Chance me for astronomy/economics hybrid profile UK to US [international in VA] updated

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US school H4 visa
  • State/Location of residency:VA
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Private
  • Other special factors: british citizen, relocated to the US start of junior year, previously in top-5 UK private school

Cost Constraints / Budget
No issues, can pay full fees any school

Intended Major(s) Obsarvational Astronomy with double major economics

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Weighted HS GPA: 94.1% in junior year ( 92.1 first semester and 96 second) and start of the senior year 96%
  • Class Rank: the school does not publish rankings ( probably top 15%)
  • ACT/SAT Scores: SAT 1360 (eng 680- maths 690) , i am not doing well in the US tests. I intend to go test optional almost everywhere
  • In the UK 12 GCSE with maths 9 and further maths 8, chemistry 8 , latin 8, french 8, art 8, physics 7 , eng lang 7, eng lit 7, ancient greek 7 ,geography 7, biology 7. According to OFQUAL only 0.1% of all students taking gcse in 2025 , achieved 12 or more.

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English junior year: advanced seminar inschool victorian literature (82%)
  • English senior year: advanced seminar inschool americam literature
  • Math junior year: AP calc bc grade 4 class grade 86%
  • Math senior year: AP statistics
  • Science junior year : AP physics 1 score 4, class grade 94%, AP chemistry score 3 class grade 86%
  • Science senior year: AP biology
  • History and social studies junior year: regular US history (92%)
  • Social studies senior year: AP macro, AP micro
  • Language other than English junior year: Advanced Latin (94%)
  • Language senior year: Advanced Ancient Greek

So, junior year, AP calc bc, AP chem, AP physics1, AP english literature, regular US history, AP latin,

Senior year, AP biology, AP micro and AP macro, Advanced Ancient Greek, AP statistics, Adv scine journalism, regular american literature, regular US government , regular psychology

Awards : Junior Year AP scholar, NLE magna cum laude, previous year in the UK Gold award in UKMT Kangaroo, AP scholar from junior year (AP physics1 4 ,AP calc bc 4, AP chem 3) HIgh list for the school every semester so far.

Extracurriculars
200hours of volunteering in junior year in school guided activities

Astronomy python exoplan project deposited in Github, using Kepler and TESS data .

Pioneer Academics research program scholar summer of junior to senior year, subject teenage cosnumerism changes in the 21st century, obtained A- with 4 college credits.

Co-author for data analysis on 6 medical papers submitted for publication to peer-reviewed journals, three accepted and three in review presently

Summer program at the UT Austin with 100% certificate of completion.

Varisty athlete in 3 sports: XC, Swimming and outdoor track with presence in the VISAA state champs for all of them, both in the junior year and on this senior year so far. Captain of the swimming varsity team this year.

Membership of AAS.

Applying Chicago ED1, UT Austin, Haverford, Swarthmore, Michigan, Rochester, OSU, Penn state, Tufts, UVA, UMD(college park), Columbia ( lottery pick), Vanderbilt, CU Boulder, Arizona, UCSC,Berkeley

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It’s hard for me to tell because your rigor is off the chart, grades seem fine but test score is low.

I’m going to say yes to PSU, CU and Arizona, which may be as strong as anywhere on your list for the astronomy part. Ohio State might be next. I might put a Purdue inistead of U Mich but it’s not needed.

Given you have mid size schools (like Tufts and Vandy), might I suggest RPI (has an Astronomy minor), which would be excellent and you’d certainly get in. Elon would be another and has an astronomy major. College of Charleston would be a very urban campus vs. an Elon.

Given you added Swat, I think F&M is excellent in your areas as would Union College - both let’s say targets with Wheaton in Mass as a safety.

I guess the point is - you’ve got some acceptances for sure (I believe) but potentially a lot of rejections as well - so if there’s a certain type of school you want, I might expand my list.

Best of luck to you.

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Congratulations on your achievements.

Do you plan to change to an F1 visa for college? You might consider that as you won’t be able to work, or qualify for OPT/CPT with an h4. If Also, some types of volunteering can be problematic with an h4.

As for schools, I can’t chance you. UT Austin is test required so you might drop that.

Have you visited any schools? I would make sure to visit the ones you are more likely to get in to before you deposit.

Are you applying to UK and/or EU schools?

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You already list Swarthmore and Haverford, two outstanding American LACs (liberal arts colleges)(See, “An Outsider’s Guide to National LACs - College Search & Lists - College Confidential Forums”) Why not include Wesleyan in Connecticut where Astronomy is one of its oldest departments? They offer a doctorate in Astrophysics which means super-advanced courses available to undergrads. AND it’s test-optional:

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Q: Are you mentioning both planned majors in all of the college applications, or are you applying for astronomy at certain schools & for economics at others?

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Good points. But @Ivus, there are also other pros and cons to consider. If you end up attending UVA or another Virginia public university, you’ll be eligible for in-state tuition on an H4 (assuming your family has lived in Virginia and paid state taxes for at least two years by the time you start college). But you’ll lose this eligibility if you switch to an F1.

Also, keep in mind that if you don’t get a green card before turning 21, you’ll age out of H4 eligibility and have to switch to an F1.

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Good points. Another issue is that UVA has paused all CPT (as many schools have), so that benefit to switching to an F1 isn’t there right now. Just something for OP to monitor and check for all schools, as all of these programs and rule interpretations are in flux/quite dynamic.

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I will probably although my dad is applying for a green card as well.

I am not applying to UK schools as my family is going to be here for some time.

The plan would be to visit the schools i get accepted in after the results. We have visited Chicago which i loved and i am doing the ED.

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I am mentioning them both as i am mainly interested in astronomy but the last year i have started to enjoy economics and politics as well. I would love to have the chance to do both or at least a minor in economics

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At many you can - you might look Rochester, Wheaton noted above - some like these will be easier than at other schools but likely can be done anywhere. Your AP credits will help.

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Is this a typo that needs to be fixed for clarity?

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Dang phone. Sorry. Done.

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