Need some advice for Ivies!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi. I'll be a senior in Japan.
I really want to study at Princeton or Dartmouth for some reasons but I know I'm not a competitive applicant yet... So I'd like you to give me some advice!!</p>

<p>Here are my info
- Top 5% in class
- 4.8 in 5.0 (Japanese way of GPA)
- President of English and chemistry club
- Vice-president of student council
- Won #1 in speech contest twice in school
- joined piano contest of prefecture for 5 times
- participant of national Model U.N. for high school students
- member of volunteer and sports council
- established volunteer group for Children Rights
- join a volunteer group outside of school</p>

<p>I never take SATs( but I will in Oct.)
I plan to take AP Chem and Calculus BC</p>

<p>I'm worrying about
- having never joined sports club since when I was 13
- having no strong point
- lower income (i want to get scholarship or FA if there is any chance)
- NOT GOOD AT TAKING INTERVIEW (because I get nervous easily)
- NOT GOOD AT ENGLISH as you can see...</p>

<p>What should I do for breaking into Ivies?
and do you have any tips for SATs and essays?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Let’s go through those things you are worried about and clear them up.</p>

<p>Never having joined a sport - That’s perfectly fine. There’s no requirement to play sports, and it only helps if you are a committed player over many years. Furthermore, its just another EC basically, unless you are good enough to be recruited. In other words, don’t worry: it won’t hurt you.</p>

<p>Having no strong point - You need to MAKE strong point, and this should shine through in your essays. However minor it may be, if you’re really passionate about something, you can show it.</p>

<p>Lower income - No problem here. Dartmouth and Princeton are two of only six (i think) schools that are need-blind for international students. This means that they don’t consider your finances when determining your admission. The finance information goes through a different office. (just don’t write your essays on being poor. that might sound off an alarm in the admission officers head)</p>

<p>Not good at interviews - I doubt this will be much of a problem since you live in Japan. They might not even bother setting up an interview unless you request one, and even if you do, they might not have any nearby people to conduct it.</p>

<p>Not good at English - Your English is great for an international student. Just have someone proficient look over your essays when you are done. </p>

<p>Tips for the SAT’s - Start practicing now! PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! That’s really all there is to it. Its not a difficult test, you just need to get familiar with it and the types of questions. </p>

<p>Tips for essays - Start them now too! Essays are where admissions officers really get to know YOU. They get to know why you want to go to their school, what things you are passionate about, and what makes you the ideal candidate. Make sure you write in your voice; in other words, don’t try to be someone you are not. Be honest in your writing. </p>

<p>Hope this helps, and best of luck!</p>

3

<p>thanks for comments!</p>

<p>It’s happy for me to hear that playing sports is not necessary.</p>

<p>It seems I have to prepare for lots of things next year…
I try my best :)</p>

<p>Thank you so much.</p>