Member team pakistan, International Earth Science Olympiad (did not participate in IESO cause of sudden health issues)
Author of 2x research papers on environmental science being published in intersect, the Stanford undergrad journal
Student research assistant and remote lab intern at a lab in China: Researched CRISPR applications to combat HLB
Student research intern at national university: analyzed soil biome for nitrogen fixation
Intern at a national tech company: fine tuned LLMs on custom data on crops, flood patterns pollution levels and drought signals
Member of a 4 person project team with uni students: created a low cost AQI monitoring assembly with differential filter papers and SEM techniques. Project praised by uni engg faculty
Founder of an app currently under making: purpose is to help small holder farmers adapt to climate change by GIS and satellite data backed early warnings for floods, droughts, heatwaves etc. Will launch open source GitHub repo and webpage in coming months.
Director of climate policy at a local student NGO: led 500+ volunteers, conducted 30+ climate literacy workshops in schools, and managed 750K+ in funds.
President of HS science society: organized stem events and organized research mentoring program b/w students and alumni. Launched science section in HS newsletter and led delegations to science comps which won 5 team awards.
Tour guide at a local tour company: lead tours in free days to northern areas. Log glacial retreats etc for personal journal
Vice President and founder of HS Sculpturing club: earned 60K through student auctions. co-led 25 members to first prize at clubs expo at HS in 2022 (youngest club to win the award in HS history).
Community service with International Pakistani based NGO: raised 4 million+ in 9 months after the start of Palestine-israel conflict for humanitarian aid through rafah border.
Member HS cricket team and HS Music club
ECS in process:
Veritas AI
Moonshot Awards
Climatebase fellowship
Nasa spaceapps
National talent olympiad
Green prize challenge
earth prize
LORs:
HS English teacher (also counsellor) (9/10)
Professor who I researched under (7/10)
Professor who conducted environmental science olympiad bootcamp (8/10)
Essays:
Haven’t written yet.
Uni List:
MIT
Stanford
Columbia
Princeton
U Penn
Harvard
Yale
Cornell
Brown
Dartmouth
Duke
CMU
Vanderbilt
Havent decided where to ED yet. Thinking of Princeton. Yes, I am well aware this list does not contain any safeties (even though internationals requiring tons of aid dont really have any safeties), but I am willing to add. Need recommendations. Also open to recommendations for ECs and awards, which I am sure I lack.
If you’ve already applied to these schools and been denied, I’m not sure the decision will change based on what you’ve shared.
Note that you will need two teacher LoRs for some of the listed schools…the research prof and bootcamp prof won’t cut it for those schools. Can you get another HS teacher LoR?
I agree that for someone with your level of financial need that any school in the US will be a reach. Do you have an affordable option in your own country?
I havent applied to these schools before except 2-3. I can get a HS LOR wont be an issue. As far as options in my own country are concerned, there are options from a financial point of view, but there are no premier env or climate science programs
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AGU provides scientists at all levels, including students, with opportunities to become effective advocates for science policy and use their expertise to address global challenges.”
The schools on your list are all reaches as you have mentioned. Needing significant financial aid, as an international student, makes this a challenging list to create.
I sure hope you have some schools in your country, in Europe, or in Canada where you can apply.
I did check out the geosciences program. Its not exactly what I want to do, but its a good opportunity nonetheless and i am interested. I did not apply to canadian universities no, becuase the scholarships are pretty competitive and theirs no need based aid in my knowledge
I might eliminate those ones from this go round. You don’t have to, but your list is long as is the many supplemental essays you will have to do. It’s difficult to do an A+ job on that many (and A+ is what you need to do.)
I get it, but the most likely scenario is that you attend on of your home country options, so make sure to make those application deadlines. I would NOT take another gap year.
yes i can get a physics LOR. supplementals are the real deal I agree, and thats why i didnt max out my list so I could have more time to write them. And yes, I wont miss out on the local deadlines because I agree, a third gap year is not an option
Explore opportunities in your region/ hemisphere bc there are dramatic funding reductions underway in US. And, the it is my general understanding from news that the government is tightening or may tighten its requirements for visas for new foreign students.
How are the career opportunities in these fields? Even if you are accepted by a U.S. university and can afford to attend, you will very likely be returning to your home country after graduation.