International with no ECs

Applying to College
1

<p>I am an English student considering whether I should make an application next year, after having been rejected by my first choice here (guess where!). Just to be clear, this would only be to elite colleges.</p>

<p>Academically, I would say I'm fine, but not flawless. My main concern is that any application I do make will be dead in the water because of the 'holistic' admissions process at said top institutions. to be clear about it, my ECs boil down to playing a bit of cricket, and a bit of guitar. Does this mean an app to, say, Harvard will go straight in the bin? </p>

<p>Over here we don't really do many clubs/societies/community service through the school. Some places might, but certainly not my average comprehensive and the vast majority of secondary schools like it. Top unis don't require this sort of thing in an app either, although it may help you to stand out a little. Oxbridge, in particular, are less bothered about ECs than some unis a rung or two below. Still, I doubt this mitigates my pretty glaring deficiencies very much.</p>

2

<p>It depends. I do not want to say you are completely screwed, but you have to be a VERY good student to compensate. I mean, all the other parts of your application, like essays, recs, tests and grades should be (almost) perfect. Now, if you have reasons for not doing many ECs, like babysitting your little brothers, you might have a higher chance. In any case, be sure to explain your lack of activities. Don't say colleges in your area don't ask for it. Say that you don't have opportunities in your school, but try not to leave the impression that your school is too weak or something.</p>

3

<p>although our schools focus FIRST on the "numbers" of an application, they truly look at the whole person/package. they want to see focus and passion in the application, IN ADDITION to the stats. the fact that you are also only considering "elite" schools here, you will be hurt by the apparent imbalance in your application. being international will help in some places, but you'll be going in on the weak side, in my opinion. good luck .</p>

4

<p>i know im screwed; i just wanted confirmation. Applying to the US was partly my dad's idea, and he wasn't really having any of it when i brought up this point. So I wanted to see if my instincts were backed up by people who know more about the system. </p>

<p>no, there aren't any family circumstances or other personal factors that can explain this away. </p>

<p>and like i said, my academic record is good enough to make an application viable - what it isn't going to do is stand out. i don't really have any idea what my SAT scores are likely to be, as I've never had to take a comparable test. The college board sample questions didn't exactly look daunting - the maths looked particularly straightforward - but that doesn't mean i'd come out with a perfect score.</p>

5

<p>consider all the many outstanding schools here other than the <em>yawn</em> top 5 elites! :)</p>

6

<p>to the best of my knowledge nowhere besides the 'elite' colleges offer any sort of financial aid. and if i only have a realistic chance of getting in somewhere quite low-profile, i'm not sure if it's worth the effort. a us applications would be a good bit more involved than what i had to do this year, i can tell you. </p>

<p>i know i'm getting more and more hopeless by the post, but my reasoning was that if i was to take a gap year and reapply during this time, i might as well have a crack at the US. i'd still be applying to unis in the the UK, so it's not as if i'd have everything riding on my application.</p>

7

<p>Not true at all. It's hard to get FA as an international student, but almost every good school offers financial aid, and most good schools are need-blind, too.</p>

8

<p>If you are a good student, you will get in somewhere better than low-profile, regardless of EC's.</p>

<p>While Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford might be stretches, big public flagships like Illinois or UNC may be in reach, or some solid smaller universities or LAC's, like Tufts, Wake Forest, Rochester, Case Western, Bowdoin, Davidson, etc., the list goes on and on.</p>

9

<p>looks like my research wasn't quite thorough. tbh, i did only look at a couple of college websites, and there didn't seem to be anything much on offer for internationals. will have to think a bit more about this.</p>

10

<p>I'm sure that the adcoms know that internationals don't have NEARLY as many EC chances as the U.S., so you won't be as <em>screwwwd</em> as you think you are. Adcoms aren't ignorant. they know most countries education system, so you'll be fine as long as your academic credentials are good, and you Rec more than outstanding</p>

11

<p>If you don't need financial aid, the majority of colleges in the U.S. would accept you as most colleges in the U.S. don't weigh ECs in admission, and most colleges here accept the majority of applicants.</p>

<p>If you need financial aid, however, you'll face very stiff competition because in general, only the most competitive colleges in the U.S. offer financial aid to internationals, and those attract the top international applicants in the world, including many with impressive ECs.</p>

12

<p>Are you interested in starting college in the U.S. in fall 2008 or in fall 2009?</p>

13

<p>I hear you there on the low amount of EC's in (most of) Europe.</p>

14

<p>Do I understand correctly or u have a year in front of you before the next admission cycle? (Are u a junior?)</p>

<p>If that's right I don't see a reason why u cant be admitted even at Ivies. First of all you should understand that two real commitments outweigh 50 of a week or two. And u have the so so important summer of junior year in front of you, when u can undertake a prestigeous international program such as TASP or the MIT high school juniors program (you should check it on the MIT's website). Have you got something like that on your record you have OUTSTANDING chances to be admitted. My advice, if you WANT to study in the USA and that is not only because your father has suggested it, than go for the TASP or Mit program's admissions (they should be forthcoming so hurry up!) or some other good-reputation programs in the first place. As far as I understand u are also interested in your academics and it will be very very good if u can show that. Join a competition at a subject u are passionate for (the Olympiads are all forthcoming) and try your best. </p>

<p>Otherwise I dare to say that the English unis are not bad altenatives at all. If u are not sure u want to live and study abroad and fly across the ocean for and after every break than it might be better to apply in GB. It is all up to u!</p>

15

<p>beadrope - a couple things that might make a difference - First, what do you want to study? And are you male or female?</p>

<p>A male student who wants to study sciences or math (maths, as you Brits like to say) would be in demand at some of the smaller schools (liberal arts colleges - called LACs), and they'd probably try to come up with some money to get you there. For instance, look at Davidson in NC. Or Swarthmore, in PA. (Just two off the top of my head. There are 3000 schools in the US to choose from!) </p>

<p>The trick is not to focus on what you don't have, but what you do have, then find a college or university that needs what you have to offer. Scan websites - usually the front page will tell you what the school is most excited about. Look for what they are spending their money on. What new grants they've applied for. What buildings they are building. Do they brag about their new science building? Their new literature project? Their ecology program? Their study abroad program?</p>

<p>As far as ECs, my daughter spent grades 9, 10, and 11 in Germany. The school was mostly year round, so opportunities for summer camps weren't really there. She couldn't work because she didn't have the right visa. And her school, like yours, didn't have lots of other activities. She did participate in theater and orchestra. She specifically looked for schools that seemed to be interested in international experience (study abroad, foreign guest teachers, foreign language programs), and who seemed to need violinists. She was offered money from almost every school she applied to.</p>

<p>I suggest that you think about how you spend your days. School work and homework only? Do you have a job? Do you have a hobby? It doesn't have to be school-sponsored. If you like to read, or hike, or build things, or whatever.... The school is looking for how you spend your time. (Don't say that you watch TV and play video games -- unless you helped to write the show or create new games!) They want to know what you are likely to do once you are in college. They are looking for signs that you have a strong interest in something - strong enough to keep it up for 4 years. And that you will be "good for something" other than just studying. They want leaders, club members, sports people, activists, etc. People that will make their college more engaging for future students. You have to convince them that you can.</p>

<p>In general, Americans love Brits. Just bringing your experience of another culture (and language ;) ) will be interesting to many schools wanting to brag about how many international students they have. You just need to find a school that matches up with what you have to offer. It may not be Ivy - but that's just a football league, you understand?</p>

16

<p>beadrope, don't worry about EC's as an international student. ALl US colleges know things are different in Europe -- I remember going to a College Day with my son last September and discussing with admissions people from great US colleges. They are well aware of all this. A couple of them raised the question themselves.</p>

<p>I remember one person from Johns Hopkins saying they want a well-rounded class, not a class full of well-rounded people.</p>

<p>As an international student, you have a great chance of getting in with your academic credentials and your personal essays. I'm speaking out of direct experience.</p>