<p>I'm a 17 year-old italian living in Naples. I have lived 5 years ( aged 9-14) in Sheffield ( U.K) and have just finished my senior year of the International School of Naples. ( graduated Salutatorian ). I am, well was, president of my high school during the senior year and secretary during my junior year. My extracurricular activities include guitar ( 3 years) and soccer. I have volunteer and work experience, for i have worked in the Pascale hospital of Naples( one month in August) and have organized various fundarisers etc. All of my grades are above 90%. I have teacher recommendations and several connections to universities such as Columbia and Virgina as a result of my dad's job ( thoracic surgeon).
My SAT scores however are letting me down. I have a 660 in critical reading, 690 in writing and 600 in maths for a total of 1950. ( I have taken the test three times) I still have to take my subject tests, which will be spanish,french and biology. This year I'm going to an italian high school in order to undertake what is commonly known here as the " 13th year"..though i am not obligated to do so, i find that the whole experience will improve my curriculum and overall culture. ( We take such classes as philosophy and astronomy) Furthermore, i graduated early from the International School of Naples early at the age of 16.</p>
<p>To summarize, by the end of the year i will have two diplomas: an American one ( Internation School of Naples) and an European one ( from this high school) which would allow me to attend any college in the world - England, Italy included-.</p>
<p>Accolades include Honor Roll for 4 years; prizes in English, Geography, Biology, Art History, Modern History, Italian, Music etc. Participated in several writing contests and i might have a diploma for Spanish ( DELE nivel inicial) - results come in February-.
Bearing in mind that i still have to do my subject tests and that i can retake the SAT, my questions are the following. How high should aim for? I realize that many things must be taken into consideration; however, based on what you know, could you please give me your personal opinion? </p>
<p>thank you </p>
<p>PS. Please take in account that i may have forgotten some things</p>
<p>I think you've got a real good chance of being accepted. Your background is quite unique, and you would definitely prove to be diverse. Your SAT's aren't very good, but they aren't horrible either, when balanced with the fact that you are such an interesting candidate. I wouldn't take the SAT's again though. If anything, consider the ACT, or just apply as you are.
Best of luck to you. Wow UK and Naples, Italy! Sounds great to me!</p>
<p>I'd suggest looking into the University of Chicago, since it is as good as Columbia but significantly easier to get into. You're a really interesting candidate. Wish you could bring up that math SAT.</p>
<p>I think the adcoms might be a bit lenient on an international student relative to SAT scores. The college board is testing an American standard so it might not translate well for someone educated in Europe.</p>
<p>I'm going to agree with vistany here. They may be a bit more lenient toward your SAT scores and honestly, they aren't that bad. If you have taken the SAT 3+ times or so, then don't take it again; your scores may fluctuate 10-20 points, but it's not too much. As powder said, try the ACT and see if it's your cup of tea. I personally found the ACT math section much, much easier than the SAT section, but everyone's opinions vary. Write some damn good essays, and I think you have a great shot. Good luck.</p>
<p>Dude, you were doing just fine until you suggest that there might be "something better" than Virginia!! I'm gonna play the devil's advocate:</p>
<p>You are an interesting candidate. However, your SAT's are fairly weak. Your EC's are commonplace and comparable to a solid US counterpart (didn't use the "great" word). I don't really see anything extraordinary except that you are Italian and lived in the UK for a while>>which makes you out-of-state (OOS).</p>
<p>If you were American, I'd say the same thing>> that you have some hope for gaining admission to UVA, but it's borderline. I admit that I have no idea of how many internationals apply, and how European courses/grades transfer over and how they compare to US data. I personally think that your UK experience and Naples, Italy life is kind of cool (keep in mind, I'm a white gal in my early 20's, from a small town in the southern US-easily dazzled). Would a much more worldly admissions committee at UVA (or elsewhere) feel the same way??? I kind of doubt it. </p>
<p>There's a Turkish dude who is posting too on CC for UVA. He looks equally interesting.
So, bottom line: you have some good qualities, but so does everyone applying to UVA, and Ivy League. I'm not quite seeing "the hook" except that you are European. I think you might have a shot at UVA, but on further reflection, who knows? If you are thinking big time Ivy League like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton, then I say definitely no. If you have some VERY serious connections to Columbia, then you might have a chance there, but if not, then again I say no.</p>
<p>I do wish you the best of luck. Sorry to send you a tough love sort of message, but just because 3 people on CC (me included) give you kind of positive nods, I don't want you to think that the world is your oyster. Bottom line: it's a crap shoot, no matter what anyone tells you.</p>