My chances, help please

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Greetings everybody.
I am currently attending 11th grade of school in Croatia but I'd like to go to the university in the US due to much higher living standard and blahblahblah :)
I have some decent achievements so I would like to hear what my chances of getting into prestigious colleges (Princeton, Yale, Cornell etc)</p>

<p>Here are my achievements:
- subjects in the secondary school (3 years so far, 1 year yet to come) with grades (highest grade is 5, lowest is 1)
Croatian and World Literature (5,5,5), Math (5,5,5), English (5,5,5), German (5,5,5), Latin (5,5), Logic (5), Sociology (5), Psychology (5), Geography (5,5,5), History (5,5,5), Biology (5,5,5), Chemistry (5,5,5), Physics (5,5,5), Computer science (5,5,5), Religion(although I am not very religious 5,5,5), Sport (4,5,?-don't know yet), Music (5,5), Art (5,5)
senior year subjects: Croatian and Literature, English, German, Phylosophy, Politics and Economy, History, Geography, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Religion, Sports</p>

<ul>
<li>competitions since the 4th grade:
4th grade: Math (school competition - 2nd, qualified for town competition - 2nd, qualified for county competition - 3rd, qualified for regional competition - 7th)
5th grade: Math (school competition - 1st, qualified for town competition - 4th, qualified for county competition 5th, qualified for regional competition - 2nd prize, 4th place)
Geography (town competition - 1st, county competition - 2nd)
6th grade: Math (town competition - 2nd, county competition - 1st, regional competition - 10th)
Geography (town competition - 2nd, county competition 3rd)
7th grade: Math (town competition - 2nd, county competition - 1st, top 40 national competition - 15th, received congratulations note)
Geography (town competition - 3rd, county competition 4th)
8th grade: Math (school competition - 1st, county competition 2nd, top 40 national competition - 10th, 2nd prize nationally)
Croatian (school competition - 1st, county competition 4th)
Chemistry (school competition - 1st, county competition 9th)
9th grade: Math (school competition - 1st, county competition - 1st, top 20 national competition - 5th, 3rd prize)
Croatian (school competition - 2nd, county competition - 2nd)
Chemistry (school competition - 4th, county competition 2nd, top 20 national competition - ranking: 4th nationally)
10th grade: Math (school competition - 1st, county competition - 1st)
Chemistry (school competition - 1st, county competition - 1st)
11th grade: Chemistry (school competition - 1st, county competition - 2nd, national competition - ranking: 10th nationally)</li>
</ul>

<p>other achievements:
- English (fluent), German (intermediate), learning Spanish
- finished primary music school (6 grades), play the piano
- member of the Croatian Tennis Association, played national tennis championships, was ranked in top 100 nationally (Juniors up to 12)
- English language school - Advanced level
- member of both Math and Chemistry International Olympic Teams (top 15 secondary school students from all grades), never been in top 5 - never competed at international olympics, next chance - next year
- member of the School Science Group
- used to teach children at the local tennis club
- playing Croatian Tennis League for my club
- planning to start scientific projects at school
- attended Croatian E-School of Chemistry
- attended "Open days of School of Science" at the "Math-Science University" in Zagreb
- played on some concerts in the music school few years ago
- 5h and 6th grade - member of the Ecology Group
- member of the Math Group
- former member of the Croatian Math Society
- attended the Stobrec Tennis Academy (1 month, summer 2009)</p>

<ul>
<li>no other work (such as work in hospitals and so on)</li>
</ul>

<p>Many people claim that I have no chance to get into any of the prestigious universities. I want to hear further opinions since I would really love that and I'm ready to work a lot.
The reason why I need opinions so badly is because fees are high for Croatians (SAT tests, aiming for 2000+, subject tests, application fees for universities,...) and if there is no chance for me to get in, I think it would be pointless to spend so much money (I know Princeton and Yale give need-based scholarships for everyone who is accepted)
And if I have a chance, please let me know where my chances are highest (talking about very good schools).</p>

<p>Thank you a lot in advance :)</p>

2

<p>First of all, your application is very impressive, at least in my opinion. It’s somewhat difficult to chance this though because you’re an international student. I’d give you pretty low chances at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford (almost everyone does) but you probably would have an excellent shot at other top 20 schools.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your opinion.
I sent some mails to Princeton, Yale and Harvard and from what they told me, I never had any hopes to get into Harvard (honestly) but Princeton and Yale claim that international students have same chances as American ones so I kind of hoped…
Do you have any recommendations to improve my chances at Ivies? What other schools do you think could be good for me?
I would like to go to medical school one day (and hopefully apply for Green Card) so I would like a pre-med program in the US. I thought maybe John’s Hopkins could be good as well but if my chances are bad at Princeton, they are even worse at Hopkins, right?
Thanks in advance again :)</p>

4

<p>Are you looking for aid? That could seriously affect you.</p>

<p>And your chances are much better at Hopkins than Princeton. I’m sure you’re probably aware of this, but Yale, Princeton, and Harvard are THE MOST SELECTIVE COLLEGES IN THE U.S. Hopkins admits more than double the percentage of people they admit.</p>

<p>You seem to be an excellent tennis player - have you tried contacting any of the coaches at these schools? They could give you a significant leg up, IMO, if you’re interested in competing in college.</p>

<p>In addition, are you interested in applying to any other schools in the U.S.? There are plenty of FANTASTIC schools in the U.S. that are more likely to take an international - i.e. other Ivies (Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth), and schools like Johns Hopkins, Emory, Northwestern, and Washington University in St. Louis. All of these schools have great academics and are slightly less selective because they get fewer applicants.</p>

5

<p>Unfortunately, I am looking for a scholarship because it is absolutely impossible for someone from Croatia to pay 30000$ or more every year…
Do any of these schools have need-based aid? I know Princeton and Yale do but don’t know for others.
Can coaches help me get into the college? And no, I am not an excellent tennis player, I am a good player. I play for the club that is in the 3rd league but I can play some decent tennis.
In the 18+ age group my ranking could be around 200-250 at the moment (nationally) since I stopped practising seriously when I started competing in science.
I never mentioned I took some French classes in the primary school but I forgot almost all of it so it would not be very helpful I guess.
I am hoping for 2000+ on SAT + I’m planning to take subject tests in Chemistry, Math 1 and 2 and Biology (700+ on all of them I hope)
If I have enough money to apply to 5 colleges, which ones would you suggest? (Both of my parents have university degrees but none of my friends has any study-abroad experiences so I really need help there)</p>

6

<p>For the top schools that give strong need based aid, you will need considerably higher than a 2000 on the SAT. Also note that you can’t apply for a green card. When you come on a student visa you must promise to return to your country. You can stay for 1 year for job training, but that’s it, so don’t so this with hopes of staying in the states.</p>

7

<p>Well, then I will work on SAT scores. What would be considered a good SAT score? 2200?
About staying in the US: but if everything goes the way I would like it to, and I finish the medical school, I can get an employment-based green card, right?</p>

8

<p>I believe so. Ivan, all of those schools offer need-based financial aid, although I think Cornell is much less so than most of the others.</p>

9

<p>At which ones do you think I would have the best chance to be accepted with scholarship? (Only excellent schools please because Zagreb has a very good university too and if I go abroad I want it to be something really excellent)
Thanks.</p>

10

<p>No, green cards don’t work that way. It’s also just about impossible for an interational student to get into US med school. I repeat, do not come to undergrad in the US hoping to stay. Every year many borrow money to do this and then must return home and pay off the loans in their currency which can be a major hardship. </p>

<p>Post on the international board to get info from students already here. Half of the world would just come to school here if it was easy to stay.</p>

11

<p>I know that very small number of international students is accepted into US medical schools. So it is impossible to immigrate after finishing the college?
Would it be easier to finish the medical school in Croatia (very good university, not like Hopkins Medical School but still more than decent) and then immigrate as a highly-qualified expert? I know that lots of Croatian doctors do that but I thought it would be better to move at younger age.
Any ideas?
Thanks</p>

12

<p>Anyone, please?</p>

13

<p>The best time is after you finish med school in your country. You can apply to be a resident at an American hospital. It’s hard, but possible. Try posting on the med school board here for more guidance.</p>