safety or match?

bajajma · 09-27-2009, 04:45 AM

Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Male
Residence: India
HS Class: 2010

GPA: 3.6 UW (no weighted)
High School: International School & IB Diploma
Rank: School doesnt do it

SAT: M-660 CR-710 W-630 (retaking in October)

SAT II- Math II: 790 Physics: (taking in november)

AP: maybe Economics

IB Classes:
SL Spanish
SL Psychology
HL Math
HL Physics
HL Economics
HL English
AWARDS AND HONORS
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (2010)
High School Spanish distinction award(2006-2007)
Award for continuous inquiry(2007-2008, 2008-2009)
Award for courage and following dreams(2008-2009)
High School History Excellence award(2007-2008)

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
THIMUN, DAIMUN,YLC (Delegate,Deputy chair, Chair)
Fuschia magazine (editor position)
Student Tech crew (3 years)
ECs
Concert Band (2007 - 2010)
Play saxophone
SAISA Soccer (2007-2010)
NHS Member (2007 - 2010)

Student Tech Crew Member (2007 - 2010)
Helps with laptops laptops at my laptop school. Helped at ASB Unplugged, a technology conference.
SAISA Track and Field(2006—2007)
MUWCI conflict management conference- focused on techniques in high pressure conflict regions
Attended Vienna Advent Sing
Community Service and Work Experience:
Time in Rural India (2009)
Spent 3 weeks with mentally challenged adults in rural India focusing primarily in
teaching basic computer skills and interacting with patients.
Save the Children(2008-2010)
Created and taught a curriculum helping children to swim
Internship at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) (2009)
Self taught Python programming language in order to complete several projects.
Was accepted into Dalai Llama's program..could not attend
Habitat for Humanity (2008)
Worked at Sujaya foundation helping high school dropouts understand english and apply for jobs
Attended Vienna Advent Sing

StitchInTime · 09-27-2009, 09:11 AM

Match...if you're interested in International Relations ("MUWCI conflict management conference- focused on techniques in high pressure conflict regions") consider contacting the department chairman, Rajan Menon, for his insights and counsel. He's a specialist in this area.

bajajma · 09-27-2009, 10:10 AM

i am interested in international relations..however it wont be my major for sure

ar31791 · 09-28-2009, 02:56 PM

Lehigh is never a "safety"....

hudsonvalley51 · 09-28-2009, 03:17 PM

Lehigh might be a safety for a few high stats superachievers who are shooting for HYPS, but it is a match at best for anyone with sub-700 scores on the SATs and a less than 4.0 GPA.

AdInfinitum22 · 09-28-2009, 04:12 PM

Your scores are average and having taken the IB will not give you a leg up in comparison to other applicants, most who have taken the AP. Unfortunately, American universities do not realize how much more challenging IB is than AP. Lehigh would be a match for you.

ar31791 · 09-29-2009, 10:00 AM

My advice to all applicants:

APPLY! No matter what you think, APPLY! I didn't think I'd get into Lehigh, I did. My friend had better academic stats than me, and he DIDN'T get it. There is a lot taken into consideration that many don't think about. #1: Show interest. They want to know you are coming for sure if you are accepted. Apply ED if it is your first choice. I applied ED, didnt get in, but got in RD. Keep up with it.

bajajma · 09-29-2009, 11:22 PM

its not my first choice and so i will be applying RD..thoughts?

WaitingDad · 09-30-2009, 12:52 AM

Just as ar31791 wrote, you must show interest and with your average stats you need to show lots of it. Last year applications were down about 2000 from the year before because of the economy but stats to get in were not lowered. The freshman class is about 1200 of which more than half will be males, from which a large amount will be accepted ED with a good amount of legacies accepted ED and RD leaving a much smaller pool to be accepted from. Lehigh's endowment also took a beating because of the stock market so paying full ride also becomes a plus.

bajajma · 09-30-2009, 02:25 PM

i am visiting in the autumn break and am doing interviews..i will also strive to raise my SAT scores and will have an IB predicted of about 36 or 37/42

Momwaitingfornew · 10-09-2009, 07:20 AM

Your SAT scores are low for Lehigh; fortunately for you, Lehigh doesn't weigh the SAT scores as heavily as other schools may. It is looking for actively engaged leaders, creative thinkers, and passionate scholars. Grades, letters of recommendations from teachers, demonstrated interest, and the strength of your essays will determine whether you get in.

Full-paying internationals have a better chance of admission, although I'm sure Lehigh still has funds earmarked for international aid, especially since it is striving for a more diverse student body.