Could someone chance me please? Help is much needed, thanks!

Guyfromportugal
Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:42:21 +0000

Hi! I really need some help to figure out how big, or small, are my chances to enroll in one of America’s top universities. I’m planning on focusing on philosophy, international politics and law.

I really appreciate your help, since counseling on American undergrad studies is, basically, non-existent in my country.

Age:19

Nationality: Portuguese

Graduated: May '10, valedictorian with a 1.0 Abitur average and honors in the field of Science, since I was the school’s best student in every scientific subject, although I also ranked #1 in every humanistic studies class.

School: German School of Oporto (from Kindergarten to Gymnasium) - it’s a German state-funded bilingual Gymnasium in Portugal’s second-biggest city, Oporto.

What have I done since then?: Studied/ying Medicine at Portugal’s top med school

Languages: Portuguese, German, English, French, Spanish (every single one fluently), Italian (basic knowledge), Latin (basic)

SAT scores: 790 Writing - 800 Reading - 760 Maths
SAT Subject scores: World History 800 - US History 800
TOEFL:119

Awards:
Well, here in Portugal, especially at my school, there isn’t an award culture. You only get awards for your academic merits. So what I have is this:

Valedictorian, class of '10 and all-time (the school is 110 years old)
Award for excellency in the field of Science
Best student in the country (If I apply to any Portuguese Law School, I’d be applying with the highest possible grade, which is a 20.0 in Portugal - I’m not 100% sure about this, but I’d probably be the first one to do so)

Extrac’s:
President of the GSO Student Government for 2 years
Member of the School Council for 2 years
President and founder of the Student’s Association of the German Schools of the iberian Peninsula
President and founder of the Student’s Association of the International Schools of Oporto
Class delegate for 5 years (don’t know if this counts, but it is relatively important in my school)
Member of the GSO varsity volleyball team
Captain of the GSO middle school basketball team
Coach of the GSO middle school basketball team
Active at my local parish for about four years - I’ve been doing some work with homeless people and I’m also a monitor at the local Catholic Youth group - we have about 400-500 kids over there, it’s the biggest religious group for teens in Oporto.
Participated in the Schleswig-Holstein Model UN
I am responsible for an initiative on Health Awareness at a primary school from one of the city’s poorest neighbourhoods.
Founding member of the Debating Society of the GSO
Played the violin for about 7 years
Played tennis for about 6 years
I’m also thinking of doing a summer internship at the EU or at the International Court of Den Haag (don’t know if that is possible, though)

About my Abitur:
I graudated with a 1.0 - my grades are extremely high in the humanistic field. I had the highest possible grade in every single history semester, in all the others my average is about 14.something or higher - 15 being the highest possible grade in the German system.

Scholarships:
For my valedictorian status I received a scholarship, which is essentialy a free-pass for an internship at any German firm.
When I was 16, I got a scholarship from the Robert Bosch Stiftung to pursue a Bachelor in Engineering at the University of Heidelberg and procede with my Abitur studies at the same time.

Recommendation letters:
History teacher, English teacher, Philosophy teacher, German teacher, Headmaster.
My headmaster has said, that the German ambassador to Portugal was very interested in writing a recommendation letter, too! Which of these should I send?

So, how do my chances look like? Do you have any suggestions? I’m looking forward for your answers, thanks for your help!

"Abra