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I'll probably apply to some Ivy schools, my first choice is Princeton. Do you think is it possible for a student from Poland to get there? I haven't taken my SATs yet, but I've done a lot of practice - in comparison with Polish high school's curriculum they're rather easy. I hope to score near 800 on every of them. I'm not a native English speaker and I can't understand why so many Americans have problems with the SAT I verbal - it's just a few months of practice for me. Maybe I'm gifted with languages - I know Polish, English, French and German. Besides, I'm doing the International Baccalauerate - I'm the best in my class and hope to get over 40 on 45 pts possible. What really worries me, it's the extracurricular activities - here in Poland we don't do as much as in the USA. I'm volunteer at a local social children's club, attend the drama classes and I'm a member of European club, but that's nothing, when I see what people in America do. How can they manage all that? I sleep 5 hours a day, but still I'm not able to do anything more than my homework and prepare for tests. Besides, I've never worked - you won't get a job in Poland unless you're 18. I don't know if it matters but none of my grandparents or parents attended a college and my family aren't really well off. I don't want to apply to non-Ivy schools as I'd rather attend a university in Poland. Thanks a lot if you can tell me if I've got the slightest chance or I'm simply wasting my time and money.

By Deepak (Deepak) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 10:43 am: Edit

If you do indeed score near 800 on all of them, then you are in good shape. You are in the I.B. program so that is good. If you are in the 40s on all of your classes, you have a great shot. I mean, even if you're EC's are limited, try making up for that through your essays, or if all else fails, just try volunteering places--it usually works. Your chances at an Ivy look pretty good.
Deepak S.

By Saccharine (Saccharine) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 04:14 pm: Edit

After reading thousands of posts here I wonder what does it mean to stand out? I've read somebody's extracurricular activities' list about 1m long and apparently, this person hasn't stood out. So what I'm supposed to do? Make a cure for cancer or change lead into gold? Maybe then they'd consider accepting me...

By Hannajvb (Hannajvb) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 06:18 pm: Edit

Finding a cure for cancer seems a little out of your reach - perhaps you can change lead to gold.

By Sandy (Sandy) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 06:21 pm: Edit

lol

By Dream5 (Dream5) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 06:48 pm: Edit

Your chance of getting into an Ivy is not good.

What you have to understand is, although you are highly qualified, ivy league schools have only few spots avilable for international students, about 100.

Other international students applying to these top schools will have an AMAZING stats. In China, best-selling book was a novel written by a mother who got her son into Harvard. She says she planed to get her son into Harvard from the date of her son's birth.

You are against these kind of people when you are applying to top US schools.

Near 800 is NOT enough. You have to have 800 in SAT 2's, and at least 1550 on your SAT 1.
On top of that, you need more extracurriculars and voluntary activities.

On top of THAT, you need to be rich, since many universities do not grant need-based financial aid to international students.

Additionally, you need a hook. For example, a kid from Harvard sold the fact that his father died when he was 5 to get into Harvard. It is DIRTY, but that's what they do.

Conclusion: do not waste 60 bucks.

By Saccharine (Saccharine) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 08:59 am: Edit

The funniest thing though is that these people with such amazing stats happen to not get accepted while a friend of mine (not doing IB, with some EC's but not too many of them, SAT I - 1480, SAT II - twice near 800, but physics 690) got accepted to Yale. What do you say for that? Even Ivy League has sometimes enough of the Asian geniuses.

By Dream5 (Dream5) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 01:01 pm: Edit

they limit the number of asians they accept.

is your friend black?
is your friend from some small country where no one applies to yale?
did your friend donate a lot of money to Yale?
did his parents know someone in the admissions office?

OR

they just liked SOMETHING about him.

you never know.

By Saccharine (Saccharine) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 01:43 pm: Edit

He's from Poland, the same as me. No idea how he got accepted but he did. Anyways, I'll give it a try. In Poland I've got a secure place at university, so I'll apply just not to regret the whole my life that I haven't done it. As you've said, you never know.

By Supernova (Supernova) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 04:19 pm: Edit

you seem like you have a good shot. i too wonder how people seem to put in hours and hours of EC into their weeks when for me i'll be lucky if i can finish all my work and study for all my tests and get enough sleep...then again i procrastinate a lot... but you seem like you have a good shot... yes ivys have only a few spots but you can still try to apply to several that increases your chances...good luck your EC activities are alright just be devoted to them i guess. good luck

By Saccharine (Saccharine) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 01:59 pm: Edit

Thanks for your feedback, Supernova . I hope I'll write good essays (in fact, I don't know what exactly looks a good college essay like but I'm working on it). As for my stats, I really hope I'll do good on sats and get nice predicted grades - maybe not exatly perfect 45 points on IB but near. I'm now making up what good EC's I can have - maybe I'll establish some clubs as we don't have them in my school. Unfortunately, the only American colleges which give a need-based financial aid for international students are ivys so I don't really have a choice.

By Jumbo (Jumbo) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 08:37 pm: Edit

"they limit the number of asians they accept."
thats not true.

I think you will get into at least one ivy, since you obviously excel at your studies. Its true that you face fierce competition from many countries, but I believe that its not as bad as people say it is. It is true that more americans get in than internationals, but for the sake of diversity, I'm sure they'll alot anywhere from 10-20% of the class for people from other countries.

By Dream5 (Dream5) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 08:43 pm: Edit

Jumbo, you don't know anything.

By Uncchlocalmayor (Uncchlocalmayor) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 08:54 pm: Edit

hmmmm, yeah, you've got a good chance.

By Jumbo (Jumbo) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 02:21 am: Edit

Dream5 I can assure you they don't limit the # of asians. Perhaps it is you who doesn't know anything.