International student's chances for an Ivy League School?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm an international student and I'll really appreciate your help!! </p>

<p>I'm finishing my sophmore year and I'm studying at the American College of Sofia (which is considered the best and most prestigious high school in Bulgaria). We have to take 12-13 mandatory courses each year (Bulgarian, Foreign Language, Math, Bio, Chemistry, History, Geography, Computers, Ethics, Sports, I.T. .. ) and we can choose up to 2 elective classes. We can study for AP's on our own and take them if we want to, the same goes for SAT. </p>

<p>So far, my GPA is in the top 5% of my class.
I've taken the following elective classes: American Sign Language, French, College Life (school's newspaper), Tennis</p>

<p>SAT - not taken yet
PSAT - 1900
AP Psychology: still waiting for the scores</p>

<p>Major Awards: 2nd place National French Bilangual Competition (in category French-English); FCE, CAE and CPE with A's; 3rd place in school's tennis tournament; MVP of the school's soccer tournament; most devoted intramural player; Devoted Intramural Player; volunteer in the winter “Special Olympics Bulgaria” 2009; The Individual Unique Prize age group 16-20 years in XIV International Exhibition Art Works on theme “Who Am I” (Slovakia)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Friends of UNICEF club (president, 1 year), Tennis club (member of the school's official tennis team, 2 years), Football (3 years), Culture Jam Club (1 year), Art Club (1 year), Hiking Club (1 year), Student Council representative (1 year)
Job/Work Experience: I'm going to be a GIP (Global Initiative of Psychology) internship this summer; chosen layout editor of College Life (school's newspaper)
Volunteer/Community service: more than 360 CAS hours for the past 2 years (150 were required); going to orphanages with my club, making donations to the kids and spending time with them; volunteered in last year's Special Olympics</p>

<p>Applying for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: Biology/ pre-med
Country (if international applicant): Bulgaria
School Type: Private (but I'm on a scholarship)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: F
Income Bracket: less than 10 000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): </p>

<p>Since I'm an international student, I don't know how good my chances are. I'm going to be a junior next year, so do you have any advice for me? How should I improve my chances of getting into an Ivy League School?</p>

2

<p>Looking at “CAS Hours” - does that imply you’re an IB student? If that does, then that definitely helps. Your extracurriculars seem decent, but also somewhat random and unrelated. There doesn’t seem to be an overall theme or trend within them - perhaps try to do some extracurriculars based on your intended major. Also, getting your SAT score to around 2100 or higher will definitely help. </p>

<p>Also, financial aid may be a deterrent to applying to Ivy leagues, as they aren’t as willing to dish out aid to internationals. </p>

<p>Keep up the good work, you’re only a sophomore right now so you still have plenty of time to prime yourself for college applications.</p>

3

<p>I’m not an IB student, but I still receive an American Diploma as well as a Bulgarian one. All students from my school have to complete CAS hours.
Thank you so much for the reply. I’ve also noticed that my extracurriculars are unrelated, but I’m just interested in various things and want to try as much as I can. So maybe I will try to focus my extracurriculars in the future 2 years and prepare for the SAT :)</p>

4

<ol>
<li><p>Develop and work hard on an academic and/or extracurricular focus. Make sure you are the very best at what you do. Quality not quantity- show your passion and commitment and your leadership qualities to display “focus”</p></li>
<li><p>Get 2100+ in your SAT and 700+ in each section of your SAT IIs </p></li>
<li><p>Write good essays</p></li>
<li><p>Get good letters of recommendations</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Well that should sum it up :slight_smile:
All the best</p>

5

<p>I think that you are in pretty good shape to get into a top US university if you continue to do well. However, it is important that you look at schools that are need-blind for international applicants as those are your best shot of providing a financial aid that you can afford. I don’t have the list in front of me, but I know that Yale, Dartmouth, Amherst and some other top schools are generous with aid for internationals. You can find the full list of schools that are need-blind here on CC. Good luck, Londondad</p>