<p>Hey guys! So I wanted to hear from some of the students enrolled at Brown, and I want to ask if you think I have any chances of getting in. It’s a highly selective university, but from the reviews I’ve seen, it’s probably the one that stands out for me.
I’m originally from Russia, I’ve lived in China over 9 years studying at an international school so my English is pretty decent, I’d say. We’ve moved to the US in February when I was a Sophomore. In Russia I have taken 12 online courses for my first semester. I had my second semester of sophomore year in Houston. I’ve had grades mostly in the 90s; failed only twice in my whole life (math in ninth grade), counting the fact that I’m failing my first term of Precalculus PreAP. The classes I’m taking right now (I’m a junior) include AP English, Drawing 3, PreAP Chinese, PreAP Precalculus, US Government, Physics (regular), Anatomy and Physiology. I’m really stressed about failing my first term of math (but we’re still not exactly done with the first term, we have a final tomorrow). But other than that, I am taking the SAT, SAT Math 2, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Physics, and maybe AP Biology (studying those on my own). I know three languages: Chinese, English and Russian and am teaching myself French. I’m teaching myself to play the guitar, but I don’t think that it’s special…so eh. I’m also hoping to teach myself Korean because I’ve been surrounded with Korean friends who spoke English with me but spoke Korean among themselves all my life.
For clubs I’m joining Chinese Honor Society, Art Honor Society, Best Buddies, Russian theater, dance, and also hoping to join this year Mahjong League, Animal Lovers, Unicef, Red Cross, Photography Club and Student Council. Do you think I have OK chances, or should I just give up this idea? Whenever I look at some of the kids at my school, the really smart people, I think I don’t even stand close. I’m not the president of any club, I haven’t won any “national” competitions. I would LOVE studying history at Brown, it’s a part of my life since I’m juggling three cultures at once :D</p>
<p>You are only a sophomore so you can spend time working on your studies and developing your extracurricular interests. You are certainly an interesting candidate, but student who fail classes are usually not going to get into super selective colleges. Failing a core class is pretty serious and will hurt all your college chances. You need to change this. Talk to your guidance counselor to see if you can replace this grade by repeating the class. Do something to balance your schedule so that you can manage it and get extra tutoring. Don’t take preAP or AP levels if you can’t manage to do well in them.</p>
<p>I agree with BrownParent, it also happened to me be before. I got a failed subject but I talked to my guidance counselor and she gave me a chance to take the class again and I passed it! :)</p>