<p>CC and especially the Indian thread here was a big big help and a source of comfort to me in my admissions process. Sure its tough but when you have a group of like-minded folks all coming together to share something, it makes the process warm and even friendly. I know the value of advice and now I can't let my fellow 17'er Indians down.</p>
<p>I've had some success in the process getting a likely letter from Stanford and admittances to several ivies and top uk schools. So if you guys have any questions about the college admittance process post them here and I'll try my best to answer them.</p>
<p>Good to hear you again Tizil (virtually that is :P) and as for the year being '17 just two words: Gap year! And thanks. In a different vein, by the way I heard you were on the Columbia waitlist. Did you get off?</p>
<p>rew- Yes I did get 90% aid but provided mine and my parents’ incomes and wealth don’t change too much, the amount states approximately the same next year as well. No the primarily reason I stayed back were my EC’s. Simply speaking, I have to find new leadership and management to I guess “pass the torch” to because so much of my microcredit organisation depends on trust. </p>
<p>All right now for the extra-curricular essay I will start off by saying don’t put something on there because it sounds good for example something cliched like model un. I mean I’ve seen so many essays where they describe the sights and sounds of a model un conference and cliches like “getting to change the world” or “I can taste the diversity around me.” It’s not going to cut it. Just be really meaningful even if the activity may appear common (ex a sport) because ultimately to you its not dull. That’s why you’re playing it right!</p>
<p>My primary advice for this essay is to make sure you use verbs. Again USE V.E.R.B.S rather than putting a plethora of adjectives. Rather than fancifully describing something with superfluous words make the adcoms visualize what you’re doing. As you’ve heard its about them arbitrarily being in your situation instead of you “feeding it to them.”</p>
<p>Hey nonsecure,
I have a couple of questions first one is how did you prepare for the SAT and SAT II? (Books, courses and stuff)
Sencondly I am not a very good essay writer so can you advise me how to improve in this field.
Thanks in advance and congrats for getting into Stanford!</p>
<p>thanks noncensure.
does it mean you wont have to apply for stanford next year? OR you wont have to apply for FA next year?
< EDITED OUT >
(If posting about my Essay here on CC is not a good idea, should i PM you?</p>
<p>Well I for the SAT 1 there’s not a unified way to prepare for all three sections so I’ll break it up for you</p>
<p>M: Practice. Practice. Practice. Some people have said that if you don’t know your concepts review them. All right, fair enough. There’s nothing wrong with that. But if you’re pretty good or even decent at math, the explanations at the back of the book are enough. To be honest, while this section wasn’t that tough for me I think what helped that after finishing a test or a question set I would look at the explanations not only for the level 4 or 5 ones but all of them because the book may have some quicker way of answering them. So practice and look back because you might find a “shortcut.” The SAT math section does not test your mathematical acumen per se but rather how efficiently you can apply this acumen. </p>
<p>Critical Reading: For vocab you need to do two things: 1). Purchase the direct hits core and advance vocabulary. 2). After each test look at the vocab you don’t know, list them out and review them. Here people say to read but if you’re taking the test right now you don’t have time to read Anna Karenina. For the critical reading section, try a different approach. Don’t read the passage and do the questions. Read the questions, and as you read them each one or most will have line references. Underline those. That way when you read them you’ll have almost a geographical part of the passage in which you’ll want to focus the most. </p>
<p>Writing: Silver Turtle’s writing guide. You really don’t need another source.</p>
<p>Sources: This depends on how far you are from the test. If you have 2-3 months I suggest doing a practice test once every 4-5 days or even with greater frequency. I suggest saving the Blue Book till the last because it is the best source. That talk about doing tests from sources because they’re harder is complete tosh (this concept defers for math. For math there’s nothing wrong in trying hard questions but not way above par for example by doing multivariable calculus or something :).) You need actual test day material nothing more and nothing less otherwise it may force you to go into a tangent. I’d say before the Blue Book try Barron’s. </p>
<p>SAT II- Math 2 (I’m assuming you’re doing this cause most do)- Again practice. This to be honest is probably the easiest one because there’s some room for error. Again do some practice tests but I’d suggest Barron’s here.</p>
<p>I don’t know which other SAT II’s you’re taking so I really can’t give you advice so let me know which ones. </p>
<p>Ppaayas- Haha well to be honest your question is akin to how do I write the perfect essay. If I honestly knew the answer it would be likely that you would to because that would mean that there was a simple formula that people can pick up on. But as I’m sure you know there isn’t. I can only repeat some basic advice.</p>
<p>-First, limit the use of adjectives. Please. Instead use verbs. For example instead of saying the “gloomy weather was so dull” say something like the “sun glared down at the world, daring anyone to interrupt its melancholy reign.” I can do better but you’ll have to pardon me because it’s almost 12:00 but I hope you get the idea. Do this and you’ll immedietely differentiate yourself from the horde.</p>
<p>-Make sure there’s a structure. Now this is where most people mess up. By structure I do NOT I repeat NOT mean something formulaic but something that flows. I hope this analogy will give you an idea. Assume your essay is 5 paragraphs and assume each one is labeled from 1-5. A non-flowing essay would mean that paragraph 3 can replace paragraph 4 or paragraph 5 can replace paragraph 3 by simply changing some contractions etc. A flowing essay would be that the order of the essay is non-repleacable. It just flows.</p>
<p>-Don’t tell your reader what he’s supposed to see. Let your words do the talking. Make them visualize the situation if you want to heighten the impact of your words.</p>
<p>The rest depends upon how much the essay means to you. If you’re writing it because its a good topic to write about then you’re likely to fail. The college essay isn’t about writing about something new because I guarantee you the adcoms have read so many essays that your essay will NOT be new. Its about making the average seem beautiful.</p>
<p>Thanks alot nonsecure!!
I will definately take math 2 and for the other one I am not sure… What do u suggest? I plan to do either economics or maybe physics…
I wanted to take english lit but many people have recommened me that its very scoring what do u suggest?</p>
<p>Crystal31- I’m usually not for stereotypes. But in this case I don’t think its too bad? How? Indians usually take math, physics, and chemistry and for good reason. We’re relatively comfortable with it than others (on average). Moreover, I don’t think you should take english lit but then I don’t want to rule it out. What did you get on your SAT CR section? If you got above 750 then I think you can take it as a 3rd but if you do bad then score choice won’t help you in ALL colleges. If you got less than it than take physics or chem. </p>
<p>As for me I took US History but then being a citizen I had background knowledge.</p>
For the critical reading section, try a different approach. Don’t read the passage and do the questions. Read the questions, and as you read them each one or most will have line references. Underline those. That way when you read them you’ll have almost a geographical part of the passage in which you’ll want to focus the most. </p>
what do u suggest?</p>