Elastine

A normal sane Pakistani International Applicant here who didn't get into any college in 2008(well, wait listed at 3 but i am thinking of a gap year), and therefore I'll be grateful(yes, sounds horribly formal doesn't it :P) if you could evaluate my chances for these schools after the gap year that is for the admissions class of 2009. Please be as ruthless as possible. Below is the profile of mine as should be at the time I'm applying...

Academic:

• GPA = don’t know. It’s mostly A’s with a few B’s, so it’ll be like 3.9 I guess. School doesn’t calculate one.
• School type: Highly Selective private, arguably the most academically competitive in Pakistan.
• O Level 9 A’s
• A Level 6 A’s (Taking Further Math as a 7th A level this year)
• SAT Reasoning 2150 (Should be up to 2250 this October)
• SAT Subjects 2400 (Physics, Chemistry, Math IIC)
• ACT 33 (Should come up to 35 this October)
• TOEFL 653/677
• 2 School based Math Whiz Prizes
• 17 Subject Certificates given to highest achiever in each school exam
• Gold Award given to best three students of the school
• 6 Medals for achieving highest in O level exams

Non-Academic:

• Volunteer work at Orangi Pilot Project(Slum development work at the largest urban based slum in the world)- Approx 1000 hours over 4 years
• School Mathematics Society- Vice President, Quiz Organizer, Magazine Editor
• School Computer Society- General Secretary, Gaming Tournaments Organizer
• School Annual Newsletter Editor
• Member of Student Government Body: School Prefect
• Senior Member of Pakistan Stammering Association- guiding others to overcome speech impediments in a self-help environment being an ex-stutterer myself.
• Internship at Citibank 1.5 Months
• Internship at The News 3 Months (Part time)
• Internship at Karachi Stock Exchange 4 Months
• Internship at Barclay's Corporate Banking 3 Months
• Casual Squash player
• Learning French


Further Gap-Year Activity: (December to July)

• Internship with Geo News TV 4 months
• Internship with Spider IT magazine- Editor 3 months (Part time)
• Continuing volunteer work at the Orangi Pilot Project
• Giving Further Mathematics as an additional A Level, and maybe one more.
• Solidifying knowledge of French


Recs: Should be Good.

Essays: Very Good. No really, i will write them afresh.



There is the profile as should be on my application. I want you to chance me for: (Ive just selected those that gives buck loads of fin aid cuz i need it)

Harvard
Princeton
Yale
MIT
Dartmouth
Williams
Amherst
Middlebury
Chicago
McGill
Reed
Bates


THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Elastine

Any advice is also appreciated.

vossron

I can't evaluate international chances with aid need, but also consider Colgate.

Elastine

^^^ Thanks. Anyone else?

PLEASE....

cookietime

I'm not entirely familiar with the international applicant pool, but your awards, internships, and SATII's are very impressive.

My only real advice is to focus on either the SAT or the ACT. Don't retake both. There is no point.

Elastine

bump. i need it

Elastine

...........

Elastine

bump again. ANYONE?

Elastine

For the love of god ppl

hpg90

You need someone to go over your app's from this year and assess what the problem was. You should have gotten in somewhere with these grades, etc. Something happened (including the possibility that it is just your international status) that needs to be examined and addressed. I would ask one of the international kids that did get in this year and see what words of wisdom they can offer. Your gap year plans aren't going to dramatically change your app. The only thing I can say is the list above doesn't have a safety....

Northstarmom

You are an international applying only to colleges that give aid to internationals. The competition is insane at such colleges for Americans, and is far beyond insanity for internationals.

No matter how stellar your app was (and I've seen your other posts, and your app was stellar), odds are low that you'd get any acceptances. Next year will be even harder to get acceptances due to the fact that the largest cohort ever of American h.s. seniors will be applying. No matter what you do on your gap year, odds of acceptance will be very low.

You have had the good fortune to get into London School of Economics. Instead of doing a gap year that is likely to result in another round of disappointments, I suggest that you go to LSE.

Elastine

*sigh* lots of serious thinking to do

frankchn

I'd say while your stats are reasonable and within targets for even HYPSM as an international, your ECs are not particularly outstanding within the pool of international students (especially those needing aid). Perhaps you could focus more on any international/national/provincial-level achievements or leadership opportunity you have for the 2008/2009 cycle? Top schools seem to like that a lot.

I concur with Northstarmom that LSE is a fantastic school, and I think you should go there.

lethargytm

aid for international is really hard. if you didnt need aid you would have a really good chance. consider applying to schools that give out scholarships to international students.

Elastine

Um....arent most of my schools supposed to be need-blind?

Or have I misunderstood the whole thing entirely?