<p>Hi, I will be applying to Harvard, Princeton, Caltech, MIT, Berkeley, CMU, Stanford, Penn, Cornell and Waterloo. I'm a hardcore CS person.
My grades are as follows-
Class IX - CGPA 9.0
Class X - CGPA 9.8
Class XI - 82.3% with a 64 in Math.
Class XII(midterms) - 89% with a 100 in Math.</p>
<p>I'll be writing ACT and SAT Subject Tests(Phy,Chem,Math2) this fall. I have been getting 32+ in Barron's practice tests and 700+ in Barron's SAT Subject Tests too.
My TOEFL is waived at all places except CMU where the request is still pending.</p>
<p>My EC's are -
Computer & Technology club (4years as president) and organized some competitions with other schools.
Student Council President
Class representative
Anchor at School Farewell
Interned as a Database Administrator in the Indian Army this summer
Made my own website and blog, I love blogging ,also made school's website with my computer science teacher.
Varsity Basketball (vice-captain)
Swimming & Water polo(in free time)
Started my business to repair the computers and teach kids Computer Science and Mathematics.
I know a variety of languages such as JAVA, C++, Visual Basic, Python, SQL, HTML, PHP......learned them on my own.
Drama(8 years)
I'm an Army Education Society scholar.(3 times).
Started my own company in April but it was a failure.</p>
<p>Hooks: First Generation if it helps....</p>
<p>“First Generation” student applies to US domestic students. EC’s look good but, since you don’t have SAT scores, there’s no way to compare you. If you need financial aid, many schools are need aware. Berkeley is a state-funded school, so if you need money, you will not receive any scholarships being international. </p>
<p>@aunt bea What do you mean the “First Generation” student hook only applies to US domestic students? From what I gather, it applies to anyone whose parents have not attained a four year bachelor degree and/or have not pursued post-secondary studies. </p>
<p>As well, although it is very hard for International students to receive FA at schools like Berkeley and NYU, its not impossible. My (Canadian) friends have received both full-based and partial scholarships at these schools.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you. @aunt bea and @HvePassion</p>
<p>Hve, from what I’ve understood, the schools look for hooks for domestic students who haven’t had equitable opportunities in the US. Many of the international applicants are first generation, so there’s no real advantage there. You can ask FA officers; I have a friend that is a FA officer. </p>
<p>I don’t know what funds your international friends have received but California does not provide full funds or cover full tuitions; OOS and international students still have to pay the $23,000 differential that is not covered by any scholarships or grants. They can’t get around that, otherwise the state would be inundated with even more applications than they already receive. Being a California taxpayer for the past 35 years, I would be really upset if my tax dollars were being used to fund full fees for non resident students at the expense of California students. None of my capable children has ever been offered full rides. That’s why they have the differential. So the amounts your friends have received are typically book funds in California.</p>
<p>@Aunt bea I think it is a gross generalization to classify “many of the international applicants” as first generation students. At least from where I come from, students who apply for schools aboard usually have very academically qualified parents (PHD, Masters etc). If your parents haven’t graduated high school and are struggling financially, there is a good chance you wouldn’t know what SATs or APs are. I have actually asked a Penn admissions officer (who came to our school) if being a First Generation student (since I am) is a hook for internationals, and he said yes. Perhaps there are scholarships in the US that only apply to first generation students with a US citizenship.</p>
<p>Yes, it might be because my friend who got into Berkeley did receive book funds. I know for sure though, that my friend who got into NYU did receive a full scholarship. </p>
<p>@HvePassion my friend too received Regents at UC Berkeley and has a full ride there, so it isn’t impossible.</p>
<p>Sorry, Hve, I live in CA and was speaking from my experience here in California, and a colleague’s experience who is a FA officer. We see many students at the local high schools whose parents don’t have post a secondary education, and, I think it is a gross generalization to assume that American students don’t know what SATs and AP classes are just because their parents don’t have formal educations. </p>
<p>I don’t know much about NYU, except what former students have mentioned about their aid, but in California, we have the state non-resident supplemental fees that are not covered by scholarships.<br>
Every situation is different, but California’s State budget limits outgoing money to non- residents.<br>
<a href=“Descriptions of charges | UCOP”>http://www.ucop.edu/operating-budget/fees-and-enrollments/descriptions-of-charges.html</a></p>
<p>@aunt bea Let me clarify that I was not referring to US first generation students when making the generalisation that first generation are unfamiliar with American standardised exams. Int’l students are very often unacquainted with the US education system – unless your parents (or you) have intensively researched the requirements for entering a US university, you probably wouldn’t be too familiar with SATs and APs. Of course, some first generations (such as myself and OP) have taken the initiative to find out about the US system, but I can say from personal experience that it is a difficult and independant process – something that would require immense effort and motivation. Just as Canadian first generations may be familiar with their national education system, I have no doubt that most American first generations know what APs and SATs are too.</p>
<p>I am very unfamiliar scholarship funds and whatnot in California. I do have many friends who pay exorbitant fees to attend Berkeley, but only one or two who have been able to enroll because of scholarships. I am sure that you know the system better than I do, so perhaps OP and I have some misunderstandings.</p>
<p>@HvePassion So is it really a hook for internationals?</p>
<p>It definitely helps a bit, but not as much as legacies, urms, donors, or recruits. If there were two applicants with very similar stats, but one is first generation and the other has lawyers as his/her parents, then the first generation would probably be chosen.</p>
<p>What I know is- midterms consist of UTs, Half yearly exams, and pre-boards ( if you are applying to universities by regular decision ). I highly doubt that your half yearly exams are already over and you have the mark-sheets in your hand. I guess you are from CBSE board. You have AVERAGE chances of getting in tbh, but nobody can chance you efficiently unless you provide us with ACT scores (which are the most important). Getting as an international student is immensely difficult, especially like Ivies, MIT, Stanford etc. They don’t even take 225 international students per year, even lesser. Average ACT score for Universities like Harvard, Yale, Stanford etc is 34! - which is a tough nut to crack.So, try to get over 34 to increase your chances. NOW, LET ME BE HONEST- I’M EXTREMELY SORRY FOR WHAT I’M GONNA SAY NOW-
Your ECs are not that impressive- I highly doubt your school didn’t have a website until you decided to make it. You have to list the ECs you’ve been doing from almost 5-6 months. Being an anchor at school farewell won’t impress admissions officer by much. As far as UCs are concerned- you’ll have to list everything- work experience, paid employment, volunteering literally everything, and I don’t see much in this list to be honest. As far as I know Common App, you need to list 10 extracurricular. Try to stand out among the crowd, things like Class representative won’t count for anything. But now you don’t have time as well, so list only the things you genuinely have. Good luck!!</p>