<p>I’m an international student who has taken the A level’s instead of having a GPA</p>
<p>General Paper(H1):A
Principles of Accounting(H2):A
Economics(H2):A
Math(H2):A
Chemistry(H1):A
Guess this would translate to a 4.0
General paper is English essay writing.</p>
<p>I was a private candidate (self studied with tutors, so I do not have a school transcript with me.) Oldest school transcript would be my secondary school ones.</p>
<p>SAT l
Reading:780
Math:800
Writing:780
Total:2360</p>
<p>SAT ll
Math:800
Chemistry:800</p>
<p>ECs:
Lacking.
Worked at Subway part time for 6 months in the past two years
Rock Climbing for the past two years. Gotten level 1 & 2 certs.
Letters of recommendation from former employers (if that helps)</p>
<p>Financial Assistance: No</p>
<p>Able to write a interesting essay. (I hope this helps as my ECs and school transcripts are basically useless compared to the rest of the applicants.)</p>
<p>Background: Chinese, Male, fluent in English and able to communicate in basic Mandarin.</p>
<p>I know this is not a very stellar representation but I do hope you would chance me! Thank you! :)</p>
<p>All those schools are matches and it’s not unlikely that you’d get some aid somewhere especially with your scores, but it does lower your chance of admission significantly, so don’t apply for FA if you can help it.</p>
<p>What looks not so good about your application (on paper at least) is that it seems to convey an image of a student who hasn’t really done much or does not have many passions aside from academics which is ok for UK unis, but not so for American ones. </p>
<p>Generally, they want students who have something to contribute aside from acads who are interesting (I’m not saying you aren’t, but again, you look like just another applicant with stats on paper), and this is particularly true for the LAC’s you’re applying to. </p>
<p>My advice would be for you to do something you love, find people who love doing the same thing and excel in it, whatever it may be. </p>
<p>Don’t limit yourself here. Being part of the top 10 COD Modern Warfare players in the world for a month or participating in a national debate championship while getting impressive academic stats for example, are equally impressive for me and would show that you’re not just a number.</p>
<p>And since you’re from Singapore, I presume you’re applying for the Freeman Asian Scholarship, right?</p>
<p>“Admission to Wesleyan and the selection process for Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholars is extremely competitive. We plan to award the scholarship to one student from each of the eleven countries or regions. Selection criteria include academic achievement; intellectual curiosity; a high level of discipline and commitment; strong personal qualities; extracurricular involvement, especially community service; and English language ability.” </p>
<p>I do not meet they’re requirement of having EC… And I too would bet that they would have similar or even better scores than me, coupled with extreme EC achievements, it would take herculean luck to get it. </p>
<p>It is really a pity that my grades are good but my ECs are cringing.</p>
<p>Any safety LACs you would recommend?</p>
<p>I do love many sports and I do play some musical instruments BUT I have never really dug deep and entered any competitions or such. It has mostly been hobbies. Meaning… My essay would be the deal breaker for most applications? Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say there are any real “safety” LAC’s if you’re an international who needs aid, but there are colleges on the opposite end of the selectivity spectrum that still give some form of aid (though I doubt that I would actually attend these) like Colby-Sawyer or the College of Wooster. Your true safeties should be unis in Singapore like SMU or something.</p>
<p>And no, it doesn’t necessarily mean your essay will be the deal breaker. In your case, I think it’s pretty much up to the adcoms on whether they will overlook your lack of EC’s because of your essay or not. Again, essays are just part of a holistic review of your application. </p>
<p>Maybe you should also try to explain how you did your hobbies in your essays at least. The “elaborate on your EC’s” question is a common one for colleges, so you better have something prepared to fill in.</p>
<p>Rock climbing sounds like an interesting EC; In your essays you could tell more about it, what you enjoy about it, and what you have learned about yourself in the process.</p>
<p>If you want other suggestions along the same line of these LACs but maybe a little easier on admissions, try Trinity, Connecticut College, Bates and Colby. I don’t really know anything about foreign applicants, so I won’t try to chance you, but you sound good to me.</p>
<p>Your academics are OUTSTANDING; if you had more ECs and leadership positions, getting into these schools would be a no-brainer. But, unfortunately, ECs count for quite a lot at US schools. Plus, you’re a URM, which won’t help your chances.</p>
<p>Thus, those schools are clear reaches for you.</p>
<p>Hi, sorry for being absent from this forum for so long, was thoroughly enjoying my holidays. Hahaha. Do you mean ORM? I believe Asians are an over represented minority… Damn fellow asians. Anyway I hope I do get accepted! Waiting for the results, my cousins told me it usually comes in by the end of January to Mid April. :X</p>
Thanks for the tips!</p>