The endless college search

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I am an international student (from India) and I have spent most of my school life in American schools. I am very interested in psychology (particularly, experimental and cognitive psychology). I plan to take two SAT IIs: Math II and Biology (M). I need your help to please suggest some schools that would seem like a good match for my stats. </p>

<p>Standardized Testing:
SAT I:
- May 2011 - 1870 (600 CR, 650 Math, 620 writing)
- June 2011- 1970 (660 CR, 650 Math, 660 writing)
- Unsure of whether or not to give it another try</p>

<p>SAT II:
- Biology (M) - Not taken yet
- Math II - Not taken yet</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.03 (2.58 Freshmen, 3.02 Sophomore, 3.58 Junior)
Weighted GPA: Unsure how to calculate
Class Rank: Not given</p>

<p>I didn't take any college-level classes before I became a junior and became enrolled in the IB system. I'm currently taking the following courses with the predicteds inside the parentheses:</p>

<p>IB English HL [5/6]
IB Spanish Ab Initio [6]
IB Psychology HL [7]
IB Biology HL [7]
IB Math SL [6/7]
IB Theater SL [6] </p>

<p>I'm thinking about adding another course to my schedule during my senior year (an online computer science course), but still haven't decided. </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- Flash Theater (9-12)
- MUN (10-12) [Special position on the final year]
- Culinary Culture Club (11-12) [Officer]
- Bihar Relief (10-12) (including a self-sponsored trip where we helped with irrigation-related problems, am going back in November to help build a library)
- Psychology Club (11-12) [President]
- School Play (10-12)
- Piano (11-12)
- School Tennis Team (11-12)
- Psychology-related internship with a Harvard university professor at Harvard
- Psychology-related internship with the commissioner of police investigating road rage
- Gym (10-12)
- Sports psychology-related internship at one of the most popular gyms in India
- Went to a small island in the Philippines and worked with street kids using theater and am invited to come back to look at the psychology of these children by their onsite doctor.<br>
- Taking two college courses this summer: psych and computer science (taking computer science because i noticed a lot of psychology internships in the cognitive psychology labs require cs)</p>

<p>Major Awards, etc:
Not sure if these exactly constitute as major awards, but they are awards!
- Honor roll 11th grade
- Psychology award 11th grade </p>

<p>Other:
- Major: Psychoogy
- Country: India
- Ethnicity: Asian
- Gender: Male
- Income: 200k bracket</p>

<p>Let me know if you have any other advice as well.</p>

2

<p>With that kind of stats, you have your pick of the top schools kid. Try Stanford, I heard their Psych classes are good. Yale is also a good option too.</p>

3

<p>Oh, that’s fantastic to hear. I agree that Stanford’s psychology program is amazing. However, are you sure you read my stats correctly? Under 2000 SAT, 3/4 gpa :x</p>

4

<p>You have the advantage of the IB program, it’s well regarded. Secondly at 1970, with a good essay and your ECs, you can easily muscle your way into good colleges especially with your impressive ECs. The thing is, most colleges today take a “holistic” approach so that grades and the SAT scores may not be that central. Beef up the grades. Try to avoid the 5s at all cost. If you’re unsure of your SAT scores, you can take it again in October (Stanford’s regular decision is January 1st I think). College admissions can be a bit of a lottery at times but there is no denying that you have a pretty fair shot. With an excellent application, I don’t see why you can’t get into the top schools.</p>

5

<p>I’m going to disagree with loltime. Stanford and Yale are unfortunately out of your league. A 1970 SAT and a 3.03 GPA is way under par for those top tier schools. Your ECs are fine but not spectacular. Those said schools get too many applicants with perfect or near perfect GPAs, phenomenal SAT scores, and outstanding ECs. That and the fact that you have no hooks and you’re an international applicant (meaning you’ll be pitted against the top students from other nations) don’t bode well for you.You’re a good applicant with a shot at good schools but the Ivies and schools in that tier will be incredibly difficult with your stats if not impossible. The only advice I can offer is to work hard senior year, retake that SAT, and wish for the best. </p>

<p>Try using Collegeconfidentials college search tool to see what kind of schools you should be looking at.
[College</a> Search - College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/)</p>