<p>Hello!</p>
<p>I am very new to this forum and thank you for looking at my post.
So, I'm a female rising Senior from Guinea Bissau (a really small country in West Africa). But my mother is from Burundi (small country in east Africa) I came to the US for the second semester of the 2011-2012 school year, but it was supposed to be my senior year in Senegal (Neighboring Country in West Africa) where I was Studying. So I actually repeated my Junior year when I got to the US because it was advised to me for language purposes (English is not the language in those countries). Now I am making a college list and I was wondering what my chances are of getting into those that interest me:</p>
<p>Reach:
Princeton or Yale (I'll only chose one, i don't know which one yet)
MIT
Northwestern</p>
<p>Others:
Northeastern (#1 right now)
Worcester poly
U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
(there are some others that are less selective so i'll leave them out)</p>
<p>I want to study Chemical Engineering</p>
<p>Can you chance me taking into account my diversity (there are no people from my country, or from my mother's country in those universities as far as I know) and that I will apply for financial aid?</p>
<p>For the grades in africa, it's different. Students are grouped in classrooms and it's the teachers that walk in and out. we can have multiple 9th grade classes or 10th grade etc but over all:</p>
<p>Freshman year (in Africa): Top of the class</p>
<p>Sophomore year (in Africa): Top of the class</p>
<p>Junior Year (in Africa): Top of all the Junior classes</p>
<p>Junior Class (In the US): GPA: 3.86; 2 AP classes but I only took the exam for one and the results aren't in yet. </p>
<p>SAT (took it only once, will retake): 2050
Reading: 670 ; Maths: 690 ; Writing 640
ACT (only once, will retake): 28
I wasn't prepared at all so when I retake it I'm expecting at least 30.
Will take chemistry, physics, and maths subject tests</p>
<p>My School and Africa didn't focus at all on AP's, Extra-curriculars and activities like sports or experiences (Job, internship, etc) so I mostly started here: </p>
<p>Honors/Awards:
Junior Year (Africa): First Place in National German Contest
Was nominated for National english contest (they only select the best)
Junior Year (US): National french Contest (#1 in Nebraska, #5 in the Nation ; C-class
Senior year (US): I will be in the National Honors Society
A part from that I also for honor certificates from the school in Africa in 9th, 10th and 11th grade for academic performance.</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars :
Piano (8th-9th Grade Africa)
Gymnastics (8th-9th grade Africa)
Dance (HipHop) (9th-11th Grade Africa)
English Club member (8th-11th Grade Africa); Held office: Vice president of external relations in 10th Grade and President of external relations in 11th Grade
JV Basketball (11th grade US)
JV Tennis (11th Grade US)
Prom Decorations Committee (11th Grade US)</p>
<p>Career:
Internship in the International Union for Conversation of Nature of Dakar, Senegal</p>
<p>Volounteering:
In International Union for Conservation of Nature in Guinea Bissau- 40h
a United Nations Program to create a Natural Reserve in Guinea Bissau 30h
in International School of Dakar, Senegal where I work with gifted middleschoolers
Server in a buffet for teachers (10th Africa) 4h
Present Traditional Burundi clothes during an international exposition at church (10grade Africa) 4h
Concessions Stand during matches (11th grade US) 3h
Participation in a gathering in memory of the Rwanda genocide victims, decoration, serve food (10th grade Africa) 4h
Junior Volunteering organized by School (11th grade US): Teaching little girls to swim 2h
English Club assistant: Organizing the 2nd Prom ever in College Sacre-Coeur summer AFTER 11th Grade US)</p>
<p>I have signed up for many interesting classes and activities (mock trial, speech, managing sports teams) for my Senior year and am planning to do more volunteering. </p>
<p>I am on very good terms with my teachers. They know that I am an ambitious, determined and hard working person (though I had never had classes in English I managed to get all A's during my junior year in the US). they have congratulated me a lot and i am sure they will be willing to write me recommendations. </p>
<p>I have lived in 4 different Countries (Guinea Bissau, Portugal, germany and Senegal), have travelled a lot and speak 5 languages fluently (Portuguese,French, English, German and Kriol which is is African) and an other african language so-so. I love languages and am planning to learn Arabic and Japanese.</p>
<p>What do you think? What should I work on before sending an Application? What do my chances look like?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your time.</p>