Summer programs, suspension, chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Smith College
1

<p>I'm an international student from Bosnia.
I'll graduate at 16. (Will they care about the fact that I skipped a grade considering it was in elementary school?)
I was wondering how summer programs impact my chances, since I'm an international student.
I also got suspended for the dumbest reason on Earth and wrote an explanation, so I'm curious as to how that will affect my application.
I plan on majoring in psychology.
Two of my cousins went to Smith, but not for undergrad -- they got an American Studies diploma I think. Should I mention them in the relatives section of the supplement?</p>

<p>SAT (superscored):
CR: 750
W: 750
M: 670</p>

<p>SAT II:
Literature: 730
Biology: 730</p>

<p>IB points:
38/42 (EE, TOK, and 7th subject not counted)</p>

<p>GPA before IB: 4.00</p>

<p>Recommendations (I've read them all):
Teacher: 1 boring but good, 1 awesome.
Counselor: More explanatory than anything, but says nice things and reiterates that I've taken the hardest courses possible. </p>

<p>Essays:
Common App is pretty great, I think. It's unique.
Haven't done the supplement yet. </p>

<p>IB Subjects:
Bosnian A1 HL
English B HL (There was no option of taking A2 or A1 :( )
Biology HL
French B HL (7th subject, predicted grade: 7)
Psychology SL
Math Studies SL
Predicted As from TOK and EE, but I haven't mentioned that anywhere (it means three extra points added to my total score)</p>

<p>Summer Programs:
Duke University Writing Program, 2 weeks
Wesleyan University Writing Program, 5 weeks
Duke University Clinical Psychology Program, 2 weeks</p>

<p>EC:
Theater, 9th, 10th (lead roles)
Newspaper, 9th, 10th (editor)
Yearbook, 9th, 10th (editor)
Tutoring, 11th, 12th
School PR (presentations for prospective students, articles about events for the IBO and Ministry of Education, that kind of crap), 11th, 12th
Geriatric home volunteering, 11th, 12th
Reproductive/sexual health volunteering, 11th, 12th
Women's club volunteering, 11th, 12th
Environmental club volunteering, 11th, 12th</p>

<p>I went to a private American school before switching to a public Bosnian school for IB and there they were super strict and suspended me because a parent saw me smoking a cigarette downtown, after school.</p>

<p>I've also applied for A LOT of financial aid :S</p>

<p>I'm applying to 18 million other schools, but Smith is a favorite.
Please give me some input :)</p>

2

<p>Your stats seem very good, though I’m not that familiar with the grade scale for IB classes. I wouldn’t worry that you can’t take A1 English classes, since you’ve had experience with summer programs at American universities for writing, that’s going to indicate that you are able to communicate academically in English pretty effectively. Do you have a good writing sample from one of your summer courses? You might think about sending that in just as an additional piece for your application. </p>

<p>I think the biggest hurdle will be financial aid. It’s harder for international students to get financial aid because there is a smaller pool available to them. However, coming from Bosnia, a country not very represented at Smith, will probably be a plus. Your stats all seem to say to me that you have the profile Smith is looking for, the question is can they afford to take you and can you afford to come. No way of knowing that in advance, so I wouldn’t sit up nights worrying about it.</p>