Yo, UK Student here going for the Ivies

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I've been working hella hard but unfortunately the UK's system doesn't have the flash that the US education system often has (I mean, awards, competitions, tournaments, et cetera, are not as abundant and easy to even come across over the pond).
So, I'm going to list my EC's and achievements and try and get some feedback ;) </p>

<p>-Played rugby for 7 years, captain for my school team from 2008-2011 (until I moved up to the 1sts), got both Most Improved and Player of the Season awards. Also played for my local town.
-Play the flute, drum kit, and snare drum, all at grade 8 standard (I understand that American's don't have that grading system- grade 8 is the highest available before professional level)
-Self taught at piano, can play a few pieces (Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement, Pathetique Ronda in C Min, for example)
-Have participated in my school's marching band, often referred to as the best school band in the country. We perform annually at St. Matthew's Day and Lord Mayor's show (where we march the streets of London), and also we are annually the half-time show at the first test match in cricket at Lord's cricket ground.
-Head percussionist for our concert band (subset of the marching band), have toured Germany and Belgium, performed at the Menin gate.
-Sing in school's choir- performed at St. Andrew's and St. Paul's church on St. Matthew's day, and we have also recorded for the BBC radio.
-House cross country captain for two years
-1st flautist for senior flute ensemble
-Went on a school exchange to the Gilman school in Baltimore (I hear they are in the top 30 feeders, so that can't hurt)
-Have volunteered locally at home at a charity shop, at boarding school (with handicapped people playing sports and games), also raised some money for the RSPCA in Wales by performing my own written snare drum music
-Currently posting videos to youtube of drum covers, my own snare drum tricks, flute covers, and also of discussions involving political and philosophical concepts
-Got the 6th form philosophy scholarship
-As I was at boarding school, it was difficult to get a job- so I started buying, repairing, and selling Xbox and computers for a profit</p>

<p>Looking at this seems quite a lot... But it's all primarily focused on music and stuff, so I hope it isn't too much.
My grades are decent (predicted 41 for the IB with three 7s at HL). Also took iGCSEs (6A<em>s) and GCSEs (2A</em>s and 2As). Will hopefully have an extended essay concerning Hobbes' theory of human nature ready for the deadline. Currently working for SAT Chem and an ACT, which (hopefully) will work out alright...</p>

<p>Literally, any feedback will be appreciated. I'm going Harvard early action, but I'll need financial aid. I'm fortunate enough as it is, going to a boarding school with such good education with my financial background (Christ's Hospital). I've been working by ass off to go to America but I just want to know what I should do now, or how good my application is looking.
Thanks for reading</p>

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<p>I would contact Gilman School College Counseling and see if they will help you with the process, since you were (even if briefly) one of “theirs”. You may need a second SAT II (Math Level II is the logical choice).</p>

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<p>Harvard don’t require Subject tests anymore (I’m not taking the easy way out- it’s been difficult seeing as My dad’s unemployed and making money independently is problematic)- the cost of travelling to the places where the SATs are held and the exams themselves are expensive in the UK. That said, after Harvard EA, I will hopefully go for some other SAT. Obviously, I’ll find out before I send off applications to other Colleges. Math does seem like a good idea</p>

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<p>@LucasKovacs‌ it is still better options to take SAT II because there will be many applicants who will submit SAT II test scores. They are not taking tests because they want to waste money; they do it to show their competence in their fields of interest as mucha as possible. </p>

<p>Harvard has SCEA, not just EA. I hope you know that…also taking Math 2 as @ItsJustSchool mentioned will be a good idea so that it will show you are well rounded-not just great in music, but decent enough in other fields</p>

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<p>Yes, I understand it’s the better option to take SAT IIs, and I am aware of the SCEA- the point I’m getting at is that, while Harvard may not require them and I’m going SCEA, It would be financially preferable for me to take 1 now (for Harvard) and 1 in November, for example. As I’d find out from SCEA by December, I’d still have time to apply to other colleges RD</p>

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<p>Yes, that’s a good choice. </p>

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<p>Thanks for the help. Do you think that these credentials are competitive enough for the Ivies? It’s a system I’m not really used to. We only go for Oxbridge over here really, and all that matters then is grades.</p>

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<p>I think your deep involvement with music will be interesting. Did you win any state/national level music award? Or did you do something like composing your own music? That would be good too.</p>

<p>By the way, why do you want to go to Harvard? It’s need blind and meets 100% need but there are also other schools that are very great at music, like Oberlin College, Curtis Music Institute.</p>

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<p>I’ve composed some of my own music, but primarily percussion. I intend to put performances on youtube, and collaborate it with my playing of piano or flute… but I can’t upload at school :frowning: (Oh, I forgot to mention that our rugby 7s team won a Sussex-state championship, and we represented Sussex at Roland Park- it’s a national tournament). It’s difficult to explain but the opportunities for those kind of awards and status in extra-curriculars are a scarcity in the UK- its difficult to make this point without sounding lazy or naive, but having studied in the UK and the US I can understand why American universities focus on these factors, whereas english focus primarily on academics. The only ‘national’ level things I’ve got is our marching band and the rugby Roland Park event. My standardised grade exams for my instruments have been pretty good (a distinction is 78%, and that’s adapted to the top 10% or so) and I’ve never scored below a 95 in percussion.
I’m not sure how this stands relative to other American applicants. I know that each year Harvard will take a quota of English applicants, and I think I would stand quite nicely alongside them (because they’d be experiencing the similar educational opportunities as me, compared to american students)… but, obviously, I could be totally wrong.<br>
Why Harvard? It’s Social Science education seems exemplary. The location is near family, so I’d have a place to crash if needs be. As you mentioned, they are very generous with financial aid- and having been to the Boston area (because of family) I love the eastern culture and atmosphere. But, I have to say, while it would be very practical, the real reason I’m going for it is more because of aspiration and because of my dream to study in the States.</p>

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<p>It all looks really good to me. Obviously, a 43 IB (top 0.75%) is materially better than a 41 (top 2%), and you will want to perhaps see if you can send supplementary information to the Music Department in parallel for their assessment. Harvard is EXTREMELY difficult to predict admissions for an American. Since internationals are going to be about 10% of the entering class and the applicant pool is presumably larger, it would really help if David Cameron were your uncle, or some such. Perhaps he will consider adopting you? But seriously, there will be royalty and celebrities also applying. If you are extremely qualified (which it looks <em>to me</em> like you may be), you will be in the admissible applicant pool. From there, it is a bit of a game of chance. Gilman is your best bet to try to understand how to present your file to put the odds in your favor.</p>

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<p>Thanks. There was someone I spoke to who’s going for Harvard from the UK and his credentials were not up to par but he’s a direct descendent of JFK… which helps really :neutral_face: My school has very royal founders and benefactors, and we do perform for the Lord Mayor, the Queen comes every now and then… but that’s not really ‘me’, more ‘my school’. I think last year there were 83 applications from the UK SCEA, and something like 6-8 are usually accepted. I just feel a bit uneasy about what to do from here… I appreciate the help by the way :blush: </p>