My Chances as an International Applicant

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, and thank you for reading. I'm currently living outside the US, and I plan to study in a American university from September 2008. My senior year (grade 12) starts from next April, since I live in place with different educational systems. I really want to study in a American university, such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT or Ivys.
I am Asian, and I go to a well know national high school in my country.</p>

<p>My Stats:
GPA - 3.88 / 4 (Since I live outside the US, I don't know if this number is correct. I took an average of all my grades, and then multiplied it by 4/5. Look below.)
SAT - 2000 (625 verbal, 625 writing, 750 math - I've never taken the test before, but I'm pretty sure I can get these scores, so please think of these scores as my current abilities)
TOEFL(cbt) - 278/300</p>

<p>Classes I have taken (our grades are 1 to 5, 5 being the best):
GRADE 10
Japanese - 5
World History A - 5
Geography A - 5
Mathematics I - 5
Mathematics A - 5
Overall Science A - 5
Biology - 5
Art - 5
English I - 5
English Oral Communication - 5
Information Technology - 5
P.E. - 4</p>

<p>GRADE 11 (for the first semester)
Japanese - 5
Japanese Classics - 5
Jaoanese History - 5
Mathematics II - 5
Mathematics B - 5
Art - 5
English II - 5
English Writing - 5
Home Economics - 5
P.E. - 4</p>

<p>GRADE 12 (classes I plan to take)
Japanese
Japanese Classics
Economics
English Reading
English Writing
Earth Science
Home Economics
P.E.</p>

<p>EC's:
-Last summer I publish a book for JavaScript beginners, and is sold at major book stores in Japan. I don't know (currently) how many books have be sold, but my publisher has decided my writing another book this year. I've learned how hard it is to work constantly for something, and I truly feel that hard work is rewarding.
-I've been in the rowing club since the beginning of my high school career, and we have practice 4 times a week. We were 6th place at the Kanto Area (=an area that includes 6 prefectures) atheletic meet.
-I was selected as a represetative in my school for the 1st Asian Young Leaders Summit (which was held in Singapore). I have learned the importance of diversity in a community (or school - one of the reasons why I want to study in the US).</p>

<p>So, as an international applicant, do I have any chances of getting in to Stanford (my best choice), Harvard and the Ivy leagues; or should I reconsider my plans? Again, thank you for reading.</p>

2

<p>Add-on
I want to study Economics in the future, so if there are any schools that I can "reach" that have a good reputation for Economics, please let me know.
I understand that since I'm an international applicant, is very hard to figure out my chances, but if anybody has some information, please reply. I am seriously looking forward to studying in the US. I will do anything that I can do in my senior year, in order to get in to a American university.</p>

3

<p>How do you know you can get those SAT scores, if you've never taken the test before? Have you done a practice test? You're unlikely to get into a top U.S. college with a 625 verbal in any case. But if you can perfect your English, you should take a look at the University of Chicago. It's famous for Economics.</p>

4

<p>I doubt many Japanese here or they understand the Japanese Society.
Old trad Japanese thinking is Tokyo Uni or Kyoto Uni is better most if not all foreign Universities. </p>

<p>U should try the uni that is well known in Japan like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton the other ivy like Brown. Typical Japanese might feel Tokyo Uni is better than it, did you go there as you lack the ability to get into top Japanese Uni? Moreover Japanese company still like to hire Japanese grad over overseas grad (if you did not graduate from the reknown Uni). They are worried that you will not fit in the Company culture due to your western influence.</p>

<p>USNEWS reported - Princeton avg SAT 1 is 1400 to 1580 out of 1600.
The new SAT: I would think U will need a higher SAT like 2200+ out of 2400.</p>

<p>top Graduate Econ
Massachusetts Institute of Technology<br>
University of Chicago
Harvard University (MA)
Princeton University (NJ)
Stanford University (CA)
University of California--Berkeley<br>
Yale University (CT)<br>
Northwestern University (IL)<br>
University of Pennsylvania<br>
University of California--San Diego</p>

5

<p>Authoring a book at such a young age should be a BIG HOOK for you. You should definitely emphasize that. Congratulations!</p>

6

<p>Thank you for you replies. Please let me make my point clear - I want to know my chances as an "international" applicant. So, I want to know how high I should score in the SAT, so that I can be addmitted as an international. It would also be nice if anyone could show me schools that select domestic and international students in different pools (I have no chance getting in if they look at me equally as American students).</p>

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7

<p>top Graduate Econ
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Chicago
Harvard University (MA)
Stanford University (CA)
University of California--Berkeley
Yale University (CT)
University of Pennsylvania</p>

<p>I have remove a few Uni, worried they will not be 'recognized" in your society.
Hopefully being good in their graduate program would mean they are renown for their undergrad too. If you set on doing grad school overseas as well. Perhaps it is best to go all the way to Phd. You should know better Japanese Society tend to believe ppl that went for masters degree wants to escape from the working society.</p>

<p>All the best!</p>

8

<p>light_paddle,</p>

<p>I was an international and I think HSM and Ivies would be reaches for you. The admit rates for internationals at those top schools are even lower than those for Americans. Last year, the admit rate was 4% at MIT!</p>

9

<p>Wega007: Thank you again for you reply. Although I really want to enter these schools, to be frank, I don't want to be restrainted to Japanese customs (mainly because I want to work in the "world"---not Japan).
Sam Lee: Thank you. It seems like you know alot about international admission issues. Do you how much I should get on the SAT in order to get in to these top universities (as an international)?
So, does anybody have more information about 'my chances'? Any information about precedents?</p>

10

<p>Um, Chicago is not in the East or South. This website gives some info for international applicants:
<a href="http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level2.asp?id=38%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level2.asp?id=38&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

11

<p>isn't admission rate just Stats?
at times you will get alot of blur ones trying even they know they cannot make it.
wouldn't it make the number small?</p>

12

<p>light_paddle,</p>

<p>As you may already be aware, the admission to top US privates is based on not only test scores but also intangible factors. It's unlike admission to universities in Asia where exam results/grades mean everything. Things aren't just so black and white and at times seem kinda random. From my high school, the kid that got into Harvard wasn't even in the top 10 (out of 240 students) but maybe his dad went to Harvard. I am not sure. The valedictorian, on the other hand, was rejected by HYPS. With that said, I still think you want to raise your score to 2200 just to be competitive. I know that many top kids in Hong Kong get at least that kind of scores. They go to places like Kaplan to help raise their scores.</p>

13

<p>kids from China go to special school like Da Dong Fang.
They have worked so many questions, that some knew the answer b4 the questions pop out.
they are also trained to just see the question and be guess the correct answers. I have no idea how they do that, but boy am I am surprise when they do that right infront of me.</p>

<p>I guess Japanese Cramp school for SAT don't work like that. if they do great!</p>

14

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<p>I really hope I can go to one of these schools (I'm starting to like Stanford very much).</p>

15

<p>Japanese tend to be humble. Many teachers have not done it before let only do it in English. You might get your publisher to help U write. The others you got to find Teachers that really know you and you can speak your mind regarding humble letters of recommendations. In Asian countries, at times, teachers just ask the student to draft the letter. Teacher will review it make some changes and sign!</p>

<p>having family members from Ivey does help alot. a SAT score that is way out of the range will hurt alot! but if it is in the lower ranger I guess it will be fine since it depends on so many factors. SAT 2 Math Level 2 is required for American but not international students. Not sure if it will help. but I do know ppl that do that it even it is not a requirement.</p>

16

<p><a href="I%20have%20no%20chance%20getting%20in%20if%20they%20look%20at%20me%20equally%20as%20American%20students">quote</a>

[/quote]

I don't want to discourage you from applying anywhere, but internationals are generally considered in another pool than Americans and admission people frequently say that the international pool is the most competitive sub-group of all applicants...
Peterson's lists the international admission rate at some (but not all) colleges:
<a href="http://www.petersons.com/acuus/code/psector.asp?sponsor=&path=ug.fas.acuus&CMSMemberType=ints%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.petersons.com/acuus/code/psector.asp?sponsor=&path=ug.fas.acuus&CMSMemberType=ints&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

17

<p>Stanford accepted 7% of its international applicants in 2004 and MIT 5%, the Ivies don't publish their numbers. These numbers are outdated though; I guess the current admission rates will be even lower.</p>

18

<p>all u need is a book to take practice tests with and correct ur answers. but yeah, unless u get a 2200+ preferably the higher the better, ur chances to any of ur choices will be close to none. also, it is not luck that gets students into top universities, but the quality of their applications, meaning u want ur essays and reccomendations to be top notch as well as ur test scores and grades. u seem accomplished however and publishing will help. good luck</p>

19

<p>light_paddle:</p>

<p>UCB: Reach (out of state)
UCSD: Slight Reach (out of state)</p>

20

<p>Thank you everyone for writing in. Clearly, it looks like my chances are next-to-none in this competitive world.
Recently, I had "the talk" with my parents, and they told me that if I'm not able to enter a prestigious univeristy, they won't even allow me to study abroad (given the fact that it takes a fortune [ex.$40000*6years=$240000] to study in the US). The schools they consider "top-level" are:
Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, MIT (+etc)
This means if I can't get admitted to one of these 6 schools, I won't be allow to study in the US. The next few months, I plan to devote myself to studying for the SAT, but, if I can't get a score like 2200 (which is like a dream for a o-native), are my chances cosiderably close to zero?</p>