What are my Chances??Am i on the right track?

Student Lounge International Students
1

Heyy, everyone. Im in my junior year, and an international student from Pakistan. I really wanted to apply to top colleges in the US next year, and wanted some insight of how i’m doing till now. Am i on the right track?
Heres my profile until now.
Note that we dont follow the highschool system here in Pakistan, My school follows the UK system where we appear for Gces and then Alevels.

SAT: 1440 (gonna give it again in this coming october)
SAT 2: still have to give those too
GPA: 4.0
Olevels: I had 8 A*s and 4As
Alevels: My results are due march but i have a pretty big courseload. I have 7 subjects (the usual is 3 or 4) and im doing the AICE diploma, the only AP equivalent for my system
Class ranking: 1/150

Extracurriculars:
Debate club(2 years and counting) Founder. I basically brought debates to our school by leading the intiative and hiring a coach too
Ranked top 5 in the country, won best new team, my first year, also made it to numerous knockout rounds at the national level
MUN club (VP) n(3 years and counting) numerous best delegate awards
Volunteer at local orphanage teaching kids maths and english 6 hours per week for a year
Interned at a Corporate Lawfirm for three weeks last summer
Deputy head prefect on the student council
Head Literary society, coedited first literary magazine for our school

I’d really like to apply to a few ivies and liberal arts colleges out there. I have my heart stuck on Williams and Dartmouth but who knows? :slight_smile:
I appreciate any insight you guys might have and would really appreciate tips and pointers on what you guys think i should add.

2

would really appreciate some input here!

3

Hey! It’s great to see you taking the initiative with the things you’re doing. Focus on getting that SAT up to at least a 1500 (after that it really doesn’t matter all that much although bigger is always better). Give two SAT IIs (if you’re heading into STEM go for maths II and either physics or chemistry, while for other majors try to fit the SAT II subject to your intended major).

Your key to distinguishing yourself is getting ranked nationally and internationally, so continue what you’re doing on the debates circuit and try to make it to the national team. Simultaneously diversify yourself and realize that you need to build a profile for these colleges that shows you’re really passionate about one specific thing - your ‘spike’. Something that you’re so good at that you blow everyone else out of the water and they want you immediately. OR something unqiue enough to distinguish you just as immediately.

Lastly, and most importantly: start writing your main essay NOW. No matter how great the rest of your profile is, you want to make sure that the essay doesn’t just blend into the rest of the essays they read. Especially with colleges like Williams and Dartmouth, which are known for their intimate environments, you’ll want essays that portray your personality quirks and passions, and how your perspective on things is different from others. I skimped on my main essay while polishing everything else in my application and believe me, I regret it. Don’t make the same mistake.

Good luck!