<p>Hi everyone!
I am a Bulgarian high school student who wants to study in America ^^
I was reading a lot recently about colleges and universities in USA.
I want to take an engineering major (not decided what exactly - aeronautical/nuclear/mechanical/…)<br>
I’ve done a little " research " to find out where is the best place for me to study after graduation.
Stanford. I really, really like Stanford!
So - I have a difficult question - can I get in there?
I’ll list my achievements to help you decide:</p>
<li><p>My SAT 1 is very low - I got just 1890. I am taking the test again in October 4th
Cr. Reading - 530
Math - 760
Writing - 600 (7 on the essay)
I know - really low scores, but I am sure I’ll do better next time ^^ ( I hope for above 2000 in October ^^)</p></li>
<li><p>SAT 2 Math 1C - 800</p></li>
<li><p>SAT 2 Physics 740</p></li>
</ol>
<p>(by the way I am going to take SAT 2 Math IIC and Physics again in November - I want 800s ^^)</p>
<li><p>I’ve participated in 4th International Jauticov Olympiad in Mathematics and Physics, but I screwed the problems (lame mistakes) and as a result I don’t have a medal… Next competition - better ^^ (I fell prepared this time)</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve done a research in Technion - the Israel Institute of technology on project “Investigation of propagation of light in the optical fiber” and as a result I have a research paper ^^ </p></li>
<li><p>I have many 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in national physics competition in Bulgaria (very proud ^^)</p></li>
<li><p>I am sure I’ll have good essays for Stanford - I’ve been thinking for a really long time what to write ^^</p></li>
<li><p>I like playing on my violin, but I had to stop for a year because it become very difficult at school (net good one - I know…) but I want to play and after 12th grade I’ll continue playing on my violin ^^</p></li>
<li><p>I have 6.00 at school (6.00 is highest mark ^^), which equals GPA 4 (GPA is the mark form the school, right?)</p></li>
<li><p>I am sure I’ll get superior recommendations from my teachers because they love me ^^</p></li>
<li><p>Currently I am working over one research at home.</p></li>
<li><p>I have participated in Interact for over a year now; working in the library etc</p></li>
<li><p>I am taking the TOEFL exam in two days. I hope to score above 100 (on the iBT) (well - the score depends on my speaking - I am a little bit ill right now and my pronunciation is not quite good haha)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Uff - it is really late now in Bulgaria and I may have missed something… In the morning I’ll add anything that I remember ^^</p>
<p>So - the question is - can I get into Stanford with all this on Early Admission?
/and I know my SAT 1 score is absolutely terrible for now :@ - I’ll take the test again )</p>
<p>I am also interested in:</p>
<p>MIT
Brown
CalTech
Purdue (but they are not need-blind so…)</p>
<p>Thank you all in advance! Know that you are helping me a lot!!!</p>
<p>Unless your SATs are MUCH higher, you probably will not get into Standford -- nor into MIT, Brown or CalTech. Unfortunately, those schools only accept the very top international students whose SAT scores are usually better. I would not apply to Purdue, since that is a public school and most public schools do not give much financial aid to international students.</p>
<p>I'll try to get something like 2050 or higher.</p>
<p>I am thinking that it is possible to get there because I have a friend that has bronze and silver medal from IMO and 2020 on SAT 1.
I have just one research paper and participation in big Olympiad and this friend told me that I have really good chance to get into Stanford.</p>
<p>But I am looking for more opinions = that's why I am asking ^^</p>
<p>I think that if you have more than 2000 on your SATs then your chances will be quite good for Stanford, participation in olympiades and your other accoplishments are extraordinary and since you will be a science major the SAT I shouldn't count that much.
For MIT you don't have to submit your SAT I (but I don't know if you can indicate that on your app, you have already taken them so that MIGHT be a problem). MIT requires you to submit TOEFL and SAT II (which you have), so if you will score 100 on TOEFL then you will have a fair chance in there too.</p>
<p>MIT wants TOEFL + 2 SAT II (one option)
But as I am sending them my 2 SAT IIs I'll send them my SAT 1. It was written that they will take the test (TOEFL or SAT 1) that makes me look better ^^ haha - of course they will look at both of them ^^</p>
<p>Ok - what about Brown? My girlfriend got into Brown and I am considering going there (but really, really I prefer Stanford and if I can go to Stanford and Brown I'll definitely go to Stanford). What I like about Brown is their flexibility - they won't make me take Literature or History classes as almost every other university will.</p>
<p>So - for Stanford. I was told to have PERFECT essays. I know that for a long and I know exactly what to write to them. So - on that point I think I can get there.
Here comes the SAT 1 scores. flid and my stanford friend tell me that they are not so important. I take this fact into serious consideration. I was told that another Bulgarian student was accepted into Stanford without SAT 1 (I met him a week ago :) He has two medals from IMO but I don't know exactly what).</p>
<p>So - I hope I won't screw the TOEFL this Friday!
I am going to screw my 5th International Jauticov Olympiad in order to study only for SAT 1 - is it worth it?
Deam - this application process is tough! So many sacrifices :/</p>
<p>Thanks a lot guys! </p>
<p>If anyone else has to say something ( negative or possitive) please do so! I need your opinion! </p>
<p>I'll really appreciate if somebody from Stanford can tell me something ^^</p>
<p>Well, it's pretty understandable that your SAT is low, considering that English isn't your first language! Your 760 in Math shows that you are very good at the subject (that's probably, like, two questions wrong!), your Math IC and Physics scores are great, and the TOEFL should make up for your lower CR and Writing scores. </p>
<p>I don't know anything about Bulgarian physics competitions (obviously XD) but your record looks really, really good! Also, having a research paper is a great EC, even better if it's published (is yours published anywhere?) </p>
<p>Based on your friend's experience (after all, I know nothing firsthand about applying from Bulgaria), you have a really good chance at Stanford! Just wow them with your essays. </p>
<p>MIT is really into people with math and physics awards, as well as high scores (which you have in everything but CR and Writing), so I think you can get in! Well, let me revise that statement: I hear that they're really numbers-and-awards-driven, but my friend who got in disagrees. She says that it's all about presenting yourself as an interesting person; they really look at you as a holistic candidate. So again, acceptance will ride on your essays. :]</p>
<p>Caltech, I hear, really pays attention to scores -- but I'm sure they'll be forgiving of low CR & W scores for a non-native English speaker. </p>
<p>Brown isn't nearly as numbers-driven. Present yourself as an interesting, intelligent, capable person (as you did in this post!) and you've got a really good chance. </p>
<p>It is not published yet, but if it will increase my chances I'll talk to one physics magazine and try go get it in there ^^ Thank you for this rally valuable advice! Also I'll try to publish something about the experience I had during the research at Technion - you know - like how much it helped me develop and things like this ^^ I completely forgot about this publications and stuff!</p>
<p>Thank you again!</p>
<p>//that's why I posted my question in here - to get "helped"! Thanks a lot!//</p>