming that you are ethnic Chinese (I'm just guessing from your name) and not Muslim, I would suggest that you use your essays to focus on your experience in an Islamic country. Of course if you are Muslim, then definitely amplify that aspect of your profile as direct personal experience with Islam is in great demand in academia today.</p>
<p>The ivy league is overwhelmed by applications from accomplished Asians. The competition as an international will be fierce. I would strongly suggest that you take a look at a few smaller liberal arts colleges. The academics,research opportunities and graduate school track records are as good as the big name schools (some say better) and you background as an Southeast Asian from an Islamic country will really stand out.</p>
<p>You might even be eligible to swim Division 3 varsity which would be a big plus.</p>
<p>In that event, I would take a look at Williams, Amherst, Hamilton, Kenyon, Macalester. There are others but this would get you started. (I'm assuming you're male, but if not add Smith.)</p>
<p>If you need financial aid, you should go back to square one and rethink your list.</p>
<p>If you are a top swimmer and are looking for a top D-3 swim program that trains like a D-1 swim team program, then I would seriously consider looking at Kenyon. They have the best swim team in Division 3 program in the country. The men have won 27 consecutive National championships in a row. The women have also won their fair share of National championships. They have had a number of foreign swimmers, some Olympic bound. The school also provides good merit aid for students, especially if you are from another country. Take a look at their team web site for more information: <a href="http://athletics.kenyon.edu/x437.xml%5B/url%5D">http://athletics.kenyon.edu/x437.xml</a> Coach Steen is one of the best coaches out there. </p>
<p>Judging from your resume you are interested in the sciences. Kenyon also has an excellent science program that allows students as young as upcoming sophmores to do research in the summer science program on campus. There aren't many undergraduate programs out there that allow this kind of participation. The program is really good. </p>
<p>I would suggest a visit to any schools that you wish to attend. It is free to apply online to Kenyon.</p>
<p>i would say u have a fairly good chance.
i mean...all A's, nationally ranked in swimming and debate
normally id wonder about ur other ECs but since u live in malaysia n
chinese ppl dont exactly volunteer or anything...</p>
<p>hey fellow malaysian, did you take the spm or o-levels, at age 16 finishing high school, i suppose you're either international/private school or PTS kid,
what i suggest is get your swimming coach to get you a recommendation, there's an ex-national swimmer who get into cornell because of his time trials in swimming, ie he has a time record that cornell is most welcome to admit.
And don't worry bout ecs, There aren't many volunteering things to do in Malaysia, but being an Asian-Chinese + International student put us in a very very difficult pool in IVIES. PM me if you need more info about going to the states, since you doing alvls soon, i suppose you're aiming for oxbridge too right?
Cheers and work on the thing you love the most.</p>
<p>Alextakashi:
Hey!!! you're malaysian too?? Unfortunately, my coach who has been training me for 7 years returned to china, therfore, i guess i have to ask another coach for recs.. probably allen ong (u'd probably know if ure malaysian) who's coaching me now.. he's an olympic swimmer.... I am a PTS kid, which means yes.. i am graduating high schol earlier than many other students in malaysia... will be doing my a levels first.. though US is my first choice, i will be aiming for oxbridge too... will definitely pm u if i need help...</p>
<p>oh and btw, i know the guy who went to cornell... david lim eh??? lol.... yepp... he trains with me...</p>
<p>momrath:
here are the answers to your questions:
1) I will definitely require financial aid.. and i guess harvard, princeton, MIT and yales financial aids are need blind... so theyre my top choices..
2) I am chinese, male.... umm.. i am a freethinker.. so no religion...(would take into consideration about ur essay advice.. thanks!!!)
3) if it gets me to harvard or princeton.. YES!!! i'll train alot to swim competitively...</p>
<p>i will be looking to smaller schools too, probably safety ones... NO SMITH.... i am a guy.. lol...</p>
<p>swimkin:
hey.. ure a swimmer too?? cool, thanks for the website, would consider your thought.. after all, its free to apply eh?</p>
<p>calcruzer:
yes.. i'm 16.. but i as i mentioned in my previous post.. i am not applying this year.. being underage is one of the reasons... umm... my school is VERY competitive.. and my estimated rank is about 5%... school does not rate..</p>
<p>so, thats about it.. and to swimkin and momrath, i think i am qualified for div 3(kinda positive) if not div 2, as alextakashi posted.. a guy from my training place got admitted to cornell coz of his times... my times are not much further from him... and i guess that's good news...</p>
<p>haha competitive school as in?? i don't reckon there are rankings in schools in m'sia, lol what school are you from? but having straight A's spm will not hurt at all, haha well the malaysian that got into Harvard this year, did not get straight A1 either i suppose, but she's great in public speaking, and she speak french fluently, gosh, oh by the way do u speak chinese as well, i suppose if you could speak 3 languages, would be quite an advantage!!</p>
<p>lol.. i can't speak chinese fluently...ee tian tian... haha... umm.. im currently studying in SMK damansara jaya. though they do not rate schools in malaysia, for my year, 2 students were ranked top 25 in malaysian for lower secondary exams!!! and they werent even the best few!!! im about top 5% in my entire class</p>
<p>oh haha DJ student...lol... yeah many smart kids...
My school was number 2 nationally in percentage of students getting straight As in lower secondary, and i don't think it helps at all... urrghh...
Anyway your chances are good, work hard and you'll make the cut!
: ) gd luck</p>