What are my Chances as an Applicant from Canada?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hi, I'm a junior in Canada. Recently took the January SAT, it was the Sunday before my exam week (I had 5 exams so I didn't study much for the SAT). I was expecting around a 2000, and I received a 1940: 660 CR, 660 Math, 620 W (only 8 on essay, which is a disappointment). </p>

<p>I currently maintain a 98 - 99% average, it's Canadian system. I think my school gives 4.0 GPA for 90%+. </p>

<p>I am taking AP bio this year. Also have taken/taking AP Chem, English, Psychology, and Math, but it's simply grade 12 courses with extra difficulty, similar to honours. We aren't allowed to take AP until after the grade 12 course is completed, aside from chem and bio.</p>

<p>My grades are all balanced evenly: </p>

<p>This year from first semester:</p>

<p>Physics: 98%
French: 98%
History of Canada: 99%
Biology: 100% (slight curve given, 98% w/o curve)
Chem: 98% (slight curve, 96% w/o-- really tough teacher though)</p>

<p>I am involved in student council, philanthropy, indoor and outdoor track, badminton, chess club, and I play on doing some tutoring and some volunteer work at hospital or salvation army type thing this summer. Also did volleyball, soccer, curling, and basketball as a freshman, but then I switched schools to current.</p>

<p>I am well positioned to gain acceptance to University of Toronto, Mcgill, and UBC. Will also apply to my provincial University: Manitoba. I took the SAT to gain an idea of how I compare with other students, was hoping to apply to some top schools in US where most of the financial costs are covered.</p>

<p>Do I have any chance @ Cornell, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Brown, etc? I'm not looking for second tier universities b/c I would rather stay in Canada if that was the case. I understand that my SAT is low, but that's because I dd not study much. I did buy the blue book and did the practice tests, but only 1 or 2 sections a day, never a full practice at once, which in hindsight really prevented me from doing better. I just didn't have the time. I am quite certain that I will re-take SAT as a senior though and study more this summer.</p>

<p>Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. </p>

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<p>Aim for 32+/2150+…</p>

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<p>Your SAT needs to go up by a couple hundred points before your chances are any good. Even assuming you study and take the SAT again with a relatively better score (maybe 2100-2200), I’d say Ivy Leagues are a reach. Good luck :)</p>

<p>Chance me? :slight_smile:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1615566-us-student-applying-to-british-unis-help.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1615566-us-student-applying-to-british-unis-help.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Assuming that I can raise that SAT score to a 2100 - 2250, which I think I’m capable of doing so, would I have a chance at some Ivies? Also, does the SAT really make such a big deal? I don’t really get why it’s necessary to put so many hours into a single test; I thought the Ivies were more holistic… </p>

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<p>SAT’s are a big deal but so is everything for the top Ivies. A 2250 might get you considered at Cornell. Many Canadians do not realize how competitive the Ivies, Stanford etc. are. The Ivies are holistic in that having a 2400 SAT and a 4.0 GPA do not guarantee admission. Your EC’s seem weak, at least as you have descibed them.</p>

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<p>Alright. I will describe my EC’s with more detail, keep in mind I’m still a junior: </p>

<p>Track and Field: 5 years (since 7th grade)
Participated in outdoor provincials since highschool: Finished around 20th in province for 400, 800</p>

<p>Badminton: 5 years (Since 7th as well) Placed top 6 in zones (12 schools) last year</p>

<p>Student Council: 7 years (Since 5th grade) I have been grade representative at all my schools (middle school, high school for grade 9, then switched to a bigger high school to take AP where I’ve been representative in 10th and now 11th, I will probably be an executive next year as executive spots are only for grade 12’s)</p>

<p>Philanthropy: 7 years. Took part in many initiatives, currently raising money for school in Africa. Taken part in 4 WE DAY’s, many Free the Children Initiatives, etc.</p>

<p>Volunteering: I do lots of volunteering for all school events. I have already received credit for 110 hours of community service in grade 9. Plus additional 40 hours that I need at my new school (compulsory) to graduate. Will be doing a lot more this summer.</p>

<p>Soccer, volleyball, basketball: All played from 7th - 9th grade. Received 3-4 awards in 9th grade, but switched schools after 9th. Didn’t choose to continue with these sports.</p>

<p>Curling: 4th grade to 9th grade: Won a couple middle school bonspiels. </p>

<p>Chess Club: Started this year, never had chess club available before. </p>

<p>School Rank: Not officially released in transcript but known during academic awards each year:
1 out of 150 in my grade. Also top mark for entire school: 1 out of 650</p>

<p>Not sure if this is hook:</p>

<p>First generation immigrant, moved to Canada from China when I was ~3 years old.
I lived most of my life as generally lower-middle class.
Family income as of now: middle class</p>

<p>Work Experience: Worked at a restaurant for 2-3 years</p>

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<p>EC’s are good but SAT is too low at 1940. IF you can bring that up to a 2150 you should have a chance
chance back
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1616328-chance-to-get-into-these-nursing-schools-fully-updated-resume.html?new=1”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1616328-chance-to-get-into-these-nursing-schools-fully-updated-resume.html?new=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Hmm…not to be harsh but you need to work on both your EC’s and your SAT/ACT. Maybe Cornell and U Penn will be a slight reach if you get 2150+ with your current ECs, but the other colleges are high reaches especially if you plan to get financial aid. For those competitive Ivies, they don’t just need high scores, but also interesting/outstanding EC’s and phenomenal essays. For example, if you want to major in computer science, it would be best if you interned at some companies such as Microsoft, etc. Your representative experience may be the most understanding in this case. But do more. Here’s a link to case studies by Stanford admissions officer: <a href=“A must see for college applicants. - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1586016-a-must-see-for-college-applicants-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Chance Back at <a href=“Chances for Cornell, Rice, Carnegie Mellon, Yale, Duke, U Penn, etc (Junior) - #8 by pieguy321 - Chance Me / Match Me! - College Confidential Forums”>Chances for Cornell, Rice, Carnegie Mellon, Yale, Duke, U Penn, etc (Junior) - #8 by pieguy321 - Chance Me / Match Me! - College Confidential Forums;

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<p>@MBenz23 Thanks for the feedback. I think that’s very possible as I did not study much and not really used to pure MC.</p>

<p>@fairyfantasy Thanks for that link. Yeah, I’m planning on pre-med so I will definitely be trying to do some interning or volunteering at a hospital this summer. Also, what exactly do you mean by “representative experience”?</p>

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<p>@Martin18 You said you were the grade representative in school, weren’t you? I think that is something understanding since the position is given to one out of a whole grade. </p>

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<p>yep</p>

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<p>Are they holistic? I mean, would they take late bloomers? I looked on several websites and they tell me different things (expected, because they are different schools). Harvard tells me that they accept late bloomers in one section and UPenn tells me that marks are the quantifying element that determines acceptance.
Another thing: how is GPA weighted in the States?
I know that universities vary from place to place and require different subjects for admission but UTSG (and some others around school) have told me that it does not matter. What does is GPA in the final year (often in the 95-99 range). </p>

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<p>How does the AP English exam compare with the EC in the SAT?</p>