<p>I am from a very small country – Macedonia (1.5 million people). I have been living and working on my own since 14 and I really want to get into some of the Ivy schools like: Columbia, Cornell, MIT, Harvard, Princeton. I came to the U.S. last year and finished 11th grade. Here is how I stand:</p>
<p>.I got into early admission program: The Clarkson School (skipped 12 grade something like a prep school and will be taking college classes instead going 12 grade in high school) in NY
GPA – 4.50
All AP Classes
SAT2 US History – 730
SAT2 Math IIC – 740
SAT2 Physics – Will take in September
SAT1 – Math 650 Verbal 500</p>
<p>Have a huge resume with many job experiences because I lived and worked alone since 14 and plus these several more important awards:</p>
<p>4th Place in Computer Programming – State Level
Many 1st places in regional competitions in programming.
(I will apply as a international student)</p>
<p>I would appreciate very much if anybody answers because I don’t have whom to ask.
Thanks a lot.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>the fact that you've been living/working alone is probably good, because colleges take you're background into account, and your circumstances are quite unique + you've done really well</p></li>
<li><p>perhaps you should try to improve your SAT scores, especially verbal (or critical reasoning as it's now called) because colleges are more impressed by high scores in this area as they're more rare than high scores in math</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Again, this is just what I've read. Hope it helps you somewhat, and good luck!</p>
<p>that's awesome. i'm assuming you also worked in the school year...to pay off your expenses. </p>
<p>there's that disparity between GPA and SAT that's pretty bothersome (if you work, you should have less time to do homework, and in that case, GPA would be a bit more excusable than SAT. but at the level that you are still living alone (right?) you are socio-economically disadvantaged and therefore can't afford/its not worth it to spend an extra $1000 on a SAT prep class to learn how to take the test). Ivies look for unique people with life experience; if you can write a good essay expressing your unique experiences, (i.e. working and living alone, your culture, obstacles faced, etc. etc. ) and your maturity, I think Columbia and Cornell will not be a problem. Good teacher recs and a counselor letter explaning the situation would cinch the deal. I bet you are an amazing individual; show that to the admissions officers. </p>
<p>Also, if Macedonian is your native language (which I'm assuming it is), that will help excuse your low SAT Verbal. At that level, its a question of what you want to major in. If its English, then there's a problem. But if its a science or a math or Greek or classics...you should be OK.</p>
<p>Can you tell me more about how you got into the early admissions program, how competitive your school is, and your rank? how expensive is the school? does the expense affect your standard of living?</p>
<p>I do think the upper Ivies would be a good shot. I would also recommend Stanford. They really like that enterprising spirit. My father got accepted there for graduate school under similar conditions; international student from China (well since he was older it's less 'amazing' than your situation) and created his own construction company to pay off his entire education (even at Stanford). He did, however, have a good GRE score. </p>
<p>One thing you definitely need to consider is financial aid. Check which schools are need-blind and still promise to meet 100% of need for international students.</p>
<p>ure nationality will def. help... that might be what would get you in to some of the colleges that you apply to...</p>
<p>although colleges put an emphasis on diversity, w/ your sat scores, the schools that you mentioned seem to be quite difficult... u probably want to apply to a wide range of schools</p>