What are my chances in America? ( British )

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I would like to do a physics/maths/engineering orientated degree at an American University and I'm just wondering what my chances would be. I am only going to apply to the Needs Blind Universities (for international students), which are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth (heard it isn't very good though) and MIT. My GCSEs are:</p>

<p>Maths A*
Stats A*
History A*
Physics A*
Biology A*
Chemisty A*
Geography A
English A
English Lit A
R.E Short Course A
Food B
French B</p>

<p>GPA: varies from 3.8 - 3.95 depending on which GPA convertor. I'm not sure what weighted/ non weighted means, so I guess non weighted.</p>

<p>Obviously US colleges don't look at GCSEs so much but they're the only thing I have to judge by (I went to a pretty average state school also). I have had a few practice goes at the SAT I tests and find them extremely easy compared to A-Levels. I will probably do for the SAT Subjects Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Would I need more? I think I could get quite good SAT scores but not sure. Probably 2200+</p>

<p>At A-Level I am doing :</p>

<p>Maths
Further Maths
Physics
Chemisty
Economics</p>

<p>Obviously I want to get As in all of them but i might get a B I don't know.</p>

<p>And I haven't got many ECs really. But I am working on that. e.g. residential courses at British Universities for engineering and maths. Work experience at the cavendish labs in Cambridge (world famous (supposedly) for physics research).</p>

<p>Is there any point in me going through all the bother of SATs and applying ?</p>

2

<p>I think it is worth it to take the SATs and to apply.</p>

3

<p>your work experience more or less makes up for your lack of ECs. i’d say take the SATs and give it a shot.</p>

4

<p>The institutions on your list are fully capable of interpreting GSCE records, and are fully aware of the Cavendish labs.</p>

<p>Sit down with your principal investigator, and get his/her help with your college list and your letters of recommendation.</p>

5

<p>your academic record is great.I think you need to get cracking right away by requesting stuff like teacher recs and registering for sat 1 and 2.you should also start on the commonapp and write your essays in time for the Jan1 deadline.you have lots to do!but you sound super-smart so you should manage easily…</p>

6

<p>I’m in lower sixth, I apply next year for university.</p>

<p>(First year of high school)</p>

<p>Do colleges like any specific SAT subjects? And how many ? 2,3,4?</p>

<p>Also which of these universities are well known for physics/engineering/maths?</p>

<p>And as an International Student without much money should I only really apply for needs blinds colleges?</p>

7

<p>Oh you are in L6,that means you are miles ahead! You only need to take 2 or 3 subject tests depending on the college.You do needto only apply to schools that are need blind.There are a number of schools(mainly small liberal arts colleges) that offer financial aid up to the full cost but are not need blind.Start researching now and find the ones you like most and make a fluid list.Though competition is quite intense for this aid,your credentials and the fact that you started early should put you in a good position to be succesful in gaining admission+finaid next year.</p>

8

<p>

That’s the worst approach you could possibly take, since the need-blind schools also happen to be the most selective ones. Many need-aware colleges promise to meet the full demonstrated need of all international students that they accept, but they may not be able to accept all qualified international applicants due to budget limitations. However, since many need-aware colleges are significantly less selective than their need-blind counterparts, your overall odds of admission with aid might still be significantly higher.</p>

9

<p>correction:I meant to say you dont have to apply only to need blind schools.You may apply to any school that can meet your financial need:need blind or not.And usually they are not fussy about which subject exams to take,although for engin. they may ask you to take math level 2 with physics and/or chem</p>

10

<p>you heard dartmouth isn’t very good?</p>

<p>you heard wrong, my friend.</p>

<p>Moreover, I’m not sure if these places are indeed need-blind for internationals. Even if they are, don’t expect very much aid.</p>

11

<p>well according to the THE top 200 dartmouth isn’t so great, some english unis that are considered average are ranked above it. So how does the application system work? Would I apply and then get a quote almost of the grant I would get and then I decide whether to go or not?</p>

12

<p>62.5% of the THE rankings comes from research output. Dartmouth is primarily a teaching institution and not very active in research. If your primary concern are the publications of your professors, then Dartmouth is not the best place to be indeed.</p>

13

<p>Hmm I just have no other way of comparing Universities in the US with ones in the UK. </p>

<p>And yeah I might aswell apply to some other colleges then, what would you suggest are good colleges for Physics/Maths/Engineering. </p>

<p>Also is the CAP basically where you can send off the same form to lots of colleges? How much does it cost? i.e is it cheaper then applying individually?</p>

14

<p>The common app can be found at <a href=“http://www.commonapp.org.It%5B/url%5D”>www.commonapp.org.It</a> will not cost anything,although colleges may request an application fee.(if you cannot afford it you may request a fee waiver to minimise costs).The beauty of the commonapp is that you complete one major app and then just click submit to electronically send it to as many colleges as you need.If there is an educationUSA advising centre in your country,you might want to join that asap.they are really helpful and have resources like SAT test prep books to borrow and will help through the entire process.membership should be free or for a very small charge.</p>

15

<p>Dartmouth ranks first for undergrad teaching in the US. You need to educate yourself about American colleges as undergraduate institutions, the rankings you’re looking at are useless in choosing a college for undergrad studies.</p>

<p>I would apply widely beyond the need blind schools as every international on the planet applies to them making the competition among top students fierce.</p>

16

<p>You would need close to a 2300 to have a shot at any of these schools coming from the UK and asking for finaid.</p>

<p>The competition is intense - I think International students have to be aware of this except you are from an “underrepresented country”</p>

17

<p>Wait, you mean England is an under represented country or have I misread?</p>

18

<p>Since you are from the UK, you could go to Oxford or Cambridge. You should only go to a foreign country if you could go somewhere in the same league as O&C. So I agree with you, Harvard Yale Princeton MIT, and that Dartmouth isn’t good enough.</p>

<p>You also need to consider that you’ll probably be returning to the UK when you graduate, whether you want to or not (visa issues), so if getting a good job is important to you then pick somewhere that is well known in the UK. So again, Dartmouth doesn’t make it.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

19

<p>Are you applying to universities in the UK also ? I noticed you are taking 5 A-level subjects, which nowadays is not really uncommon in England. Are you planning to drop any of those subjects in your A2 year though ?</p>

20

<p>Hahaha, dartmouth isn’t good enough!! In the US kids who could easily get into Oxbridge, LSE, etc. Because they only care about numbers would do anything for a Dartmouth acceptance letter. It’s degree is a golden ticket for elite jobs on the US.</p>