Where would I fit in best?/be able to get in to?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>As a junior, I have started to stress about the college admissions process, (see username) and my parents also want to know which schools we should visit this summer. If you could take a couple minutes to look at my stats and tell me whether I would be able to get into an ivy, a top 20 school (going by some set of rankings like US news), top 50, etc... that would be awesome. I think everything is looking pretty solid so far, but I am very worried about class rigor, because to be honest, when I entered high school, nobody told me that class rigor was very important during the college admissions process; people emphasized grades much more. This is a shame because I really think I could have taken a couple more honors courses. Nevertheless, the only honors courses I opted out of were Chemistry A (see below), and I might have been able to take a slightly more rigorous schedule in 10th grade.</p>

<p>9th Grade:
English: Required (A/A)
Social Studies: Required (A/A+)
Math: Algebra I (second lowest math class) (A/A+)
Science: Biology (options are Physical Science, Bio, and Molecular Biology) (A/A)
Language: Spanish I (A-/A-)
Elective: Some art and tech (A-/A-)
Extra Curricular: JV Tennis 9th Grade</p>

<p>Summer 2009:
Worked as a tennis instructor at a tennis club; helped out around the club, worked with little kids and taught them how to play, etc...</p>

<p>10th Grade:
English: Required (A-/B+)
Social Studies: Required (A/A-)
Math: Geometry and Algebra II (dual enrolled) (A/A/A/A)
Science: Chemistry B (this is the non-honors option) (A-/A-)
Language: Spanish II (A/A)
Extra Curricular: MUN X2(two times) and Varsity Tennis</p>

<p>Summer 2010:
Worked in an internship for a mayor in a major city in America. Was working with college kids and there were no high school kids. Was very scary and intimidating, but I worked very hard. </p>

<p>11th Grade:
English: Required (A/A-)
Social Studies: AP Economics (A/A-) (projected AP scores of 5 on both exams)
Math: Pre-calculus (A/A)
Science: AP Physics B: (B/B+) (projected AP score of 5)
Language: Spanish III (A/A)
Extra Curricular: MUNX2 and Varsity Tennis, NHS</p>

<p>Summer: will be working as a tennis instructor with underprivileged kids in a poor area of a major city in America. I also plan to take a Calculus course and maybe place into Calc BC next year.</p>

<p>12th Grade:
English: Required
Social Studies: US History
Math: AP Calculus and AP Statistics
Science: AP Physics C
Language: Spanish IV honors
Extra Curricular: MUNX2 and Varsity Tennis</p>

<p>SATs: Projected around 2100-2200 (maybe higher, but definitely not lower than 2100)
SAT Subject Tests Projected around Mid-High 700s</p>

<p>I go to an international school and we send about 25% of our students to various ivy league schools and about 50-60% go to top 15/top20 schools.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Edit:</p>

<p>BTW, I think I am in the top 10-15% of my class. This puts me GPA wise as a competitive candidate for the top universities (based on where the top 10-15% of each graduating class in the past few years went to school), but I am still worried about my application as a whole. Thanks again :)</p>

<p>Edit #2:</p>

<p>Awards: Best student in Algebra I Freshman year, Best Delegate at a 2010 MUN, and Bronze Medal for British Mathematics Competition</p>

2

<p>You can’t really “project” SAT scores, wait until you have something we can go on! </p>

<p>Are you an international student?</p>

3

<p>You have good grades, so you can conceivably be admitted a lot of places.</p>

<p>However, until you know how much you can afford to pay, and how much the colleges/universities are likely to expect you to pay, there really isn’t much point in making a list. Sit down with your parents and talk about the money. If you are a US applicant, have them run their financials through the FAFSA formula to find out what their EFC is likely to be. <a href=“http://www.ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/101310EFCFormulaGuide1112.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/101310EFCFormulaGuide1112.pdf&lt;/a&gt; If they can pay that much, find out how much more they can pay (most places will expect more than the FAFSA EFC). If they can’t pay that much, then find out just exactly how much they can pay, so that you know how deep you will have to dig to find an affordable places to put on your list. One place to start would be <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>@SLUMOM: I have already taken the SAT and get my results in a couple weeks. I am expecting somewhere between a 2100 and 2200 and that is how I have done on the practice exams. And yes, I am an international student. </p>

<p>@happymomof1: Paying for school shouldn’t be an issue</p>

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<p>As an international student who does not have to worry about money, then you are indeed, in a very good position! :)</p>

6

<p>worried, admissions criteria for international students are different from US citizens. Where you come from, your ethnic background, your visa status are all points of consideration. It’s great that “money is no object.” You can put that to the side and concentrate on your next questions.</p>

<p>EDIT: I’m assuming here that you are not an American citizen. After re-reading, I’m not sure. Please clarify.</p>

<p>

This depends on YOU. What do you want? Obviously, prestige if “IVY” is your ideal college. You need to drill deeper: size, location, culture, weather, ambience. All colleges have personalities. Smaller colleges have more focused personalities; larger universities encompass a broader range. Figure out what you want, then you’ll have an idea of where you’d fit.</p>

<p>

Lots of places. First, make a short list based on what you want from a college. Second, make sure that your list is BALANCED. Some very selectives, some mediums and at least one or two “sure things.” Pick the “sure things” or safeties first. This will make you less worried.</p>

<p>The third question, that you should be asking is what can I do to improve my chance of admissions? Going back to my original point, a lot depends on where you’re from and what your family background and life experience have been. </p>

<p>Colleges and universities, even ivies, use international students to balance their diversity percentages. All schools want students from diverse backgrounds who will bring a wide range of perspectives to the campus community. The most selective schools, especially those in urban settings, get a lot of international applicants. Less selective schools, colleges in rural settings and in the Midwest (even very good ones) get fewer international applicants, thus your chance of admission is increased if you go against the grain.</p>

<p>My advice, is stop worrying and use that intellect to make a strategy for yourself. You’re doing well – good grades, good scores (presumably), good extracurriculars, possibly good life experience. Figure out what you want and then make a plan to get it. </p>

<p>The most important point, is SAFETIES. These are hard to find and hard to love but they’re out there. Identify your safety then the rest will be fun and worry free!</p>

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<p>Thanks for taking the time to make such a thorough post momrath. To answer your first question, yes I am an international student. I know that location, size, and general environment, etc… matter in choosing the college that I want to attend, and I realize that I need safeties and a strong list of schools, but I would really just like to know if anyone could look at my statistics, and assuming that I get good teacher recs and write good essays, predict what my chances would be of getting into a top 15 or top 20 school. For example, if I think that MIT seems like a good fit for me, I still wouldn’t visit it because I know that my chances of getting accepted to MIT are infinitesimally small.</p>

8

<p>The only way we can predict is to guess, based on your test scores and ECs. You can make the same guess by looking up the schools middle-50%, percent admitted, and what’s important in admissions. Those can all be found on College Board’s website.</p>

<p>Good luck, and keep in mind that there are hundreds of excellent schools in the US.</p>

9

<p>@GeekMom63: Thanks for your reply, but maybe I should be more direct: will my somewhat less-rigorous course load give me a big disadvantage during the admissions process? Or is it not as big deal as I think it is. I realize that I can simply look at the average sat scores, etc… for people entering the college; I could even look at the official threads for highly selective colleges on this website, but I guess I am simply asking about my course load. Thanks again guys for spending the time to read these posts.</p>

10

<p>What is your unweighted GPA? For guessing purposes I’m going to assume about a 3.7. Let’s also assume a 2150 SAT. With that profile I believe that the top schools (HYPMS) will be rejections. Statistically you are average to slightly below for most of the rest of the Ivy League therefore with their low admittance rates I think they are a long shot, not impossible but not likely either. </p>

<p>Generally speaking I think you’d be admitted to schools in the second half of the top 50, as you move higher up the rankings your probabilities will drop (as they do for all candidates). However, you’d be better served to take GeekMom’s advice and do a little research on your own. </p>

<p>Your stats are good but at the highly competitive schools (Top 20) it will be difficult to stand out. I recommend following the College Search link on the Main CC Site page and entering in your criteria; it does a good job of generating a list of potential schools.</p>

11

<p>worriedteenager -</p>

<p>Since you are currently attending an International School that routinely sends “about 25% of our students to various ivy league schools and about 50-60% go to top 15/top20 schools”, the college placement advisors at your school clearly are on top of things. They can advise you much better about your options than any of us can. Sit down with them, and make your list. They are the true experts on which colleges and universities in the US are likely to admit you.</p>

<p>As an International Applicant, you do not have any Safeties in the US. Your Safeties are in your home country and/or country of residence. Be sure to identify at least one, and take the steps necessary to guarantee admissions there.</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>International admissions are hard to predict and they don’t follow the same statistical guidelines as US admissions. </p>

<p>There’s nothing in your academic standing – grades, scores, rank, course rigor – that would put you out of the running, even for the most selective schools. The intanglibles like extracurriculars, essays and recommendations are important, but, in my opinion, what will get you past the finish line will be your personal background. </p>

<p>Personal profile is a factor to a certain extent for all applicants, but for internationals it is critical. If you are admitted, it will be, in part because you can do the work and in part because of what your perspective would contribute to the campus community. This will be your point of differentiation.</p>

<p>So, in answer to your question, it depends on where you’re from and what you’ve experienced. Your personal profile will be much more significant than your course load.</p>

<p>I agree with happymom, if your home country offers an appropriate university, that can be your safety; however, if, for whatever reason, the opportunities in your country are inadequate then you need to do more research.</p>

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<p>Thank you guys very much. I have learnt a lot; the next step is talking to my college counselor.</p>