Hey. 18 year old from Dhaka, Bangladesh applying to ICU for September 2027 entry, Media Communication and Culture. Trying to settle the Type A vs Type B question once and for all before I commit.
Quick context on me: SSC GPA 5 and HSC GPA 5 expected (Bangladesh's national board exams, equivalent to GCSEs and A-levels — highest possible grade). Top 15 finalist at an international leadership program at Hiroshima University out of 450 participants across 10 countries. Filmmaker and photographer. English is basically my first language — I think, write, and dream in it.
Because I'm from Bangladesh with a standard HSC background, I automatically fall into Type B — documentary screening plus online interview. No SAT required.
Here's my dilemma:
On paper, Type B seems right for me. My English is strong, I have a story to tell, and I think I interview well. The interview feels like an opportunity rather than a threat.
But I keep second-guessing myself. A few people have told me to just sit the SAT anyway to give myself a concrete score to anchor the application. My counter-argument is that a mediocre SAT score (which is likely given zero prep) would hurt me more than help, and that my interview will carry the application better than a number will.
Also, my internal school grades are genuinely not great due to a documented mental health situation that I've since recovered from. My national results are perfect, but the internal transcripts are messy. I'm wondering if Type A with a strong SAT score could somehow "override" or compensate for that, or if that's not how ICU works at all.
So my actual questions for anyone who's been through this:
Type B people — what was the online interview actually like? How long, how formal, what did they ask? Was it more academic or personal?
Did your interview feel like it significantly influenced the decision, or did documents carry more weight?
Is there any strategic reason someone with native-level English and no SAT prep should bother switching to Type A?
Has anyone switched tracks specifically to compensate for weak internal grades? Did it help?
Not looking for reassurance. Looking for people who actually went through it and can tell me what they wish they'd known.