Please give me some bitter realism

<p>These are my basic stats:</p>

<hr>

<p>GPA unweighted : 3.947 (2 B's)
GPAweighted : 4.397 (9 of 361)</p>

<p>1 AP in junior : ChemII(5)
3 AP in senior : CalcAB, Gov, BioII</p>

<p>SATI: 1160 (400V, 760M) - Mar, 2004 (WORST)
SATII: Took in Nov,2004 (Jap,Phy,MathII)</p>

<p>ECs & Achievements & Award
International Club - VP - 9th
Chess Club - 10th, 12th
Anime Club - 10th, 11th</p>

<p>Certificate of Merit in The Nevada Prize Examination - 11th
(Author of the best paper in school - I'm sure I dont need this part?)
Certificate of Participation in AIME - 11th (got 4)
Southern Navada Math Contest - 10th (1st place)
Southern Nevada Math Contest - 11th (5th place?)
Certificate of Distinction in AMC - 11th (got 109)
Straight A certificate(school) - 9th, 11th</p>

<p>Current schedule:
Calc AP(AB), World Lit, Jap4 H, US Gov AP, ComSciII H, BioII AP</p>

<hr>

<p>Well, strong GPA and some math is the only things I can be proud of.
I have almost zero EC, leadership, and experience.
Not to mention the worst SATI score in this forum
(Desperate to take it again; probably will get 1300+ in Dec one)</p>

<p>I live in NV where people treat education like crap.
I am an Asian(kr) who can barely speak English now.
I am a senior who knows almost nothing about College Admissions.</p>

<p>The worst part is...
I am a guy who didn't give up getting in IVYs knowing all my status.</p>

<p>So... is there any chance I might get in Ivy college or MIT?
(If I have an adequate SATI score, like 1450+)
There's one who went to MIT from our school last year; any difference there?
Or should I just give up and go to a local university?</p>

<p>(Interested ones: UNLV(local), Harvard, MIT, Bucknell, etc.)</p>

<p>unless you bring up your sat scores i say your chances at MIT are pretty slim
u dont have to stay local theres other schools that u will probably get into</p>

<p>I was an Ivy interviewer for many years. To be blunt, this is pretty weak. In general - top schools and Ivies like to see AP English Language and Literature and AP US History, much higher SATs, and far better ECs - generally something really outstanding.</p>

<p>Apply if you want, but look for some really solid safeties.</p>

<p>voronwe,
You say Ivies like AP English Literature and AP US History. What if your school doesn't offer it? My school, for example, offers 10 AP classes, but about four of them were just now offered this year so I couldn't take several of them due to scheduling. My school doesn't offer English Literature or US History AP. Would that be taken into consideration?</p>

<p>"SATI: 1160 (400V, 760M) "</p>

<p>The verbal score is so low that it will more than likely keep you out of all of the top 25 schools. Of the math and verbal scores, the verbal is always the most important score. The exception to this are the schools that are purely tech/engineering schools. Places like MIT and CalTech, though still want to see very strong verbal scores since excellent writing and reading is required at their schools, regardless of one's major.</p>

<p>I know it is difficult to learn a new language well enough to score very well on the SAT v. However, many immigrants, including Asian immigrants do so, getting scores as high as 750 V just a few years after moving here with no or limited English skills.</p>

<p>I also think that you're not likely to get into liberal arts colleges like Bucknell unless you raise your SAT V to at least 550.</p>

<p>Your best chance of going Ivy or getting into a similar school might be for grad school, when, presumably your verbal skills will be much stronger.</p>

<p>My suggestion is to look at schools that do not require SAT scores. Some of them include:</p>

<p>Lafayette
Lewis & Clark
Wheaton (MA)
Bates
Bowdoin
Franklin & Marshall
Connecticut C</p>

<p>Just a starting point. I would also suggest practicing for the SAT II Writing test (which may be required), and take Math and Science specific tests--as you seem to do well in that area. It is important to weigh which schools you want to apply to and whether they require certain tests. Play to your strengths.</p>

<p>Hope this is of help to you. Good luck. :)</p>

<p>The problem with going for a top school is that it isn't a good fit for you; you would not be able to produce the type of college English paper that would get a good grade in a demanding school. I think you should look at large schools where you could have a choice of advanced math courses, but also have less demanding English courses available. Look at U of Minnesota-Twin Cities, U of Nebraska, maybe Rose-Hulman in Indiana if you want to try for a tech school.</p>

<p>Bump...</p>

<p>couple new stuff</p>

<p>SATI : Mar, 2004 : V400(15%), M760(98%)
Dec, 2004 : V520(53%), M800(99%)
SATII : Nov, 2004 : Jap750(47%), MathII800(90%), Phy730(74%)</p>

<p>Can this change anything?</p>

<p>It is getting late now (only 05Jan ones remaining...)</p>

<p>I'm looking into the MIT admission by internet.</p>

<p>So how do I give transcrips and recommendations to them?</p>

<p>And should I take SAT II (possibly for writing) or SAT I (more verbal) in Jan05?
(I'm leaning towards SAT II w/o writing since I KNOW I would do bad)</p>

<p>Thank you for any comments</p>

<p>"I am an Asian(kr) who can barely speak English now.".</p>

<p>I hate when people that don't speak English try to get to the top schools...like the HYPS and MIT.</p>

<p>I mean no offense to you, but if you don't know English why do you want to go to MIT? I mean I know at MIT it is like all math/engineering/computer science, but like why hassle yourself? </p>

<p>Your SAT is too low, no offense.
I hope I didn't scare you, but in reality, as said before, there are other schools other than like the Ivies and like MIT.</p>

<p>i agree. if you can't speak english well, don't go to an american school unless you want to work 100 times the amount that everyone else puts in.</p>

<p>"i agree. if you can't speak english well, don't go to an american school unless you want to work 100 times everyone else."</p>

<p>Kinda ironic.</p>

<p>who said i was applying to a US school?</p>

<p>It was just an assumption.</p>

<p>however, the point brought up was about speaking, not typing. </p>

<p>and should I alert a moderator for you insulting post?</p>

<p>Come again?</p>

<p>Yes, you should.</p>

<p>lol... don't take that seriously...</p>

<p>Hey Ranger, if you can't handle a witty comment, it's pretty funny when you tell people they can't handle the practical dimensions of an american education. if eastsoldier has lived here for a seriously short time, then i guess you can explain that and give it a try. there's a lot of schools that are still pretty good that'd probably understand about your scores and let you in, but I'm not so sure about MIT/Harvard. look around, ask your counselor, and try to get to know what other good schools are out there? good luck, if that was any help man. but yeah, it can't hurt to wokr on those SATs</p>

<p>"I hate when people that don't speak English try to get to the top schools...like the HYPS and MIT." lol wow thats kinda racist right there. just because they cant speak english..doesnt mean they cant TRY, and ur mad because some people who cant even speak english can get into some of those schools while YOU cant! hahah! </p>

<p>anyways back to the kr dude, umm i also think that u shouldnt just apply to those top schools just because theyre well-known. u dont HAVE to go to a top school in order to make something of yourself, and from ur math and science scores, it seems ur pretty bright (u cant be dumb and get those scores), so why dont you try going to a school that is suited for students with limited english and then when ur englsh gets better like in grad, u can also go to those schools you want. it requires more time, but even if you do somehow make it in...do u think u can survive without knowing english? if u do get in, congradulations, but i wouldnt want to put myself through that risk, because if u get in, u might have to transfer out beucase of language barrier. even tho u are good at math and science, i assume, u wont get anywhere if u cant communicate, and to communicate, language-english- is the key.
also, no ECs or any of those other than ur math score...not very hopeful</p>