Waitlisted... question!

<p>Here are some of my stats...</p>

<p>-4.0 unweighted GPA
-34 on ACT
-SAT Chem 800, SAT Math 1 800, SAT US History 710
-Courses: AP Chem, AP Stats, AP Calc AB, AP English, AP US History (took this AFTER taking the SAT US History test lol), Organic Chem, Adv. Physics, Analytical Chem, Adv. Geometry, Bioethics, Astronomy, Anatomy, among other classes (basically never taken a blow-off class)
-Published 3 papers/articles in magazines/newspapers
-2nd place in regional essay contest
-Published research paper in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
-Independent scientific research projects
-Delegation leader for Amnesty Intl
-Started a Save Darfur club at my high school
-Lobbied Congressman on Darfur issues
-Major volunteer activities are on political campaign and at nursing home
-Model UN, PeaceJam, Science Olympiad
-Summers: attended National Student Leadership Conference and studied health psych at Brown
-Commended Scholar</p>

<p>I got waitlisted from Hopkins (my top choice). I have Canadian citizenship but have been living in the US for most of my life on a visa (no green card). Do colleges have quotas on international students? Do you think the fact that I was waitlisted has to do with that, or are my credentials not strong enough?</p>

<p>Ugh I want to go there soooooo bad :(.</p>

<p>Thanks for any comments.</p>

<p>More details… couldn’t edit the previous post.</p>

<p>-School: I attend my high school in Michigan for half my classes and an accelerated Math/Science Center for the other half of my classes.
-Essay: Wrote about overcoming my eating disorder for one essay & about wanting to study intl relations for another because i’m big on genocide intervention since my grandma narrowly escaped the Rape of Nanking</p>

<p>To be honest, I don’t see why JHU did not take you in given the assumptions that (1) you did not apply for scholarship and (2) there weren’t many applicants with similar backgrounds. If all the descriptions on your stats, extracurricular list and essays are true, you must be in the “admitted” thread. I am not an admission officer, but I can tell from your record that you are a very competitive applicant. </p>

<p>Do colleges have quotas on international students?

  • I am not sure about that. Although JHU claims not to discriminate applicants based on nationality, race, etc (exc. scholarship factor), universities like JHU regard diversity as one of the most important factor in offering admissions. You may be at a disadvantage if there were many applicants like you. (e.g. race, nationality, family background)
    Do you think the fact that I was waitlisted has to do with that, or are my credentials not strong enough?
  • Your credentials are outstanding! No one can tell you for sure if you will be admitted though because there are simply too many factors that need to be considered in the admission process. I think you really should appeal the decision (if there is one), or submit a card letting the university know you are still in the game. </p>

<p>Good luck with your admission. Carpe Diem!</p>

<p>Thank you for your insight, kfighter.</p>

<p>So… when I applied, I didn’t know whether I would really be considered an international student since I live in the US, so I didn’t look into specific instructions for applying internationally… and apparently, I had to fill out the International Student Certification of Finances form, which I didn’t… ugh I’m so stupid! I bet that had something to do with it…</p>

<p>Anyway, I’m going to call them Monday and explain and see what they say… any advice anyone?</p>

<p>So I called them and basically they told me there was no way they could change my admissions decision. Despite the fact that I won’t be needing financial aid. And my parents kept telling me last year that I wouldn’t be considered international since we’re in the process of applying for a green card. So I never filled out that Certification of Finances form. I’ve wanted to go to Hopkins since freshman year… three words… ■■■!!!</p>

<p>Although I am not an international student, I have also been waitlisted.</p>

<p>my ACT is only 29.</p>

<p>I agree with KFighter, I applied this year, im also canadian (one of my passports) and I think my credentials are slightly lower, but I got in, except I probably wont go, because I dunno if its worth the price.
Anyhow, it definitely wasnt the fact that you’re an international or your credentials. But check out their waitlist stats, and how they affect international applicants, because you seem like a very strong contender…What are your other options though?
Btw how did all you guys (internationals) plan to pay for Hopkins?</p>

<p>Idk, did you indicate that you would be applying for need-based aid on the CommonApp, lussierra? I did… but I never actually intended on applying for aid because I thought we probably wouldn’t get much anyway with my parents’ income, but I figured checking the box wouldn’t hurt… </p>

<p>Just yesterday I was looking through old emails and I found one from Northwestern (which I was rejected from) received back in January about financial aid for internationals which stated:</p>

<p>“As an applicant for Northwestern’s need-based international financial aid, we would like to remind you that being admitted to Northwestern as an international aid applicant is significantly more difficult given the limited budget for this program. Northwestern is committed to meeting a family’s demonstrated financial need and therefore will not admit students who we cannot afford to fund. As a result, some very qualified students will not be admitted to Northwestern. Although the usual selective admission criteria (academic, extracurricular and writing achievement) are the primary factors in our admission decision, the amount of financial assistance needed by an international aid applicant may be a factor in the final admission decision.”</p>

<p>Idk, I’m guessing Hopkins is the same way. Jeez, I really need to start paying more attention to emails…</p>

<p>My only other option is University of Michigan. It’s a bit too big of a school for me, though (and I wanna get out of my home state, too, lol, it’s too friggin cold all the time).</p>

<p>Look at AdmissionsDaniel’s post here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/johns-hopkins-university/535093-need-blind-ness-jhu.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/johns-hopkins-university/535093-need-blind-ness-jhu.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I’d suggest you inform them immediately, in writing as well as through phone or email, with tax returns or the certification of finances form (not sure what the latter is, but I assume it’s for international students to certify they can pay) immediately, as well as with a letter about how much you wish to go to Hopkins and why Hopkins is the perfect match for you (and you it) and any additional new interesting/“wow” information.</p>

<p>Like others who posted already, I believe your stats definitely meet JHU’s qualifications, and while as we aren’t part of the admission staff and can’t “exactly” say why you were waitlisted and not accepted, it is most likely due to your application for FA.</p>

<p>Good luck! (btw, congrats on your chem score… heh, I took it twice, didn’t seem so hard, but I couldn’t break a certain # for some reason. oh well, made jhu bme in the end! : P)</p>