To anyone who has been admitted to an Ivy league or a top university...

Applying to College
1

<p>I am currently a junior in high school, which is not in the U.S.
The school I go to is the the top school in my country and I am positive that universities are well aware of the hard curriculum we take.</p>

<p>The courses I take are:
Math, chemistry, biology, physics, English, Arabic, French, social studies(history, geography, civics), economics, and sociology.
So basically, we take everything.</p>

<p>My average for the first semester this year was 80%, because it's really difficult to get a 90% average at my school. I took the SAT's once before, and plan on taking them again, aiming for a much higher grade.
Im on the varsity volleyball team and in the model united nations. </p>

<p>I started off a bit lazy my freshman year, and i've been improving ever since.
I'd like to know if there are any books i can get that can help me through the process of applying to an Ivy league university or atleast a top university. </p>

<p>Hopefully, I'll be attending a summer course in university of michigan - ann arbor, this summer. </p>

<p>Now, the main question is: Do I even have a chance to get accepted into one of the best universities? And if my grades won't do it, then are there any other ways i can show the admissions board how im unique, or what can I do at this point in high school that would actually make a difference? So if anyone has gotten into an ivy league, can you please help? </p>

<p>All answers are appreciated, and thank you :)</p>

2

<p>To be frank, I don’t think 80 percent will get you in an IVY or a top tier university.</p>

<p>Just look at any of the statistics for the kids that are applying to the schools that you are
interested in. </p>

<p>I wish you luck!</p>

3

<p>Based on your grades, they’ll be quite the reach for you.</p>

4

<p>I don’t know what your chances are, but I do know that at many foreign schools getting an 80% is an A, and is harder to get then getting an A in the US, for instance in my senior year less then 50 people got straight As in the entire country. I’m sure colleges take this into account when looking at foreign students.</p>

5

<p>Awesome29, if you really want to get into an Ivy or a top university here in the US, I suggest you to come to study in one of the boarding school at the east coast for a year or two, I am sure its much easy than applying internationally. Speaking from experience.</p>

6

<p>I second classical826, juggling with all the requirements for US school is hard enough, and on top of that, you’ll have to deal with your own country’s academic plan, and second plan, and third plan. Study abroad now if you still want it later</p>

7

<p>I would say ignore the other comments. 80% at a US school is not at all the same as getting in 80% in, say for example, a school in India. This will get you the grade conversions:
[WES</a> Grade Conversion Guide](<a href=“http://www.wes.org/gradeconversionguide/]WES”>Country Resources - WES.org)</p>

<p>For Ivy League, you usually need MINIMUM 90% US score. However, there are very rare exception. There is also other criteria. I would suggest you go to the Ivy websites and see there policies for international students.</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

8

<p>I definitely agree with “stressedouttt”… i am also international and i can tell from personal experience, getting straight A’s at my school is ridiculously hard, but i did check the link “stressedouttt” gave (WES) and it says, about an 85 in my country is a very solid A in the U.S. so i guess colleges have to consider that.</p>

<p>I would say you still have some time and i definitely dont think you have to go to a boarding school in the U.S. I believe all you have to do is work very hard and ensure that when you’re applying, your main essay and short essays show that your unique, play your strenghts (your international), there must be something that you can offer them that anyone else who isnt from your country can, so you must start thinking about what that is from right now!!! And if it is meant to be, it will happen for you!! GoodLuck!!!</p>

9

<p>thank you so much to anyone who answered! i will keepy working as hard as i can and try my luck!</p>