need advice

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>I am a student from Raffles Junior College, the top JC (equivalent to year 11 and 12 in the US high school system) in Singapore (its a country in South East Asia). </p>

<p>I will be taking my A levels in a month's time and have just completed my preliminary examinations. My stats are as follows:</p>

<p>General Paper (a current affairs arguementative type of subject): A2
Maths: A
Physics: A
Chemistry: A
Biology: B
Special Paper: this course is considered to be equvalent to the 'honours programme' in the US system, and a student may normally take a maximum of 2 S papers. The Grading system is: Distinction, Merit and Unclassified.
Physics S: Distinction
Chem S: Distinction</p>

<p>Co-curricular activities record:
-Astronomy Club: Chairperson, have initiated a number of programmes and a nationwide competition for secondary schools.</p>

<p>-Archery: an active member. have participated in a shoot in thailand.</p>

<p>-Community service: 68 hours (in 2 years)</p>

<p>-Science society: Did a research attachment with Defence science organization, and my paper recieved the merit award at the Singapore Science and Engineering Fair. </p>

<p>-Collaborated with students from other junior colleges to start an external Physics and biology society. conduct advanced courses for Secondary school students, and have regular discussions. I am the head of the physics arm of the society.</p>

<p>General:
I have an active social life and enjoy reading books and listening to music. I also have a deep passion for fundamental physics. I enjoy playing tennis, badminton and table tennis.</p>

<p>SAT:
Critical reading: 710
Math: 800
Writing: 670</p>

<p>I will be takin SAT subject test on OCT 14. </p>

<p>I was thinking of applying to the following Unis:
Caltech
Stanford
Cornell
Duke
Carnegie Mellon
Berkeley</p>

<p>i plan to retake SAT1 and am aiming for 750 for CR and 730 for writing. In sat 2 the practice papers i have done indicate that i should be able to get almost 2400 (im taking 3 subject tests.)</p>

<p>I was wondering if these stats are enough to get into the unis i am aiming for. if not do u have other suggestions? (im primarily interested in engineering or pure physics) Are thare any areas that i especially need to improve on? </p>

<p>Thanks a million for all the help!</p>

<p>Lukez</p>

2

<p>LukeZ1987:</p>

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

3

<p>ex-rafflesian here, </p>

<p>stan is probably a no-go (brutal percentages), not too sure about duke (lack of ecs might factor)
caltech is less traditional, but considering that admissions is supposedly more rigorous than MIT, i'm guessing no- lack of olympiads.</p>

<p>i think cornell and CMU should be quite safe though.</p>

4

<p>this is random-</p>

<p>but it worries me that even the best students in Singapore like the OP could get relatively low SAT scores like those. if you get AAAB for your prelims in RJC, you're VERY smart or mug or both. It worries me as a potential, future parent - if we can't rely on school exams as indicators of viability for US colleges in terms of SAT scores, how do we REALLY know how our kids are doing? and how DO we encourage our kids to hold themselves to a high standard or teach them how to achieve top scores if it's not always correct to say that "as long as you study and do all your school homework and do very well in school, you'll be fine for your SATs?"</p>