About me:
Rising senior at a British International School in Beijing. I’m Asian-Canadian. I’m a single child so I don’t think money is a big issue.
Intended Major: English Literature! but maaaaaaaybe (a very small maybe) philosophy. I’m also internested in studying/minoring in Art history or film studies.
GPA: our school doesn’t do GPA D: which makes me very insecure about my grades because I have nothing to compare them to???
IB: Higher levels English literature, maths, economics; Standard levels Chinese A (first language Chinese, which means at the end of the year I get a bilingual degree), Physics, Psychology
^ I am getting full marks, aka 42 points out of the maximum 42 points you can get from completing the courses, I am predicted 44/45.
I don’t know my percentile at school but I do know that I’m the top 10 in our year because I have received awards for academic attainment (3 years in a row).
Very disappointing standardised tests scores…
PSAT: 191 (only took it once)
SAT I: 2030 (not going to submit it, but I heard some schools don’t care and want everything?? Is that true??) - only took it once, not going to take it again
SAT II: 800 Chinese, 750 Math Level I
ACT: 33 (English 31, Science 30, Math 35, Reading 36) - only took it once, don’t think I’m going to take it again… Personally I think standardised tests are a waste of time so I don’t want to spend too much time on it 
Pretty decent ECs (IB requires CAS which means I have a lot of community/social service)
I’ve had internships at publishing houses, and I’ve published my fair share of original work/translations.
Far reach: U Chicago (will apply early action), Princeton, Columbia
Reach: Amherst, Williams, Pomona
Targets: NYU, Barnard
Safeties: Rutgers New Brunswick (will apply early action), Kenyon
My biggest fear that all of these schools reject me, and that would seriously suck. Also, my mom is really pushing me to apply to Harvard, but I mean, it’s Harvard, should I even bother?? Same goes to Princeton, but I really like Princeton’s English program.
I’m also very insecure about my safety schools, Rutgers has a pretty higher acceptance rate but my counsellor says it’s because it has to accept a specific number of New Jersey residents? …Does that mean it’s not a safety for me after all? I really need some suggestions on decent safety schools!
Any help is deeply appreciated. Thank you so much!!!