<p>I'm a current first year student at an Australian university and would like to attend a US university, particularly one of Stanford, Harvard or MIT. I am interested in computer science/IT, and to a lesser degree engineering.</p>
<p>My intention is to start the undergrad in the US from scratch, instead of transferring. Is this possible and are my chances the same as those straight out of high school?</p>
<p>I have 2-3 days to sign up for the June SAT which I'd have to do to apply early action. Does early action improve your chances of getting accepted and it is worthwhile?</p>
<p>Does asking for financial aid have a significant affect on your likelihood of being accepted? It seems to me that Harvard is more willing to hand out financial aid than Stanford, and this is the primary reason I prefer Harvard to Stanford. Even though the CS/Silicon Valley community around Stanford is more appealing, I can't afford 60k a year. Harvard seems a bit more altruistic. Is this the case, and would asking for financial aid at Harvard also reduce my chances of being accepted?</p>
<p>I am not worried about the testing as I'm confident I can get close to 2400 on the SAT and 800s on the subject tests. I've always enjoyed learning, am self-motivated (I'm not a robot whose mum/dad pushes them to study to become a doctor, lawyer, etc), and want to make the most of myself, and so I'm not worried about this aspect.</p>
<p>I'm particularly concerned about extracurricular activities that seem to be very important to top US universities. I haven't done anything particularly special with my life and don't think I could get much done in the next 3-4 months to put on my application. I feel that this is the reason I'd like to go to a US university. I love the challenge and the entrepreneurial attitude of the college community in the US, and feel that that is where I'd thrive and have the chance to make the most of myself. What can I do regarding extracurricular activities and how important are they?</p>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
*I've posted this in the international forum also.</p>
<p>You will also need to take 2 SAT subject test exams. In the states, you cannot take those on the same day that you take the SAT reasoning test. You will need to check the testing schedule offered in Australia. If it is the same as the US, then you can take the SAT reasoning test in June and the SAT subject tests in October. If you apply early action, then you will need to do well on those tests as you will not have time to retake for the early application cycle.</p>
<p>Of those schools, Harvard would have the best financial aid, no loans and equal access to financial aid for international students.</p>
<p>I am sure you can put something of interest together for the extracurricular section. Many Australian secondary schools do not offer the clubs and team sports that US schools do. If you were involved in any community based club teams, or have any developed personal interests, you should be able to expand upon those in the activities section. You should also explain in the additional information section what was actually offered by your school. They will read your application in context to your particular educational environment</p>
<p>Also, did you do the HSC (or other state based tests) or the IB? If you completed the state level exams, you will also need to include an explanation how those tests are graded.</p>
<p>Most (perhaps all) US universities will not allow this. If you have previously enrolled at any other university you must apply as a transfer. Which will significantly lower your chances at Harvard, since they take very few transfers.</p>
<p>The only way you could apply as a beginning freshman would be if you lied to the US school and said you never went to any Australian university. And I do not recommend lying on your application, because you will be summarily kicked out if the US school ever discovers your lie.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies bluemath and coureur.</p>
<p>I didn’t realise that I count as a transfer student no matter what. But it does seem like they have a policy of discouraging people already in uni from applying since I don’t see much difference between a student having completed one year of uni asking to start over in the US again (no credit transfer) and a student going straight from high school to Harvard or elsewhere. If that’s the case though, I accept it. I don’t intend to lie.</p>
<p>Does the amount of financial aid one would require have an effect on your likelihood of acceptance at Harvard?</p>
<p>How liberal are the top unis like Harvard, Stanford and MIT in regards to accepting transfer credits?
Can you cut years off a bachelor if you get enough transfer credit? (e.g. do a US bachelor in 3 years since I’ve attended one year in Aus, or if they’re stricter something like 3 years US on top of having done 2 years Aus). I’m intending to apply twice this year and the next, so I hope they do, otherwise I’d be 21 by the time I start first year in the US (if I got in) and most freshman would be 18.</p>
<p>Does applying twice (this year and the next if I’m not accepted) negatively impact your chances of getting in? I ask this since I believe my SAT and SAT subject test scores will be fine, but with 3-4 months I don’t think I can do much regarding extracurricular activities, so I’m thinking they’d reject me based on the fact I wouldn’t stand out in this respect. So applying again in my second year of Aus uni I feel like I could get something significant done that would appeal to them. Would I have to do the SAT and SAT subject tests again?</p>
<p>I’ve heard of advanced standing also. Is this possible for someone in my situation? What grades, criteria do they look at for this? I’d be particularly interested in trying for this if after 2 years in Aus I’m accepted, since I’ve calculated I’d be starting at 21 and finishing at 25 years of age under this scenario. So finishing at 24 would be more ideal.</p>
<p>It might be a good idea to research more than the top 4 universities in the states. Do the college match tool here on CC. Depending on your interest of study orator, test scores etc you’ll find plenty of great colleges some of whom will offer aid.
Another idea is to finish undergrad in Australia then come to states for grad school.</p>