ScarletCrush

Firstly, if you were admitted into Seoul National University for this Fall, 2012, congratulations.

This is a thread where students who were accepted into Seoul National University as international students can discuss their future plans, and also reveal what kind of specs got them into the university, as there seems to be quite a demand for that information.

I will start off this discussion with my own basic specs(scores).

I have been admitted into SNU as an Electrical Engineering major.

I am from the US, with a weighted GPA of 4.3, and an unweighted GPA of 3.8. I have taken a total of 11 AP classes throughout my 4 years of high school. However, I did not submit any AP scores to SNU.

My ACT super score is a 34, yet the highest single test date composite is a 31. My SAT II test scores are as follows: Math IIC: 800, Korean: 800, Biology(M): 780, US History: 710.

TOPIK level 5 out of 6.

AMC 114/150. AIME qualifier.

That's it for my basic specs. Anyone is free share their own specs that got them into SNU. Please feel free to post any questions that you may have on this thread.

turkeysandwich

Hi, congratz on making it to SNU.

I've always wanted to go to SNU, could you help show me how to get in?
I'm currently a sophomore and my specs are:

unweighted GPA of 3.95
SAT (not super) score of 2290
no SAT II tests yet
no TOPIK test yet
TOEFL test score of 119
AMC 102/150
Also, I'm taking an internship with Professor Im-Ji Soon from SNU this summer

I'm not sure what I should do to prepare for SNU right now. Should I take the TOPIK test? And also, which SAT II tests should I take?
Thanks.

ScarletCrush

@ turkeysandwich
Scores wise, I think you're already good enough to be considered for SNU, for most majors. What major are you interested in? I would decide on what SAT IIs to take depending on your major.
Also, taking the TOPIK is always a plus, since most of SNU's courses are conducted in Korean, so they want people who can speak the language pretty well.

You should ask the SNU professor for a letter of recommendation if you can once the time comes for you to apply to SNU.

Oh, and my AMC is AMC 12, to be more specific.

turkeysandwich

Oh ok thanks.
I have one more question.
How many extracurricular activities did you have, like charities, debate, MUN, student council, etc.
I heard that extracurricular activities are important, but I'm not sure how many I should do and how much I have to do. Thanks

ScarletCrush

@ turkeysandwich
I'll give you a general idea for everything I've done as extracurricular activities.
1.Founder and President of Computer Club (10th-12th)
2. Founder and President of Rubik's Cube Club (10th-12th)
3.Co-Founder, President of Junior Robotics Club (9th-12th)
4. 1st Violinist at an Orchestra (played for 7 years)
5. Community Service at some disabled latin american center and California Science Center.
6. Independent Research for innovative technology (motor vehicle suspension system)
7. Piano (10 years)- Certificate of Merit Adv. Level
8. Math Club- member
9. iPhone Developers Club- programmer
10. Tae Kwon Do- 2nd Degree Black
11. Worked as a Computer Technician
12. Received the Presidential Award(Gold) for community service.

sallyxsm

Hi, I'm just going to follow the first format.

I have been admitted into SNU as an Industrial Engineering major.

I'm Korean, but I spent all my years of schooling in the United States.
I have a weighted GPA of 4.1, and an unweighted GPA of around 3.8. I took 11 AP classes in high school.

My ACT super score is a 35, and my highest single test date composite is a 34. My SAT superscore is 2160, but I didn't send my SAT I scores, just my ACT. My SAT II test scores are Math II: 800, US History: 710, and I didn't do so hot on the other ones.

I didn't take the TOPIC or TOEFL.

Those are the basics, congratulations to those who got in, and good luck to everyone who will apply soon!

kebalken

@sallyxsm and @ScarletCrush, did you guys decide to go to SNU this fall? I'm not sure if I should, since I'm supposed to be going to a HYP... I got into SNU Med.

Also, aren't you guys worried about your Korean fluency? Mine isn't the best.

pinkie523

@kebalken wow you got into SNU Med? Could you please tell me what your specs were? And are you Korean or Korean-american?

I'm also Korean but I spent all my school years in an international school in Indonesia. I really want to go to SNU Med but I don't really know what the standard is.

kebalken

@pinkie I'm a korean. As for my specs I would rather not say online, but to get a sense of my overall scores I do have a 2400 on the SAT I from one sitting.

effiejin

Wow! So I am a Korean American, born in America and it has been my dream to get into a top school in Korea! I'm a rising senior, and I was planning on applying to Yonsei University, Korea University, and Ewha Womans University because although my speaking and listening is very good in Korean, I am terrible at writing, and all those three schools have international programs...

Seoul National doesn't have an international program though... but do you guys think I should still take a hit at it? I heard SNU is so impossible to get into to, but is it immensely different as an international kid?

sallyxsm

What's HYP?
I did decide to go this fall.
My korean is fluent; people tell me that I don't have an accent when I talk in korean.
The one thing that I am worried about is maybe the vocabulary for math and other subjects, and the chinese characters that korean students have to learn... I better start studying up!

kebalken

@sallyxsm HYP is Harvard/Yale/Princeton

naturalleader

Do you guys know if engineering majors in SNU really difficult?? for someone weak in Physics and Calculus?

sooohard

I know a lot of ya'll are having fun during the holidays, but I would just like to ask a couple questions since I will be applying for spring 2013.
A lot of you guys have applied for engineering majors, but I am not really bright scientifically so Im gonna apply as an English major. Do you guys know if I have a better chance as an English major than engineering? Cuz I feel like a lot of people in general go to the english department more than engineering. or I may be wrong.

I have a specfiic question for ScarletCrush, so you said you didn't send any of your AP scores, but like did your counselor do that for you instead or something?
Cuz my school unfortunately does not offer AP, and I feel like SNU will just reject me because I attended a school that doesn't offer APs. But seeing that you got into SNU, without even showing you took APs surprised me.

Also, did you guys send the "optional" school profile? Is that really needed? Did you also add anything else to your application other than the stated materials? And what did you guys do for the ECA part? Did you just state everything you did? Or just simply state the major ones. Its kinda odd because its not listing but paragraph format.

Sorry for the long post, but I reallly need the answers.
Thanks

jaznwo322

where does SNU stand in comparison to american colleges?