<p>Hi this is my first time posting on this site but I have been struggling a lot lately with college applications and wanted to ask people that don't know me about my chances. (I've been getting a lot of positive feedback from friends and family, but they're friends and family, so I'm afraid they might be too biased)</p>
<p>I am an international applicant from S. Korea but have spent the last three years of high school (10~12) in the US.
I was born in Korea but grew up in the States, spent my teen years (10~16) in Korea, and now my HS years in the US.
I don't need financial aid too badly so will not ask for it, but it would be great if I could ask for it and not get affected because I have several siblings.</p>
<p>Where I'm applying:</p>
<p>Harvard R-EA
UChicago RD
Standford RD
Cornell RD</p>
<p>+10 more colleges but these are the most competitive to my knowledge</p>
<p>STATS</p>
<p>SAT (took three times): 2100, 2110, 2360 (CR760, MA800, WR800)
GPA (weighted): 3.95/5.00 (We don't un-weight)
No ACT
SAT II: Math II 800, USHistory 710, Literature (tba)</p>
<p>Courses this year:
AP Lit
AP Studio Art
AP BC Calc
AP Bio
AP Micro/Macro (2 semester classes)
Latin 3
Govt HN</p>
<p>I think I can get all As, but maybe an A- (or in a bad case B+) for AP Lit</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>American Sign Language Club (founded with friends junior year, I'm the secretary)
Latin Club (Secretary for Junior/Senior years)
National, Art, Math Honors Society
Varsity Math Team (got an award. forgot title of it)</p>
<p>Volunteering:</p>
<p>Taught Korean at a sister-school in China (9th grade)
Taught at a neighborhood Korean school for a semester
Volunteering at museum (doing hands-on education with younger audiences) for a year now
Several Art projects for community</p>
<p>Awards:</p>
<p>Nothing at national level
All A Honor Roll for both two years I have attended school here so far
Couple county art contest awards
National Latin Exam Level 1 and 2 (both gold medals)
A Korean science and math competition award in my district just for the Koreans (4th place)</p>
<p>Extra:</p>
<p>Took intensive 8 credit language course at a prestigious college (will not name) and received an A</p>
<p>Teacher Recs:</p>
<p>Science teacher- He is very passionate about me and truly wishes/believes I should go to a prestigious school. He offered to write for me. He spoke so movingly it moved me to tears so I am confident he meant what he said and believe he will write a good rec.</p>
<p>AP English teacher- He also offered to write for me. He is an excellent writer. I figured it would help since I am an international applicant so he could help prove my quick adjustment to achieving well in English just as much as a normal student.</p>
<p>****In short, I have tried, but I am not nearly as stellar as most people in my bracket are. (Asian/international)</p>
<p>I will be applying to said schools nonetheless, but would still like to hear some advice for potential safeties I might want to consider, and also the actual chances I may have at being accepted to these four schools.</p>
<p>Of them, I definitely would love to go to Harvard or UChicago. Harvard, I have a specific reason why I truly wish to go there (but it's personal) and it's not for the name. In the case of UChicago, I fell in love with it and love the unique atmosphere the school has portrayed themselves with.</p>
<p>Unlike the usual Asian stereotype, my parents were never pushy, and that inclined me to push myself. However I am as lazy as the next person, and I know my limits so I never even thought to fill my schedules with only APs, though I do wish I took more. I always try to do my best on what I have put upon myself because I believe strongly in taking responsibility for one's decisions and actions.</p>
<p>The only idea I have with my ECs is that many are related to languages, and I would like to expand on that and emphasize my great interest in different cultures and perhaps even go into Linguistics.</p>