<p>Hey guys, I am an Asian male who moved to Canada at the age of 4.</p>
<p>The schools I'm applying for are:
1) University of Pennsylvania
2) University of Columbia
3) UC: Berkley
4) New York University
5) Boston College</p>
<p>IB student</p>
<p>SAT: 2250
CR: 750
Writing: 780
Math: 720</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.86</p>
<p>2 AP Classes:
Economics: 4
US History: 5</p>
<p>SAT II's:
Math II: 720
US History: 790
Chemistry: 740
Korean: 720
French: 710</p>
<p>Going for IB Diploma</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
- Nationally ranked debater (27th), late rounds in several of the most competitive tournaments in North America
- Basketball 4 years (1 Final, 2 Semi Final Regional finishes) + (MVP 1 year)
- Concert Band 3 years (2nd place at junior nationals)</p>
<p>Volunteer:
- Overseas volunteering in Kenya (Me to We foundation)
- Assistant at lawyer's office 2 years (Lawyer is UPenn alum)
- Debate coach at elementary school 2 years
- Church Orchestra 4 years
- Hoops 4 Heart (charity basketball tournament) organizer 2 years
- Basketball Rep. Club referee </p>
<p>Total over 600 hours</p>
<p>Jobs:
- Kumon assistant teacher 3 years</p>
<p>Misc.:
- Penn Pre-College Program (studied Economics and World history)
- President of debate club
- Most Outstanding Achievement Award 3 years (most prestigious award available at school)
- Numerous Subject Distinction Awards (highest grade in the course)</p>
<p>If possible please chance me for all 5 choices, not just #1,2 :D</p>
<p>With the competition from the Canadian pool being so fierce, your chances at Penn and Columbia aren’t very good. That said, you do have a shot because of those scores/grades, just not a very good one since no part of your application stands out.</p>
<p>I don’t necessarily think Canadians have it harder in terms of admissions at Columbia or UPenn. They are need-blind towards Canadians, so there really isn’t reason for Columbia or UPenn to be harder on them.</p>
<p>I am going to go out on a limb and say that Penn is a low-mid reach for you. Obviously UPenn is an 8ball in terms of admissions no matter how qualified you are, but you have demonstrated real interest in that specific university and your grades and test scores are commendable.
Boston College and NYU I see as matches and Cal is a high match but I can’t see you getting rejected there.
Columbia is tough and I would put it head to head with Penn.</p>
<p>Feel free to chance me back if you want, it’s a thread or two below yours!</p>
<p>@ powerbomb: The Canadian pool is full of recruited athletes and immensely competitive kids from UCC, Appleby, Ashbury, St. Georges-type schools. Getting into Ivies un-hooked from that pool would be a very impressive accomplishment.</p>
<p>However, like I said, the OP does have a chance at making it to those schools. Just not a very good one.</p>
<p>I’m not doubting that there are immensely competitive applicants from Canada. My point is that it shouldn’t be harder than it is for American applicants since they are need-blind and there are no quotas for Canadians.</p>
<p>UCB and BC you’re in as far as i can tell. u penn, NYU and columbia are gonna be mid-reaches though since you lack a lot of AP classes and your GPA’s pretty mediocre for those schools. you never know though, make sure your essays kick ass and you’ll have a better chance. good job with the volunteer work, college admissions totally eat that **** up</p>
<p>powerbomb:
That’s what they say. Lol, look back at Ivy results threads, especially for ED, and see which Canadians actually got in.
Also, need-blind just means that one’s inability to finance one’s education won’t impact their chances of admission. Hooked, competitive kids displaying need could still take up all the spaces and thus leave everyone else with no advantage.</p>
<p>I did look at those threads, PrincetonDreams, and I don’t see any significant differences in credentials between Canadians acceptees and American acceptees. The only thing I see is that there are fewer Canadian acceptees, but then again there must’ve been less applicants in the first place.</p>
<p>1) University of Pennsylvania-mid reach
2) University of Columbia- mid reach
3) UC: Berkley- dont know
4) New York University- high match/match
5) Boston College-dont know</p>
<p>@ PrincetonDreams
haha I am fully aware of the competition that I am up against amongst both American and Canadian applicants. Having said that, I think im a competitive applicant with a decent shot at those two Ivies (imo) so all I can do is just apply and hope for the best lol thanks again for your response tho.</p>
<p>@ all the other posters
thanks for all the comments i appreciate all of em. some others willing to give their opinions?</p>
thanks again for your response tho.</p>