Chance Me: Foreign Student: It will decide whether I apply or not... Please...Please!

100%Tuna · 04-22-2008, 08:31 AM

Gender: M
Location: Singapore, Singapore
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes

Academics:
A-Level Grades:
Math: A
Physics: A
Chemistry: B
Economincs: A
General Paper (English): A
Project Work: A
Hindi (Mother Tongue): A
Class Rank: top 10%
Class Size: 763

Scores:

SAT I Math: 790
SAT I Critical Reading: 680
SAT I Writing: 720
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 800
SAT II Physics: 800
SAT II Chemistry: 790

Extracurriculars:

Significant Extracurriculars: 2007- Performed in the Production "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
2007- Singapore Youth Festival Silver Award (Dance)
2008- Ovidia Yu's "Death on Cue"
2008- Mardi Gras Dan
Leadership positions: Mazarin Leader (Community Service) in College
Creative Head- Indian Cultural Society
Athletic Status - list sport and your level: Cricket
Played in the 8-a-side and 11-a-side A division national tournament.
2nd runners up for 11-a-side
East Zone Colors Award (Distinction) for exceptional performance as a cricketer.
Volunteer/Service Work: *Headed the "Shoes for a Cause" Project
*Participated in the Raffles' Community Leaders' Forum.
*Participated in Go-Green-Day
Honors and Awards: AIME:9
AMC12: School Topper (115.5) (First Attempt)
Singapore Mathematics Olympiad: Bronze Award
NASA Ames Space Settlement Contest: Honours
Virtual Business Challenge: Finalists
College Summer programs: Not Offered

Colleges of Interest:

Brown University
California Institute of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton University
Purdue University
Stanford University
University of California - Berkeley
University of Chicago
Vassar College
Virginia Tech
Yale University

Desired College Characteristics:

Importance of cost: Secondary

100%Tuna · 04-22-2008, 08:38 AM

Hi everyone, please please please check out my portfolio and let me know whether I stand a chance or not. Basically, I am an Indian national, studying in Singapore on a Pre-University Scholarship. Am really not very familiar with the American College systems, their requirements and all. Actually, to be quite frank, I'm totally befuddled. I don't know whether my SAT scores (SAT1-First Attempt) are satisfactory etc., my co-curriculars, my grades are good enough... Am THINKING of applying to the universities listed and will apply only if I actually stand a chance; as it is rather tough to get teachers to write recommendations, for the schools to stamp and testify etc. etc. Please let me know what chances I stand of getting into the colleges posted. Please!
Tonnes of gratitude! Thanks~!
Looking forward to prompt replies! =)

100%Tuna · 04-22-2008, 08:54 AM

PS: I forgot to mention; I worked for 2 months last year with a media marketing company (won't name it here) and worked on the design of the current KFC marketing plan for Singapore (2008), contributing this year's Singapore version of the Brand Positioning (i.e. something similar to the "I'm loving it! for McDonalds"

Please post your responses soon!

100%Tuna · 04-23-2008, 09:03 AM

~bump!!!!!!!!!

Elastine · 04-23-2008, 09:31 AM

I would say it'll be hard to get in. There are TOO many over-qualified internationals with stellar apps, and Singapore is one of the most fertile region for top students. And an international with Finaid app becomes even more tough. I would say you will stand a good chance at Vassar, Carnegie Mellon, Purdue and some of the lower ones, but the top ones are reaches.

100%Tuna · 04-23-2008, 07:25 PM

Sooo... what do you think makes an international application stand out? As in, for the top univs!
Elastine> Thanks!

McskittlZ10 · 04-23-2008, 07:28 PM

If you apply to a lot of them you should get in to one or two. You're qualified to pursue a career in math (i assumed that from the SAT II extras)

You have a good chance.

Elastine · 04-23-2008, 07:31 PM

@ Tuna: Standing out? Go find a cure for AIDS.

frankchn · 04-23-2008, 07:45 PM

Virtual Business Challenge? The Hwa Chong VBC? Which year did you participate in that? :P

Your academic situation is quite similar to mine in that I got a B for H2 Chemistry as well, though I did have higher SAT scores (not that they are important at this level). Since cost considerations are secondary for you, I suppose you have a good shot at the lower-ranked universities on the list. HYPSM and equivalent schools would come down to your luck.

100%Tuna · 04-23-2008, 08:19 PM

Omigawd! hahaha! Nah... the grades are predicted grades (by teachers ofcos)... based on my school examinations... Will struggle and try to get an A for chem. Participated last year... AND this year as well! You are THE Frank Chen, right? The admin dude, right? hahahaha! It IS a small world! lol! =)

100%Tuna · 04-23-2008, 08:21 PM

Gender: Male
Race: Indian
Citizenship: Indian
Location: Singapore, Singapore
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
Applying for Financial Aid: Yes (though, cost is secondary)

Academics:
A-Level Grades:
Math: A
Physics: A
Chemistry: B
Economics: A
General Paper (English): A
Project Work: A (confirmed)
Hindi (Mother Tongue): A (confirmed)
Class Rank: top 10%
Class Size: 763

Scores:
SAT I Math: 790
SAT I Critical Reading: 680
SAT I Writing: 720
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 800
SAT II Physics: 800
SAT II Chemistry: 790

Extracurriculars:
An active member of the JC Drama Club; performed in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare and Ovidia Yu’s “Death on Cue” for public shows. Also, performed for many school events like National Day Celebrations, Open House etc.

I am the Creative Head for the Indian Cultural Society (ICS) of my school. I designed the college ICS T-shirt, won a silver award at the Singapore Youth Festival in the Cultural Dance Category. I was Audio-Video i/c for the National Tamil Drama Competition, for which I received best Lighting and Technical Crew. Also, performed (Dance) for the Mardi Gras Festival (2008)

Am in the college cricket team and played the 8-a-side and 11-a-side A division national tournaments. We won the 2nd runners up for the 11-a-side version of the game. Received the East Zone Colors Award for exceptional performance as a cricketer.

A Mazarin Leader for the school; Mazarin- a group (invitational; based on academic, EC performance, write-ups and interviews) which works for the benefit of the school and the community in general.

Taught in a “Free School”(Zero-fee schools for the impoverished children) in Haryana, India during the summer-break last year completing a total of 140 hours of service.

Member of a non-government organization, Dhriiti (India) which works for the cause of the upliftment of the rural poor and disabled, giving them financial backing and expert-guidance to start a business and be self-employed and also helps them in fighting for their rights through petitions.

Headed the “Shoes for a Cause” Project which aimed at collecting recyclable shoes to aggregate money for poor school children in Indonesia.

Participated in the Raffles’ Community Leaders’ Forum; an avenue where students are selected from various countries like Singapore, India, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, USA, UK etc. to come together and discuss various problems facing the world today and solutions that we as the youth have to offer.

Participated in the Go-Green Day for collecting recyclable wastes, the proceeds from which went to various Singaporean charity organizations.

Completed a short-term Diploma course in 2-D animation and Basic Cartooning.

Was the Vice-President of the Students’ Council in my Secondary-School. (India)

Honors and Awards:
*AMC12: School Topper (115.5) (First Attempt)
*AIME: 9
*Qualified (based on merit) for USAMO (couldn’t take due to Indian citizenship)
*Singapore Mathematics Olympiad: Bronze Award
*NASA Ames Space Settlement Contest: Honors
*Virtual Business Challenge: Finalist (Hope to win this year! =) )
*College Summer programs: Not Offered
*Recipient of SIA-Youth Scholarship (offers fully-paid education at Pre-University Level at a Junior College in Singapore)

Colleges of Interest:
Brown University
California Institute of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton University
Purdue University
Stanford University
University of California - Berkeley
University of Chicago
Vassar College
Virginia Tech
Yale University

frankchn · 04-23-2008, 08:23 PM

Haha yeah, I am the programmer/administrator dude for VBC =p, for last year at least. I suspect your teachers might just predict a straight-A result for you, so long as you are within range for it (I know mine did). I advise you to start thinking about your essays and your teacher recommendations now.

100%Tuna · 04-23-2008, 08:26 PM

What I have above is a more DETAILED version of my portfolio... Thanks for your replies guys, McskittlZ10 and Frank!
Elastine:> AIDS-patients' genocide is the solution! haha! okay, that was kinda sick!
Yep, so as I asked before, what should I be doing to improve my chances? Anything more for ECs? Retake SATs? Right now, I need ALL the help I can get! =)

Thanks for replying, guys!

100%Tuna · 04-23-2008, 08:29 PM

Frank:> will do! just curious... which university are you in now...?

PS: does GP count as a humanities subject, cuz some univs require a cross-stream recommendation, as far as i know and my econs tutor isn't exactly too fond of me!

frankchn · 04-23-2008, 08:37 PM

GP does count as a humanities subject, so you can ask your GP tutor to write your recommendation for you.

I was accepted to Stanford, Columbia SEAS as a Davis Scholar, CMU ECE/Tepper and NYU/Stern. I plan to attend Stanford after I finish serving my National Service.