r/ChanceMeInternational

hiiii, can anyone plz kindly take a look at my profile and tell me my chance of admissions 😭
(It’s a revision of my last post but yeah)

female, asian, high income

comes from a very very competitive school in asia

major: history

sat: 1550 (not super scored)

4.31/? (idk but im pretty sure it's not out of 5) took all the hardest course my school offered for 9th to 12th grade, our skl doesn’t rank students but I suppose I am at least in the top 10%

APs: macro (5), micro (5), apwh (5), apush (5), ap lit (5), ap precalc (5, our skl doesnt offer calc till 12th grade), ap physic 1 (5), ap psych (4)

pretty strong ECs: first female president in a very conservative private school, two research paper (one for STEM one for social ontology), politcal internship (campaigning and debating with legislators), women basketball player, choir (for 7 yrs), volunteer for 100+ hr and worked with ECSE, tedx vice president (curated >6 events)

weak to mediocre awards: immerse essay comp, TEDx Speak Your Mind, scholarships (like a book prize ? idk), arts comp, MUN BD, choir comp, AP awards, and merit-based awards at my skl

Pending initial view

i think my essays might be decent (still working on it

my rec letter would possibly be decent (one from my G11 math teacher+G11 lit teacher)
my current school list:

Northwestern (ED 1)

1. Vanderbilt (ED2)
2. Wellesley, Georgetown, University of California, UMich Ann Arbor, USC, NYU, Boston College, UNC Chapel Hill, Rochester, Wisconsin Madison, GWU, WashU St. Louis, UVA, UWash Seattle

, Emory

1. uk: kcl, ucl, lse, oxford

thank you guys so much

Hello guys. I am a gap year student from Uzbekistan and applying to WashLee this cycle. Do you think I got a good shot or should I consider other schools?

Sat: 1480
Ielts: 7.5
Gpa: 4/4
Major: finance/econ

Ecs:

1. NBU( national bank of Uzbekistan)— Credit Risk Intern
   Reviewed 200+ loan applications; assessed borrower creditworthiness, financial documents & risk during 3-month internship.

2. Uzbek Anime Fandub — Founder/Project Lead
   Founded/led 4-year Uzbek fandub serving 20K+; translated 20+ shows & 10+ films; generated $10K+ via sponsors, ads & donations.

3. Stock/Crypto Risk Calculator — Founder/Developer
   Built trading risk & margin calculator used by 150+ traders to assess position risk before executing trades.

4. Personal Investment & Portfolio Management
   Managed $3K+ across stocks, bonds & digital currencies for 2 years; achieved 40% ROI through portfolio risk management.

5. English Teacher
   Taught English for 2 years; helped 200+ students develop advanced reading, writing & speaking skills.

6. Logistics Company — Accountant
   Managed accounts payable/receivable for 4 months; contributed earnings to household income.

7. Economics Telegram Channel — Founder
   Founded economics, politics & crypto blog for students; grew educational community to 300+ followers.

8. English & Zakovat Club — Founder/President
   Founded/led school Zakovat club; organized interschool competitions and guided team to several regional victories.

9. Bukhara Biennial — Group Leader
   Led volunteers at Bukhara Biennial; coordinated logistics, hospitality & volunteer operations at international cultural festival.

10. German Teacher
    Taught German voluntarily to 10 children for 1 year, helping beginners build foundational language skills.

The problem is my family income is about 12k$ a year for 4 people which is pretty common in my country. But my family can contribute up to 5k$ from
Savings. Should I consider other colleges? Can I get CSS fee waiver?

My essays are good but can’t tell the same with honors. Should I apply for Ed with current stats or should I retake sat for 1520+ then go with Rd?

Currently, I have 90.7% for early apps. (93 calc, 93 adv, 93 chem, 93 data, 86 gr 11 English, 86 gr 11 physics)

Full IB course load; expected second-semester midterm average is 93%

My ECs are: Roblox Game Developer, Engineering Project (Arduino Robot), Steam ICIC Exec, DECA, Engineer Experience, and a few other ECs.

I applied to McMaster Mech, Carleton Aero, Western AIS & Mech.

I am just wondering whether my resume is good enough to get into these universities

SAT 1540, IELTS 8.0, GPA 5.0/5.0
Honors: 2x silver on the Regional/National Olympiad in History of Kazakhstan; silver on the Republican Olympiad in World History( was selected for the national team to represent Kazakhstan at IHO-2025 but didnt attend because of financial issues); advanced to the final round of the Republican Olympiad in History of Kazakhstan(top 0.45%); advanced to the round3/4 in the Republican Olympiad in Critical Thinking and Philosophy(top 5.49%)
ECs are mostly at the regional level
A level predictions are 3A*2A

Hi everyone! I'm an international student from Bangladesh planning to apply to US universities as a freshman for Fall 2027, primarily for Computer Science.

My profile:

\\- Academics: SSC 5.00/5.00, HSC 5.00/5.00 (Bangladeshi national curriculum).

\\- SAT: October attempt didn't go as planned; considering a November retake.

\\- Awards: Champion at BCSIR National Science & Industrial Fair 2023, Bronze Medalist at Bangladesh Robot Olympiad 2021, and 2nd Runner-Up at JRC Board Hackathon 2023.

\\- Recent achievement: Ranked among the top 40 in a national Android development bootcamp organized by bdapps and Robi Axiata, among 100,000+ participants.

\\- Research & projects: AI/ML and computer vision research, robotics, and several software projects.

\\- Leadership & ECs: Co-founder and Design Lead of a humanitarian nonprofit, campus ambassador, and involvement in tech events and community initiatives.

\\- Other: I had a business that served 500+ customers (a service based business), I have founded a gamified learning platform CholoSikhi, that helps student learn using a gamified system like duolingo (Recently I added SAT Practice Suite there, totally free)

My biggest constraint is finances. I need a full ride or financial aid covering essentially all my educational and living expenses, as I cannot afford to pay for college myself. Both of my parents are deceased, and I am unable to pay application fees too!

I'd really appreciate your suggestions on:

1. Which universities should I target, considering my profile and financial situation?

2. Which colleges offer generous need-based aid to international students?

3. Should I prioritize ED, EA, or RD given my need for full funding?

4. What can I realistically improve in my application over the next few months?

I'm open to both reaches and realistic options. Honest feedback and personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Demographics:

• Gender/Status: Male, International (India – Tier 2 City)
• Type of School: Competitive CBSE Private High School
• Intended Major: Computer Science / Artificial Intelligence
• Hooks: First-generation/Low-income context (EFC: ~$0 – $1,000 USD/year; Family income: ~7–8k USD / 6–7 Lakhs INR)

Academics & Testing:

• Class 9: 94.6%
• Class 10 Board Exam (CBSE): 97.0% (School/District topper range)
• Class 11 Internal Scores: 87.0% (Brief dip due to health issue and balancing projects; explained in additional info)
• Class 12 Predicted Scores: 95–96% (Math: 96+, Physics/Chem: 95+, CS/AI: 98+)
• SAT: Test-Optional (focusing heavily on holistic profile and coursework)
• TOEFL iBT: 110 / 120 (C1 CEFR: Reading 5.5/6, Listening 6.0/6, Writing 5.5/6, Speaking 4.5/6)

Honors & Awards:

1. National Finalist (Rank 2 & 5) – CBSE Heritage India Quiz (among 2,000+ participating schools nationwide).
2. CBSE National Merit Certificate – Top 0.1% percentile in Information Technology and Sanskrit.
3. National Finalist / Winner – TGELF Biosand Water Filtration Initiative & INTACH National Heritage Challenge.
4. Hackathon Winner / Finalist – Top placements across regional & collegiate hackathons (Impact Forge, Resera).
5. Academic Certification – AI & Data Science certification from IIT Madras (completed rigorous 8-week foundational course).

Extracurriculars & Leadership:

1. Founder & Lead Developer – IGNICION: Built and deployed a full-stack heritage-tech web and mobile platform aimed at youth engagement in cultural preservation; integrated interactive modules, dynamic maps, and quizzes.
2. Founder / Developer – SAT Vocab Web Tool: Built and deployed a web app gamifying vocabulary learning for standardized tests; organically scaled to 350+ active student users.
3. Cybersecurity & AI Student Lead – STEMinate: Led workshops and awareness initiatives on foundational LLMs and cybersecurity for 100+ high school students;Research paper written on cybersecurity.
4. Fork Lead– bits&bytes x IIT Bombay Techfest: Coordinated large-scale student tech events, hackathon outreach, and workshops impacting 1,400+ participants across schools.
5. Published Author: Wrote and published "A Soldier’s Story" (registered with official ISBN), exploring historical narratives and youth perspectives.
6. Civic Tech Lead – SpotGarbage NGP: Built an open-source civic reporting app with map rendering and backend databases for municipal garbage mapping in local neighborhoods.
7. School Leadership – Blue House Captain: Elected to lead a student cohort of 300+ students; managed inter-house competitions, school discipline, and major cultural festivals.
8. Competitive Sports – District Level (DSO): Represented school at the U-19 District Sports Office (DSO) level in both competitive Chess and Football for multiple consecutive years.
9. Software Contributor – Descreened: Designed backend schemas, UI components, and chapter expansion features for an open student platform.
10. Bootcamp Cohort Lead – Lighthouse Pathways 2.0: Directed database authentication setup, Git workflow, and final product showcase for our assigned team project.
11. Intern- Software Engineering Lead at an Organisation

Letters of Recommendation (LORs):

• Physics Teacher: (10/10) Taught me through senior secondary; knows my analytical problem-solving and projects well.
• English Teacher: (10/10) Can speak heavily on my writing, publication, and oratory skills.
• School Counselor: (10/10) Highlights my institutional leadership, national quiz rankings, and contextualizes the Class 11 grade dip.

College List:

Note: Because I require a 100% full ride (EFC ~$0), every institution requiring significant out-of-pocket costs is effectively a hard reach.

• Early Decision 1 (Top Choice):
  • NYU Abu Dhabi (Full-ride need-based aid via CSS Profile)
• Major International Scholarship Nominations (Full Rides):
  • University of Toronto (St. George) – Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (School Nominee)
  • University of British Columbia (UBC) – International Scholars Program (Karen McKellin ILOT Award)
• US Regular Decision (Need-Blind / Meets 100% Demonstrated Need for Internationals):
  • Amherst College (Need-Blind)
  • Dartmouth College (Need-Blind)
  • Bowdoin College (Need-Blind)
  • University of Richmond (Meets 100% need; generous merit/need aid)
  • University of Rochester (Meets demonstrated need / strong CS research)
  • Williams College (Need-Blind)
• Singapore (Tuition Grant / Scholarships):
  • NUS / NTU (Computer Science – applying with CBSE board credentials + TOEFL 110)
• Safeties:
  • No financial safeties exist abroad for international students needing 100% aid. Domestic backup options (JEE / BITS / state entrance exams) will serve as true safeties.

Questions / Seeking Advice:

1. Given my test-optional status and high CBSE Class 10 / predicted Class 12 marks, how realistic is NYUAD ED1 for a full-ride package in CS?
2. Are there any other US liberal arts colleges (LACs) or research universities known for giving full tuition + room/board aid to international students that I should add to my Common App list?
3. What else should I be working on and should I retake the SAT in november?

I know my activities are super scattered.

Demographics
Gender/Ethnicity: Female, White / Ukrainian
School type: Specialized public STEM high school (highly competitive regional lyceum, 30% acceptance rate, 1:5 ratio)
Background: Single-parent household; income/family contribution ~$5,000–$10,000/year; seeking full financial aid
First Gen: Not first-gen
Intended Major(s): Chem Engineering, Physics, Material Science, but still not sure

SAT / English Proficiency
SAT: 1560
IELTS: 8.0
Languages: Ukrainian (fluent), English (advanced), Russian (fluent), Turkish (B1), Hebrew (B1), Italian (B1), Ancient Greek (academic)

GPA and Rank
GPA: 4.0 / 4.0 unweighted (11.3 / 12 on Ukrainian scale)
Rank: Valedictorian (Rank 1)
Coursework: Most rigorous available curriculum in STEM high school

Extracurriculars

1. Independent Researcher | Environmental Engineering
   Designed a $5 circular-economy human-hair biofilter removing up to 50% of water pollutants; implemented locally in rural villages with limited access to clean water. Patent pending; first-author papers published in Q1 peer-reviewed science journals; received feedback from leading domain experts.
2. Founder & Full-Stack Developer | NeuroPredict ML Platform
   Built a Python ML platform using speech, MRI, and sleep biomarkers to predict Alzheimer’s risk 10–20 years pre-symptoms. Published in a Q1 medical journal and a premier international conference.
3. Independent Researcher | Quantum Chemistry & Physics
   Built Python/QuTiP Lindblad-Floquet simulations of metastable quantum dynamics under the mentorship of an Ivy League professor. Published as first author in a Q1 peer-reviewed physics journal.
4. Founder & Editor-in-Chief | International Young Scientists Journal
   Led 60+ researchers globally, developed an automated AI review bot, streamlined editorial workflow for 50+ editors, secured $1K+ in grants and local funding.
5. Independent Researcher | Computational Materials Science
   Developed automated DFT screening pipeline for h-BN point defects; modeled 100+ dopant/vacancy configurations to evaluate quantum memory candidates for room-temperature applications.
6. Founder & Lead Developer | NeuroHub
   Built a neuroscience platform reaching 10,000+ readers; mentored 15 national Olympiad participants and 3 international STEM competitors.
7. Co-Founder | Lectorium for Young Scientists
   Directing STEM initiatives for 150+ students. Boosted average chemistry marks significantly and mentored 40+ students to top national exam percentiles.
8. Laboratory Intern | Regional University & AgTech Corporation
   Assisted university professors with physics/chemistry lab experiments, equipment setups, and seed germination/sustainability assays for applied agriscience.
9. Family Responsibilities

Honors & Awards
Presidential Scholarship of Ukraine: Highest national academic honor awarded by the President; 1 of ~270 recipients nationwide (~0.008% of eligible students).
1st Place & National Finalist, Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: Represented region in National Scientific Fair with biofiltration research; invited to 35th International Conference on Resource Conservation.
Paris Collaborative Fellowship 2026
Genius Olympiad and ISEF, but only national level

Abt LORs
School Principal (10/10): Extremely strong letter highlighting leadership, academic impact, national awards, and contributions to the school community.
Biology Teacher (10/10): Very detailed and strong letter emphasizing research initiative, advanced scientific knowledge, and problem-solving skills.
History Teacher (9.5/10): Glowing recommendation focusing on analytical thinking, humanities excellence, and regional Olympiad success.
Research Mentor / Lab Supervisor (10/10): Exceptionally strong letter attesting to high-level research capabilities, work ethic, and ability to conduct independent university-level research.

Common App essay: The essay uses the setting of a school play and an alien helmet as a lens to reflect on a personal turning point in science, shifting from the shame of a chemistry teacher's harsh critique to viewing uncertainty as a dynamic landscape for curiosity. By drawing parallels to oscillating chemical reactions and natural systems, it redefines science not as a search for immediate answers, but as the discipline to remain comfortably curious within the unknown, highlighting deep intellectual maturity and a genuine research mindset that seamlessly ties together the entire profile.

Title: Lebanese student looking for a full scholarship abroad — where should I apply?

Hey everyone, I’m a Grade 11 student from Lebanon and I’m honestly getting pretty desperate trying to figure out my options for studying abroad 😭

My current school average is around 16.2/20, and I’m planning to take the SAT and IELTS during Grade 11/early Grade 12. I’m hoping to get a strong SAT score (ideally 1400–1500+) and a good IELTS score.

My biggest problem is money. My family isn’t wealthy, so I realistically need a full scholarship / full financial aid package that could cover tuition and, ideally, housing and living expenses too. I can’t really afford universities that only give a small $5k–$10k scholarship and still leave me with $30k+ to pay.

I’m mainly looking at the US and Canada, but I’m open to basically anywhere — Europe, Asia, etc. I’ve looked into universities like NYU, McGill, Concordia, UofT, etc., but the financial side is making everything really difficult.

For people who were international students or know about scholarships:

Which universities should I realistically look into?

Where can an international student potentially get a full ride/full financial aid?

Does a 16.2/20 average + a strong SAT/IELTS give me a realistic shot anywhere?

Are there scholarships specifically for students from Lebanon/Middle Eastern countries?

Are there universities that are less famous but generous with international financial aid?

What should I be doing right now in Grade 11 to maximize my chances?

I’m willing to put in the work. I just need to know where to actually apply because I don’t want to spend a year applying to universities that I have basically zero chance of affording.

Any advice, university suggestions, scholarship names, or personal experiences would be massively appreciated. Thank you 🙏

​

Hey everyone! I'm an Indian international student planning to apply to Bowdoin College ED1 for Fall 2027. I'd appreciate an honest evaluation of my profile.

Demographics

Country: India

Curriculum: CBSE

Intended major: Undecided/ Economics

Application round: ED1

SAT: Considering test-optional

Academics

Class 9: 95% (School Valedictorian)

Class 10: 82%

Class 11: 94%

Class 12: Predicted 94.8%

Class rank: Top 10% of my school

Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, English and Physical Education

My Class 10 performance was affected by a major family circumstance. My father met with an accident, and I had to take on responsibilities in our family business, working approximately 50 hours a week alongside my studies. This affected my academics during that period, but I managed to improve my performance in the following years.

Honors and Awards

School Valedictorian in Class 9

Ranked in the top 10% of my school

Physics Champion at school

Physics Olympiad honors in Classes 11 and 12

Participated in Physics, Chemistry and Biology Olympiads

Selected for the IIM Ranchi Young Changemakers Program

Selected for IIMUN from a competitive applicant pool

Participated in inter-school competitions and quizzes

Extracurricular Activities

1. Finding Nova | Co-founder

Co-founded a free platform dedicated to supporting student entrepreneurs.

Built a community of 800+ students.

Established a partnership with SRCC to provide certificates and opportunities.

Worked on connecting young entrepreneurs with mentors, investors and resources.

Helped develop initiatives involving prizes and early-stage investment opportunities.

2. Liquivest | CEO

Leading an AI-powered financial platform designed for small and medium-sized manufacturers in India.

Developing accessible financial tools for business owners, many of whom have limited formal education.

Expanded the beta client base from 15 to 25.

Working on financial solutions for businesses with substantial annual transaction volumes.

3. Azad Realm | Founder

Founded an LGBTQ+ community initiative in Patna, Bihar.

Focused on LGBTQ+ awareness, education, acceptance and community building.

Organized community meetups and educational outreach.

Worked on sex education and LGBTQ+ normalization in schools and NGOs.

Reached 500+ people through awareness and community initiatives.

4. Breakout School | Leadership

Contributed to an initiative focused on student entrepreneurship and innovation.

Helped expand activities across six states.

Participated in organizing events, developing partnerships and building opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

5. Family Business | Finance and Operations

Worked approximately 50 hours per week in our family business following my father's accident.

Took on significant responsibilities while continuing my education.

Gained practical experience in business operations, financial management and responsibility.

6. Factory Internship | Finance Analyst

Worked in a factory as a finance analyst.

Gained practical exposure to financial analysis, manufacturing operations and business decision-making.

Developed an understanding of the financial challenges faced by businesses.

7. IIM Ranchi Young Changemakers Program

Selected for a competitive youth leadership program.

Developed my interest in leadership, social impact and community-driven initiatives.

8. IIMUN | Delegate / Chair

Selected for IIMUN from a large applicant pool.

Chaired more than 10 conferences.

Developed skills in public speaking, diplomacy, leadership and debate.

9. School Leadership | Head Boy

Served as Head Boy.

Participated in school leadership, academic competitions, quizzes and extracurricular activities.

Essays and Personal Story

My application essays will focus on my experiences as an LGBTQ+ individual growing up in a relatively conservative environment in India, and how those experiences shaped my understanding of identity, community and belonging.

I also hope to explore how my experiences in entrepreneurship, working in my family business and building Azad Realm have influenced the way I approach leadership, responsibility and social impact.

I want my essays to reflect my personal growth and experiences rather than simply listing my achievements.

I'd appreciate an honest assessment of my overall profile and how competitive I might be for Bowdoin ED1 as an international applicant.

[supprimé]

I’m an expat living outside of my home country, so I don’t hold citizenship of the country I reside in. This disqualifies me from national Olympiads and selection camps for the country I live in, as well as disqualifying me from national Olympiads in my home country due to me not living there. I also can’t qualify for ISEF despite having a really strong maths research paper I wrote.

I obviously can’t do things like USAMO or USAPhO, so the only things that I’m able to do are qualify for AIME with a high score, and get a strong USACO score since it’s open to everyone.

Should I assume AOs know this (most applicants in this country are expats in the same situation as me) or should I explicitly mention this somewhere in my application, and will it hinder my chances.

Thank you!

I'm an Omani Arab, Public high school student and a First-generation researcher.

GPA: 3.7 UW

Class Rank: 5/150

English: IELTS 8.0

Honors

ISEF 2026 Finalist (Oman participates with 2/3 teams every year)

Nominated for Sigma Xi Associate Membership

Oman Scholar 2025: Selected as 1 of 157 scholars from 5,000+ applicants (\~3.1% acceptance rate). Led/co-authored proposal for a national port company to reduce lighting costs, CO2 emissions, and light pollution. Featured on Deputy Chairman of the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution page.

Best Presenter Award - Regional Science Challenge (Arab World level)

2x National Runner-Up - National Olympiad for Scientific Innovation

2025: 2nd Place - Biology & Environmental Science

2024: 2nd Place - Information Technology

Lead Researcher - Neurotech and Behavioral Sciences Project (2025-2026)

Built a low-cost closed-loop neurobehavioral system for childhood ADHD. Developed ML pipeline using Contrastive Feature Alignment to reduce neural signal bias and overfitting. Achieved: AUC: 0.913, Macro-F1: 0.857. ran 4-week randomized controlled trial with d = 1.41 effect size for attentional retention.

Lead Developer - Assistive Technology Project (2024-2025)

Developed Generative AI-powered navigation and computer vision system for deaf-blind individuals Used Raspberry Pi 5 and custom 3D-printed haptic Braille communication device

Was chosen to exhibit at COMEX (the National exhibition for Science and Technology)

Selected to represent Oman for MILEST ESI 2025

2nd - National NASA Space Apps Challenge

2nd Place - National Cybersecurity CTF Competition

1st Place - National Autonomous Wireless Car Racing Competition

3rd - National Robotics Olympiad

2nd Place at Web development category - National Digital Festival

Rank 8 - National Informatics Olympiad

Rank 9/75 teams - Arab-world Informatics Olympiad

Software Volunteer - Regional Science Center

(bunch of other ranks in other national competitions)

Designed, programmed, and deployed event management dashboard and mobile application for an Ministry of Education innovation center

Letters of Recommendation

Supplemental LOR from Head of Robotics and AI, Ministry of Education

Im applying to politics/international relations at UCL, KCL, St andrews, warwick, and edinburgh.

I have a 3.7 gpa, 1440 sat, and 5 AP's taken. I scored a 4 on three of those, and a 5 on two of them. I am also taking 2 APs this year, both of which I am predicted a 5. I was wondering what my odds for these courses would be, as i meet the entry requirements but from what I understand you typically need to exceed them by a bit to be accepted. If anyone has a good estimate for my odds of acceptance I would appreciate it.