I’m in the equivalent of Junior year over here, and will be taking the SAT this month, followed by subject tests in the summer. Aiming for 2300+ and near 800 respectively.
Currently taking 5 AS levels (maximum possible at most schools) and in previous public exams achieved maximum grades. Essentially just abouyt a 4.0 GPA. In top 20 of year of ~130 at a good private school. Male. Of a minority ethnicity - one parent South Asian the other mixed. Not sure if that matters.
Decent volunteering experience in charity offices, charity shop, and animal sanctuary.
Self-teaching Ancient Greek and Japanese.
Just started to learn Python programming with a view to also learning some web development stuff in the future.
Air Cadets for 4 years, in a leadership role now.
Had a part time job but was extremely short lived and probably not even worth mentioning.
Two weeks of work placements at two engineering firms. This summer hopefully doing research placement at a London uni.
Maths + science olympiad awards on a regional level.
Chosen as 1 of 5 in school to attend maths masterclasses in the past and as 1 of a larger group to attend a maths workshop with a leading Cambridge academic more recently.
Helping run maths club for younger kids at school.
I’m planning on applying (for engineering) in the US to UPenn, Cornell, Stanford, and MIT, all with financial aid.
Do you think I stand a chance of getting into dven just one of them? Or are my chances for those colleges completely hopeless?
I’d really appreciate any kind of feedback.
Thanks so much everyone!
TL; DR:
UK student in junior year, top scores on SAT + subject tests, close to 4.0 GPA, most rigorous course load possible and strong academics.
Good student work experience in engineering sector, a few maths and science olympiad awards, and have attended selective masterclasses.
Self teaching Japanese, Ancient Greek, and some programming, decent volunteering experience, other ECs relatively weak.
Applying to UPenn, Cornell, Stanford, and MIT. Financial aid needed.
Do you think I stand much of a chance at those schools?
What’s your parents’ budget?
UPenn and Stanford are need aware. Cornell, apparently, is need blind for internationals now, but won’t meet need.
You’re probably not competitive for these schools though- they like national/international awards.
Look into Olin (reach), USC (reach), RPI(match if full pay, reach otherwise), RIT (match), Rose Hulman(match), Union(match), Clarkson(low match), UAlabama Engineering(match to safety depending on whether you want the full tuition scholarship), and, depending on how much you can afford, Cal Poly SLO + most of the state flagships (depending on how much FA you need or how much you cna afford without FA).
Thanks for the advice, I appreciate the suggestions.
I think I may just not apply to the US at all considering a lot of the stuff I’ve heard about admissions over there - I could much more easily get into one of the top schools in the UK.
I honestly have no idea whether to try for the US really at the moment; it doesn’t seem like there’s much hope of me getting into an Ivy or Stanford or MIT. 8-| #-o ^#(^
There are schools other than the ones you listed and the ones that @MYOS1634 listed.
But it may make sense to just fire off a few apps to the places where you think you fit in best just so you have tried. The ones that aren’t as targeted by UK students may be where you have the best chance.
