Am I On the Right Path? Goals for Next Year?

International Students
1

I’m a graduating sophomore from Canada. I attend a private school that focuses on “education with balance”, so even though all high school classes offered are Honours, the school doesn’t put too much academic pressure on its students and does not offer very many AP courses and no IB courses.

I’m hoping to attend an American or a UK school that’s at or above the caliber and quality of the University of Toronto (currently ~21th in the world, depends on ranking source). I’m wondering what my chances are of getting into a Top 20 International School and what steps I should take for next year and the year after that to boost my competence.

My academics:

  • Currently 97/98% average
  • Won Highest Academic Standing freshman year
  • Going to be taking AP Lit and AP Microeconomics next year
  • Not sure what to major in, considering Law, International Relations, Political Science, Journalism…
  • Going to be taking AP Chemistry, AP Macroeconomics, AP Studio Art and AP Calc senior year
  • Going to be taking the PSAT this October in my junior year, hoping to take SAT in spring of junior year

Summer activities:

  • Attended a French immersion program at McGill University in Montreal last summer
  • Will be attending School of the New York Times International Journalism program this summer
  • Hope to volunteer at my town’s Summer Camp

ECs:

  • Model UN for 1 year, won school-wide awards and attended Ontario Model United Nations, going to be gaining more leadership in the club next year
  • Mock Trial for 1 year, placed 2nd in regionals as a team, hoping to gain leadership position senior year
  • Peer Tutoring Coordinator for 1 year, continuing to hold the position for next year
  • Student Communications Coordinator for 1 year, continuing to hold the position for next year
  • Played competitive tennis ages 5-13, competed at Provincials, continue to play for my school team and have won MVP two years in a row
  • Debating and Public Speaking club, attended a competition of independent school in Ontario, volunteered at school event for younger debaters, hoping to attend more competitions next year
  • Volunteer for my town (community events, etc) and for a local museum (seasonal events)
  • Acquired ~55 community service hours so far, 40 required for Ontario diploma
  • Tutored for 2 years weekly (3 students ages 8-15)

That’s pretty much all the information about me! It would be a great help if anybody were to be so kind and comment on my chances of gaining admission to a highly-regarded university in a couple of years and what I can do to increase these chances.

Thank you,

Christina

2

It is too late for you to edit, but next time don’t write “graduating sophomore”. That is confusing. Write something like “finishing up sophomore year” instead.

What does your own guidance counselor suggest you do for the next two years? What can your family afford to pay? Big university or smaller college/university? From your signature, I’m guessing you are female. Would you be open to Wellesley, Smith, Bryn Mawr, Barnard, or Mt Holyoke? Yup. Depending on the specific major those places can be even better than U of T.