So the problem is I can’t apply to ASU, U of Arizona, or PSU yet since I’m having a bit of a complex situation with my social security number, and all those schools require you to put it down on your application. I’m hoping that the problem will be resolved before January. I’ve looked into Colgate and Bucknell. I think Colgate seems more appealing. Also, I’m not that bummed about UMD; the reason I’m applying is one of my relatives is heavily involved in the recruitment and admissions at UMD, so he urged me to use it.
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Ok, then that makes sense for UMD. Still, I don’t think a relative can bypass the process on your behalf… but why not, once you’re done with ED2 and other Jan1-2 apps…
Are you using their own app or commonapp for PSU? Though, as I said, psu should be on the backburner since you missed the Nov1 and Dec1 deadlines and you’ll need to be careful with your strategy (ie., what I explained above wrt to DUS detailed in statement).
Colgate would definitely give you something UBC or McGill can’t so it’d make more sense than a large public university like Indiana or psu.
At ASU, don’t forget Barrett (Honors), same at UA.
I will apply to their apps since I want to use common app for my reach schools. What are the advantages of applying to the honors at U of A and ASU? I don’t know much about honors classes since my high school doesn’t have them.
Honors are programs.
Look at what each offers.
ASU Barrett is rated one of the tops and I toured the U of A comples and it’s unreal - great rooms, a dining hall on the bottom of the dorm and gym and counseling center adjacent.
But every honors program offers different things (and these two at a cost). Don’t just do Honors for sake of Honors but because the curriculum and environment interest you.
The top of the ASU link has different areas you can read about…life, academics, etc.
Click on Why Honors on the U of A, and you’ll see areas of interest to read about.
Barrett, The Honors College | Arizona State University (asu.edu)
I don’t know the nature of the problem with the SSN, but that will need to be fixed to file FAFSA as well.
For ASU and Arizona you can enter 000-00-0000 for your SSN and then fix it later. Get your apps in, do not wait until the SSN issue is resolved.
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Would I have a competitive chance at these honor programs, you think?
Wouldn’t that be considered fraud, which I could get in trouble for? For trying to report a false SSN?
Nope, that will be ok. Plenty of applicants with no SSN apply to those schools. If you are still uncomfortable with doing that, call the main admissions number on monday and ask.
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Absolutely.
You need drive, intellectual curiosity, willingness to engage in seminars, etc. In addition to good grades.
Look at the descriptions on every university’s website.
And they give you a lot of advantages, the most important of which are 1° priority registration: get the classes you want with the best profs/at the times you learn best 2° a personal adviser and generally personal attention 3° special/enhanced/facilitated opportunities 4° a ready-made community of peers and therefore a ready-made network.
(An advisee described it as “undergrad VIP”.)
In short: apply to Honors colleges at every large university you applied to.
If deadlines have passed, email the person in charge explaining you’re in Canada and didn’t know Honors existed but now that you do, "…, … ,… "(<- academic benefits or specificities like small interactive classes, signature class, research opportunities…) “are very much what you’re looking for in college and your achievement as a Stem/French immersion school make you hope you could qualify if allowed to apply.”
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Thanks for the advice on honors, everyone. I will make sure to apply to them on my public school apps. Do you guys think I should try to report a class rank? We don’t do it, but my college counselor said he could probably calculate it. He told me he thinks I am within the top 7%.
How hard will it be to get admitted to these honor programs? I am a fairly average student, so would it be unlikely to get in?
U of Arizona - yes - but check application deadlines.
ASU - not sure - but they will have detailed admissions info on their Barrett Honors page.
One thing is for sure - if you don’t apply for them - you won’t get them.
But…make sure you read about the programs to ensure they even meet your needs, that they are something you want to partake in.
Again, not everyone is up for Honors. My son did not apply to Purdue’s for example…it didn’t fit him.
So don’t apply just because it’s Honors but because it meets your needs.
And no, if you don’t have a rank, then don’t report it.
If it’s something the school can/will verify, it’s different.
Many schools don’t look at rank. I don’t believe either of the Arizona schools do…
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I think your odds at UA and ASU are excellent.
Some, like PSU Schreyer, are extremely hard to get into (only 300 applicants are admitted and psu enrolls about 8,000 freshmen; there are 10 essays and those are reviewed by the professors who teach the honors seminars, not adcoms. Admitted students were often Top20 hopefuls who didn’t get into an Ivy+ or couldn’t afford it). UMichigan LSA honors is like that but with less difference between the general undergrad population and the honors cohort. Honors deadlines are usually earlier than regular deadlines so if you missed the deadline, use the template I wrote for you above (the fact you’re from a Canadian HS and had French immersion may help.)
Unlike ^ I think you need to apply regardless of whether it appeals or not - once admitted you can enjoy the benefits and if you don’t find it worth it you can drop it 
Priority registration and a personal adviser are truly worth it even if you don’t care about small interactive classes, research, or special opportunities.
Btw if you apply to/mention interest in Penn apply to Ben Franklin scholars, highlighting the fact you followed the Stem stream (* ) as well as French immersion in HS.
(* yes I know that’s not how your school called it but it’ll make sense to them).
It looks like you can only apply to BFS once you’re enrolled at Penn, so if by some miracle that happens, then I will. It’s off-topic, but is applying to other ivys than Penn RD a waste? I was considering Brown because I like how they give their students academic freedom; overall, it seems great. I know the acceptance rate would be ~5%, but a part of me feels I should apply just to see. However, considering I wasn’t accepted to Cornell ED, it makes me think I’m not even close to competitive RD at other ivys.
If you have an affordable safety where you’d be happy, then anywhere you apply is ok - because you’d have a safety net.
Penn takes half the class in ED so will be hard. But you never know if you don’t apply.
TO is gonna be hard at any Ivy and while your school offers none (APs, etc) , the lack of rigor will hurt too.
I’d be surprised if you got in to a top tier school but if you don’t apply, you’d never know. And going to one is not necessary to achieve your goals.
But if you have an affordable and desirable landing spot, then it’s ok to try.
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My son went to Brown so I am a big fan, but I would not encourage you to spend precious time and energy at this point in applying. You are an excellent candidate and Brown’s admissions are idiosyncratic in some ways but if you haven’t visited campus or are capable of expressing what interests you in Brown beyond academic feeedom you face an uphill battle.
They specifically look for a narrative somewhat unique to Brown and pride themselves on what makes them different. The essays have to be crafted very deliberately and you are likely better off using that energy elsewhere
If you opt to go for it there is a large Brown community on CC and I (and I am sure others) will certainly try and help.
Good luck!!
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I’m applying to Penn since I went to their Summer Program, so I’ve seen it firsthand and loved it, so even though it’s tough, I’m willing to. I have UBC in Canada, which is highly affordable and pretty safe. Do you think I would even be given consideration at a place like Brown, or would my app get tossed immediately? I feel pretty down about my opportunities and the fact I can’t control them. I wish AOs would see that I’m not taking AP/IB or honors because we don’t have them.
If I have this right, then OP has applied to UBC, as a Canadian citizen, with an unweighted 4.0 GPA. At least in my family (multiple of whom attended UBC as Canadian citizens) UBC is quite safe for someone with a 4.0 unweighted GPA.
UBC is also a very, very good university.
What I have been having trouble with throughout this thread is the interest in spending four times as much money to attend a university in the US that might be just as good as UBC. Of course depending upon the financial aid received the US might not be four time as expensive. With the exception of the Universities of California (which likely will be full pay) I do not think that OP will know until the acceptances start coming in (and I am pretty sure that multiple acceptances will be coming in).
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They do understand that about your school.
Some schools credit you for going to summer. Others don’t.
It doesn’t matter what I see. It matters what AOs see.
UBC is great and you were talking about the Arizona schools too.
You are all over.
Step back.
What are you seeking.
Develop a small list and attack one by one
If and only if you have interest in the Arizona schools, do them first. At least as of now, Tucson will be less than Phoenix althiugh they are discussing changing merit. But I don’t believe for the upcoming class.
So get those in…if of interest.
You need to make progress - not get in a cycle of panic.
Then come back and reassess.
What major - Chem E, Chem, business, or undecided ?
Let’s go !!
Sometimes you need to make progress which then makes future tasks easier.
You are way too brand focused.
You need to be fit focused.
Yes, that is correct. I am also from British Columbia, so that also helps UBC. My mom used to work for the Department of Advanced Education, so she knows how to get into schools here pretty well. I’d be okay with UBC, but I’d likely look to transfer to the US after two years if I attended. For reference, my parents are the only people in my family in Canada, so I’d like to be closer to others.