**Background info: My family came to the USA in early 2013. I will be applying as an international student even though I live in the states because I haven’t received a green card yet and am on a visa. I have applied for asylum and am waiting for a decision. I suffered from violence based on religious differences in my home country (India); trying to gain refugee status through the asylum process. Here are my stats below:
ACADEMICS:
ACT: 34
(Didn’t take SAT)
SAT 2 Math level 2: 790
SAT 2 Physics: 790
GPA: 3.8 Unweighted
Upward trend as I did poorly immediately after arriving in the USA due to the sudden differences.
11 AP Classes by the time I graduate (rigorous schedules all four years).
EXTRACURRICULARS:
Taught myself how to code without any help
Have made and published software and apps, have over 250,000 users. Most of the apps are free but I do get some revenue.
(I spend hours every week coding and working on my software/app projects alone. I taught myself to code and build these myself, and invested lots of time learning to do so.)
Independently ported open-source software applications to the new QNX platform (apps got published in the store and are available for download).
Volunteered significantly freshman year trying to increase cleanliness and improve health conditions in desolate parts of India
Plenty of FBLA
President of School’s DECA chapter
Member of Math Varsity team, Science team
(I think my software/app work counts as entrepreneurship? I do everything myself and make money so, yeah). I never got any work/intern opportunities because I don’t have a social security number
ESSAYS: Writing about how I managed to overcome intolerance for my my religion in my home country, and the struggle I endured teaching myself to code during that time. Also wrote about how making apps for other companies all by myself, and having lots of users was an intellectual experience. Essay is 8/10 in my opinion.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Nothing special. I don’t have much of a relationship with my teachers, they will be generic.
OTHER INFO:
Attend an ordinary public high school in Wisconsin.
Male
Household income around $50k, need plenty of financial aid.
I will apply to Dartmouth ED, and UChicago, EA. If I don’t get in, I’ll apply to a whole plethora of schools RD round Please chance me, and I’ll chance you back! Just leave your thread’s link.
I was accepted to Dartmouth this year, and I believe you have a strong chance at Dartmouth. Remember, Dartmouth wants a peer recommendation as well, so have a friend (who writes well) give you a peer rec. Also apply for QuestBridge which will boost your chances significantly. Good luck!
QuestBridge is a program for low-income students (<60k a year) who attend hs in the US (including international students living here so you qualify) that matches 100% of the student’s need at the top colleges and universities in the country. All of the top schools want socioeconomic diversity so those who apply through QuestBridge’s national college match system get a huge leg up in admissions. Google the website if you want to learn more (I didn’t qualify for QB so I don’t know that much)
ah, if it weren’t for being an international that needs aid, I’d have said I’m confident you’ll get in. I’ve heard admissions are rougher for internationals who need aidI think you’ll get into at least a few prestigious schools though. Your story is certainly compelling!
Oh I didn’t know that. Funny enough I have an international friend who needed aid, but got rejected from need-blind ivies and accepted into the need-aware ivies she applied to…admissions can always get weird sometimes.
@Oberyn I just researched QuestBridge. Do you think I should apply through there even if I’m not a finalist? Should I just apply through the Common App in that case?
You are likely to make it to Dartmouth even though your stats are good enough for both schools, just a gut feeling though and your stats are great By the way, if you come to USA from India is your CGPA added or you have to start your GPA freshly?
@outlooker same here. do you think 3.84 CGPA can be raised to around 3.95 CGPA by the time i reach 12th grade or im doomed? also is USA Education tougher than Indian Education?
@10thgrader I’m not familiar with how high school works in India so can’t really give an opinion. Education in the USA is about the same difficulty, or easier than in India. (definitely not harder)
Please chance me, and I’ll chance you back! Just leave your thread’s link.
By the way, if you come to USA from India is your CGPA added or you have to start your GPA freshly?