<p>I’m smiling! One of the students I know at U of Illinois at Champaign speaks 8 languages – she is Indian and has many family members strewn across the globe. </p>
<p>Me, I’m fluent in Dog and Teen Boy (I’m very good at interpreting body language and grunts). </p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with being confident and doing one’s best. This may be the year that Harvard Admissions is looking for a candidate with exactly your characteristics. It happens. </p>
<p>It also happens that bright, confident applicants think they are unique – and that someone will give them a great deal of money so they can be educated, bright and unique. This actually has happened, particularly in the 1960’s to 1990’s as we all embraced globalism. I am seeing an inward trend in my country as more and more people are suffering in the economic downturn. There is much more emphasis in “Buy American.”</p>
<p>OP needs to know that the Arab Spring and the ongoing conflicts in his region are rapidly changing how Americans view the Middle East. It seems (IMHO) that an American college might be intrigued by applicants who were Tunisians and active in the recent changes there – or a young Libyan who has been fighting in that country’s rebellion against a dictator – or a young citizen of the world’s newest nation of South Sudan. These could be unique and interesting young voices to have on the campus of the world’s most selective college. </p>
<p>And let’s not forget another seismic change: as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is being dropped from the US military, elite liberal arts colleges are rolling out the welcome mat to US Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan (who, happily for college treasurers, come with tuition fees paid through the US GI Bill). All of these are your competition.
Good luck!</p>