3 Wins, 16 Losses, 2 Pending. I cannot understand.

Applying to College
1

<p>I think I have somewhat stellar stats and ECs, but decision just breaks my heart nonetheless. I go to one of the finest high schools in Korea and had assumed that I’d gone through the fierce competition–the 42.195km race to get into top universities–pretty well. For the past few hours, I was really confused and dumbfounded, not knowing how to react to all the “rejections.” I want to hear how you guys think about transfer options and ways to deal with waitlists. </p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2380 (R:780 M:800 W:800 E:12) (3 sittings)
[</em>] ACT: Did not take
[<em>] SAT II: MathIIC: 800, World History: 800, Chemistry: 790, US History: 750, Literature: 690
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.99
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Academically top 5%
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): Eng Lit(5); Eng Lang(5); Microecon(5); Macroecon (5) US History(5); World History(5); European History(5); US G&P(5); Calculus BC(5); Calculus AB Subscore(5); Psychology(5); Comparative G&P(4); Chemistry(4)… 11 5s and 2 4s–all self-studied.
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): Did not take
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: All students take identical classes in my high school. We take, like 15 different subjects.
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): I Have MY DAY in a small town in Texas (no kidding, literally, a day is named after me); 2nd place in national financial education awards; 2nd place in national youth economic forum; winner in national high school economics championships; special award in the biggest national economic education awards in korea; 3rd place in national social venture contest; finalist in well-reputed international business competition; semi-finalist in oxford said school of business youth business development competition; and some other awards in MUN conferences, econ competitions, and business competitions.</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): United High School Economy Community–the largest student organization in Korea which connects 30 prestigious high schools and 2000+ members (National President/11-12th); Econteen (School Economics club; President/10-12th); [My High School] Co. (School Entrepreneurship club; Founder&President/11-12th); Cogito (School Literature club; co-founder/12th); Student reporter in two nationally circulated newspapers.<br>
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: I launched my own enterprise in April 2011. It has not generated much profit (4k for 6 months) as I had expected, but it won several awards in some major business competitions both nationally and internationally.
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: I started my own economic education program when I was in 11th grade. For three years, I had taught kids from disadvantaged families in regional community centers. Book contract with a minor publishing company.
[</em>] Summer Activities: I went out to Mongolian schools to implement my econ education program. Revenues I raised from my business were spent to build libraries and schools for Mongolian kids (12th); Traveled France & Germany and researched policies to maintain traditional markets competitive enough against big discount stores (such as Walmart)…government-sponsored (12th); Hosted two national conferences (11th); wrote a paper about new paradigm in korean econ education (11-12th); hosted a mun conference as a secretary-general (11th).
[<em>] Essays: I was an exchange student, so I wrote about the old man I met while I stayed in Texas and how he shaped my perspective and values. Some of my peers told me that I feel somewhat detached and even inhumane (as you can see in my stats and ECs) so I intended to focus on my different side. Somewhat philosophical and warm.
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation: One from Eng Comp (more like Government and Politics) teacher and one from Eng Lit. I could not read the letters but counselor told me that they are “unique.”
[<em>] Counselor Rec: I really don’t know… maybe a bit negative. My peer evaluation is far from the best, and my counselor is known for depending on peer references when writing students’ secondary school reports.
[</em>] Additional Rec: Did not submit.</p>

<p>[/ul]Other[ul]
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant):
[</em>] Country (if international applicant): International. One of top 3 high schools in korea.
[<em>] School Type: private.
[</em>] Ethnicity: asian.
[<em>] Gender: male.
[</em>] Income Bracket: <50K
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I have my freakin’ my day in a small town in Texas. Even though I did not submit a copy of the certificate when I filed my application, but I sent a copy in early March. Maybe a little late?</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Reflection[list]</p>

<p>[li] Strengths: stats and ECs. </p>[/li]
<p>[li] Weaknesses: Reputation in school and Secondary School Report.</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Accepted: Colgate Univ (full-ride), Hong Kong Univ, NYU Stern.</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Waitlisted: Williams C, Amherst C, Pomona C, Bowdoin C</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Rejected: Harvard C, Yale Univ, Princeton Univ, UPenn, Brown Univ, Dartmouth C, UChicago, Claremont McKenna C, Carleton C, Wesleyan Univ.</p>[/li]
<p>I’m waiting for Swarthmore and Columbia, but I guess the results will either be a waitlist or a rejection. Even though I applied FA to Liberal Arts Colleges, I’d had no idea I will get waitlisted/rejected from every single of them except Colgate. </p>

<p>Now I have tough choices. </p>

<p>If my appeal letter to the waitlisted colleges does not work, I guess I will go to Colgate University, as my family is incapable of paying a full tuition to NYU Stern. But I am stilling willing to sacrifice another year to re-apply to those colleges that rejected me. However, considering that the bad results may have been caused from weak counselor recommendation, it would be a bad choice. </p>

<p>Which would be better: going to colgate and transfer to another college / graduating from colgate and going to one of the Ivy graduate schools / re-applying to Ivy schools and top LACs (through Questbridge)? </p>

<p>And if you have any tips when writing an appeal letter, please share. Thank you CCers for reading this, perhaps a bit annoying post.</p>

2

<p>Sadly, it’s still standard procedure to judge internationals based on their ability to pay, even if a school is need-blind for domestic students. I suspect this may have been part of your problem considering your income bracket. The international pool can be pretty ruthless to begin with, and even something stupid like that can get in your way, since they have five other internationals who can pay full freight.</p>

<p>I really think it’s sad that colleges do this, to be honest. I wish need-blind meant need-blind.</p>

<p>That said, I’m glad you sent out enough applications that you at least have a few choices. Colgate is an excellent LAC that is extremely well respected in the US. If I was you, I would just go to Colgate and be happy. Not everyone needs to go Ivy. I really don’t believe there’s any legitimate difference in educational quality between an Ivy and a top LAC like Colgate.</p>

3

<p>Thank you Kudryavka. I know that there’s not much difference between rejection and waitlist, but I wish I had rather waitlisted from ivies which I neither filed an international certificate of finance form for nor requested financial aid to. </p>

<p>This is somewhat stupid question, but how many people from Grinnell go to top professional schools (HY Law, Wharton, HBS, or Sloan)? I’m curious, as my ultimate educational goal is to attend those schools.</p>

4

<p>Any of the top LAC’s (including Grinnell) can lead to those top graduate schools. In a small school you can develop the personalized record that will make you stand out in your grad school application and also get the personal recommendations you’ll need.</p>

<p>I suspect your applications may have been hurt partly due to recommendations. If relationships are a challenge for you, you might want to consider some classes or social activities to help you in that area. Don’t laugh - but here in the US, a lot of people have benefited from Toastmasters. Having your own day - while certainly cool - is not an accomplishment in the normal sense of the word. Colgate or Grinnell sound like perfect choices for you actually. Good luck to you.</p>

5

<p>

I haven’t seen any statistics on med or law school admissions, but I know it’s very common for Grinnell graduates to go to grad school. Grinnell graduates earn PhDs at the 7th highest rate in the country. I would assume Grinnellians do fine with professional schools as well.</p>

<p>Though really, if I was you I wouldn’t be worrying about all that yet. You haven’t even started your undergrad. Your 3rd year would be a good time to start worrying about where you’re gonna go after graduation, not senior year of high school.</p>

6

<p>You got a free ride to Colgate. Really, you have nothing to complain about. Many colleges don’t even offer aid to internationals. Having a day named after you probably means nothing to colleges. It could be one of those things that a small town may do that really doesn’t mean much- there won’t be a major celebration in your honor every year on that day.</p>

<p>You mentioned that your family couldn’t pay for NYU. NYU is known for its horrible financial aid. Many, many American students can’t afford it either.</p>

7

<p>ah… i made a lot of article errors. tried to edit the post, but doesn’t work. </p>

<p>I really appreciate the advice. I don’t think I have difficulties with making friends, but I’ll take your comment seriously. I have many korean and international friends, but in school, I suppose I detached myself a bit when I transferred to my current high school and the initial impression had lasted since then. </p>

<p>What about the transfer opportunities? If possible, I would like to transfer to other LACs (williams or amherst) if they provide better environment for students who prepare to go to the top-notch professional schools.</p>

8

<p>There’s no reason to transfer out of Colgate to go to Williams or Amherst. The difference is minimal and you have a full ride at Colgate.</p>

9

<p>My recommendation would be to go to Colgate.</p>

<p>If you decide to transfer, you can try that. Otherwise, you may love the place. I think there are a number of Colgate-Cornell transfers every year. Probably some to the other ‘name schools’ too. But I think most of the students really love it there.</p>

10

<p>well, i see… i guess the agony really comes from the fact that a lot of my friends who have similar stats as mine are accepted to HYP, which will be nothing in the end. Time to quit facebook for a while…</p>

11

<p>Grinnell is absolutely an elite school, and Colgate is very good. I suspect your feelings are based on the misunderstanding of many in Asia about the US educational system, in which there is the silly and completely mistaken assumption that people who go to HYPSM get all the spoils and everyone else is just stuck in some kind of second-rate career. That’s not how it is at all in the US, so don’t get caught up on it.</p>

12

<p>If Colgate offered you a free ride (or more money than anywhere else)-- just tell your friends that this is the reason you’re going there. And speak of the school with pride. Tell them how great it is.</p>

13

<p>“If possible, I would like to transfer to other LACs (williams or amherst) if they provide better environment for students who prepare to go to the top-notch professional schools.”</p>

<p>You need to stop thinking this way. You have an acceptance to a very good school in the US; do NOT approach it with the mentality of “Oh, I’ll just bide time here til I get into an even better school.” This is not Asia. Here, in the US, it’s people who make the opportunities, not their schools. There are more than enough opportunities at Colgate for you to do quite well in life. I don’t know why this pernicious myth continues to exist that life is somehow appreciably more magical for those who go to top 10 schools. It’s simply not the case. Go to Colgate and enjoy. BTW, you might want to contact the poster oldfort, who is a Colgate grad and extremely successful in her field.</p>

14

<p>actually, i’m feeling more and more that colgate would be a good choice at least. I have the 53k/yr financial aid package, and had I been accepted to Penn or Columbia, my parents would have sold their house to support me, which I cannot tolerate. </p>

<p>I’m still wondering how many people end up going top professional schools though… 10~20?</p>

<p>and thank you guys for all your advices and encouraging words… it really helps me a lot.</p>

15

<p>“BTW, you might want to contact the poster oldfort, who is a Colgate grad and extremely successful in her field.”</p>

<p>sorry to ask, but who is “the poster oldfort”? is she one of the CCers?</p>

16

<p>breezewater</p>

<p>Last year, a friend of mine got rejected or waitlisted from EVERY selective college and he is attending a state flagship without scholarship.
He (Asian male international) had 2350+ (35 or 36ACT, I think it was 36), multiple 800s and 4.0UWGPA from an elite US HS.</p>

<p>I feel your pain but don’t be so upset.
At least, you got a full ride from Colgate.</p>

<p>Work hard! Good luck to you!</p>

17

<p>Breezewater --</p>

<p>Given the choice of going to Colgate on a full scholarship or having my parents sell their house to go to Columbia, I’d choose Colgate 100% of the time.</p>

18

<p>Oldfort is on CC. Sorry if I wasn’t clear.</p>

19

<p>Colgate is absolutely a fantastic school, and quite honestly, if you get a full ride to ANY university in the U.S. you should take it. Graduating from college free of burdensome debt is an enormous advantage. Many people in the U.S. are still paying off their college loans in their thirties and forties. Congratulations! That is excellent! Of course it’s disappointing to be denied entrance at HYP when you’ve worked that hard, but I think you’ll find the student body at Colgate to be more relaxed and you may have some wonderful and unique opportunities that come out of being at school with a slightly different environment. Have fun at college! :D</p>

20

<p>thank you all. much appreciated.</p>