Chance Me: Not great SAT and an average students for good colleges [international in NV HS, 3.82 GPA, top 18% rank, 1300 SAT, engineering major]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • International student from South Korea
  • Currently graduating from a private high school in Nevada

Cost Constraints / Budget

  • N/A (My parents just said costs don’t matter :sob: )

Intended Major(s)

  • Hopefully engineering (applying to various engineering programs: aerospace, mechanical, optical, electrical)
  • Some colleges, I have applied it as a business major

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.82
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.16
  • Class Rank: 55/315
  • SAT - 1300 (English: 590, Math: 710)
  • ACT - n/a
  • Duolingo English test - 140

List your HS coursework

Only writing honors/AP courses

  • Literature and Society Honors
  • Algebra II/Geometry - Honors
  • AP Pre-Calculus
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Physics 1
  • AP Physics 2
  • AP CSA
  • AP CS - Principles
  • Engineering I - Honors
  • Computer Aided Drafting - Honors
  • AP World
  • AP US History
  • AP US Gov/Econ
  • Spanish I, II, III - Honors
  • Student Body President Leadership
  • Student Leadership - Honors (3 years)

Awards

  • President’s Volunteer Service Bronze Award–President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, 2022
  • Outstanding Academic Excellence–President’s Education Awards Program, 2021
  • Honorable Mention–Eagle LVMUNC XII, 2024
  • Outstanding Delegate Award–LVMUN X, 2024; LVMUN IX, 2023
  • 1st Place–TELSS Arts Fair, 2020

Extracurriculars

  • Varsity Swim, 2023-Present

  • Student Body President, 2024-2025

  • Student Council, 2022-Present; International Relations Representative, 2022-2024

  • Nevada Boys State, 2024

  • Multicultural Club, 2022-Present; International Relations Representative, 2023-2024

  • International Robotics Honor Society, 2023-Present

  • International Student Association, 2021-Present

  • Crusader Crazies, 2022-Present

  • Echo Leader, 2023-Present

  • Model UN, 2022-Present

  • Mu Alpha Theta, 2022-Present

  • Pickleball Club, 2024-Present

  • Blanket Club, 2022-2023

  • Key Club, 2021-2023

  • Cyber Patriot, 2021-2022

  • VEX Robotics Club, 2021-Present

  • Varsity Quiz Bowl, 2023-Present

  • Yonsei Dental Clinic Assistant/Shadowing, 2022-2023

  • Hollywood Smile Dental Shadowing, 2022-2023

  • Sunrise Children’s Hospital Volunteer, 2022-Present

  • Three Square Volunteer, 2021

  • Faith Lutheran Thrift Store Volunteer, 2021

  • Summerlin Library Volunteer, 2021-2022

  • Horse4Heroes Family Equestrian Center Volunteer, 2021

  • East Las Vegas Library Volunteer, 2021

  • Mountain View Lutheran Church Volunteer, 2021-2022

  • Get Outdoor Nevada Volunteer, 2022

  • Blood Drive Volunteer, 2024

Essays/LORs/Other

Essays: I would say 8.5/10 → I had a tutor who helped me writing an essay
LORs: It’s hit or miss honestly, they know me well but not the most but also they are really nice teachers
Others: I am an international students

Schools
ED: Northeastern
Also applying UW, UC, CalPoly
EA:

  • Baylor
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Concordia University Irvine
  • Georgia Tech
  • Rose-Hulman
  • SMU
  • CU Boulder

RD:

  • Boston University
  • Texas A&M
  • Santa Clara
  • Purdue
  • USC
  • Embry Riddle
  • Maybe Pepperdine, U Denver

I have no clue :sob: :sob:

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability): Concordia University Irvine
  • Extremely Likely:
  • Likely:
  • Toss-up:
  • Lower Probability:
  • Low Probability:
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If you want a good shot, I would apply ED/EA, when they accept a higher percentage of applicants. Your chances will be lower in the RD round.

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Concordia does not appear to have any ABET accredited engineering majors.

Replace with UNR and UNLV in the assured category. Also, check whether graduation from a Nevada high school gives you in-state tuition there.

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I do not believe GaTech with 1300 SAT is happening.

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I’m sorry but you have too many out of reach schools on your list: NEU, UW, GT, BU, Purdue, USC and at least some of the UCs. You need to focus on schools that are more likely to admit you.

OP is an international student, and unless there are special circumstances, I don’t believe s/he will qualify for in-state tuition.

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Section 3 of https://nshe.nevada.edu/wp-content/uploads/file/BoardOfRegents/Handbook/title4/T4-CH15%20Regulations%20for%20Determining%20Residency%20and%20Tuition%20Charges.pdf does not exclude international students from being exempt from non-resident tuition through graduation from a Nevada high school.

The residency form at https://www.unr.edu/main/pdfs/verified-accessible/divisions-offices/student-services/admissions-records/nshe-residency-form.pdf says that option 1, 2, or 3 must be completed; option 1 is where the graduation from a Nevada high school is listed, and does not exclude international students.

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Most of your schools are reaches. GT is a very unlikely.

Which schools did you apply for business? SMU has a very good business school but isn’t known for engineering.

You need to decide between engineering and business. Maybe apply to schools with both?

Good suggestion to apply to UN and UNLV. Maybe a few more like the Arizona, NM or Utah schools ?

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Because you have Colorado Schools of MInes and UC Boulder on your list, I’d add Colorado State. Slightly easier admit for engineering, direct entry and test optional. I think it’s a likely if you go T.O. and you’d be competitive for their honors program.

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