your stats, please?-Canadians aiming for US schools

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>@jonv: thanks :slight_smile: I did do extended french in middle school so I managed to skip a grade for french…I’m now done grade 12 french, so maybe that adds something? |D I dunno.</p>

<p>@Nosike: that’s actually very true LOL xD being in my area I know that a lot of people are involved in music. However, the music program at my school is not like that of any other high school. We go to camp and national competition every year with 130 dedicated students and there’s a lot of leadership involved. I hope that’ll add to my application…? |D
I’m also hoping I’ll be able to get higher rankings in math and science contests. :slight_smile: I wish I could’ve taken AP but sadly it wasn’t available…
…but I’m glad I didn’t do IB because I know people who are suffering there LOL x)</p>

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<p>shinkui, I wouldn’t lol just yet … it’s a major drawback that you have neglected to take IB, or the most difficult courses available, because course rigour is one of the most important things adcoms look for. Without the most challenging courseload, an applicant may seem lazy by taking easy classes simply to get good marks.</p>

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<p>@Shikui/StarsAligned.</p>

<p>Yes I took the IB program, and although it’s very difficult it’s definitely worth it. It’s caused me to get a few B+'s in courses where I would normally get As, but universities recognize that and weight your GPA accordingly.</p>

<p>Normally an A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, etc. But when you take AP or IB courses, everything goes up one point A = 5.0, B = 4.0, etc. This allows you to get a GPA over 4.0. So as long as you work hard in IB and make good grades, you’ll have a very competitive score.</p>

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<p>No. Duke and Penn are “high reaches” for everyone. Admissions are very unpredictable.</p>

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<p>@StarsAligned: sorry I don’t think I was very clear…My school doesn’t offer IB. I just know some friends at a farther away school that took it. Many of them ended up transferring out.</p>

<p>@Nosike: yeah I guess I don’t know about other IB schools but the one closest to me…doesn’t exactly have the best reputation. Also I heard their marks get bell-curved a lot in grade 12…:confused: which isn’t exactly fair one would say but…oh well.</p>

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<p>I guess this thread kind of died off already :(–it seems like I’m always a little too slow in CC. Anyways, I did a chance forum a few weeks back and got a rather sad feedback, so I don’t see the harm in reposting my ‘U.S unworthy stats.’ </p>

<p>School: Public suburban high school that has never sent anybody to HYPS
Location: Not Toronto–near Toronto, but really white
GPA: ~90/100 (4.0 in Canadian System) Percentile: Top ~2% (I screwed up grade.11 second semester and got some ugly mid eighties)
SAT Score: 2160 <—will retake in October, anybody joining me?
CR: 720 M: 690 W: 750
SAT II: Will take English Literature and Chinese with Listening in November <—expecting 730+
Family Income: ~70 000
AP in Grade 12: offers about five APs and no IB, will take AP English and French, possibly AP Biology (unfortunately, no exams till May…)
Background: Asian female :P</p>

<p>EXPERIENCE</p>

<p>2009-10 Public Heritage School Volunteer
• Taught Cantonese and re-familiarized traditional customs to second-generation Chinese Canadians </p>

<p>(summer) Travelled and volunteered abroad in Hong Kong and Mainland China<br>
• Volunteered as an English teacher and mentor for underprivileged children in community centre
• Mentored mostly children of minority backgrounds, mainly recent immigrants from Pakistan and India <—basically my common app essay</p>

<p>2006-09 Nursing Home Volunteer/ Entertainer
• Provided music entertainment/therapy for the elderly with Guzheng (Chinese zither) performances in Toronto nursing homes</p>

<p>ACTIVITIES</p>

<p>2008-present School Newspaper
• Senior Editor-in-Chief
• Reviver of the club </p>

<p>2008-09 Art Club
• Planned and organized events</p>

<p>2010 (summer) Participated in HKU summer exchange program
• Cultural exchange program organized by the University of Hong Kong; tutored by students from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton
• Looked into identity and social issues of Hong Kong</p>

<p>2006-08 Arts related volunteering
• Promoted a smoke-free lifestyle by designing and drawing anti-smoking posters; artwork displayed in community centres and public libraries</p>

<p>AWARDS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS </p>

<p>Guzheng (Chinese Zither)
• 2007—Performed solo during the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), the largest fair in Canada; performance broadcasted by CCTV
• Competed in the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto
o 2009—Gold Award
o 2008—Silver Award
• 2006-08—Chinese Ensemble Member; performed in the Toronto Centre for the Arts, North York Civic Centre, and other well-known landmarks</p>

<p>Creative Writing
• 2009—Published writing in a New York Times Bestselling Series
• 2010—Gold key award in the 2010 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a national competition with 100 000 + entries per year
• 2009—1st Runner-up in a city-wide writing competition with 500+ entries per year
• 2007—Hong Kong Literacy Cup Writing Contest—Finalist (sponsored by the Chinese government for Canadian students)</p>

<p>Visual Arts
• 2010—Gold key award in the 2010 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
• 2007-10—Awarded ‘Selected Medal’ for three years in an international art competition with 70 000+ entries per year
• 2008—2nd in Toronto in a provincial art competition; achievement highlighted in multiple Canadian newspapers
• 2009-10—Displayed in various regional art shows
• 2009—Subject proficiency award; award given to student with the highest proficiency in grade
• 2007—Designer of middle school’s official school emblem</p>

<p>Piano
• 2001-present—Royal Conservatory of Music, Practical Level 9</p>

<p>Skating
• Performed in regional ice show</p>

<p>Note: My school really has insufficient info on Ivies; my cousellor asked me “what is an Ivy League?” when I told him I wanted to apply there. </p>

<p>Weaknesses: nearly hookless, not an athlete, low SAT score and so-so average; also the fact that as an Asian, I really lack math related grades, awards, + distinctions :(</p>

<p>Schools I’m dreaming of (in order):
Stanford
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Columbia
Dartmouth</p>

<p>I know they’re all high reaches, but I don’t see the point in applying to U.S universities that aren’t superb when I can stay in Canada</p>

<p>Canadian schools I’m applying to:
McMaster
McGill
UofT
Queens
Trent
Waterloo
…they all look the same to me</p>

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<p>Trent looks the same as McGill/UofT? You need to take a closer look!</p>

<p>I agree that the US schools would all be reaches/high reaches but it doesn’t hurt to apply.</p>

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<p>I like Trent because they’re going to give me a full ride if I get a 90+ average; less worries for my parents. :slight_smile: Hmm, looks like this thread didn’t completely die off afterall.</p>

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<p>@autumnxwinter: Don’t say your stats are U.S. unworthy! You should definitely apply to the schools on your list plus a few Berkeley tier schools. I think you have shot at those schools :)</p>

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<p>I know, and I may be wrong, but I don’t think UC-Berkeley offers financial aid to international students :(. However, thanks for the encouragement. :)</p>

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<p>Except for some of the superendowed top 10 schools, need based fin aid is not available to internationals. </p>

<p>Merit aid generally is available to internationals at most other schools though, especially private universities. Public schools like Berkeley would not likely have much merit aid available to out of staters and internationals.</p>

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<p>Out of curiosity, does anybody know the acceptance rate of Canadian students who apply to ivies?</p>

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<p>I got told that about 300-400 Canadians apply to Ivies per year, and around 40-50 get accepted to various ones… That was at an admissions thingy hosted by the Ivies and Stanford (minus Yale). Not sure if thats entirely true, but it puts the acceptance rate above 10%… Id say its close to true simply cause if a Canadian applies to an Ivy, they are more likely to be qualified applicants versus the USA where many apply just for the hell of it.</p>

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<p>@thatguy100
I asked this question on another thread, but it appeared to have died off. However, how specific do I have to be when filling out the common app for stuff like national and international awards; they are big, but probably not as well known as stuff like Intel or AIME, so how can I word it properly? Thanks :)</p>

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<p>Area: Vancouver</p>

<p>School: mediocre public with approx. 400 students in each grade</p>

<p>School program: 5 AP’s offered (only 4 this year due to low enrollment =( )</p>

<p>Grade: 12
GPA: 93.1/100 for all courses with credit, which are the ones that will appear on the transcript</p>

<p>SAT: 2330 (CR 730 M 800 W 800)
SAT II: Math II 800, Physics 800, taking Chinese with Listening this November
AP: Self-studies all 5: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Calculus AB, Psychology all 4’s, English Language 3 ( =( )</p>

<p>EC: Varsity Table Tennis (Captain, school ranked top 3 in province,won a lot of individual and team awards)
Math Club (President)
Freelance translator and basketball writer (11,12) (job)
JV Basketball (9,10)
Student Council (11,12)
School teaching assistant (10,12) (volunteer)
Youth summer camp counselor (11,12) (volunteer)
Math tutor (10,11,12) (job)</p>

<p>Hobby: not sure why it’s there, but… basketball, table tennis, math, sleeping, female, etc</p>

<p>Award: AP Scholar with Distinction
Fermat Contest National Winner
AIME x 2
CMO x 1</p>

<p>Race: Asian
To major: Finance(if I get into Wharton), mathematics, economics
To note: Can’t believe I haven’t posted in this thread yet…</p>

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<p>Guys, I made this thread for 2010 applicants last year when I was totally ignorant abt US college adm. Let’s create a new thread for 2011ers.</p>

<p>In the meantime,
@mathe: I am so very glad and relieved that you are not going for engineering, cuz, if you do, I am totally beat.lol Your ‘self-study’ APs and contest awards along with the various ECs are just awesome. I believe you will get into Wharton EZ.</p>

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<p>Usually included in that accepted number are the Canadian athletes who get in.</p>

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<p>@autumnxwinter, I would say be as specific as you can. If they are not as well known as some of the other awards, you need to make sure that on the Common App they are fully explained so the admissions committee doesnt take it as an award your parents gave you</p>

<p>@alwaysamom… thanks? I believe the questions was how many Canadian students get into Ivies per year as a percentage, and I feel I answered the question adequately. Does being a recruited athlete make you not a Canadian citizen? Or are you implying that, since they are recruits, they arent as fully qualified as other applicants and got in only on their athletic merits? Either way, invalid point considering the question asked (and if its the latter, youre kind of rude)</p>

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<p>Recruited athletes have a higher acceptance rate so it’s a valid point.</p>

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<p>@thatguy100
Do you think it’d be easier if I put it on a resume instead and attach it onto the common app? The reason why they’re somewhat more unknown is because they’re art and writing awards instead of math and science stuff. The e/c part on the app doesn’t really have enough space for me to elaborate.</p>