Match an int'l junior who doesn't know where to apply [International, Physics, 36IB + B TOK, 34 ACT]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

I’d like to preface this by saying my ideal school would be somewhere nerdy and diverse, like a tech school, but I am fully aware that my grades are not up to par.

Demographics
International student

  • State/Location of residency: Large city, Vietnam
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Private
  • Other special factors: First to apply overseas but my parents did go to college here

Cost Constraints / Budget
<60k a year (ideally)

Intended Major(s)
Physics

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: Take IB system, averaged 6 - 7 in most classes except Vietnamese and PE, Current IB score is 36 and a B in TOK (7 in physics, maths, geo, 5 in vietnamese, english, music)
  • Weighted HS GPA: No weighting system
  • Class Rank: No ranking
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 34 ACT, 32 in Maths and English

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: Lang and Lit SL
  • Math: Analysis and Approaches HL
  • Science: Biology, Chemistry and Physics (grade 9 - 10), Physics HL
  • History and social studies: InSoc (grade 9 - 10), Geography HL
  • Language other than English: Vietnamese (grade 9 - 10), Vietnamese Lang & Lit SL
  • Visual or performing arts: Film (grade 9), Drama (grade 9), Music (grade 10), Music SL (grade 11)

Awards
Silver in a category for a international maths competition qualifier
Third in a small local maths competition
4th in National DECA Competition (not related to major, not sure if matters?)
Best Speaker at local MUN competition (not related to major, doesn’t really matter)

Extracurriculars
(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)
Hosting the first science fair at high school since 2020, 50+ participants
Ran a science club in grade 10, did experiments every week with younger students
Gardening - every week 1 - 2 hours from grade 10 - 11, we always donate our harvest to staff
Clean up roadside trash around neighbourhood, every week, 1 - 2 hours
Fishkeeping - clean the school’s fishtank, buy fish, decorate, replace water, every week 2 hours
JV basketball (doesn’t really matter)
Tutoring my sister in Maths every week 1 hour
School Maths team, participate in 2 - 3 competitions every year, grade 9 - 11
Music production - hobby, created an EP as a personal project in grade 10, didn’t upload online however
School treasurer, grade 11

2

AHH, I left out that I practice writing almost every week by running a music review account, and also that gardening is an in-school acitivity. Just a few minor details.

3

Virginia tech, Georgia Tech, Purdue. For a safety look at Texas Tech - you can get in state tuition + several thousand per year in scholarships.

You can also apply to liberal arts colleges like Reed, although that would be a reach as they are need aware.

If you’re set on physics and want to go to graduate school, check out Ohio University’s honors tutorial program. You get lots of one-on-one courses with professors and have no general education requirements other than one or two writing courses and don’t have to worry about prerequisites.

4

Physics - U of Arizona - safety, meets budget, diverse (mostly hispanic)

It’s a large school however - but a top Physics school.

For nerdy and diverse, you might try but I can’t say they’ll hit budget:

U of Rochester - big international population

RPI

U Minnesota - like Arizona, big (but diverse)

You might also find some liberal arts schools - A Florida Tech (not an LAC but small) has a big international population and will most assuredly achieve budget and Lawrence, Kalamazoo and Wooster would handily beat your budget. These are smaller schools who do well sending kids to PhD programs.

Because of your price point, you need someone that will meet it.

Arizona will for sure and many other US schools will too and some, like Alabama, may get into the $20s - but for what you are asking for, I like the list above for both large (Arizona) and mid size and smaller.

Good luck.

1 Like
5

Thanks for the reccommendations! Isn’t a bit of a reach Georgia Tech out of my grade range though? Just asking to confirm since I see kids getting into GT being academic nuclear bombs LOL.

6

You can try Ga Tech - it’s a reach but no pain / no gain and it comes in a couple thousand under your budget - and use Arizona as a barbell safety. Arizona is another top physics school.

But if you decide you need dirt cheap, a school like Alabama gives full merit aid to international - so will crush your budget (be much less).

There’s lots of LACs if you want small - that can work too. I mentioned a few above and there’s more depending on where in the country you’d like to be.

7

If the University of Rochester might be affordable for you, it would meet your other criteria especially well.

1 Like
8

@TomDScronch, I have to say that I really loved these ECs of yours:

@MYOS1634, can you help interpret more of these grades for people not as familiar with the IB system and how colleges view them?

It doesn’t matter if something relates to a potential major or not…it’s letting colleges know more about you, what your interests are, what experiences and perspective you help bring to the college, etc.

Below are some schools you may want to check out:

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic (NY)
  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
  • Worcester Polytechnic (MA)
  • Brandeis (MA)
  • Clarkson (NY)
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Lawrence (WI)
  • Case Western (OH)
  • St. Olaf (MN)
  • Gustavus Adolphus (MN)
  • U. of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  • U. of Maryland - Baltimore County
  • SUNY Geneseo (NY)
  • U. of Arizona (already mentioned)
  • Michigan State
  • Missouri Science & Technology (S&T)
  • Michigan Tech
  • Binghamton (NY)

At some of the larger schools, you will definitely be able to find fellow nerds. At some of the smaller schools, pretty much everyone is a nerd. :slight_smile: If you let us know more about what you’re looking for in a college, that would be helpful in providing more targeted suggestions. Topics to cover could include:

  • What size classes do you prefer?
  • What size school do you prefer?
  • Do you prefer (or prefer to avoid) certain parts of the country?
  • What kind of climate do you prefer (or prefer to avoid)?
  • Are there any particular interests that you want to pursue in college (outside of physics)?
  • Will religion or politics play a role in your decision-making process?

Also, if you’re willing to share your gender, that may also influence chancing at the schools.

2 Likes
9

GT is not happening

10

Oh of course, if it helps I’ll share some more details. Also, from my knowledge and my school counselor’s explanations: a 7 or a 6 in the IB is around a 4.0 or A - A+ and a 5 is more like a B - B+

I think I’ll thrive best in a small classroom environment but the most important thing would be to have students who like to help each other.

A school that’s medium large to small would be preferable, since I don’t like being around too many people.

I’d prefer to be in a more left-leaning community, and also avoid places that are constantly or extremely cold.

And also, my only concern with religion is to not go to a college that is centred around a religion.

1 Like
11

Sounds like Arizona plus Honors. Large campus but doesn’t mean the major will be overwhelming size wise.

Lots of schools are ‘cold’. You can add U New Mexico and U Oklahoma to hit budget. These will be less cold.

For an LAC, you can try Willamette - it will be more temperate.

These should all make budget.

12

If you would like to research purely undergraduate-focused schools strong in physics, some suggestions appear in this post: Rising senior with good stats and mid ECs/awards plans to shotgun for physics - #8 by merc81.

13

URochester has a very strong graduate program, which trickles down to the undergraduate level. But it is cold.

OSU is another safety. Probably has a better physics program than Texas Tech, but will cost more.

14

But is not an assured at $60K.

15

URochester does meet full need, so if OP’s EFC is less than $60k they should be fine

16

My grades jumped up! Viet and Music jumped to a 6, so I’m on a 38 out of 42 now. How’s that improved my chances if I can ask?

17

The schools I recommended were pretty great for your list…except for the cold part!

U. of Minnesota - Twin Cities and Michigan State are both probably larger than your preference.

In terms of finding schools in warmer weather for you, some schools you may want to investigate include:

  • Rice (TX): About 4600 undergrads…this is a reach for all kind of school, but I don’t think it’s out of reach for you.

  • Trinity (TX): About 2500 undergrads

  • New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology: About 1200 undergrads

  • Occidental (CA): About 1900 undergrads

1 Like