<p>Hello!
This is my first time posting on college confidential but i've been reading forums here for about 2 years.
I'm an American-Egyptian and I've lived in Egypt for almost all my life. I'm gonna start my senior year next month and i'm planning on going to uni in the US.
American schools in Egypt value one thing most: SAT. I got a 1910 and currently hold the highest score in my grade, ahead of the 2nd highest by 200 points. Needless to say my grade has one of the lowest SAT scores of my school's history, but I digress.
I'm planning to major in computer engineering and minor in Japanese language and culture. I want to finish my undergraduates in the US and move on to Japan for my graduates. Of course i want to aim for the best degree possible. I'm applying to a lot of universities in the US but I want to know my chances at getting into MIT or CalTech.</p>
<p>My SAT score is 1910
SAT 2 Chemistry 680 (underestimated the test and studied too little)
SAT 2 Math 1 660 (underestimated the test and studied too little)
(Less than 2 weeks of study for the SAT 2 tests and zero studying for the SAT 1 XD)
Going to take SAT 2 physics and math 2 this november and aiming for no less than 750 and let's assume I got those :P
My total GPA is probably gonna be 3.70-3.80 (messed up a bit in 9th and 10th grade and Arabic is a total bi*ch. 11th grade got straight A+ except for A- in arabic and i can expect a lower arabic score in 12th grade).
As for my extras...
I've been class representative for the past 3 years and was VP in 11th grade. Running for president in 12th.
Captain of the Chess Club
A few volunteer works here and there for the children's cancer hospital in Egypt.
First degree red belt in Tae Kwon Do (next belt is the first degree black belt. Won't be able to get it before the end of senior year and if i do travel then it'll be impossible)
Play the guitar and received a certificate for passing the British Royal Academy of Music's grade 1 test with Merit in 7th grade and will go for the grade 5 test this year, hoping to pass with merit again.
And finally, I'm fluent in 3 languages: English, Arabic, and German, and planning on learning Japanese in college. I'm actually starting to casually teach myself Japanese little by little.</p>
<p>I know most ppl who post on here have much better qualifications than mine. Let's just say schools in Egypt don't offer half as many extra curricular activities and especially with the revolution, no chance at a part-time job or anything. My school however is one of the highest rated private schools in Egypt. Assuming money is no issue, what are my chances at MIT or Caltech?
I'm gonna be applying to other universities like Rutgers in new jersey, UCLA, USC, Berkeley, Uni of Miami, Uni of Chicago, NYU, Rensselaer, Carnegie, etc. along with the american university in cairo and german university in cairo, both of which i can guarantee a scholarship of some kind thanks to my SAT score (god bless Egyptian simplicity) :P
So what do you guys think? Do I have a shot at the best 2 technological institutes in the USA? Do I have a shot at any of the universities listed above?
What can I do to improve? I'm determined and willing to do whatever it takes to get into a good university in the USA because my next step is getting my graduate's degree in Japan. If you have any advice or anything that can help me make my application even slightly better, please tell me.</p>
<p>yeah I wasn’t sure which one you were talking about. I think your list is still shooting a bit too high, you probably need to pick some easier schools to get into, but you have a chance at some of these colleges</p>
<p>@theanaconda lol. I guess u might be right. The thing is, i already can get into the best uni in Egypt, the american uni in Cairo, with a scholarship and everything (no exaggeration).
I’m applying for more lower rated universities than the ones I listed of course but the ones I listed are the ones that will get me crying at night if I don’t get into
I guess i better start saving tissue. I still want to hear from more people though. I started working on getting into a good uni too late and it’s biting me in the ass. I want to know if there’s anything I can do to improve myself in this last year of high school.</p>
<p>Your ECs are fine. But try to raise that SAT score if you want to stand any chance of getting into either CalTech or MIT. You will be competing against a lot of brilliant people.
Also, UoC and Berkeley might also be a bit hard for you to get in.</p>
<p>Everything depends on your SAT score and essays.</p>
<p>Your SAT scores are low, but if you try hard and get above 2100, I would say you have a fair chance. SAT 2 scores also very low. ECs are not a problem but scores…I would consider the other schools besides MIT and Caltech.</p>
<p>Your SATs and SAT IIs are way too low. Try to retake and get in the >2100 range and >700 range for SAT IIs. Is your GPA weighted or unweighted (weighted gives you no chance)? Most of the schools on your list are way out of reach (MIT, Caltech, UCLA, NYU, Carnegie- this is the most competitive computer program in the country if you’re talking carnegie mellon, Berkley, U Chicago).</p>
<p>Sorry, I also have to agree with the other posters, your 1900 SAT score and your GPA are just too low for ANY of those schools. Break out the tissue box, you are not competitive for those universities. Go to the websites of those colleges and look at the average SAT scores for entering freshman. Your SAT “may” get you into some of the Cal States, but even the Cal states may not admit you because your GPA is not high enough.<br>
The schools look at numbers first: GPA and SAT’s.
My suggestion is that you attend the American University in Cairo since you have the best chances there. </p>
<p>So to sum up, i need a higher SAT score. My GPA listed up there is not weighted btw. Well then, i got the 1910 without studying at all so now i’ll start studying up and try to get that 2100.
Last question, is it fine to start another thread to ask about different uni chances or will it be considered spamming?
I’m gonna start researching a few more universities and will start aiming lower.
Thanks again for help everyone ^_^</p>
<p>@mnm111 lol, my older brother took the SAT 4 years before I did. I looked at his practice test book one time and casually started solving at age 13. The Reading and Writing were pretty easy and I solved all the math that I had taken in school at the time and felt that it was too easy so I just said right there that I wouldn’t take any extra SAT classes (that’s what I mean by not studying) and ended up with the highest score in my grade. You can imagine the number of murder attempts on me
Anyway, starting September I’m gonna start studying for both SAT 1 and SAT 2. According to the comments I need no less than 2100 so I’m gonna start busting my butt off for real this time and I’ll try and get that 2100 this October and no less than 700 in physics and math 2!</p>
<p>Unfortunately I agree that your test scores are too low for MIT or CAL. I suggest you attend uni in Egypt for a year, raise your test scores and transfer. Alternatively, you can attend a different uni here in the states and transfer if you are not satisfied with the education.</p>
