<p>Is it just me, or is everyone on this website crazy practically-perfect applicants?
It's disheartening, but I figure I could use some critique as well, disillusioning as it may be... These are the places I'm looking at:</p>
<ul>
<li>Yale University (Early Action)</li>
<li>University of Pennsylvania (Regular)</li>
<li>Cornell University (Regular)</li>
<li>Northwestern University (Regular)</li>
<li>University of Chicago (Regular)</li>
<li>University of Michigan, Ann Arbor</li>
</ul>
<p>Background: Female Korean-Australian with Australian Citizenship.
(Lived in Australia for 16 years, came here when I was one and a half)
School: Competitive-ness wise, my school's ranked second in the state? Our median rank for those graduating is usually within the top 1% of all students in the state...
No idea how this'll work for me though, since it's an Australian school.</p>
<p>Obviously no GPAs or AP courses, because of Australian curriculum.
SAT1: 770CR, 770M, 690W (def. will retake, expect 2300-ish next time)
SAT2: Will take Literature, Maths2 and Korean... I suppose I'll have to get 800 on all.</p>
<p>ECs etc...
-Volleyball Team: 4/5 years.
-Basketball Team: 3 years.
-Silver Duke of Edinburgh.
-Attended Saturday Korean School for 9 years.
-One of 10 students from Australia accepted into a Cultural Scholarship Program to Korea in year 10.
-Came third place in state-wise essay contest in year 10.
-Came first place in a global essay competition in year 11.
-Am published, and editor of a book on ethnic experiences. (Can anyone tell me how useful this sort of thing is?)
-Peer Support Leader
-Volunteer as Peer Reader
-Member of School Tutorial Service
-Currently doing an online Biology course with Northwestern University.
-Completed 2 terms of a Community College Course on (Chinese) Mandarin.</p>
<p>I know my ECs aren't much, and I will definitely pull up my SATs... but do I have a chance at all? A realistic one?
I'd love any comments, and I'll 'chance' back if you'd like my opinion...</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>ahnyounghaesaeyo.</p>
<p>well, you’re a “crazy partically-perfect applicant” as well.
how rigorous were your courses in high school?</p>
<p>i think you have a chance at every college you’ve listed.
pretty sure U Mich is a match for you, and other colleges as well, but admissions is a crapshoot.</p>
<p>it’s just my opinion. after all… i’m only going to washu in st.louis.</p>
<p>you should apply there as well :D.</p>
<p>lol, 안녕하세요 right back atya.</p>
<p>aww, it’s sweet of you to say that…</p>
<p>but yeah, i agree admissions is definitely a ‘crapshoot’
(i finally figured out what thats means ==;
washu? University of Washington?
Sorry, I’m so lost with these random acronyms, comes of being a complete newbie with the American college application system…
maybe i will~</p>
<p>thankyou again, did you want me to ‘chance’ you?</p>
<p>duuuude
you’re published?
like it was said it is a crapshoot, and esp. yale is just like impossible but i think everyone is the same shoes as u are (i know i am), and you have a decent shot. plus they look for character and personality and stuff, and though i don’t know u, see seem really nice and could come off really likable on paper…? lol</p>
<p>no, i’m a highschool graduate of '09.</p>
<p>it’s not University of Washington.</p>
<p>it’s Washington University in St. Louis. lol, a lot of people get it mixed up though…</p>
<p>great school.</p>
<p>You sound like a good applicant. If I’d read your profile there 2 years ago I’d have been really impressed. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of similar people on here. But this forum isn’t necessarily indicative of the general applicant pool, so I don’t know where you stand in terms of everyone else. You’re definitely qualified for most, if not all of those colleges. Though it’s difficult to give accurate chances because we’re in the same position as you… you have a good chance. But so do 20,000 other people.</p>
<p>As for the book publishing thing, I think it depends on the level and success of the publication. Technically, printing a bunch of stuff from your computer could probably be twisted into “oh, I’m a published writer”. If the writing/editing of that book meant a lot to you and your devotion shows through in your application, then that will help you. If it was just something you did for some local publication but you don’t really care about it, that’s fine too, just don’t dwell on it. Make sure your application focuses on things you’re passionate about.</p>
<p>(It’s unlikely to get you in on the “fame” factor unless you’ve written something that many people will be familiar with.)</p>
<p>@portgueseninja: i know, it’s impossible to know, and even if you’re qualified… you’re still just one out of the 20000 just as good…
at least my chance is 1/20000 rather than, i don’t know… 0? =]
about the book thing: loong story, but i won this essay contest, and my essay was published in that, along with a few extra articles I wrote for it…
I’ll probably include it in my essay, but I don’t think it’ll be the main focus…
Thanks for your opinion, and taking the time to type it!!</p>
<p>Applying for financial aid?</p>
<p>to coHELLege and refulgent: thank you for your posts!!
Washington University, I’ll look that up… is it hard to get into?
@coHELLege: Graduate of 09, lol, I’m graduating this year too… except American system is different, I suppose.
@refulgent: thank you for your comments~ Yes, but aren’t a lot of international applicants from a cross-cultural background? Besides, I suppose technically any Asian etc. student living in America is cross-cultural… AND I need FA, so I really don’t know… I have to be the ‘best’, but the problem is, everyone out there is ‘better’, lol…
Try my best, I suppose…</p>
<p>tetrisfan: yup, financial aid, which is why im applying to rich schools, lol, yale anyhow is need blind for internationals… but how ‘need-blind’ is need blind?</p>
<p>Need-blind enough to pay for you if they fall for you.</p>
<p>But they’re mighty picky, so you better woo them well.</p>
<p>I like my metaphor :p.</p>
<p>Need blind is need blind. Meaning they won’t take into consideration how much aid you need. If you’re in, you get any financial aid you need.</p>
<p>Watch out for the ones that say anything like “full need-based aid”. That means that yeah - if you’re accepted you’ll get full aid. But the “if” is very important. Many of them won’t accept international students in the first place if they require full funding.</p>
<p>tetrisfan: lol, indeed. i need to become a casablanca.
portugueseninja: yeah, that’s what i mean, exactly… so it’s not really need blind…
conclusion: they have to want me really, really, badly.
hows that for double entendre, tetrisfan? =]</p>
<p>Well, if they’re need blind then they are really need blind. But there’s only a handful who declare themselves need blind.</p>
<p>Then there’s some who give need-BASED. (ie, those are the ones who have to want you really badly)</p>
<p>Then there’s some who give limited merit aid.</p>
<p>Then there’s the ones who give nothing at all.</p>
<p>Does UMich Ann Arbor give finaid to internationals? I seem to remember it doesn’t…? Or are you going for merit aid on that one?</p>
<p>Touche! :D</p>
<p>UMich does not give out need based aid. Not sure about merit…</p>
<p>absolutely no idea…
i know of yale because i checked out their website…
the others?
i have a college consultant who recommended them.
LONG story why i have one, but he got foisted onto me because I won an essay comp is basic gist.</p>
<p>I’d stay away from public universities if I was asking for aid…</p>
<p>I’d tell that to him, but this is a consultant who says 2400 and 800’s is the holy grail that will ensure my rich, high class, respected future. he means well, i suppose, but <em>GAG.
I want to go US for liberal arts curriculum and opportunity, not to become some snobby b</em>***. strong words, but he gets on my nerves a tad, if you can’t tell…</p>
<p>I like you, sora :D.</p>
<p>much honoured, tetrisfan, truly. =] same to you~~ =]</p>