<p>Heyy!How are you guys doing?I am a Pakistani and currently a high school sophomore.I want to get into yale or harvard or any ivy league or top college..The thing is that when i read about these colleges they also want you to take the most challenging courses.I think i have taken them but the probkem is that our school doesnt offer AP or IB classes.Getting in is obviously tough so I just want to ask you guys(who were accepted),what should i do?my current stats are:
Acadsmics:
4.0(unweighted) GPA
I have taken 10 subjects in which i have 10 A's,I have a high distinction in Maths(International),I have honors in Physics and Chemistry and English,French and Urdu(Language spoken in Pakistan).
My class rank is 1/110
I havent given the SAT but plan to give it next year.
Extracurricular:
Sub head of the academic department f my school
An editor in my school's magazine
In the starting eleven of my school's under 18 soccer team
I also have a gold medal for being the "player of the tournament" in a national soccer competition...
so far thats it but im looking at some summer programs which seem interesting and i'll probably do them..Anyways what's your analysis?What things can i do to become a very strong contender?Lastly,should i give the sat or the act?</p>
<p>Just take the most challenging courses offered in your school. Write an interesting essay. Also, you should know that there are many great universities in the USA other than Harvard and Yale.</p>
<p>You sound like an interesting person. I am sure there are many universities that would be grateful to have you added to their communities. Take the SAT</p>
<p>yes there are a lot of universities to choose from.One of my father’s friend does the essay thing(editing etc) so ill get help there.What do you think i should do this summer?I plan to major in economics/finance and theres also a slight chance that i do chemical engineering.What kind of an internship should I do which would show to universities that i have passion for the subject(which i do have).Presently, I am thinking of doing internship in this new company(paint company) that way ill get both (the chemical engineering and the business) experience. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey there again Zain789. If you’re thinking of majoring in Economics, the University i’ll be going to (UChicago) is a great choice. Also, while aiming for HYPSM is a worthy goal, please recognize there are many other Universities which are also great. </p>
<p>As for Extra Currics, you seem to be looking at them from a good direction (passion) but don’t make everything so perfect that your passion seems forced. For example, today, I got a postcard from the person who admitted to in UChicago. He/She congratulated me, and for the rest of the note talked about how he/she saw my passion and care for the environment and how the Environment ran as a common theme through my whole application. I assume that contributed greatly to my admission as its what he/she remembers about me, and its what set me apart from other applicants in my school with the exact same grades. Where did I do my summer internship ? At a financial institution, under an economics department. No other part of my application spoke about economics/finance and it is not one of my passions (Environment and Physics are). However, I wrote about my internship for the 250 char essay, and talked about how it sharpened my social skills and how it taught me to step out of my comfort zone. </p>
<p>So what’s the moral of the story ? Have a passion, it’s certainly important (it definitely was in my case) but you don’t have to force everything to conform to your passion. Also, an internship is not necessary but I would strongly recommend it, as long as its not something like your father’s company. Apart from the whole college resume thing, my internship truly helped me a lot. So if you like the paint job and genuinely want to work for it, go for it. If you want to take up another cause, or join some other unrelated internship that’s fine too. </p>
<p>Also, I personally think that having recommenders (your college counselor, and teachers) resonate your passion is very important, maybe even more than you talking about it through your application. it gives a third person view and a conformation. </p>
<p>As for SAT vs ACT, colleges do not discriminate, but I thought the ACT was not held overseas? </p>
<p>Lastly, if you’re sure of your career/academic direction then please research about the particular university’s department in that subject area and see if you like it, or its known etc. Doing this will also help you answer why University X.</p>
<p>Okay, I lied… that wast the last. This is: Take the Financial Aid thing into consideration while choosing colleges and applying. Check Wiki for a list of colleges that are need blind to intl’s. </p>
<p>As usual, you can PM me.</p>
<p>Hey goodwood!The thing is that I am not sure if should do the paint internship thing…My ultimate aim is becoming a hedge fund manager.So according to you.I. Should look up for an internship at a hedge fund,right?And you can give the ACT in pakistan and a lot of other countries.Btw,which country are you from?if you don’t mind telling that is…</p>
<p>And the other thing is that I’m researching about the strength etc. Of certain departments that I might apply to.You see,by harvard I do not just mean harvard alone itslef.I in a way mean to say the top colleges.U of chicago is defifnitely in my top3 choice schools(that is if I get in).I have visited the campus and I loved and it(for me it was perfect) as it was close to chicago and some of my relatives live in chicago that’s why I love it.Moreocer,it’ economic program is 4 in the world.Who wouldn’t want to go there.</p>
<p>Your first impressions/reasons to go to Chicago are almost the same as mine :). Our countries are neighbors. India :). I think you should try for an internship in whatever field you eventually want to go to, or atleast a close by field. That way, you’ll also be able to make sure its what you want to do… I thought I would love my finance internship, but if that internship taught me anything, its that I hate finance. So I transferred to Econ, which I love so much more. I can’t imagine what a horrible mistake I would have made had I chosen finance as a career or anything. </p>
<p>I know its difficult to do, but try not to look at everything from a college point of view and going over paranoid about it. Hey, I discovered CC in the mid of my Junior Year, after which I learned the importance of ECs, Passion, Essays etc etc., and things worked out (sort of, I got into my second choice). </p>
<p>You probably already know this too, but don’t concentrate on rankings much. </p>
<p>Also, from what I know of you (academic passion, future career) I think Amherst is a great fit for you… You should definitely consider applying there, if you’re into LACs. I’m told its regarded extremely highly by employers and many Investment Bankers come out of there. Plus, being one of the best liberal arts colleges, you’ll get a hell of an education, arguably better than at Harvard etc. [A little context might help here: My first choice was Swarthmore. Rejected ED]</p>
<p>Does amherst give need based scholarships?Because financial aid is one of the key factors for me as I come from a family which cannot afford the tuiton fee.Ill have to do some more research then…The thing about harvardd is its name.To be honest its the main reason I want to go there like many others.In pakistan many people don’t even know of YALE(let alone swarthmore,amherst and williams too)!However,even my driver knows about harvard.In pakistan everybody does!!</p>
<p>Don’t miss out on a great education just because people in Pakistan don’t know of the place. All of the top-tier schools are well regarded in the US, and most employers will know about them. If it’s respect from people around you you’re looking for, there are other ways to get it. I suggested Amherst for the same reason, it is one of the few colleges and the only LAC that is NEED BLIND to international students for need based aid. (Need blind means that fact that you need aid will not disadvantage you in admissions).</p>