Last chance thread for an Australian before applying to Ivies

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Location: Australia
Ethnicity: Asian</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (25 on a 25 point scale)
Class rank: 1 out of 280
School: Independent; pumps out Rhodes Scholars, very very competitive, one of the best in the nation but has never sent any students to the Ivies before</p>

<p>SAT I:
R 800, M 800, W 800, Essay 12 (first-time)</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
Chemistry 800
Math IIC 800
Physics 800</p>

<p>APs:
Calculus BC 5
Statistics 5
Latin 5
Chemistry 5
Physics B 5
World History 5
(NB. I self-studied those APs in a period of basically 2 months since my school doesn't offer any.)</p>

<p>ECs:
-Concertmaster of Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Strings; principal violinist String Quartet; founder and violinist Piano Trio
-Soloist in numerous public recitals; performed Mendelssohn violin concerto with school symphony orchestra at a large venue in October
-Winner of Open Concerto competition, String Competition
-First violinist in local Youth Orchestra (144 members) which toured Europe in May -- will get a fantastic rec from the conductor of this orchestra, who is an eminent pedagogue and recognized internationally
-Performed in massive concert in June, 25-min recital which I will submit on a CD
-Soloist and concertmaster in recent statewide strings festival (with hand-picked ensemble) playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons
-Completed national music syllabus grades at the age of 14
-Received Associate Musicianship of Australia with Honors (a music diploma preceding a Bachelor of Music that was presented at a special ceremony by the Minister for Arts)
-Competed in first round of National Youth Concerto Competition 2007</p>

<p>-Captain of my school's premier debating team, 12(1), runner-up in inter-school trophy competition (our school is exceptionally strong at debating), representing school locally and nationally
-Coached two junior teams to premiership (significant involvement; coached kids who were total novice debaters)
-Founder and president of Debate Club, a group that meets at lunch and engages in lively debate on topical issues
-Adjudicator for junior debate competition</p>

<p>-Captain of Senior Team representing school in several metropolitan Math Teams Challenges, consistently placing 1st or 2nd</p>

<p>-Work experience during the summer holiday as intern at a law firm dealing in property and commercial law (40 hours a week)
-Tutor at Kumon, reading and math program
-Ambassador at Mater Hospital (requires me to escort patients and their families around in between appointments and operations)
-Entertainer (violin) for sick children at Mater Childrens' Hospital
-Hospitality volunteer in Mater Hospital emergency ward waiting room, serving tea and coffee
-Volunteer for local multicultural festival (about 24,000 attended) as a information guide
-Member of United Nations Youth Association (youth initiative and discussion forum), delivered a 15min speech about human rights abuses in China, keynote speaker on climate change, General Assembly delegate for Indonesia
-Fundraised $500 for charity group WorldVision in "40 Hour Famine"
-Member of school Community Service club, visited homeless shelter, fundraiser BBQ for an African school, awareness campaign for HIV/AIDS, Shave-for-a-Cure, etc.
-Tutored some indigenous kids at our school under a government scheme (5 hours a week)
-Academic Support Committee member</p>

<p>Leadership roles:
-Prefect, meaning I have to regularly visit a year 8 class and act as a role-model (also involves wearing a flashy badge and different tie)
-Student Representative Council, Vice-President
-Invited to attend nationwide leadership conference/summit 2008
Attended week-long leadership training camp
-Captain of my debate team (season is over) and debate coach
-Concertmaster of numerous musical ensembles at school</p>

<p>Other stuff:
-Editor of my school’s annual literary magazine, which published four of my works, two of which won prestigious literary prizes in the school
-Winner of gold medal for the Dux of the school
-Won the Sports Essay, Mathematics, Physics prizes 2007
-Won the English prize 2008 -- extremely significant achievement, considering I only came to Australia at the age of 7 and virtually unable to speak English
-Numerous trophies for school music competitions, notably Open Concerto competition, which I have won for the last 5 years
-Had numerous pieces of written work published in the literary magazine (incl. sports essay)
-High Distinctions in Science, Chemistry and English competitions held nationwide (top 1 percentile)
-Received gold medal (top scorer) in nationwide math competition
-Won prize ($75 cheque) in another competition, equivalent to AMC
-Hosted a billet from overseas on an school exchange program
-Visited Germany, Austria, Singapore, UK, US, France with my school on holiday tours</p>

<p>Recs:
Both of my rec teachers think very highly of me. I also have a rec from the principal.</p>

<p>Essays:
Excellent but not brilliant.</p>

<p>Where I'm applying to:
Yale SCEA
Harvard
Princeton
MIT
Dartmouth
UPenn
Cornell
Stanford</p>

<p>I think my top scores put me in good stead, but my main worry is that the ethnicity will bring me down, since there are a heap of Asian applicants. But then again, I'm an Aussie citizen, and not many ppl apply from here. Oh, and I'm not applying for FA anywhere. Will this potentially help me?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Oh my ****ing god.</p>

3

<p>You're grades and test scores are.....perfect.</p>

4

<p>^_0 Are you... Real?
I guess you're in.</p>

5

<p>So your high school "pumps out Rhodes Scholars" but does not offer any AP's, impressive! Your leadership skills are perfect and your essays are excellent. If this is real, obviously you will have a great shot at all of them. I only hope your application does not demonstrate the total lack of modesty this thread does.</p>

6

<p>^ I totally agree with you. I was a bit rushed in writing that but my real resume will be more modest.</p>

7

<p>If I could like...fly to Australia with a plate of cookies and a trophy for you...I would...I'm sure the Ivies will think the same!</p>

8

<p>this isn't the first time i've had accusations of being a troll. i don't mind them anymore.</p>

<p>well, in the 300-year history of my school, heaps of people have gone over to oxford/cambridge, but i am sure never the ivies.</p>

9

<p>wow.. in everywhere</p>

10

<p>oh, you're one of THOSE PEOPLE. i think i'll sit in a corner and cry now.</p>

<p>don't worry about it. if you don't have a good shot, then nobody does.</p>

11

<p>Troll or not, was it really necessary to post this?</p>

12

<p>In at HYP, but,
Rejected at Stanford.</p>

13

<p>Wow...
If you don't mind me asking, what school in Australia?</p>

14

<p>I can't tell you that...</p>

15

<p>Troll or not, was it really necessary to post this?</p>

16

<p>Is it true that Harvard rejects 50% of 2400 scorers on the SAT?</p>

17

<p>Oh
My
GOD</p>

18

<p>i don't know about that stat specifically. but yes, harvard rejects MANY valedictorians, perfect scorers, club presidents, varsity sport team captains every year.</p>

<p>stop freaking out about it though. if your post is true (and it would be very scary if it is) then you're fine. i wonder how you have time to manage all of that</p>

19

<p>They have Kumon in Australia? Weird, I actually believe this is legit because there are very few people such as yourself out there. I just think it's weird if your school practically fuels Rhode Scholars and then you say that nobody went to an ivy league -_-. GL!</p>

20

<p>That's fine. I was just wondering if I knew your school.</p>

<p>Alexla: Yes, there is kumon is Australia. I'm pretty sure my friend went to Kumon for over 10 years in Australia. Also, my school was a pretty prestigious school in Australia but not many went to colleges in the U.S. If they study overseas, it would be predominantly to Europe. But the only two girls that I do know went to the U.S. for college go to Harvard and Princeton :)</p>