<p>I am a junior living in Argentina. Since I live out of the US, I don't get the same perspective on college admissions and whatnot. Please help me evaluate what really needs strengthening for senior year to meet the demands of my top 2: UPenn CAS and NYU CAS.</p>
<p>SCHOOL:
American International School, private
GPA: just started at a new school so do not know yet, but at my last school had an unweighted GPA of 3.85 at the end of sophomore year</p>
<p>SCORES: (not official SAT, 2 practice tests taken summer before junior year)
SAT I Math: 600
SAT I Critical Reading: 730
SAT I Writing: 670
TOTAL: 2000</p>
<p>ECs:
-Internship at PR office in NYC
-School newspaper
-School soccer team
-Will have completed 150+ hours by graduation, 30 so far</p>
<p>AP/IB:
-Taking full IB diploma (Higher Level: English A1, History & Spanish A1, Standard Level: Precalculus, Advanced Bio, Economics)
-AP Calc, AP French, AP Spanish, AP Econ</p>
<p>SUMMER PROGRAMS:
-2 years at a marine biology/scuba-diving camp (don't know if this actually counts...got no credits)
-Will be going to NYU Precollege 2010 (8 college credits)</p>
<p>OTHER:
-I am a US citizen, but Hispanic
-First two years of high school at a well-known international private school in Switzerland
-Speak French, English and Spanish fluently
-Father is a published author (don't know if that matters at all, I'm pretty new to all this)</p>
<p>I know my SAT practice test scores are hurting, but I'm going to work on that. What else needs more work, in your honest opinions?</p>
<p>I’m guessing someone who went to a top international school in Switzerland does not need aid. Raising your scores would really help, but I think you have a reasonable shot at NYU as is.</p>
<p>It’s really hard to tell until you complete your junior year with the AP/IB classes, since performance in those can really determine how strong of a student you really are. Based on this info, I’d say that you have a reasonable shot at both so long as you get your SAT scores up. For that, I just recommend taking lots of practice tests. That’s what I did and I was able to raise my scores from an estimated 2060 to over 2300 on the actual test. Other than that, try for leadership in something that you are passionate about.</p>
<p>LeLivre - sorry I didn’t really understand. Are you saying that I should just do the whole 3 SAT IIs instead of send my SAT I scores? I haven’t taken the SATs yet, those are my practice test scores. I think that with practice tests, my new textbook, an online course plus the first year of the IB can definitely up my scores.</p>
<p>hmom5 - thank you, this is definitely my #1 priority.</p>
<p>geofreak - I had already done half a year of the IB at an Argentine school, but then I changed schools so had to start over (it’s complicated). I had an A- average, with the same courses, so I’m expecting pretty much the same or more. Congratulations on getting 2300+…thats insane! My aim is 2250-2300, and you really are inspiration for me to reach this goal. I’m obsessed with practice tests, haha, but thanks for the tip. Do you think captain of the soccer team or a position at the newspaper would be good for leadership?</p>
<p>At this point, I’d say that you would have to focus on SAT’s and probably get some more EC’s. Oh, and also, ace those IB classes of course! If you can do these things, you’ll have a great chance of getting into Penn! Hopefully we get into together eh?</p>
<p>I think your EC’s are fine. Just bring up that SAT score, though you already have a decnet chance for NYU. Honestly, I think you just need to focus on what your passion is and emphasizing that in your application. You’re well-rounded, but you also seem somewhat scattered with your EC’s.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention I am writing a novel…and actually expect to get it published.</p>
<p>My passion is communications and journalism which is why I take journalism as an elective and write for the school newspaper. Communications is also PR, and I did an internship for that. When I take NYU Precollege, I’m going to take a Culture & Communications class.</p>
<p>I am also thinking of starting a yoga club at my school, could that be another EC?</p>
<p>I’m not worried about my essays at all, writing is sort of my passion also…</p>
<p>Well, I previously meant that you could potentially get more in depth with your journalism. For example, you could try and get articles published in your local newspaper and your idea of having a published novel is very, very good! If you can do these, and obviously exhibit the passion that you feel for this field, you’ll do very well.</p>
<p>Peguinboy - Local newspaper out of the question seeing as most of it is in Spanish & anyways everything’s too complicated and inefficient in this country. Thanks though, I really think I’m gonna go for the book!</p>
<p>Valkarie - Publishing a book enough for that?</p>
<p>themario - I said I play on school soccer team. Will be captain senior year.</p>
as long as you do well~~</p>