International student...Please chance!!!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey everyone!</p>

<p>I'm an international student from Europe, and would like to hear your opinion!</p>

<p>GPA: 9.86/10 (do my senior year in a high school for gifted students, with the most challenging curriculum in the country)
Ranked 1st out of 60 (class is really small, because all the kids are very carefully selected)</p>

<p>Honors:</p>

<p>---Silver Medal, International Contest of Math and Literature
---2nd Place, International Contest of Creative Writing
---2nd Place, International Contest of Scientific Research
---Gold Medal, National Olympiad of Linguistics
---3rd Place, and Special Award of the Jury, International Olympiad of Linguistics
---1st Place, National Olympiad of French
---The Excellence Award of the Ministry of Education, granted for promoting the country's image in the world through the success achieved at the International Olympiad of Linguistics
---Member of the Olympic Team of my country for French.
---Member of the Olympic Team of my country for Linguistics.
---President's Volunteer Service Award.
---3rd Place, National Festival of Patriotic Poetry
---Honorable Mention, National Contest of Literature
---Special Award, Regional Contest of Poetry
---2nd Place, Regional Conference of Applied Science
---Excellence Award, Regional History Conference
---The Most Active Student Award, granted for remarkable academic performances and outstanding extracurricular involvement, Regional Award Ceremony in Education.
---Winner of the City's Scholarship, awarded for excellence in education and remarkable results achieved at national and international competitions.
I received the award three consecutive years.
---Student of the Year Award, granted by the high school for the highest academic results, extracurricular activities and the outstanding performances demonstrated at national level.
I received the award three consecutive years.</p>

<p>Extracurricular:</p>

<p>---Editor, National Magazine of Culture and Creative Writing (the magazine won national awards)
---Author of two soon-to-be-published books:</p>

<p>1) The first book concentrates on the political development of my country over a period of twenty years. (political essays)</p>

<p>2)The second book features poems awarded at different literary competitions, as well as new ones.</p>

<p>---Reporter, National Broadcasting Company , the Studio for Adolescents
---Deputy, Youth Parliament of my country (participated in the writing of several social projects of national significance)
---Exchange Student in USA, full scholarship awarded by the US Department of State (one of the 40 students selected out of 1040).
---Volunteer, National Media Project (wrote the script for a short movie promoting human rights)
---Founder and President, Regional Future Leaders School
---Author and Organizer, Regional Project ''Simulation of the European Parliament'' (students from more than 16 high schools involved)
---School's, Delegate,Regional Youth Council (got the Council's Excellence Award for the implementation of several youth projects)
---Participant and Speaker, International Training Course regarding Politics, full scholarship awarded.
---Delegate, International Model UN Conference (wrote a concrete strategy for accelerating a country's progress through overcoming economic obstacles)
---100+ hours of community service while in US (President's Volunteer Service Award)</p>

<p>Also, I have published articles in more than five different national magazines and newspapers. My activity as a writer has been reflected in a book published by one of these magazines.</p>

<p>My problem, however, is my 1580 SAT Score (very low, I'm a really bad test taker). My SAT Subject Scores are going to be much higher, I believe.
Is this score going to lead to the rejection of my application (HYP)?
What about Wellesley/Williams/Mt Holyoke/Duke/Pomona?</p>

2

<p>Is this query on the level? The score is really unexpected, given all else. I’m sure there are many schools that would love to admit you. However, with HYP you just never know, no matter what. Even if your scores were high too. especially given you’re an international applicant.
I would hope if everything else makes you look like someone they really, really want–for example, if you really are a precociously gifted and accomplished writer–well, there are always exceptions. Accomplishments over several years ought to mean more than 2 hours in a classroom, but you never know how it will work out. . . . cross your fingers.</p>

3

<p>thanks for your post…I really hope they will overlook my scores.</p>

4

<p>I know that I’ve been pestering you about this, but seriously, how did you get 1580? It’s just not right!</p>

5

<p>Well, I’m asking myself the same thing. It’s probably because I’m not really familiar with this type of testing (bad concentration, or whatever). I have a dilemma right now: should I take the Subject Tests in French and Spanish (get a 700+), or should I retake this, and get 2000+ ? I can take it only in Jan for it to be considered.</p>

6

<p>SAT matters more. After all, we already know you can do languages incredibly well (1st Place in National Olympiad of French). You should take this chance to prove that you have sound reasoning skills- which I’m 100% sure you possess.</p>

7

<p>Or you can take the ACT and do subject tests on SAT day. The question what score can you get on the ACT. Take a pratice test and tell us what you get.</p>

8

<p>yes, but…are they going to consider my application without the Subject Tests?</p>

9

<p>Depends on the school. Check their policies. However, for most top schools, you’ll need them. I’d say go for the ACT/subject test route. Also, don’t some schools accept the ACT without subject tests? I know UPenn and Yale do.However, Harvard wants both the ACT and the subject tests.</p>

10

<p>I went through the testing policies for all the schools you listed. Here they are:</p>

<p>Pomona: SAT + 2 SATII OR ACT. (December for both :frowning: )
Wellesley: SAT + 2 SATII OR ACT. (December for both :frowning: )
Yale: SAT + 2 SATII OR ACT. (SAT January deadline; ACT Feb.)
Williams: SAT + 2 SATII OR ACT+ 2 SAT II. (December for both :frowning: )
Duke: SAT + 2 SATII OR ACT. (SAT January deadline; ACT Feb.)
Mt Holyoke: Optional. (You’re in for this)
Princeton: SAT + 2 SATII OR ACT+ 2 SAT II. (SAT January deadline; ACT Dec.)
Harvard: SAT + 2 SATII OR ACT+ 2 SAT II. (SAT January deadline; ACT Dec.)</p>

<p>The ACT/ subject test route is the best and only route- you’ll be able to hide your not-so-good SAT score if you score well on the ACT. Even if you flunk the ACT (get sub 22), at least you’ll have your SAT+SATII combination ready. Also, the ACT is less tricky than the SAT, so that might be better for you. Take practice tests like a madman- or girl, in this case- and get a good mark. By the way, you should have done this ages ago! I know that these competitions and training sessions eat time, but you should’ve tried to have a good score ready for admissions.</p>

11

<p>Oops! Harvard’s ACT deadline is Feb. Sorry, I just copy/pasted Princeton’s policy.</p>

12

<p>Arventis,</p>

<p>No one on this board can “chance” you because you are an international applicant. Your file will be read with that in mind. Lots of international applicants wipe out on the SAT and ACT because the format is so strange to them. Every admission officer in the country knows about this.</p>

<p>For the best advice in your particular situation, you should contact the closest office of EducationUSA: [EducationUSA</a> - Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/centers.php#.TwpxcqVrOeN]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/centers.php#.TwpxcqVrOeN) The counselors there will be able to tell you which colleges and universities have admitted students with profiles like yours in recent years.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>