<p>I am from California. I applied last year and was one of two people on a wait list and I’m re-applying this year.</p>
<p>I’m applying from Inida, and am really excited, how important are your grades and what is expected from the applications</p>
<p>I don’t know if anyone looking at this thread is from India but if you look at previous posts many people have explained what is expected in general.</p>
<p>@Gandalf97 yeah, I’d look through this thread. Also, there’s this:
[Pearson]Pearson</a> College - Canada’s full scholarship school for students of exceptional promise and potential worldwide](<a href=“http://pearsoncollege.ca/p/?pgn=Apply&subpgn=ThingsYouShouldKnow&pn=IdealCandidate]Pearson]Pearson”>http://pearsoncollege.ca/p/?pgn=Apply&subpgn=ThingsYouShouldKnow&pn=IdealCandidate) College - Canada’s full scholarship school for students of exceptional promise and potential worldwide</p>
<p>from the Pearson website - it gives the “ideal Pearson candidate”. That isn’t a UWC-wide thing, just Pearson, but it does give a good idea of what they’re looking for.</p>
<p>HI everybody… I’m joining this thread. last year I applied to UWC from the US as a sophomore and did not get in. It was very upsetting but it also helped me see that even though it felt like the end of the world, it wasn’t. There are still ways to be involved in the world besides UWC. I also remember being really anxious for months while waiting for news and when I found out in history class I was ready to start crying (later I did). I didn’t think I could get past it, but I’ve focused on other things. There’s nothing really remarkable about me and it’s hard not to show that in the essays. That might have hurt me. Also, I think I lost track of my life while waiting and applying because I was so focused on UWC and not everything else in my life. This year I’m trying to perfect that balance. </p>
<p>I think what hurt me the most was my grades. From what I read, most people have high gpa’s. Mine weren’t the best. It was only a 3.2 or 3.3. Also, I was only in one honors class (geometry) and no AP’s. My school offers double language programs so I did Chinese and Spanish. But when you do that you drop either a science or history and I dropped history in 9th and when I picked it up again in 10th, I lost the chance to be in AP. I dropped it again this year to take Bio, but I am planning on taking the US history AP on my own. </p>
<p>PSAT wasn’t amazing, only 182 combined. </p>
<p>I row crew which I love and it is a big part of my life. I also play piano, but more for myself as a hobby than competitively. </p>
<p>EC: very involved with clubs but most aren’t well known, just unique to my school. </p>
<ul>
<li>One club travels to an elementary school to teach children how to respect each other because of some issues that school was having (2 years). </li>
<li>Another is Black Student Union (although I am white) for 2 years. A club that talks about current events and foreign policies (sec tres for that/ 3rd year) </li>
<li>new club I just started with an organization that helps women and children who have been used.<br></li>
</ul>
<p>there are others but I am most involved with those</p>
<p>I also volunteer at a nursing home every weekend, but it is not a large commitment which I think hurt me (2 hours/week for almost 4 years) </p>
<p>Between fresh and soph year I went to China for 2 week study abroad.
Also went on a mission trip with my church for 1 week. </p>
<p>Summer between soph and junior year: 5 week internship at a law office (one of 2 high school students)
volunteer at a sailing center occasionally for access ability events in the past summer</p>
<p>This is just a rough outline but what I am trying to focus this year is my grades and the essays since I have a general idea on what they’re on. </p>
<p>My first choices last year were the UWC’s in China, Italy and Wales although I would be happy at any of the UWC’s like anyone else.</p>
<p>Good lucK! Especially to you sophomores! Remember, it’s not the end of the world. (sorry if that’s a little harsh) Don’t make the same mistakes I did by making it the only thing in your life from between October and March or so. </p>
<p>Also is anyone applying from private schools??? Does that help or hurt?</p>
<p>@windowpainting16 Ha I glanced over your reply because “yoguertmonkey” never registered in my brain. Then re-reading the thread I realized you were speaking to me hehehe. Ahhhhh from the interview to the decision i’ll probably be glued infront of the computer, waiting.</p>
<p>@livealife96: I don’t think being from a private school will help you or hurt you. Do you have an explanation for the low GPA? My only advice would be to raise your SAT score and make sure that your essays are especially strong and convey a passion for something.
@yogurthamster: Oh my gosh I can’t believe I did that! Haha. That sure is a message to me that I should probably stop checking this thread right before I go to bed!</p>
<p>Some mid-day inspiration for you all 
Just don’t give up on your dreams, you all have it in you to succeed! </p>
<p>[Andy</a> Grammer - Lunatic (Lyrics) - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>@lindzmm - Thank you so much for your encouragement! 
I can’t believe how fast time flies - after two months the application will start again… I still remember how excited I was last year as UWC has been my dream school for years. Even though I am not sure whether or not this year would be another another failure, I will continue to chase my dream!</p>
<p>By the way, does anyone know any students from Adriatic? I wanna know more about this school. :D</p>
<p>@windowpainting - so will you be 18 when you start UWC if you get in?</p>
<p>@littleivy: No. I am 16 now and my birthday is in May so I’ll be 17.</p>
<p>Love how many new people are joining in… we should keep this thread going during the whole application process, I feel like we will need the moral support. On a side note, it just hit me: a year from now, some of us will be attending UWCs. Maybe this is a no brainer to everyone else but this whole time I’ve been freaking out about getting in and whenever I’ve thought about going to a UWC it has been more as something I would dream of doing- it’s crazy to think that we all actually have a chance of getting in and some of us actually will.
Anyhooo, just wondering, does anyone know what percentage of applicants get interviews and what percentage actually get in?</p>
<p>I know that there are more and more applicants every year, so probably over …600? this year - 100-125 get interviews and 50 get in. (If you’re asking about US applicants)</p>
<p>@moramora: Yes thinking about that is really insane. I try not to do it but it’s so hard. I don’t want to get my hopes up but it’s just too exciting. Also the chance from initial application to acceptance last year was around 1:13.</p>
<p>Oh my, the application starts on 7/10… <em>Battle mode</em></p>
<p>Aah, the US site still only says “by the end of October” for when the application should be available. So 6 days until I can start going “IT SHOULD BE UP ANY DAY NOW AAAAAAANY DAY”!</p>
<p>And the UWC National Committee of Serbia’s website was last time updated in February of last year, when the application started.</p>
<p>You guys, chillax. You will have plenty of time to do the application. I spent most of my time worrying about my essay ideas not being good enough and wrote all my essays the weekend before and I did better than 92% of the applicants. So don’t worry.</p>
<p>Reading over that I’m realizing it might sound rude, something I didn’t intend. Here’s my point-- I know you’re excited, that’s totally understandable and normal and fantastic. I guess I just wanted to reassure you that you don’t have anything to worry about. You will have more than enough time for your application and you will be able to accurately portray yourself in it. If UWC is the right thing for your life right now, you’ll get in. I got wait listed and thought it was the end of the world but looking back I’ve grown so much and had so many great experiences. I feel so much more ready this year and it’s going to be even better if it works out. </p>
<p>UWC is a great opportunity but it’s by no means the only way to live the UWC movement. Make the choice every day to be tolerant and inclusive and to work for peace.</p>
<p>Hey you all!
I’m a Singaporean living in Zambia planning to apply to UWC. My school is an international school, and I am in my second year of IGCSE. I was introduced to the UWC movement when a good friend of mine was accepted to UWC Atlantic. She’s currently in her first year there. If anyone has questions about living in Singapore or Africa, I would be happy to help you out. And also, does anyone know about applying to your national committee if you’re not living there? My national committee requires 3 interviews, but I can’t be there for all three. I’ve e-mailed them and I’m waiting for a reply, but if anyone knows anything else about situations like this, I would really appreciate your help. I’ve tried e-mailing the person in charge of admitting people in Zambia, but it seems like her inbox is full and won’t let me reach her (don’t these people know how important they are?!)</p>