Intended Major(s)
Philosophy, literature or mathematics
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
Weighted HS GPA: 4.2
Class Rank: School doesn’t rank
SAT Scores: Reading & writing: 760, Math: 770
Coursework
School doesn’t offer advanced placement/dual enrollment.
Awards
National short story award
Extracurriculars (Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)
Creative writing: published poetry in 10+ national and international journals, participated in three highly selective creative writing programs, worked as editor for two large literary magazines, started own independent micropublishing company with booklets sold in three local bookstores.
Volunteer: Volunteered in an independent bookstore and played major role in organization of community events, readings and literature festivals. Volunteered as camp counsellor at creative writing camp.
Work: worked as a private tutor in math and english for two years, delivery driver for one year, currently working as a substitute teacher and lab tech assistant in my gap year.
Music: Played cello for 14+ years, solo and orchestral.
Science: Participated in national mathematics camp.
Clubs: founder and president of school french club.
Essays/LORs/Other
Writing my common app essay on being transgender and how that relates to my interest in philosophy.
Schools
Only applying to ivies as my safety school is in my home country.
The Ivies are all very different, so generally when someone is asking about chances at those schools, prestige is a big factor. Choose schools that fit you . Maybe pick one or two Ivies that are good fits and then research other similar schools. Google “little Ivies” as well and maybe the website “Colleges that Change Lives.”
Your interests and talents have a consistency and you could submit a writing supplement with samples, resume and letters of recommendation. For that matter, students with musical talent also submit supplements.
Don’t choose on the generic term “Ivy.” Good luck!
Are finances a concern? They are all at or over $80k to attend (tuition, room, board, books, others). The Ivies (and other colleges in the US) have different policies as to both admissions (need blind vs need aware) and whether they will meet full need for internationals. HYP are the only three Ivies that are both need blind and 100% need met. I believe the others are need aware but will meet full need, but you should check each college’s website.
Your stats (GPA - assuming high rigor in courses, and test scores) put you in the competitive pool, along with thousands of others. Now can you sell yourself with a story that connects your intellect, your interests and accomplishments that would make you an asset to that school?
Depending on your country, you would be competitive, but that just means that there is a better than average chance, with “average” meaning 1%-5% for international students.
On the other hand, you also need to do some homework on which colleges are the best for the topic in which you are interested, which have the best admissions for international students, and, more important - what do you want from a college, and, more importantly, what your parents can afford.
There are 8 colleges in the Ivy League athletic conference, and they are very different from each other. They go in size from 4,000 to 15,000 undergraduates, from the Middle of NYC to the middle of the mountains of upstate New York, and have very different cultures as well. In fact, the only common characteristic is that they are all private (mostly), and that all are extremely wealthy.
Moreover, there are a long list of different colleges of different sizes and locations, different acceptance rates, and, likely most important to you, different levels of financial and merit aid. Many are far better choices for you than most of the Ivy League colleges.
Yes, you’re competitive for admission to T20 schools in the USA. If you need fin aid, consider the schools that are need-blind and fully funded for int’l students based upon fin need - don’t overlook the “little Ivies”, especially Amherst. If you’re really good on cello, plan on submitting a music supplement - Harvard in particular is very proud of its college orchestra, which, considering that Harvard doesn’t have performance music majors, is really very good. If their conductor hears your supplement, and wants you for his orchestra, it may boost your chances of acceptance there.