International Applicant Chances

International Students
1

Hi, I am an international applicant from Norway. I am a 12th year student (out of 13), and will be applying to colleges this year. I wanted to know if I have a realistic chance of being accepted to Stanford, Duke, Columbia or Williams, when applying for aid (since they are need-aware for international applicants), or Harvard, Yale, Princeton or Amherst (the latter four are need-blind for international applicants). I want to major in something related to politics and international relations.

My school only gives unweighted GPA, which will be around 5,9 out of 6. This is probably top 1%, and definitely top 5%, of my class, and my school is the best in the country (my school does not rank, but my estimate might give some perspective since you probably don’t have much to compare with). My school is also one of the largest, with around 450 students in a class. I get the highest grade (6) in all subjects but gym, in which I get 5.

Since Norwegian students have to specialize in either the social sciences or natural sciences, I have not been able to take classes in all subject areas, as is recommended by colleges. This year, in addition to the mandatory classes (foreign language, history, Norwegian and gym), I have chosen medium difficulty math (since it is economics), English, social geography and history & philosophy. Next year, I will choose to continue with French, math, English, and also take physics, even though it is not necessary to take four subjects.

I have not yet taken the ACT, but experience from practice tells me it will be around 32-33. However, I intend to retake it until I get 34, or maybe 33.

Extracurriculars and achievements:

International (Montessori) MUN as delegate once, invited back as leader and have taken leadership training. Have lead committees of 200 students in NYC and Rome three times.

Chosen as participant in an international Erasmus+ research project on the topic of refugees. Researched the situation of refugees over a one year period. Traveled to Germany to compare research with that of four other countries. Worked with integrating refugees in my community through sports and activities.

Participant (behind the scenes) in the school cabaret, which is a huge thing in Norway.

Finalist in the national championship in philosophy. Will compete in the final round in March, so might win, might come last, but still in the finals (with around 30 others).

School champion in English. I don’t know if I will bother putting that down. I might go through to the regionals though. Awaiting the results, but I am very pessimistic about it, since it went very poorly.

Also, I am white, come from a middle class family, and am first-generation to go to college.

Thanks :slight_smile:

2

I forgot to add that I spent a week working with a very respected history professor at the University of Oslo.

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" I wanted to know if I have a realistic chance of being accepted to Stanford, Duke, Columbia or Williams"
… or Harvard, Yale, Princeton or Amherst"

All of these schools are highly selective, especially for international students needing financial aid. Stanford has a less than 5% acceptance rate, lower for international students.

So your chances are very low… just like everyone else’s. Go ahead and apply – you certainly won’t get in if you don’t! – but have a back up plan in Norway, and perhaps add a few more American schools that aren’t such major reaches.