International student with good grades but weak EC

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi there, i'm an international from Malaysia and i'd like to know what my chances are of getting into the following colleges:</p>

<p>Princeton
Cornell
Brown
Michigan-Ann Arbor
Harvey Mudd
Swarthmore
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Wesleyan</p>

<p>here are my achievements:
Academic:
SAT 1 - Math 780, CR 740, Writing 690
SAT 2 - Math Level 2, Chemistry, Physics all 800
I took the IB last month, my subjects are Chem HL, Physics HL, Math HL, Econs SL, English A1 SL and Malay B SL. Haven't got my results yet but my predicted grade was 43 points (all 7s except english plus 2 bonus points)
We don't use GPA and don't rank but i think i'm in the top 10% or 15%. Plus my school is one of the top 5 schools in Singapore.</p>

<p>Honors
• Singapore Ministry of Education ASEAN Scholarship recipient (for foreign students across South-East Asia) from 2004-2007
• Singapore Mathematical Olympiad
- Certificate of Participation (Senior Section) in 2004 & 2005
- Certificate of Participation (Open Section) in 2006 & 2007
• Australian National Chemistry Quiz
- Distinction Award (Junior Division) in 2005
• University of New South Wales International Competitions for Schools (Science)
- Distinction Award in 2004 & 2005
- High Distinction Award in 2006
• University of New South Wales International Competitions for Schools (Writing)
- Distinction Award in 2004
• Westpac Australian Mathematics Competition
- Certificate of Distinction (Intermediate Division) in 2004 & 2005
- Certificate of Participation (Senior Division) in 2006</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
Outdoors activity club (2 years, co-founding member)
Interact Club (1 year, organizing committe for an overseas community project)
Church soccer team (3 years, first team player, won an U-18 tournament and finished 5th out of 14 teams in an adult church league)
School squash team member for 2 years (didn't really achieve anything here)
Science research club (1 year, co-founding member but didn't do much either)</p>

<p>Also led a fully student-initiated community service project at two orphanages in Vietnam.</p>

<p>i think my grades are good enough but i'm worried my ECs are a little iffy as i don't really have much material achievements like medals or awards to show for it. Would really appreciate any advice any input. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Do you need financial aid?</p>

3

<p>Forgot to add that i'm applying for financial aid at all these schools, which i guess would make it that much harder?</p>

4

<p>" Singapore Mathematical Olympiad
- Certificate of Participation (Senior Section) in 2004 & 2005
- Certificate of Participation (Open Section) in 2006 & 2007</p>

<p>Westpac Australian Mathematics Competition
- Certificate of Participation (Senior Division) in 2006"</p>

<p>Forgive me, are these given to all participants?</p>

5

<p>Actually they are, meaning that i didn't win anything, but thought i'd include it just to prove that I actually took part cos I represented my school in the competition and not everyone gets the chance to do so</p>

6

<p>Don't include any of that participation stuff, it's just resume-padding.</p>

<p>Your chances are pretty decent, but it's the aid factor that's gonna hit you hard (like it hits so many other intl applicants). It's pretty hit or miss.</p>

7

<p>bumpbumpbump</p>

8

<p>hello? Kinda hoping for more feedback.. Thanks</p>

9

<p>bump again</p>

10

<p>come on guys, help me out here please?
bump</p>

11

<p>Depends on your essay. Really.</p>

12

<p>Yeah, cuRRent has a point. Your stats are nice for all those schools, except maybe the unpredictable Ivies. A mind-blowing essay may just get you into one of those schools with sufficient aid.</p>

13

<p>if you're taking S papers (or whatever the newfangled equivalent is called) together with what I assume are straight As...</p>

<p>Cornell's more than a safety, it's a lock.</p>

<p>(edit: whoops, just realised you're on IB. ahh, no idea how they decide on that, sorry)</p>

14

<p><quote>Forgive me, are these given to all participants?</quote></p>

<p>The Australian competitions are also pretty much padding. The colleges you apply to may or may not know that though.</p>

15

<p>bumpbumpbump</p>

16

<p>bumpbumpbump again. I appreciate all the input so far, but i was hoping for a bit more detailed input, like my chances at each school. thanks</p>

17

<p>Hello? Anyone there?</p>

18

<p>bumpbumpbump</p>

19

<p>ACS IB program huh? Here's a fellow ASEAN scholar chancing you then. Good academic and test results, so-so ECs. Concentrate on the essays to improve your chances.</p>

<p>Princeton: reach to high reach (for everyone it's a reach, even though it's need blind to intls)
Cornell: low reach to reach (more competitive for intl asking for financial aid)
Brown: reach (same problem)
Michigan: high match (they do love ppl from Singapore education system though but with aid in mind, I suppose its harder)</p>

<p>Not familiar with LACs that you mentioned though. I wish you luck then.</p>