<p>I am an international student.
I will study chemistry</p>
<p>I applied to Penn in early decision</p>
<p>Here are my poor stats:
SAT: 1290, 1300, 1330 (maths is 800 in all of them)
SAT2: maths 1c 750, maths2c 720, physics 740, chemistry 740, writing: 580)
GPA: 3,5
rank: 10/80 (not even %10)
toefl: 613
11 GCE o levels (7 As, 3Bs, 1C) taking 4 A-Level courses now</p>
<p>ECs: folk-dancing(9,10,11), tennis(9,10), table tennis(9,10), school newspaper(11), play guitar in school orchestra(9,10,11), member of school science project team(11st, won 2.place), + I do every kind of sport
Work experience in a computer company(irrelevant with my major)</p>
<p>awards: lots of merits and honors from school, tubitak maths competition silver medal, tubitak computer competition silver medal, tennis and table tennis awards, folk dancing competitions awards</p>
<p>Do I have any chance for ED Penn ???
What should I do to improve my RD chances?? what makes me a good applicant for top 30 schools ??</p>
<p>I don't have a good sense for the standards required of international students, compared to US students, but I can tell you that being an international is a large hook in your favor, if you are not applying for financial aid and ED just enhances that. So I would say you have a good chance. Where are you from?</p>
<p>orkun - Penn and most US schools state they have a very limited ability to provide financial aid to international students, so that may unfortunately be a factor in the admissions process for you.</p>
<p>hm.. perhaps i can comment abit.. cos im also an international student.. who took the O levels and taking the A levels. just questioning... your SAT1 was the old one? "SAT: 1290, 1300, 1330" if it's the new one....i think u'd get rejected straight! 1330 is too far from 2400! (even if SATs don't play the biggest part). if it's upon 1600...aren't we supposed to take the new SAT?? your SAT2 scores are pretty average for an international A lvl student. but i guess..tt's not a big problem. don't need to retake. for your ECs... quite gd for an international, but no leadership position?
wow... you took 11subj in O levels.. for my country, it's only allowed for outstanding students.. (the norm is 8..) i guess the 'C' grade is pretty ugly..cos O lvls is considered less competitive. How are you doing for your A lvls? what are your predicted grades? (it shouldn't be lesser than a 4 As). Are you taking any AS level subjects? (honours equivalent? i think tt will show ur competitiveness...)
just for your info... these are some of my academic stats.. ECs are pretty comparable to urs.. and my application counselor said tt Penn is a reach for me.
SAT1: 2040
SAT2: i took in nov.. but according to practise tests.. it shld be ard so..
chinese: 800, math2: 800, chem: 760
O level: 6A1, 3A2 (i was a 9 subber), higher music: distinction (i took music at O lvls)
A lvls: prelim grades: AABC (will be predicted as 4As.. cos it's really very competitive here.. for eg.. i got 69 for chem (b) while 70 is an A.. the ave grade in school is E.. and my sch is ranked 3rd nationwide)
promotional grades (last yr..): 4As
I am also taking physics and economics S paper. both graded merit for prelims
rankings: no rankings.. just percentiles. im top 10% of a class of 719 (saw tt in my counselor's report)</p>
<p>yup... tt shld give you a comparison.. if i was described as a 'reach'
all da best! hope u can improve your SAT1.</p>
<p>Firstly I have some leadership positions because I am the captain of school table tennis team and following week there will be an election for school council, I wish I would be selected as the headboy.
My scores are from the old SAT. Mahts and Verbal... I have SAT2 writing as I said.... ıt is 580.. total is 1910 which seems low but it is pretty high for my school. We dont prepare for the verbal.
3 x 800 may be an advantage said my counselor.
Additionally I will improve SAT2s in december(wishful thinking :))</p>
<p>YES waiting for some comments.. like.. u should have blah blah blah and blah blah is a problem for you.</p>
<p>i take back my word.. old SATs are accepted.. but perhaps, u might want to try the new one.. u might score better! (quoting the dean... "you can only score better each time") cos only the best composite is taken
at the meantime, all the best for your A lvls.. (if u are taking the november one..)</p>
<p>Your SAT scores are weakest link. Because there are plenty of international students with strong A level curriculums who have no problems of getting high scores, you should take them over to put you in a more competitive position.</p>
<p>
[quote]
In recent years, we have offered approximately 45 financial aid packages to admitted international freshmen, and one or two to admitted international transfer students.
[/quote]
From an FAQ for intl students I received from Penn. Not very encouraging is it? :(</p>