whitneybenning

I am a Canadian high school student going into grade 11. I have always dreamed of studying science or medicine at a prestigious university such as Cambridge, Yale, Harvard, Columbia or Princeton. I am very bright and i am the top student in my grade (1/210), but I know that as an international student I don't have a great chance of getting accepted to an Ivy League school. I am at a further disadvantage because I go to a public school that only offers one AP class (there are no private schools in my city). Also, high school students in my area rarely apply to schools outside of the Province, so I am pretty much alone in this and would be one of the only ones taking the SAT's etc. I have good extra curriculars, I am involved with my school, I volunteer at my local hospital and I am very determined to get the best education that I can get. What are my chances as a Canadian student?

soxhawk91

I think you may have a chance if you go to the campus and explain your situation to the admissions officers there. In addition, make sure you continue to make excellent marks in your classes. Finally, if you score a 35 on ACT or 2200 on SAT, you stand to be an excellent candidate for admission at America's most prestigious colleges.

P.S. : Look at McGill as well!

aflorian

I think you make it very interesting to admissions the fact that you do not live in the US. So if you write a great essay about how determined you are, I am sure it would make an impact. And just try your hardest on testing and if you're really determined, you can do anything

ttyl8

Why don't you visit the specific school forums to see how you compare with other applicants?

unitofobscurity

You should probably know that a lot of American schools tend to take very few Canadians per year (Harvard takes around 10, for example). The question is not so much whether or not you're academically qualified - you're clearly making the most of the oppourtunities your school environment provides, which is what they look for (as opposed to number of APs taken etc).

But schools like HYP are really building a community when they accept their students. I think someone from MIT described it as picking 1000 people to climb a mountain together. So the question they will be asking when they look at your application is, 'what do you bring to the table when you set foot on campus? what makes you special? why do we want you to be part of the [name of college] community?'

Although having 15 APs and a 2400 certainly show that someone is smart, they really care about every aspect of the person. So in short, it's a bit of a lottery. You may be someone that gets selected as part of their 'team' for whatever reason, you may not, regardless (to an extent) of how amazing you are. So good luck, there's nothing that you've presented that really disqualifies you, but your odds still aren't 100% or even >50%.

starbright

Harvard isn't taking many American's either, what 9%? But also few Canadians even apply so the raw numbers should be much lower.

It's not my understanding that its statistically harder to get in from Canada (all other things being equal). Yes the admission rates of international students vs. domestic is lower when you look at the college tables in aggregate. However, the pool of applicants from domestic and foreign locations are different (domestic students, compared to foreign applicants, are going to be more familiar with and have worked toward the requirements and more likely to have achieved the requisites in HS, so on average, will be stronger applicants). Thus for example, domestic vs. foreign applicants are likely to have spent more time on SATs, to have known in advance to take 3 subject tests (and at the right time), to have hired professional counsellors, to have had opportunities to take more APs and so on).

I don't think at all you should be discouraged from applying. For all you know, if you look as good as the top US applicants, it may even be an advantage.

prjiki

I do not wish to discourage you. However, your rank of 1 out of 210 at your school is impressive in your county only; you need to prove your excellence through standardized tests such as sats and aps. Obviously, you do not live in a big city where there is much competition, and, you will later realize how your school scores may be misleading as you take SAT2, and even APs. It is good to be positive, but you should face the reality as well.

Another thing: top US univ students coming from all over the world - eg gifted schools and math/science school - are so extra armed that average canadian school educated students DO suffer even though they are accepted, I hear.

It will do you only good if you challenge and prepare for it, though. Just know what you are biting at..

Been in US and Canada