problem: very weak ec, low sat score! please help me please

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm currently a junior attending a small prvt school (less that 100kids in my grade) in southern states</p>

<p>As you'll see from the way I write, I am not from America, moved here about 2years ago....not a citizen not a permanant resident --> might be counted as an int'l student.</p>

<p>I want to major in mechanical/robotics engineering or physics....or...anything that is related to physical engineering</p>

<p>and... here are my numbers and EC lists</p>

<p>9th
I went to school in my country, which is a public school with 3000-4000 kids
I ranked 3~4th out of 700 kids in my class, but i think freshman year doesn't count that much...</p>

<p>and then i moved to america</p>

<p>10th -1
Economics - A+
ForeinLang I - A+
honors algebra ii - A+
English ii - b+
Biology - A+
Band - A</p>

<p>10th - 2
U.S. gov't - A
ForeinLang I - A
honors algibra ii - A
English ii - A-
Biology - A+
band - A
AP Microeconomics - A, 5</p>

<p>11th -1
honors physics - A+
US history - A+
honors chemistry - A
English III - B+
Honors precalculus - A
honors foreignlang II - A-
ESL - passed</p>

<p>SAT - math 800, reading 560, writing 580</p>

<p>(i will retake it until i get satisfied)</p>

<p>SAT II - Math iic 800</p>

<p>and i will take physics and chemistry aiming high 700's</p>

<p>ec's
I run a club which i found last year..., but not that big 10-15 members
i am in 4 clubs currently
i do some community service, but not like over 100hours or sth...
i play soccer as a member of district sport team...not that good
I play some instruments...</p>

<p>...........sounds lame...isn't it?</p>

<p>Actually, I was an active student when i was in my native country... i've won some competitions like science olympiad, i was a president of SGA for a few times, I achieved more than 200 hours of community service, had a part time job in a robot-making company... but they are all useless now, i guess...</p>

<p>well... every time i tried to do something in here, i failed to achieve it mostly because of the fact that i couldn't drive</p>

<p>I don't write essays very well, my english is not as good as others...</p>

<p>I am not expecting to get in colleges like Ivies or new Ivies... but i just want to know how's that possibly going to work.</p>

<p>for early decision/action i will apply to
Rice
U Notre Dame</p>

<p>I know it's hard but just to see how's it going to be..</p>

<p>and for regular decision(probably)
Carnegie Mellon
Tufts
Case Western Reserve
WPI
UIUC
Lehigh
Georgia Tech</p>

<p>I will pick 3-4 out of this list with more safety schools...</p>

<p>sorry about this long list of random numbers and activities.....</p>

<p>I am kind of worried.....if i don't get in any of these...</p>

<p>Am I going to be able to get in any of those colleges?</p>

<p>what i can do more for my ec's and SAT scores...</p>

<p>Well i do have some fun, hang out with my friends...should i do more work instead of socializing....?</p>

2

<p>oh I am in top 5 of my class by the way</p>

3

<p>my gpa has been very constant… its like 4.6 W and 3.8 UW…</p>

4

<p>please help me!please help me!please help me!please help me!please help me!please help me!</p>

5

<ol>
<li><p>Apply as an international student. English is not your first language, and you should not be penalized because of that.</p></li>
<li><p>Take and submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) instead of the SATs if you can or in addition to the SATs. Here’s a link to the website:
[TOEFL:</a> Test of English as a Foreign Language](<a href=“http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab2360b1645a1de9b3a0779f1751509/?vgnextoid=69c0197a484f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&WT.ac=Redirect_ets.org_toefl]TOEFL:”>http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab2360b1645a1de9b3a0779f1751509/?vgnextoid=69c0197a484f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&WT.ac=Redirect_ets.org_toefl)</p></li>
<li><p>Submit your SAT II scores. An 800 in Math iic is very impressive, as is high 700s in physics and chemistry. And the science oriented schools you want to apply to will definitely like those scores.</p></li>
<li><p>Let the colleges you apply to know all about your activities in your native country. Make a separate list or table, and list the activities, what they were, your position, the amount of time you spent, your accomplishments. They will count, and they are not weak.</p></li>
<li><p>Do the same thing with your activities in the U.S.</p></li>
<li><p>Let the colleges know in your essay that you are not a native speaker, and that you’ve only been in the U.S. for two years. That makes the accomplishments you have all the more impressive. Also, have a teacher at your school review your essay or essays. The teacher doesn’t have to make it perfect, but could help you with obvious grammatical problems and such.</p></li>
<li><p>The schools you want to apply to seem to me to be just right - all schools with strong reputations in science and technology. Though you’re right to think you need to add some safeties to the list.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t panic. You’re doing fine. Your grades are impressive. Your current ECs are fine. Do only those you want to do. Don’t do a bunch of stuff just to impress the admissions officers.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>thanks a lot, amptron2x…</p>

7

<p>800’s in mathii and SAT is pretty impressive</p>

<p>i was expecting worse by your thread title</p>