<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I'm a caucasian/chinese student in Malaysia doing the International Baccalaureate Program at a private international school. I am hoping to study maths. Financial aid is important, as I can only afford ~$10,000 a year.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.8 (weighted)
English is my first language. I am not taking TOEFL.</p>
<h2>SAT scores</h2>
<p>SAT I Math: 760
SAT I Verbal: 710
SAT II Math IIc: 800
SAT II Physics: 800
SAT II Writing: 710</p>
<p>I took the SAT I again earlier this month (November) and results should be coming soon. I will be taking SAT II in December again - Chemistry, Writing, Literature.</p>
<h2>Predicted IB grades:</h2>
<p>Maths Higher Level (HL): 7 (max is 7)
Physics HL: 7
Chemistry HL: 7
English Standard Level (SL): 7
Economics SL: 7
German ab initio SL: 6
Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge: 3 (max is 3)
Total: 44 out of 45</p>
<p>Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) is a compulsory part of the IB Diploma. One must do 50 hours of each (total 150). On top of this:</p>
<h2>Sports</h2>
<p>Karate: 10 years, Brown belt (2nd Kyu)
Cross-country jogging: ~2 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, for about 6 years.
Hockey (field): played on school team in Year 11.
Student Council Representative for 3 years in a row.</p>
<h2>Creative stuff</h2>
<p>Piano and Theory of Music: at least 8 years. Grade 6. Working towards a Grade 7 in Piano next year.
Regular participant in my school's Elocution and Public Speaking Competitions.
Runner-up for Debating: (Year 9 aka Grade 8)
Won Best Dancer Award: (though no certificate as this was rather informal)</p>
<h2>Work experience and Volunteering</h2>
<p>Maintenance Assistant: 8 hours/day for 7 days. (my help was not needed after this). July 2003
Volunteering at a hospital: ~60 hours in July 2002
Volunteering to help build a spice garden for tourists: ~30 hours in October 2003.</p>
<p>Lots of other ECs, but I don't think I would be able to get them across to my unis in any easy way. </p>
<h2>Miscellaneous:</h2>
<p>Teacher reccomendations are generally excellent. One teacher gave me described me as "outstanding (best in the year)" and "exceptional (one of the best in my career)" on the table on the common application, the other gave me all oustanding, exceptional and excellent. Very positive peer review.</p>
<p>Personal statement topics:
-The state of rights for ethnic minorities and gays in Malaysia (since I am one of both).
-My passion for maths.
-How Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm and L'Etranger have changed my thinking (for my Harvard essay)</p>
<p>I will also be sending along recordings of my piano playing capabilities - it may be good, but definitely not outstanding. I will also be sending a copy of my extended essay for my IB diploma, which is on the topic: "The Amount of Sodium Chloride in McDonald's French Fries". In it, I use lab methods to determine this. </p>
<p>My school does not rank students.</p>
<p>I am not expecting to come across as a stunning individual in my interviews, since I generally get nervous and don't think very clearly during interviews.</p>
<h2>College Choices:</h2>
<p>Yale (Early Action)
Harvard
Princeton
MIT
Middlebury
Williams
Cornell
Washington University in St. Louis (safety, I know a student there)</p>
<p>Any feedback on my chances would be much appreciated.</p>