International Chances (Barnard, Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown..)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm entering my last year of high school in September, so this next term is really my last chance to improve my chances. I would love for any advice on improving my chances.</p>

<p>I'm hoping to apply to : Columbia Univeristy ED or Barnard ED<a href="Or%20NYU%20early%20decision,%20depends%20on%20my%20SATs%20this%20fall">dream</a>, Boston University, Swartmore, UCLA, USC, Georgetown, UPenn, Cornell</p>

<p>^List will change and narrow down after I get my SATs back</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>SAT I (breakdown): Taking reasoning in Sept, hopefully 2000-2100+ (this will be 2nd time [first time, 0 studying 1800)</p>

<p>ACT: n/a</p>

<p>SAT II: German 640 , Literature 680 (retaking in November for 700+)</p>

<p>Senior Year Course Load: As Levels (second last year of highschool) : Math, German, Geography, History, Sprachdiplom I</p>

<p>A Level (last highschool year) : Sprachdiplom II (maybe), German, Geography, History</p>

<p>Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Duke of Edinborough bronze award; school community service achievement, silver (150+ hours tutoring ethnic minority children)</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Squash team 2 years, Horse riding team 4 years (placed top 3 , 3 times), (head of writers department) yearbook, 3 years writer for scool student newspaper, reporters club for South China Morning Post (leading english newspaper in Hong Kong)[2 years] , run a well received fashion blog with 60k+ readers; giving advice (takes up 14+ hours a week)</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience: 2 weeks at leading Hong Kong news firm SCMP, 2 weeks at a marketing/sourcing firm, 2 weeks documenting a large private art collection</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service: 150+ hours tutoring ethnic minority children over 1 year (continuing more next year), built an orphanage school building in rural Thailand on a school trip, prefect (student leader/teachers aid) on a grade 7 community service trip to rural China [1 week], committee member of school Shark protection society (shark fins soup is huge in Hong Kong, raising awareness etc)</p>

<p>Summer Activities: Work and travel</p>

<p>Other
Country (if international applicant): Hong Kong</p>

<p>School Type: International school, private, strong track record with top schools globally</p>

<p>Ethnicity: German/Malaysian mix (what should I put myself down as when applying? I look more Caucasian)</p>

<p>Gender: Female</p>

<p>Income Bracket (mention if FA candidate): 50-100k</p>

<p>Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first generation with a shot at a good university, unusual ethnicity(?), have good grades even comparing with peers here who get all A*s and such</p>

<p>General Comments:
I have a terrible feeling about my AS results, I think im going to be getting Bs and maybe even a C when results come out next month. Report card is mainly Bs and As, with excellent-good for effort.</p>

<p>Any advice or tips please? And chance me for the schools I listed please?</p>

<p>Also, if anyone knows any Universities they think might be worth me looking into, please let me know! I'm planning on doing liberal arts, at a reputable/academically strong University near to or in a large city. I have lived in metropolitan Hong Kong all my life, and I dont think anywhere without the same hustle and bustle (or easy access to it) would be a good match for me.</p>

<p>Thank you !</p>

2

<p>First gen means no adult who raised you received a 4year college degree. even if their university is not prestigious it ‘counts’ so you’re not first gen. for the rest you already posted and several knowledgeable people have given you advice. Do you have new details?</p>

3

<p>As an international student, you’ll need much higher test scores for those schools. </p>

<p>Columbia Univeristy: high reach ED or Barnard: low reach
NYU: low reach
BU: high match
Swarthmore: mid reach
UCLA: low reach
USC: high match
Georgetown: low reach
UPenn: high reach
Cornell: mid reach</p>

<p>Good luck :)</p>

4

<p>I agree with Thebeatlestoday.
Boston U is most likely a yes.
NYU is getting there.
Cornell- need to get grades up.<br>
Good luck! :)</p>

5

<p>Don’t retake the Subject Tests. Take new ones and send them all. I got in to Georgetown with scores of 770/640/610.</p>

6

<p>Thank you all for your input :)</p>

<p>MYOS1634, thanks for clarifying that for me. I wanted to make a new chance board because since then I have changed my University list, and have been up and down on applying to the UK as back up. I’m sorry if my boards seem pesky, but I’m really getting quite nervous as the next round of SATs get closer.</p>

<p>Thank you everyone!</p>

7

<p>I think your German score will weaken your application because it’s very low considering you’re doing for ALevels (any A level candidate should get 750-800 considering how much easier the SATSubject is than A Level, and your score wouldn’t instill confidence in your A Level results).</p>

8

<p>I’m taking german again in November, so my score should go up 100 points or so, seeing as I will study this time. Do you think I should retake literature as well?</p>

9

<p>bumping again</p>

10

<p>I’m also an International. You are Chinese? Grade three in Senior high?</p>

11

<p>Retaking German and Literature and scoring respectively 750-800 and 700+ will definitely help.</p>

12

<p>I am half chinese half german. Im entering my final year of high school this week. And thanks MYOS1634, I will be taking both subject tests again in November and sending them direct to Barnard for early decision</p>

13

<p>Malaysian and german by nationality, chinese german by blood to be precise</p>

14

<p>Wow, I’m only Chinese. It is rare to see someone who is also chinese blood here. I believe you need to improve SAT1 a little. At least in mainland, we have to at least above 2200 in SAT1 to think about getting into top 20. Don’t know if the competition in Hong Kong is weaker.</p>

15

<p>I’m sure you’ll score better. that first score was an anomaly :slight_smile: and your results. must reflect your best not be anomalous :slight_smile: and convey a wrong image of you.</p>

16

<p>Competition in hong kong is very high, especially within my school (strong rep with Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge etc); although I cant compare with the mainland, I have no idea what its like there. And thank you MYOS1634; I’m prepping for SATs in October now!</p>

17

<p>Almost every single school on your list is a big reach for the plain and simple fact that none if them are need blind to international students. This means that your ability to pay will be a big factor in the admissions process. Your needing a considerable amount of aid to attend is not in your favor.</p>