<p>Regular Decision deadlines are approaching, and I'm very nervous and pressured.
I'm applying to Notre Dame and several other schools, now all ready to go and only thing left is to press "submit" button in the Commonapp.
But before I do it, I want to know what are my chances for ND. Y'all scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours, too.
Well, here goes..</p>
<p>Gender: Male
Citizenship status: Korean (South, obviously..)
Country of Residence: South Korea
High School: a foreign language high school in Seoul (was in the NYT several months ago..)
GPA: 3.93 (ranked somewhere above the middle, but my school doesn't send rankings to colleges)
SAT Reasoning: Reading 780 Math 800 Writing 730 (got lucky in the June SAT:))
SAT Subject: Math II C 800 World History 790 Biology E 760
APs: Biology 5
Gov't and Pol: Comparative 5
Gov't and Pol: U.S. 4
World History 5
Econ:Micro 5
Econ:Macro 5
Psychology 4
Extracurricular Activities: School Council President 9
Film Club Actor 10 11 12
A Capella/Community Service Club 10 11 12
Haegeum (Korean traditional fiddle) 11 12
Teaching Korean to migrant workers 12
Mock trial captain (National Champion) 11 12
Habitat for Humanity 10 11
Work Experience: Worked as a secretary at a communications firm 10th grade
Currently tutoring a student starting this summer
Currently working as a freelance translator on the Internet
Recommendations: Gov't and Pol teacher
Mock trial coach/Speech&Debate teacher (closest teacher during my high school years)</p>
<p>IMPORTANT: Applying for financial aid</p>
<p>I have no idea how I'm going to do in the applications and I'm worried cause I'm applying for financial aid as an international.. But I absolutely want to attend ND. Do I have any chance?</p>
<p>Notre Dame is definitely a match for you. You have some great hooks in your ECs (Mock trial national champion!), and overall your scores and GPA are just FINE! </p>
<p>If you are applying for financial aid, Notre Dame has a decent program. I would rank you a high match or a low reach for financial aid, however. If you can indirectly show the committee through the essay that you really need the financial aid, maybe it will make your life easier. </p>
<p>But I think you have good chances!
And, yeah, you have some pretty impressive/ amazing stats!</p>
<p>I actually wrote a great deal less on your chances than I do for other applications. It is simply because I feel that your application is great and do not need much of my opinion; standing alone, your application is probably one of the best I've commented for today.</p>
<p>as an international who is applying for financial aid, i would have to stick with saying its a reach. there's a reason why permanent residency is so valued; it makes it that much easier to 1) get accepted, and 2) get financial aid. you wouldnt believe how much competition there is for international applicants to even get accepted in the first place.</p>
<p>i am NOT by any means criticizing your credentials; those are AMAZING stats/ECs. in fact, they are so good that if you did not need FA, i would say that you would be in ND for sure. but its just how it is these days. i dont know how you manage to do all those ECs and stay sane. but as you pointed out, even with that high GPA, you are still ranked in the middle of your class! now, although colleges wont see that, thats just how tough international admissions is these days. applying for financial aid wont help at all, no matter what institution you apply for (with the exceptions being the few schools that are need-blind for internationals)</p>
<p>just make sure your essays stand out. but thats about as much as you can do. you can PM me if i wasnt clear on anything. im always willing to help out a fellow korean.</p>
<p>(by the way, i read that NYT article. the one about elite korean schools or whatever, right? insane. i only lived in korea during my elementary school years, and all i remember doing even then was going to school, then going to 학원s ) ㅋㅋㅋㅋ</p>
<p>Amazing EC's, test scores, GPA= Pretty much in at ND, but the FA will set you back, making it almost a reach, unless you can really convey that you need it like Sasoo8 said.</p>
<p>Surprising, because my EC are one of those that don't stand out in my school. But yes, the competition here is fierce.. </p>
<p>It seems that essay and financial aid are related . If I imply my needs in the app essays, would that increase my chances of getting in? And in other way, could "not implying my needs in the essays" decrease my chances also?</p>
<p>Nice man. Great Stats and ECs. I'd say you're probably in, but the international applicant pool is extremely competitive, and even more competitive if you're applying for FA.</p>