<p>@improvprincess: for U.S Colleges I think you apply by the end of year 11? That way you can meet the Jan 01 deadline. The Colleges will see your year 12 grades after you’re accepted. Therefore it would be best if you took SAT I/ACT and SAT II by the end of year 11. In the U.S I think most Colleges reply by April and you have all of May to decide which to attend in the fall or summer?</p>
<p>Do your SATs asap - I left mine pretty late, with my SAT I in November, and SAT II’s in October of Year 12 (kinda a snap decision to apply to the U.S.). As for timings, it is pretty annoying, considering Census date for HECS is 31 March, and usually you don’t hear from the Unis before then. I enrolled in an Australian uni, and just finished first semester. Then, in august, I’m heading off to the States. My suggestion is to go to uni here, do first semester, then apply for credit once you go to the states. If you are set on the U.S., do a science/arts degree so it will be easy to get credit.</p>
<p>@IBAustralia - I, and all of my friends going to the U.S., applied at the end of Year 12. If you apply at the end of Year 11, you won’t finish school in time, as HSC/VCE etc. are usually in October, and Fall semester starts in August.</p>
<p>mate, why dont u look at the format of most ‘What are my chances?’ thread posts and start a new thread for your chances. That way, people can help you determine what your strong points are, as well as your inefficiencies. Thats the best you can do at the moment to answer your questions. All these ‘what ifs’ are not going to help.</p>
<p>There are many ways one can get admitted to top tier schools, and by that, i mean there are many profiles that are looked at favourably. It is a question of which you adopt and how well you do in comparison to others also sharing what you have to offer. </p>
<p>For example: if you choose to display yourself as an academic…like one of those International Olympiad gold medallists, then you will be competing with others also displaying that ability. Obviously, you are a top applicant then, but it ll depend on the type of applicant that the university wants to fill its student body. Maybe MIT will have better medallists from Singapore and China, and choose instead an entrepreneur from Australia (who is prob not at the same scientific academic level as you, but just has something else to offer). It happens, this is where ‘luck’ kinda helps.</p>
<p>get the idea?
writing applications isnt as linear as a science exam. It is about creating a whole character from 1000 essay words and shiit like that. I am happy to help you out. I just prefer to know what kind of studetn you are ie where u are studying, what you are studying, what are ur interests etc. Message me or just email me: <a href=“mailto:sids@mit.edu”>sids@mit.edu</a></p>
<p>Harvard University
Yale University
Boston College
Duke University
Boston University
University of Sydney
Australian National University
Uinversity of Melbourne
Macquarie University</p>
<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Black (half African American)
Location: Australia
School: Parramatta Marist High School (large private school)
Rank: NA (however, based on my grades I’d say 10% percentile)</p>
<p>Year 9: unweighted (4.0)
English A
Maths A
Science A
Art A
Commerce A
Work Education A
PDHPE B</p>
<p>Year 10: unweighted (4.0)
English Literature A
Geometry A
Chemistry B
AP Government and Politics Exam 5
French A
Intro to computers A</p>
<p>Year 11:
English IB SL
History of the Americas IB SL
French SL
Mathematics IB HL
Biology IB HL
Chemistry IB HL
Theory of Knowledge class
Extended Essay</p>
<p>Year 12:
English IB
History of the Americas IB SL
French SL
Mathematics IB HL
Biology IB HL
Chemistry IB HL
Theory of Knowledge class
Extended Essay</p>
<p>Standardized Tests: (haven’t taken yet)
SAT I: NA
ACT: will be taking in year 11
SAT II: Maths II, Chemistry, Biology, French</p>
<p>EC:
Hospoital volunteer-1000+
CAS Hours
Research participation-500+
Cross country (state) came 10th
Track and Field: 10-12
Member of Christian Club
National Honor Society
Key club
MUN</p>
<p>Awards:
Excellence awards in Science, Techology and English (year 9)
Community award for service
Citizenship award
MUN</p>
<p>Interests:
Medical Research (passion)
Neurology/neuroscience (passion)
Philosophy
Volunteering
Church
Cross country
Non fiction novels
Mathematics</p>
<p>College major (undergraduate school):
Biochemistry/Neuroscience
Intended graduate school:
Harvard Medical school
Future career: Doctor (specialist in Neurology, perhaps a neurologist)</p>
<p>
I would be careful to put that on a college application if you are not a US citizen or permanent resident. Most colleges heavily heavily discourage international students from going pre-med, and that policy may or may not spill over to the admissions office as well. It might be safer to go with biomedical research as a career goal for admission purposes.</p>
<p>Gee, thanks <a href=“mailto:b@rlum”>b@rlum</a>. This is obviously a common issue, I’ll be careful not to specify pre-med on the application.</p>
<p>Why would you go and do an undergrad degree in the U.S., then do a grad med degree, when you could finish your MBBS in Australia in 6 years?</p>
<p>It’s not like UNSW/UNCLE/Monash/JCU etc. are poor universities…</p>
<p>Any particular reason?</p>
<p>I also think you need to beef up your ec’s.</p>
<p>sikhman: I’m aware of that. That’s why I have Australian Universities as a backup. My reason for favoring American Colleges is that I prefer a liberal arts degree. I’d like to undertake Harvard’s New Pathway Curriculum, which is well rounded, thorough and provides the educational stimulation, rigor that I seek.</p>
<p>Are you set on med school in the u.s., or would you do it here? I understand doing a liberal arts degree in the u.s., as opposed to the crappy curriculum here, but from what I can tell, med in australia would be 1) a lot cheaper 2) not that different c) still give you the opportunity to study/work in the u.s. during and after your degree.</p>
<p>I’ve always wanted to study in the U.S, particularly at Harvard. It’s for the curriculum and experience of studying in America. However, I’m prepared to compromise and study in Australia if things don’t work out.</p>
<p>Well the med curriculum, I imagine, wouldn’t be too different from med in Australia, although I believe that there is a greater emphasis on research.</p>
<p>Good to see a fellow Aussie starting early! I’m currently in Year 12, applying for class of 2015.</p>
<p>sikhman: you can visit this website for more information on Harvard Med School curriculum. [Medical</a> Education at Harvard](<a href=“http://hms.harvard.edu/pme/newpathways.asp]Medical”>http://hms.harvard.edu/pme/newpathways.asp)</p>
<p>BakOrz: thanks :). May I ask at which Colleges you’ll be applying to? Ofcourse assuming you intend to study in America. Why have you chosen to study in U.S, as suppose to Australia? For me the choice was always clearcut. An American degree opens doors to alot of opportunities to advance one self. One must make the right connections, keep an open mind and work hard for what one desires.</p>
<p>I’m most interested in Stanford, after that it’s basically a crapshot between Harvard, Yale, Princeton and some others. </p>
<p>My choice of (intending to) go overseas for study is based on the US being the global leader in tertiary education and my desire to study International Relations and pursue a relevant career. This choice came early in Year 12 as I had been previously reluctant to abandon the warm Australian climate and my social networks in Sydney. I guess as I matured a bit more it became evident that the US College experience would not only foster a growth in self-sufficiency and independence, but also provide, as you said, more educational and social opportunities.</p>
<p>BakOrz: you can check out UPenn’s Huntsman program if you haven’t already (hint: they’re known for accepting many international students). [The</a> Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business](<a href=“http://huntsman.upenn.edu/page/admissions.html]The”>http://huntsman.upenn.edu/page/admissions.html) Harvard is also good, although they don’t have a specific major called IR. You can major in Gov’t which encompasses IR material. Boston provides many opportunities for internships, you could join the International relations council which hosts Model UN conferences around the U.S. In addition, Harvard has great financil aid</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up, Huntsman looks very interesting! ;)</p>
<p>Tell you the truth, all the Harvard Med School’s website told me was that they’ve switched to PBL and are also using scenario groups, as well as giving the opportunity to participate in external research/training programs. Doesn’t sound ridiculously different to what’s happening here.</p>
<p>sikhman: check this out [Medical</a> Education at Harvard](<a href=“http://hms.harvard.edu/pme/hst.asp]Medical”>http://hms.harvard.edu/pme/hst.asp), relating HST MD Program.</p>
<p>Ok ok i’m not from Australia but I AM from NZ and I can’t find anyone else from NZ on CC so I’ll just pretend I read it as Australasia :D</p>
<p>Man, I kept misreading Bak0rz’s “Year 12”, because in New Zealand year 12 is the penultimate year - we have a Year 13 as well. Which is what I’m in.</p>
<p>Australia also has a great science Uni (though I note you guys are doing Med/Intl relations) - ANU. That’s my “backup” kind of, though it’s annoying in a way because I have emailed UAC, ANU and no one can give me a clear answer on how my ATAR is awarded because I do an international qualification (UK A-Level) and it’s relatively new in NZ.</p>
<p>But I’m hoping to study maths, and am aiming for HYP, mainly P, but also applying to MIT, Stanford, Cornell (and Caltech!! with financial aid!! yes, i realllllllly don’t think I’ll make it).</p>
<p>To Bak0rz - have you heard about NYUAD? I think Australia has sent someone to it, and it’s also a great place to study intl. relations.</p>