My Chances as an Australian international for MIT/Princeton?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>(REPOST BASED ON COMMENTS/FEEDBACK)</p>

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>Right, well I just got my May SAT I's in, and the results are in my opinion quite decent as I took this test only to get a feel for the exam, since I didn't really have time to prepare for it.</p>

<p>Critical Reading - 720
Math - 750
Writing - 700
TOTAL = 2170</p>

<p>I am also taking the SAT II Physics, French, and Math II subject tests in June, and I plan on taking the Reasoning again in November or December (this time with study, so I hope to improve by approx. 200-250 points which would take me to about 2300).</p>

<p>Regarding EC's and Awards, I do quite a lot.</p>

<p>ACADEMICS</p>

<p>• 1st in the Benjamin Franklin House Science Fair, which was assessed by Benjamin Franklin House Scientists based in London.
• Invited to attend the Johns Hopkins University Creative and Talented Youth Program
• 2005 - Received a Certificate of Distinction in the Australasian Schools Science Competition
• 2005 - Received a Certificate of High Distinction in the Australasian Schools Mathematics Competition
• 2006 - Received a partial scholarship to the United States Advanced Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama.
• 2006 - Received a B (b) grade in the IGCSE, GCE ‘O’ level Additional Mathematics Exam, administered by the University of Cambridge.
• Selected as one of 25 Australian students to attend the 2007 Australian International Space School.
• Only student to receive the Hale School Chemistry License (Out of 200), amongst only 10 students to ever receive this award.
• Received High Distinction and placed in the top 30 in Western Australia on the 2007 Alliançe Francaise (French) Examinations
• Selected to take part in the 2007 Australian Chemistry Olympiad National Qualifying Examinations, and received a Certificate of Distinction.
• Selected to be among 5 Hale students who take part in a Youth Literature Day once a term with an Australian author, to develop and further their creative writing.
• Selected into the University of Western Australia’s SmARTS program. Designed to extend and enrich participants' study as well as enhancing key skills in critical thinking and research, collaborative work, online communication, presentation and problem solving.
• Recieved the award for "Most Outstanding Contibution to Group" for this venture.
• Selected to attend the 2008 National Youth Science Forum (Out of approx. 3000+ students only 280 or so accepted after a series of interviews, speeches, and a group workshop) (Australian Program)
• Somehow nominated to the National Society of High School Scholars (in the US...don't ask me how!)</p>

<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE</p>

<p>• Volunteered at Haldane House Charity (One semester of 3 hours per week)
• Volunteered at the James Brown Anglican Hostel (One semester of 3 hours per week)
• Completed my Eagle Scout project. The total number of service hours logged was approx. 350 hours.
• Prefect and currently engaged in organising a community service/charity project for school house. </p>

<p>MY TOTAL SERVICE HOURS > 250 hours</p>

<p>LEADERSHIP/OTHER</p>

<p>• Attended an Outward Bound Wales course
• Attended Kandersteg International Scouting Centre, Switzerland, which is a high adventure team building and leadership camp. (Whilst living in London)
• Invited to be among approx. 40 scouts nationwide to attend the Golden Falcon National Youth Leader Training camp in Germany (London)
• Attended Baden Powel scout camp which is an adventure scouting camp. (London)
• An Eagle Scout - Got involved with this in the US, love it, lot's of scouting leadership positions as well (Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant SPL, Troop Guide, Treasurer, Den Chief, Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader.)
• School house prefect</p>

<p>MUSIC</p>

<p>• Have been playing the Viola now for 7 years
• Currently 1st Desk, 2nd Violist in the Hale St. Mary’s Camerata Orchestra (Orchestra 1)
• Principal violist in the Hale Chamber Orchestra (scholarship and music bursary holders only)</p>

<p>SPORT</p>

<p>4 years Field Hockey (A/B Teams)
1 year of University Summer Hockey (Mens 1st Division)
4 years cycling - Mens 1st Division
8 years snowboarding (EXPERT)
3 Years Athletics
etc.</p>

<p>CLASS RANKING AND GPA</p>

<p>Ranking is unsure - Overall probably in the Top 5-10 out of 200 (Conservative - ^^)</p>

<p>GPA is essentially the equivalent of a 4.0, I think. Straight A average.</p>

<p>This is just some of the stuff I've been involved in, and is spread out over London (England), Perth (Australia), and Bellingham (Washington State).</p>

<p>I have lived in quite a few countries, due to my father's job, and I'm currently in my last year at school in Australia. I was actually born in Suth Africa, lived there for a total of 6-7 years, on and off - I'm only a South African citizen.</p>

<p>So, can anyone give me an indication of my chances to get into universities like MIT (1st choice by a mile!!!) and Princeton. Those are the only my top universities I'm applying for as I want to study astronautical engineering. I'm asking because as an international I know that I'm up against some pretty stiff competition!</p>

<p>Really appreciate any help/advice anyone can give me.</p>

<p>Cheers,</p>

<p>Michael</p>

<p>P.S. If anyone knows of any good international scholarships, or financial aid deals please let me know.</p>

<p>P.P.S. I'm also looking at Purdue, Georgia Tech, Illinois Institute of Technology, and very tentatively Olin.</p>

<p>If anyone knows of any other unis out there that have an excellent aero/astro program - preferably NOT in the south west/central/east(coming from Perth I REALLY don't want to go anywhere remotely hot/with beaches - LOL).</p>

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<p>bump 10char, lol</p>

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<p>Anyone? Advice would be much appreciated.</p>

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<p>My thanks are still standing for anyone who wants to throw in their two cents worth, lol.</p>

<p>But seriosuly...anyone?</p>

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<p>Olin is a great school in my opinion (I graduated from there).</p>

<p>They don't have aero/astro but you can always do MechE and then do your Masters and PhD in aero/astro. Olin does have strong ties with NASA. Every year, some students intern at JPL. Also, there is a program where a handle of Olin and MIT students take part in a few week session at the NASA, Kennedy Space Center. Also, (almost?) every summer, about 10 students do an iternship at Olin but working with a NASA center on different problems.</p>

<p>So if you are interested in NASA and things of that nature there are definitely internship options. Also, one professor worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center so he is a great professor to do astro types of research with.</p>

<p>That being said, your SAT might hurt you a bit for Olin. The class of 2011 had these stats. Middle 50 percent of SAT scores: 2150-2310. Luckily Olin cares much more about fit, activities, community service and essays than just your SAT scores. But if you can retake it, it wouldn't hurt. But even if you don't, your strong ECs make you a good candidate for Olin.</p>

<p>Hope this helps a little.</p>

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<p>thanks joyjoy,</p>

<p>Olin seems quite impressive. I'll definitely be retaking the SAT, most likely in November, and I should get up to 2300, so that should be okay.</p>

<p>And regarding the helpfulness of your post all I can say is that you have now added another strong canditate to my list, more choices!! :-(</p>

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<p>Humpty BUMPty sat on the wall...dum dee dee dum. </p>

<p>:-D</p>

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<p>M-brane, im gonna take a geuss and say that you don't fully understand the idea behind the whole 'forum' concept. You see, M, its normal for a thread to have 6 posts... just not for 5 of those posts to be from the original poster himself =p</p>

<p>(sorry m-brane i just couldnt resist posting this =D )</p>

<p>plllease!!!, put this guy out of his misery; answer him!!!</p>

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<p>you should make Illinois, and Georgiatech, in my opinion. Princeton and MIT are hard for all internationals, so its very very hard to tell. Just work hard and it should pay off.
PS: for the Final GPA, my teachers used my ENTER score, and i also provided them with my grades from year 9 onwards.
PPS: if you haven't already, you should see the MIT Accepted/Waitlisted/Rejected thread in search of patterns for the type of applicants that were accepted. It really helps. then you can mould your application to meet that criteria.</p>

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<p>okay thanks everyone, especially majistr8, you're advice is much appreciated, ^^</p>

<p>I just hope that I can reward you in kind, lol.</p>

<p>To Sid, thanks, you've been a real help, we'll just have to see how events play out, here's hoping. :-P </p>

<p>À bientôt,</p>

<p>M</p>

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<p>hahaha no worries mate...i could do with another aussie in MIT!!! work hard for it...coz it will certainly pay off.</p>

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<p>Are you kidding? You’re listing High Distinctions and Distinctions in competitions? Get real. Everyone gets those. I wonder how you actually did, that must have looked like a joke on your application.</p>

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<p>That’s harsh! ^</p>