Chance Me for T20 College [international in UT, 4.0 GPA, 1570 SAT, 35 ACT; math, physics, or engineering]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US domestic: I am an H-1B dependent, my parents are here on H-1B
  • State/Location of residency: Utah
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Pretty prestigious private high school
  • Other special factors: (first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete, etc.) First generation

Cost Constraints / Budget Likely will need some financial aid, but if that is an issue I can go to college without aid.

Intended Major(s) STEM, likely either math, physics, or engineering (aerospace or something similar)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
  • Weighted HS GPA: Used “High School GPA Calculator” and I got 4.5, might be inaccurate.
  • College GPA: (for transfer applicants) NA
  • Class Rank: No rank
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1570 SAT, 35 ACT

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: AP Lit 12th grade
  • Math: AP Calculus BC (5) Calculus 3 10th grade, Linear Algebra 11th Grade, Independent Study with my math teacher on Real Analysis 12th grade
  • Science: AP Physics C Mechanics (5), Honors Chemistry 10th grade, AP Physics C E&M (5) and AP Chem 11th Grade, Honors Biology 12th Grade
  • History and social studies: AP Euro (5) 10th grade, APUSH (5) 12th grade
  • Language other than English: Chinese 3 Honors 11th grade
  • Visual or performing arts: Took choir in 9th and 10th grade.

Awards

  • AP Scholar
  • AIME qualifier (AMC 12 in 11th Grade)
  • USAMO Qualifier (12th Grade)

Extracurriculars

  • Unpaid research and engineering internship at University of Utah (10th)
  • PROMYS (11th)
  • Competed in Science Olympiad (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
  • Highschool Robotics, Competed in FRC (10th, 11th, 12th)

Essays/LORs/Other
Pretty positive LORs from my math teacher, science teacher, and English teacher.
Strong essays

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)

If a scholarship is necessary for affordability, indicate that you are aiming for a scholarship and use the scholarship chance to estimate it into the appropriate group below; also, for colleges that admit by major or division, consider that in chance estimate.

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability):
  • Extremely Likely: University of Utah
  • Likely:
  • Toss-up: Georgiatech
  • Lower Probability: Wharton School
  • Low Probability: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Caltech, etc
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What major at Wharton ?

Utah an in. The rest reaches.

You might add Purdue as a likely ( for engineering) and safety for the rest. It’s low 40s if you can afford.

Great record. Good luck.

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Forgot to add some APs:

  • AP CSP (5)
  • AP CSA (5)
  • AP Microecon (5)
  • AP Macroecon (5)
  • AP Environmental Science (5)
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Unfortunately, you will not count as a domestic applicant at most schools (except perhaps at some state schools that allow in-state tuition for H4 visa holders who have completed high school in the state). I do not know what Utah’s policies are but you may want to check.

Have your parents run the net price calculator on Princeton’s website (even if you don’t plan to apply there). They are the most generous with aid, so it’s a good way to check to see if you even qualify.

Additionally, ask your parents for a firm budget, keeping in mind that very few schools meet full need for international students. If you need merit scholarships you will need to target lower ranked schools that provide generous scholarships to attract strong students like you.

I would move both schools to the “low probability” category.

If you’re happy with U of Utah, then you’re fine applying to reachier schools. Otherwise, you’ll need to add schools where you have a higher probability of acceptance.

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Do you mean to say that you are on an H-4 visa?

H-4 visa is normally considered as an international student, although Utah allows in-state tuition in this case:

(see Utah Code Section 53B-8-102 )

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What year are you? You have awards and AP test scores listed for 12th grade. Which isn’t possible since AP tests are in May. If you’re a senior, you would have heard from Utah already.

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My understanding is that even if they get instate tuition , visa holders are still regarded as “international” for admissions purposes, so that disadvantage stands. Only green card holders and citizens count as domestic.

OP, you have an excellent resume, but other than Utah those schools are reaches for everyone, and more so for internationals. You may get in but ensure you have solid targets (unless of course you would be happy with your only safety being Utah, which is a solid school)

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OP, did either of your parents graduate from university? If so, you’re not first generation.

USU is particularly strong in aerospace, so I would definitely also apply there. https://www.sdl.usu.edu/ often hires USU undergrads.
Their final application deadline is in August

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So I see you have many private colleges among your Reaches, but then no private Likely or Target colleges. Of course Utah is a quite good university, but not very similar to those other colleges.

So if you are interested in diversifying your options, we can help. If so, it would be useful to tell us as much as you can about what you would really be hoping for out of your four-year college experience, academically and non-academically