<p>I'm a Finnish senior (female), applying for 2006 fall admission. I graduated in June and will take a gap year. During my gap year I'll will be taking a one-year long program in humanistics (history, philosophy, languages...etc) and probably work on the side. The gap year is there because I felt like I needed a cooling off period after upper secondary school because of the intensity. I also want to check out life from a different perspective, but I threw in the studying because I don't want to feel like I'm doing nothing. </p>
<p>My GPA is 8.85 on a scale from 4 to 10. The maximum (10) is practically impossible to reach unless you get full marks on all the assignments and the exam, usually no more than one or two students in a course get a 10. Losing a single point in the exam can (and usually will) mean that you'll get a 9, not a 10. My school doesn't rank, but I'd say I'm roughly in the top 10%. My finals' grades are all in the national top 10%.</p>
<p>My school is often ranked (unofficially, there are no official rankings) in the national top ten and is very well known for its program in sciences and math. The courseload is rigorous and the athmosphere unfortunately quite competitive. Unlike almost all the other schools in Finland offers courses that can be seen as AP equivalents. They are offered in Bio, Chem, Physics and Math. I've taken the bio all throughout upper secondary (three years) and received a 9 in my final transcript. </p>
<p>I took the SAT in May and didn't do so well and will be retaking it in October. I however have taken the ACT and I a got a composite score of 27. </p>
<p>I have quite a lot of ECs and whatnot, in comparison to the average Finnish student. The most important ones:
- A board member of a national branch of an international organisation, European Youth Parliament since Jan 2003, 1st VP since Jan 2005, I have taken part in half a dozen international events and half a dozen smaller, national level events, all over Europe.
- Freshman tutor during my second year, facilitator for tutors during my third year
- Student Government VP
- Student Representative in school's administrative board
- Member of my city's (2nd largest in Finland) youth council
- Senior Class treasurer</p>
<p>I have been looking for colleges and at the moment my favorites are Brown, Yale (I know, I know...), Tufts and Trinity College. Here's the thing though: the schools I want are undoubtedly reaches for me so what I need is a solid safety. </p>
<p>I'm looking for
- a liberal athmosphere
- absolutely no religious affiliation
- urban location, I love going out to gigs and seeing shows etc.
- medium to large size, about 2,500 upwards
- nice social life, but not one that's overrun by greek life
- good international relations program or alternatively other similar interdisciplinary programs such as Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies.
- pretty campus! It's not a must, but hey, if I'm spending four years there, it'd be nice...
- good dorm life
- relatively large international student population, I don't want to be the only intl. student on campus
- diversity of the student body is always a plus
- intl. FA not needed</p>
<p>Any suggestions? I really do need some safeties but can't seem to find any that please me and the collegeboard.com search seems to keep on thinking that Harvard College is where I need to be...</p>
<p>I'm asking for a lot, but I really appriciate the help. I don't have the luxury of a campus visit and this board has already been a great source! Thanks!</p>