reddit am i cooked

Demographics

• Nationality: Andorran (The only applicant from my country)

• High School Type: Public, no APs/IB Diploma offered (explained in Additional Info section)

• Financial Aid: I'm higher-middle class in my country but USA is expensive as sht, so applying for need-based aid (aware that it affects need-aware schools)

• Hooks: Ultra-rare geography (Andorra), first-gen college student (neither parent has a 4-year degree)

Stats

• GPA: 9.52/10 (one of the highest in my country, nobody in my class got a 10/10)

• Class Rank: Top 5% of the only highschool

• SAT: 1510 (720 RW, 790 M)

• Course Rigor: the (arguably) 3 most difficult IB courses: Math AA HL, Chem HL, Bio SL (explained in my application)

• Trend: Grades increased over time, showing strong growth

Extracurriculars & Awards (Biggest Strength)

💥 Global-Level Impact: UNESCO-Recognized Cultural Preservation Work

• Led the revival of two lost Andorran national traditions at 13, securing FCKING UNESCO recognition

• Worked with government agencies, historians, and cultural institutions

• Helped integrate traditions into national education, impacting 5,000+ people

• Secured $30,000+ in funding (wich is a lot for my teeny tiny country, I mean)

🔥 Performing at the Games of the Small States of Europe 

• Selected as an official dance performer in one of Europe’s biggest sporting events for small countries

• Showcasing Andorran folklore on an international stage

🎭 Founder & Organizer – CONTRADANS (Andorra’s Largest Cultural Festival and only international Folklore-guided non-profit)

• Helped organize festivals for 12,000+ attendees (20% of my country's population)

• Secured $51,000+ in grants and sponsorships yearly and POCTEFA participation

🧪 Founder – High School Science Workshop (STEM Leadership)

• Created the first and only science club in my high school AND country

• Led projects like an analemma sundial and researched memory and cognition

🏆 National & International Awards:

• 🏅 First Place – National Dictation Championship (1st place out of all students in the country)

• 🏅 First Place (twice) – Inter-Pyrenees Mathematics Tournament (competing against a hella lot of students from both Spain & France)

• 🏅 Special Mention – National High School Biology Research Project

🗣️ Languages & Linguistic/Cognitive Science Research Interest

• Trilingual since childhood (Catalan, Spanish, French) + Fluent in English

• Currently learning Russian & Chinese (8 hours/week each) as part of gap year

• Deep interest in how language shapes memory & cognition

LORs & Essays

✍️ Essays: Focused on cultural memory, neuroscience, and bridging science & humanities. I'd hope my college essay to be considered good, niche interest at which I became the best in the continent for my age (reviving traditions and literally preserving my whole country's culture while being underage)

📝 LORs:

• Counselor (Harvard alumnus, knows my work deeply)

• Biology Teacher (STEM focus, research praise)

• Math Teacher (Government official, calls me a “restless mind”)

• Board member of one of the cultural associations I worked with (highlights UNESCO & real-world impact)

Schools I Applied To

Need-Blind for Internationals (FA Won’t Hurt)

✅ Harvard - Rejected

✅ Yale - Rejected

✅ Dartmouth - Rejected

✅ Brown - Rejected

Need-Aware (High FA May Hurt Chances)

🟡 UPenn - Rejected

🟡 Columbia - Rejected

🟡 Duke

🟡 Vanderbilt - Rejected

🟡 Northwestern - Rejected

🟡 JHU - Rejected

🟡 Cornell - Rejected

🟡 Emory - Rejected

🟡 WashU - Rejected

Concerns & Questions

1. Financial Aid Cuts & Trump’s Policies – Given the political climate, will my high-need status hurt me more than usual?

2. How does my profile compare to typical Ivy admits? → Strong ECs, but no major Olympiad/STEM research.

3. Where do I have the best shot given my unique profile?

4. Realistic predictions for March based on everything going on this cycle?

So ye, im delusional for not having safeties (or targets) i know. But bro ive done enough, now universe help me please😭🙏