Chances for an intl student applying to selective unis

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hi to all,
Was hoping you guys could help chance an intl student from singapore currently in the army. Im looking at ucla, ucsd, ucb, usc, bu, tufts and umich (ea)

Looking to major in economics/business

IB score - 36
Math hl - 5
Phy hl - 6
econs hl - 6
chem sl - 7
eng sl - 5
Spanish sl - 5
Bonus pts - 2

Sat 1 - 2170 (math 800, cr 680, wr 690)
Sat 2 - math iic 770, phy 760

ECs

  • 2 years in the army as a machine gunner in an elite infantry battalion (3rd guards). Went on numerous overseas exercises with the brunein and malaysian armies
  • represented singapore u10/13 cricket team (4yrs)
  • vice captain and co founder u 19 cricket team (2 yrs)
  • actively played for outside club leagues during my IB
  • took part in SIMUN
  • founder of social floor hockey club
  • Riding for the disabled (1 yr)
  • swami home for the elderly (summer)
  • co founder or reactive volunteering (during army)
  • civilian military relations for national day parade (with singapore airlines)

Essays
Should be quite good, spent months writing them and took advice from my academic advisor and college consultant.

Rec letters - average/good

Appreciate all the help you guys can give!

2

Your IB score and SAT is a bit on the lower side from someone who studies in Singapore. UCLA, USC, Tufts and UMich are definitely reaches. Aim for more realistic schools, especially LACs.

3

Hi croesus,
Thanks for the reply, was just wondering wheter admission officers take into consideration that I was from an average international school, not the top ones that churn out 45s like nobodies business.
LACs? What are those?

4

@IntlApplicant Of course they would take that into consideration but I assume that you’re above average for your school? Nevertheless Singapore is one of the most competitive applicant pools for admissions.

LACs are liberal arts colleges. Applying to LACs can be beneficial because LACs are constantly trying to diversify their student population (LACs tend to have a reputation for being predominantly white). I would suggest Haverford, Colby, Hamilton, Bates, Kenyon and Grinnell.

5

Thanks for your reply,
what about tufts and bu? Are they matches or reaches for me

6

Tufts is a reach. BU is a match.

7

Alright thanks :slight_smile:
Appreciate any input!
Also does anyone know how to convert IB grades into the UC GPA (cus i have no idea how high mine is)