<p>hi guys ^^ i suppose ppl r busy with their summer vacations and all. I just got my visa last week.
R u in VN, HiLine?</p>
<p>I am now in Hanoi,waiting for my school year to come just next week.
How has your holiday been passing?Are you actually in the UK according to your profile?</p>
<p>I'm in Singapore now,finishing my last year in Junior College..I took SAT in June but the score was just not satisfatory so I will retake it in October.I'm having my prelims exams now and these scores will be sent to college for admission application.My ECAs are not so bad,I have various prizes,medals in Olympiads,and leadership.All I need now are high SAT scores and exceptionally good prelims results.So HiLine,You are in 12th grade now?What college do you aim for?What school are you attending?</p>
<p>I am attending the High school of Physics-Hanoi University of Natural Sciences.I didn't spend much time on e.a activities because I did not think of studying abroad earlier than April this year,when I was being flooded in exams:(;besides,my school is such a high school of natural sciences!
Congratulations on the Olympiad prizes,it is very likely that I will not be able to be your adversary :).I took the June SAT and scored awfully,that is the reason why I will retake it in October,too.:).However,Harvard is my dream,how about yours?</p>
<p>Hey,so you're taking Physics as your very core subject but your english is amazingly good!I do not think of Harvard because I know a lot of people who are much better than me yet they got rejected by Harvard.Quite sad!...But i guess,in Vietnam,when you consider going to Us university,it's Harvard that you think at first right?
But well,how is your preparation for college application?My dream school is Stanford...But i'm not so sure yet...maybe other generous LACs...You have any difficulties?I'll be willing to help you anything I can..:)</p>
<p>The first time I heard of Harvard was when I visited Quoc Tu Giam,the oldest university in Vietnam which was compared with Harvard through their ages,so I knew Harvard was the oldest US University.When coming home,I asked my grandmother,who then explained to me Harvard was the best university in the world,that was my childhood impression.When I was a sixth grade student,I met my aunt's friend,an American Harvard student whose mother had used to be Vietnamese.During the one month staying with us,she told me about her life as well as her study at Harvard;although I could not memorize everything she told me,I can still remeber one thing that Harvard had a very high total expense and also a very high entrance requirement,that was my second impression as my father always told me (when I was still young) ' If one can do something,why can't you?',that made me love doing challenging things.Unfortunately,as I grew up,for some reasons I don't know,I almost forgot my disire until a day,when I realized I was doing silly things at school:studying all day,remember things without knowing what they would be applied for,doing homework people imagine without connecting to the real life,all that stuff tired me,forcing me to learn something more useful,to do something that will help me with my career in the future.That was when I first thought of studying abroad;immediately,I thought of Harvard,my school-of-dream.For the past few months,I have found out a lot about studying in the USA,realizing I would do rigorous things to complete my childhood dream,but how important would that mean to me,the student who wants to face any kind of challenges?</p>
<p>My extracurricular is not outstanding:I play the piano,play the table tennis just for fun(no prizes),take part in some volunteering programs with just few tens of hours;I am also a monitor,studying all the subjects just well enough.Last year,I took part in a one-month student exchange program-the Pan Pacific Program,the ambassador of which I am now.In addition,my SAT score was very low,if not unacceptable.
As you are in Singapore now,do you know if there are any SAT books sold in bookstores?I have a friend also studying there,he wants to buy a book for me as a birthday present,I would love an SAT book. :)</p>
<p>I appreciate your dreams and your willingness to fulfil them.There's no harm for you to apply for harvard!Really!Come on,man,give it a try,you can tell the DEANS how much you pine for going to Harvard...As for the SAT book,you don't need to buy one.I guess it is sold in Vietnam Bookshop,right?If not,as you have access to the Internet,why don't you take a look at these websites:
collegeboard.com or
number2.com
yeah?Anything else?
yup,live your life as if there is no tomorrow!(sound cliche', but believe me,leading a meaningful life wont bring you regret afterwards...)</p>
<p>wow, HiLine has definitely given a lot of thought to studying abroad. I think ur ECs will be fine, esp compared with those of other students in similar circumstances. For SAT, I guess we just have to practise and learn things by heart. I'm so glad I don't have to take the new SAT since my writing is terrible >_<
Oh, and I just finished my 2-year A-level course in the UK. So strictly speaking, I'm not in the UK anymore ;)</p>
<p>@nloven: I know a girl who used to study in Sing. She came to my school to do A-level last Jan. Do u by any chance know her? Her name is Diep.</p>
<p>Hello all:)
How come there's a VNmese thread right on the first page of this box and I don't know about it? Silly me...
Lemme introduce myself first: Solid VNmese, living in Hanoi, aiming at a few top LACs and two Ivies (Brown & Cornell). To be exact, aiming at their need-based aid:D
HILine, you've also got to take the SAT IIs to apply to Harvard. I assure you prep books for the SAT II are utterly unavailable for sale in Hanoi, but you can have a good time just the same for both SATs at IIE. It's a free library. Send me a message if you don't know about it. I'm confident you'll get a 800 for Physics;)</p>
<p>Btw, I've got this little question to ask: What's the SAT I and SAT II scores of VNmese kids that got admitted?</p>
<p>yah,I know Diep!She's my junior!H'mm she's kinda imfamous here in Singapore!hahah..So you've just finished your A level there?Are you gonna stay there for Uni?I have 2 friends who also have just done with their A level,one is in Bath,another..I have no clue...You know anyone named Cam Tu!??</p>
<p>By the way,anyone of you have any clear idea what you are doing besides aiming for certain Uni without consider what course to take?</p>
<p>Thank you,nloven,_pooka and miaoling,for encouraging me.:)
nloven,that phrase is not a cliche' for me at all,I have been trying to do the same thing for months;).I will try my best for the extracurricular activities as well as the SATs to get admitted by a good college.
_pooka,I hate learning by heart :D.
miaoling,I am spending the last summer days going to IIE for SAT preparation as well as colleges' information;wow,there is a huge collection of admission guides!I've just had a talk with Stefan,the IIE's counsellor also.</p>
<p>nloven,I am still considering that factor by reading as many books about the US college education system as possible.:)
So,_pooka,where are you now?What do you plan to do next?</p>
<p>HiLine,you can go straight to those universities's websites and sign up for the mailing list.It's free!Do not just stare at Harvard only,look around to see what other colleges are willing to take you in...Financial aid is a big concern when you study overseas..</p>
<p>FA is definitely an essential factor,I'm sure.:)
I've already requested information and applications from some colleges,what is the mailing list?</p>
<p>What does your Yahoo! ID mean?</p>
<p>To the people on this thread, wow. You guys write really well and I am very impressed by the way you articulate your thoughts. How old are the posters on this forum? Are you guys all aiming for U.S. schools? Best of luck to you all.</p>
<p>Nice to meet you,I am 17,looking for a suitable US college.Let others (you included)introduce themselves ;)</p>
<p>Thanx TritonBruin ^^ We are, as u can see, mostly around 16 - 20 years old.
Given that we're applying to American top unis/colls isn't it taken for granted (by the adcoms, i mean) that our writing skill should be good?</p>
<p>Yah, i didn't think it'd be this noisy in here, hehe. The thread seemed dead for a good while. </p>
<p>@HiLine: Mailing list just consists of the prospective students interested in getting info from that particular uni/coll.</p>
<p>I actually haven't made up my mind about where to go yet. But it's very likely that i'll end up in Smith since US finaid is much better. Besides, a new environment seems very appealing.</p>
<p>@nloven: I see u used the word "infamous" and I'm inclined to agree :p
Maybe I know the girl called Cam Tu. She was my classmate for a few days. We were both in class A1 at Ams but she left for Sing before the school year started.</p>