So hi there,
I just fell here by accident and although some have already got, answers to this question I’d still like to ask it my way.
So first of all, i’m in 10th grade right now, and i’m already looking forward to which colleges I can apply to.
I live in Chad (Africa) and i’m a US citizen. I’m currently in a french school and would like to know if and how I can get into an Ivy League college.
At first I was (and still, but hey, it’s a dream) hoping I could get into the tops such as Harvard or Yale, with financial aid or scolarships. I’m pretty realistic, so i’m not counting on it.
I even got in touch with the Crimson Education program and after a couple of exchanges, never got an answer, so I quit writing to them, I don’t like to insist or run after people.
Anyways, I’ve got pretty good grades now, i’m easily the one with the highest grades although I should get more involved.
THe thing is, we’ve got a new reform going on and everything is a bit more complicated, so if anyone here knows what are the procedures, can you clear me out?
What are the odds? What should I do? Is there anyone with the same case who has succeeded yet?
Differentiate yourself. Internationally, you should be #1 or max #2 in the country.
Compete in intl. competitions, start something to benefit others, etc. Know that stellar graders are the prereq for these schools.
OP is a US citizen, so he would be evaluated in that bucket of applicants. It is this that concerns me:
“Anyways, I’ve got pretty good grades… although I should get more involved.”
Grades, course rigor, and test scores are the baseline. They get you past the first cut. It is the “getting more involved” that makes or breaks you in every round that comes after. Be committed. Be impactful. Be relevant.
Aid to Harvard and Yale is need-based only. You can run the net price calculators on their web pages to see what you’ll likely have to pay. Good luck!
@daunt18 thank you for answering, but you see, where I come from everything is limited and there aren’t like, extra-curricular activities or other things that could get me internationally recognized…
Even internships are almost impossible here, i’ve only done one that was in the program so…
You may need to make your opportunities for involvement based on your interests. For example, you can ask if you can volunteer somewhere. (Perhaps someone in either the French or American embassy has some ideas, if you know anyone who works there.) In general, top schools are looking for a kids who can make things happen for themselves, not ones who just sign up to do things.
While you think you are at a disadvantage in this way, the reality is that whatever you do is likely to stand out.
At times you can find dozens of students attending Harvard, Yale and Princeton from just two international high schools:
@Groundwork2022 First thx dor replying,
the thing is, it’s pretty complicated. The French and American education systems are completely different. We’re graded over 20.
Let’s say since i’m a sophomore, the highest overall average is around 15 (not good since the Ivy leagues are really competitive). I don’t work and my overall average is also around 15 (i’m second).
I know I can do much better but anyways, since next year i’m going to choose my (3) specialties (which would be subjects I obviously like), 'm pretty sure i’ll get higher grades. Since in college i’m also supposed to choose my subjects, won’t the recruters only look at what i’m counting on doing?
@gardenstategal I thought of that, I know it’s important. Doing internships, volunteering in NGO…
Can’t happen here. A real struggle.
Last year, I had to to an internship and went for an interview in the US embassy. Guess what? They don’t allow internships.
I’m in a limited country and everything is much difficult than in developed countries.
No, colleges will not only be looking at classes related to your future major. They view high school as the time to cover the cores. Taking classes related to your major is great, but it doesn’t excuse the need for a solid core foundation, ESPECIALLY at tippy top colleges.
Gardenstategal is right. The colleges you named will expect you to create your own opportunities. That’s the character and nature of the kind of students they’re looking for. While a college will judge your transcript in the context of what your high school offers, that is not necessarily so for extracurricular activities. You are expected to raise the bar.
You could:
Start a school library or conduct a book drive to expand it.
Start a book club, a gaming club… or whatever interests you.
Organize peer-to-peer tutoring, recruit volunteers.
Start an informal sports club.
If those already exist, join one!
There is plenty you can accomplish with the right mindset. Basically find a local or school need and fill it.
Yes, but that’s what I’m trying to say.
We don’t really have opportunities of showing our capacities or excelling in extracurriculars (if there are any on the international shell). But I’ll look forward to “creating my own opportunities”.
About my high school grades, you’re right. I know I should be more motivated because I can. For example, for the “brevet des collèges” last year, I’ve got the honors (the best I think).
But… Hmmm, things are just too complicated back here, I always feel tied up…
You will need top grades for your entire HS experience…and yes the admissions people understand the French grading system your school uses.
I echo the comment that you need to create your own opportunities for ECs. Be creative, network, look at what some of the international students (I know you’re a US citizen) in your area have accomplished…for example, look at bios, especially those of students from Africa, who have won Morehead-Cain scholarships at UNC. http://www.moreheadcain.org/our-stories
When the times comes to develop your college list, make sure to include a handful of match schools in addition to any reaches. You will also need one affordable safety…and as a US citizen living internationally you will be disadvantaged in that you won’t qualify for in-state tuition anywhere.
Which leads me to the next point…what can/will your family pay for college per year? Have the budget conversation with your parents sooner rather than later.
Good luck.
I can’t start any club, trust me, I thought of it, we were even starting something like it but… impossible. We don’t have what it takes for that (not ourselves but our environment), and mindsets here are different
No one said you have to start a club. For highly selective schools you will have to show that you are involved in your community, at a very minimum. What do you do with your time when you aren’t in school or studying?
Thank you,
Well, there is much I said several times so in order not to repeat myself, can you read my replies to the others (thanks, I’m pretty lazy lol).
About the college budget, that’s also among my main worries.
American colleges are really expensive, let only Ivies.
Someone advised me to start my first college year in political science school so I could stand out from others and easily get into my dream university (hopefully with a scholarship or a financial aid). I think it’s a good idea but… I don’t want to go to a French school, the studies will be completely different and all…
@Mwfan1921 In my free time… I don’t do much. Hobbies and all… I don’t even have much free time so…
There are no volunteer opportunities at all? In schools, churches, hospitals, other health care facilities, food pantries? Nothing?
Again, what do you do with your time when you aren’t in school/studying? Do you have any hobbies? Are you taking care of siblings? Working a part-time job?
I understand this. You will have to talk with your parents about what they can/will pay. Merit scholarships will be based on your grades/test scores, some are holistic and also include essays, ECs, etc. Need-based aid (which is all the Ivies offer) is based on your parents’ income and assets.
With your parents, run the net price calculator (NPC) on the websites of the schools you are interested in to get an estimate of what you will be expected to pay. NPCs may not be accurate if your parents are divorced, own a business, and/or have real estate holdings beyond the primary residence.
Btw, I didn’t say you needed to volunteer at an NGO. You could offer to read in English at any school (includingyour own). If you have a pet, you can offer to help out at your vet’s office. You can probably volunteer at an orphanage -reading, playing, doing crafts.
Realistically, you are going to have to build your own engagement. And while you feel disadvantaged by being in Chad, you have the advantage of doing something that will be unique and will stand out.
I am sensing that you want the opportunity to simply be there for the taking. That’s not going to happen!
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I’m guessing you are joking but I’m going to bite anyway. If you really want to go ivy you’ll need to not be lazy at all. If you can’t find opportunities to volunteer and make a difference while also getting absolute top grades you simply will need to apply to a different list of American colleges. People have given you many many ideas and all you’ve said is “I can’t.” What that means to me is you probably can’t get into an I’ve league school either. Which is totally fine, they aren’t for everyone and there will certainly be a college for you when the time comes.
The ONLY exception I can think of is if you live in an area that is so extremely dangerous that you literally can’t leave your house and school. Although in that case I’d expect perfect grades and some kind of online involvement.
Why do you even want to go to a top school in the US? Just because you are a US citizen? I am asking because you do not seem to be very motivated about anything you do, and that is just about the opposite of what they are looking for.
Are you aware of how different those two educational systems are - the one you are growing up in and the one you want to move to? Why do you feel that one might be a much better fit than the other? While a French bac is still rather broad, you will be expected to narrow your focus for the last two years and will have to choose one subject immediately after high school.
The US system will expect more breadth, in more subjects for much longer (including at university) and will expect you to have excellent grades in all, for four years of high school. It also is geared towards hard workers, not effortless geniuses (that would be the UK).
What are you interested in? What will be your specialist subjects? What do you like to read, talk about, write about? You say you’re not working hard in school and are pretty lazy - what do you do when your friends are studying?
What would you want to do in college? Both in class AND out of it? That’s what US schools will want to know about you. French schools will admit you for your academics and not care about the rest.
And what are those people talking about who are telling you to go to Science Po first, so you can “easily” get into your dream school? That’s the French route - Science Po, then ENA. It’s completely useless advice in order to get into a US school, because it would make you a transfer student, who has much lower odds of getting accepted AND getting good financial aid.
If political sciences is what you would like to study, look into the Columbia University/Science Po dual degree program. Your background might make you an interesting candidate.