kksaysok

Hi! I'm a female interested in the sciences. I am interested in Brown, Cornell, Princeton, USC, Swarthmore, MIT, Amherst and especially Reed College. I am from Oregon.

I have a 3.89 GPA. I am in the top 20% of my school. Throughout the past 4 years, I have taken the hardest courses available to me at my school, such as AP Calc, AP French, and IB Physics and IB math, although I am not in an IHS school. I have also self studied for 7 APs. I am taking 5 more AP tests this May.

AP US History - 5
AP Euro History - 5
AP Bio - 4
AP Environmental Science - 5
AP Human Geography - 5
AP Psychology - 5
AP Comp - 5
AP Lit - 5
AP World History - 4
AP Art History - 5

My SAT breakdown is 790 math, 780 reading, 790 writing.

For my ECs,
School newspaper, 3 years, editor-in-chief senior year.
National honor society 2 years, NHS leader senior year.
Invisible children club, 4 years
Green club, 2 years
Model UN, 2 years
Mock trial, 3 years
Started club that helps those affected by malaria in Africa, 2 years
Debate team, 2 years
Club that helps local homeless teens with clothes, 2 years
1 year student government (elected)
Ski team, 2 years
Tennis team (varsity), 2 years
Varsity water polo, 1 year
Started a club for an organization called Health Prom (president of the club) that helps women and children in my home country and have raised thousands of dollars
Positive change club, 3 years
Started a club that holds food drives around the county (president of club)
Tutor at local middle schools and at my high school
300+ community service hours
Started Key Club at my school this year

I know my ECs seem slightly scattered and all over the place, especially with the amount of clubs I do, but I immigrated from a third world country and I am extremely thankful for what I have so I take great pleasure in helping those less fortunate because my family was once there.

For the organization that helps my home country, as well as starting a school club, I am a US ambassador of sorts for them. I write blog posts, translate documents, spread the word, etc.

Awards - National AP Scholar, winner of 2 writing contests, national merit semifinalist, honor recognition in school district.

For my SAT IIs, I have 790 for Math I and II, 800 in US History, 780 Bio, 760 French, 780 World History, 790 Lit.

I have two very good teacher recs.

I am a first-generation immigrant from a third-world country, former USSR. My family was once in poverty, slept on the floor, and now we live a comfortable, classic suburban American life, it's kind of funny. I speak four languages. I don't know whether that would help? I moved to America when I was six, English is my second language.

For my personal statement, I was looking for help. I am planning to write about how I have trouble with my identity - my family immigrated from Uzbekistan to Canada where I have citizenship, but I moved to America later on, and although I am Uzbek, I speak Russian, and my parents are Georgian and lived in former USSR. Is this good?

Thanks for reading!

kksaysok

Also - my school does not weigh GPA. This is my unweighted GPA. Does weighted matter much in the college decisions?

Cars47

Cornell you're pretty smart.

kksaysok

just calculated my weighted GPA, actually, its 4.54. My California GPA is 4.0. Hope this helps, thanks!

kksaysok

Bumppp!

ArtsyGirl13

The biggest issues I see are your class rank (you want to be in the top 10 percent) and lack of ECs freshman year. That being said I think you will be a decent applicant to those schools assuming your essays (especially for the LACs) and recommendations are good.

kksaysok

Thanks so much for the feedback! Have a great day.

illusory

USC, Swathmore, Reed should be match

for ivies (Brown, Cornell, Princeton, MIT) and Amherst... well, it's harder to say b/c it's something of a crapshoot... As an International, though, esp. from a former USSR country, you have a fair shot

aweatherly

You will probably get into all of those schools if you write good essays. Your story is really good and your scores are very impressive as well. Princeton and MIT are the only ones that you may not get into just because of their weird selectivity but overall Brown and Cornell should be fine.

kksaysok

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it!

kksaysok

bump!!!

lylukas97

I think you can get ino all the schools. Great scores and ECs. As said before you have to write great essays. Chance me back really need it.

compositions

You have a solid shot at all of your schools, but MIT and Princeton are the harder schools to get into. As for USC swarthmore and reed idk much about. But im sure youre well qualified. And the ecs are scattered, it shows your diverse interest and thats good. (talk about that in your essay) I would talk exactly about how youve come from a 3rd world country, and now youre where you are now, and you grasp any chance to diversity your experiences. I would definitely talk about how youre change in social classes effected you to be the person you are now. it may be a bit cliche, but thats where you need to try to differentiate your essay from other kids in similar situations.

chance back please

kksaysok

Thanks for the feedback guys! I really appreciate it.

YouKnowWho13

What might end up holding you back is your class rank. Does your school not get more specific than quintiles? However, overall impressive application.