<p>Ok, these guys are being harsh. Yes, you should have put safeties on the list. But being an IB student, I truly understand what a 44/45 means. I would say, instead of a gap year, spend the next 6 months or so doin the following, in order of importance.</p>
<ol>
<li>Improve your SAT score to 2100+. The ivies rejected you on the basis of this, not you 44.</li>
<li>Volunteer (abroad if possible). Do something meaningful, something related to your major. Your actions have to have made a significant difference to some less fortunate. (soup kitchen for a week is not good enough. Get the funds to open your own soup kitchen and feed the homeless)</li>
<li>Write a remarkable essay, detailing how it was YOUR CHOICE to leave school for a year, because you were so moved by the plight of the hungry. Try and sell your self as an altruistic person. How, before leaving the country, you felt morally indebted to Norway, and needed to give back before leaving. Make it look like you put your education at risk for the good of your society. This will be the essay you submit to the schools. Put as much effort into this as possible, and it will dwarf most other applicants Volunteer hours. </li>
<li>Some schools take admission in spring semester. If you do not want to wait around for a year, try applying then.</li>
</ol>
<p>Wow a 44… that’s a mark I can only dream of, and it no doubt puts you at the top 1% of IB students. 7’s in Higher Level Math and all 3 sciences? I’m in awe.</p>
<p>You’re very smart, and I understand why you would go for the prestiges. Improve your SAT scores, and show optimism and give them a unique perspective in your application essays. I wish you the very best.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear this. Well, to be frank, I’m not surprised you got rejected from all your schools (if you limited yourself to the ivy-league caliber). You really don’t stand out for schools of that level, you don’t seem that well-rounded (you didn’t have any EC leadership positions, nothing made you special) and your test scores aren’t so hot. What I would do: You say you have research experience = get an internship, start finding a research position. Take some classes at a local community college or commuter college and make the best of the resources that you have. At this point, forget about top colleges - I think your priority right now should be getting into any college (perhaps a less selective state school). And I would definitely retake your SAT’s; that score is mad weak. If you excel with what you have, you can consider transfer admission into more selective colleges.</p>
<p>Oh man I feel for you. Had you scored above 2200 on your SAT, I think you’d be in at least one Ivy by now (Cornell, probably). The colleges probably saw you as one-sided (great academically, but not so great in other areas), and for an international, your stats really aren’t too stellar. Definitely agree with Abetterlife, although I don’t see how you can say it was your choice to leave school for a year if you’re reapplying to the same colleges as before (they will see that you applied last year and realize that your gap year isn’t voluntary). Do consider the UK as well. With such a fantastic IB score, you’d be accepted by most of the British universities, Oxbridge even (depending on the outcome of your interview of course).</p>
<p>Take a look at:
University of Virginia (top public school in the US)
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Duke University
University of Maryland College Park
University of Pennsylvania
Boston University
New York University
Georgetown University</p>
<p>… after you get your SATs up, of course.</p>
<p>I’m with the people who’re saying to take the year “off.” Retake your SATs this fall (and study REALLY hard to get those scores up), and while that’s happening start volunteering right now. Find something worthwhile to do during the application process, because when you put it on your application, college will take notice.</p>
<p>Also, like kthanksbye said, look around Europe, especially the UK. They tend to put more weight on IB, instead of SATs and APs like US colleges do. Many of them are just as good or better than US schools.</p>
<p>The main reason why I didn’t apply to safeties in us is because I have already been admitted to universities in Norway and Sweden. I figured if I was to attend a state school in US, then I would rather attend these universities (which would offer education that are equally good) for free than having to pay over millions of dollars for tuition. </p>
<p>@Abetterlife:
Yes, I will be retaking the SAT
At the same time, I will be going to France for a while to teach English while living with a French family and improve my French</p>
<p>@yangx88:
just out of curiosity, how “well rounded” are you? otherwise are you a university counselor/admission officer? :D</p>
<p>@kthanksbye:
oh… I just really want to know what are stellar scores? (I know it might sound cocky but I’m actually being serious and sincere… maybe need to adjust my standards)</p>
<p>also, I’ll be applying to Cambridge this fall</p>
<p>Good God- Good luck. Admission is especially tough for international students. Definitely look into community college, kick butt, and transfer. You can’t-with your stats-make the ivy league, however. Try top thirty five-forty. What is your GPA? It kind of matters.</p>
<p>Wait, sorry. No community college for you. I didn’t read your most recent post. Stay out of the states haha. But really, take one of the offers you did get.</p>
<p>I’m a senior. So I’m not going to disclose any info on what I do specifically to make myself stand out (I’m *currently * applying to a number of elite colleges. All I’m gonna say is that my activities all reflect a central passion and I take what I do VERY VERY far, whether it’s creating my own programs, winning many many awards, doing things that make me different from the majority of the applicant pool. </p>
<p>Both of my parents are Ivy League alumnus and they’ve given me a lot of advice throughout high school. I also have many friends from school who get accepted to top-notch schools. I take note of their accomplishments and the things that make them unique. From that, I learn how to be just as good if not better.</p>
<p>Basketcase: A stellar SAT score would be 2300+, although a 2100 ought to suffice (especially if you’re not from an English-speaking country). A stellar IB score would be anything above 42 (in my opinion), although I do know people here in Singapore who got into Harvard and Wharton with 41. There’s no second-guessing your IB score. It’s fantastic. Other non-academic areas might be lacking though, and that would explain the rejections.</p>
<p>Community college for a year with a 4.0 GPA, some volunteer work; or
Gap year demonstrating a true passion, involvement, commitment to something substantial;
Add excellent references from volunteer, gap year</p>
<p>If you were accepted to one of the Norwegian universities you could just go there, and then use one of their many exchange possibilities. This is great if you are considering working in Norway, cause then you get some professional relations which you can use to build your career with.</p>