<p>Hey! I'm a student from India and I'm applying to Cornell for 2014 RD. Well, I know my chances are very slim, but I'd Like to know if I've got any chance at all or if I should just consider not applying at all. Here's my profile:</p>
<p>9th: 80%
10th: 90%
(Both ICSE. Rigorous curriculum.)
11th: A horrible 65% Because I got into too much ECs. (Pre-university college, actually. Which is also rigorous.)
12th: 85% in preparatory. Finals aren't over yet. But will 90%+ in finals. Know for sure. Since I'm able to make up for all the times I had slacked off and since I've improved in preps. </p>
<p>SAT I: 1960(Cr - 570, math - 720, writing - 670) But I'm taking it again with better practice. I'm getting 2100-2200 on practice tests.
SAT II: 1580. Phy - 800, Math L2 - 780.</p>
<p>Essays: Sterling. They're up to the Ivy's essays mark.
LORs: These will definitely be superb. I was both the teachers favs and they've known me better than any other student and consider me best in their careers. Everything will be "outstanding" or "best seen in career."</p>
<p>EC:
Been playing guitar for 6 years. Lots of inter school contests and music class concerts.
"Computer Wizard" award at school. (Given for best student in CS in school.)
Built an Arduino and android phone controlled quadrotor.
Have work experience (kinda.) I built the android app(which is the most crucial part of the software service) for my dad's startup. And its about to be a huge success.
Have other such apps, projects.
Google Code-In 2012 winner.
Community service. 200+ hours at an NGO. I train the underprivileged and differently abled at the IT centre. </p>
<p>Well, no APs or clubs. I'm from a modest background and haven't attended big schools were there are clubs and stuff. Hope I can explain this to them and they'll consider this.
Also, I can pay around $20k (loans, parent contribution, borrowings, everything put together.) I can also take yo external scholarships. </p>
<p>So....any reply would be welcome. Except negative ones. But please be honest. Also, I'd be happy to know if any schools match for me.</p>
<p>^Wow, you did ask for honest opinions tho!?? Im no expert at admissions i admit, but i can tell by many other posts that ur ECs are not going to make you a shoe in and neither are ur SATs or GPA. Ur international status will help, but u will still be competing with many other brilliant international kids looking for a CS major. Reach school undoubtedly,Thats my honest opinion, u can take it or leave it or do watever u want with it.</p>
<p>I’m not too familiar with the grading system in India, but here in the US we usually go by a 4.0 or 100 point grading scale. I went ahead and took the average of your grade percentages you’ve provided us: (80+90+65+90)/4= 81.25</p>
<p>If we were to convert this to a 4 point system, your GPA would be around a 3.125. It’s definitely on the low side for admissions, regardless of your class rank or rigor! I’m not sure even being a nationally ranked athlete could make up for that, let alone stellar SAT/SAT II scores. (the 65% in junior year is especially problematic) </p>
<p>@swatchmaster99: I’m sorry! Shouldn’t have been so blunt. All I meant was, can you predict my chances when you yourself are asking people for your chances. @boester22: I do believe you. But I said I’m improving my SAT scores. And you can’t convert my grades to GPA directly. @Coriander23: Thanks for your reply! But thing is, you can’t convert Indian percentage to American GPA like that. I’m not trying to boast here, but thing is, our curriculum is more vast and rigorous than american one and our exams are as hard as and sometimes harder than even AP exams. (Phy, chem, math.) Some websites and counsellors say you can’t convert it directly, and some others there are other methods and some others say anything above 85% is a 4.0 GPA equivalent. So I don’t think that can be done. Universities probably just take the percentage as it is(another thing I’ve just HEARD and READ). My school doesn’t give rank, but being in the 80-90% range has put me roughly in the top 10% of the class. So…any opinions with respect to this? (Sorry I’ve sounded so arrogant up there.)</p>
<p>Although you’re right that it’s unfair to compare you to other US students with our “inferior” curricula, you have to keep in mind that you’re most directly competing with the international applicant pool and not the US applicant pool.</p>
<p>That being said, no matter how much you say about how rigorous your pre-university courses are, you have to consider that there will have been kids applying from India with scores in the 90s (as opposed to yours in the 80s) and SATs in the 2300s.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that ~88% of students at Cornell were top 10% of their high schools, so your grades, percentage-wise, make you average rather than exceptional.</p>
<p>I’d say it’s very hard for us here to gauge an international applicant, mostly because</p>
<ol>
<li>the spots available for international applicants are lower (8% of the student body)</li>
<li>the bar set for international applicants is different from that for US students (because they’re competing with a totally different applicant pool)</li>
<li>most of us are unfamiliar with the grading system / awards available in your country</li>
</ol>
<p>I urge you to talk to the admissions office if you have any specific concerns (ex. your 65%, your lack of clubs offered).</p>
<p>Otherwise, it’s my opinion that you should consider applying to the school if you believe yourself to be a capable student and a good fit for Cornell’s goals.</p>
<p>You are disrespecting some people who are trying to help or give advice. </p>
<p>Regardless, I would say you have a fairly low chance (high reach). I will explain my reasons for the chance:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Your ECs are great but not outstanding. Read some posts by other Ivy applicants. You will know exactly what I am talking about. </p></li>
<li><p>International student
-Although you are saying that Indian education system is harder than the American system. You are an international applicant. It is most likely that you will be compared to people who are in your region (Asia). Korea, Japan and other Asian countries probably have the same difficulty, if not harder. Just by reading a few posts by international applicants on CC, you will be able to see where you are standing right now.(In my opinion, you are in the middle) Furthermore, only small part of accepted applicants are international applicants.</p></li>
<li><p>What hurt you the most is your grade, both SAT and GPA. 2100+ is what almost every Ivy applicants get, so it won’t be a huge + even if you get 2100+ as you said. Moreover, regardless of the different education system, Colleges, especially Ivy, want to see high grade or upward trend in grade. 80 - 90 -65 -85 is REALLY going to hurt you A LOT. Arguably, junior year is the most important year in high school, and you screwed it up.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Is Cornell need aware? I can’t remember right now, but if they are, then that already puts you at a disadvantage. Cornell is a high reach for you, based on all of the posts above.</p>
<p>No, Cornell is need-blind for everyone including international students, which means that need is not supposed to be considered at all in the process of acceptance (However, I am wondering how that really works)</p>
<p>ForeverFish, why would a need-aware policy be a disadvantage? I didn’t get that part</p>
<p>OP is in India, so we can assume he needs aid. Trust me, conversion rates are killer. Thats why need aware would be harmful.
That 65% is going to be looked down on. And ur excuse is that you got involved in EC’s. Which is something u dont want to say, EVER. And u didnt really do all that much tbh. With ur current SAT score, it does seem like a long shot, but if u do get it up, perhaps that one year could be assuaged a bit. </p>
<p>Reach of course, simply bcuz its Cornell but…
My advice is work on ur SAT and essays and hope for the best. Theres nothing u can do about ur GPA or EC’s at this point.</p>
<p>if you want to go then should apply…maybe your essays really touch a note with the admissions staff.</p>
<p>Academics:
I think your grades and your SATs are too low. </p>
<p>Recommendations:
They sound great</p>
<p>Essays:
only you know … and you say they are great
EC’s
It doesn’t look like you did any sports or clubs … or participated in anything that shows teaming…
just a couple self study projects you did on your own --with “buzz” words attached.</p>
<p>Leadership.
Nothing jumps out</p>
<p>Community Service.
everyone has community service …and you do too</p>
<p>Conclusion:
with the low grades, low SATs, lack of school activities or sports, no teaming, no leadership. You didn’t list anything that makes you look unique or special. From what I’m reading your simply another kid, just one more application in the batch of 40,000.</p>
<p>I’m also a student… and I’m also trying to figure out how to package myself so that I stand out … I’m trying to answer the question: Why would they want to pick me if they have so many other choices… why would I be a good person to have on Campus.
Since you are not academically brilliant, nor a great football or hockey player, nor a great musician… you have to find something else that highlights you as special.
Again this is just an opinion… good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks! Thing is, there were no sports or clubs at My school. As I said, I go to a small school for middle and lower middle class students. So didn’t get a chance to show sports/leadership. Guess I could’ve gone to external sports classes or clubs, but was never much of a sports guy. Well, anyway. As everyone says, guess my chances are low. Just gonna try. No high hopes. Thanks everyone! And Sorry for that previous post. You’ve all been of real help! (anyway to close a thread?)</p>
<p>@HelloWorld9 The best way to figure out is by applying. You can never predict admissions. Here’s what: you’ll be compared against fellow Indians/Asians and your:
ECs are generally better.
Grades are on the lower side. </p>
<p>And chill, Cornell/Any other top university is not the end of life. If you like what you do and are good at it, you’ll flourish from anywhere. Best of luck!</p>
</p>
but really? I have a good chance? Because I’m hearing from people on other forums I have a slim chance :(</p>