Chance me, and help me choose colleges!

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I know that chances are just a crapshoot for many top-level colleges. But I just want to get a second opinion.
I am a senior in high school in Jharkhand, India. I'm planning to apply for undergrad in Computer Science (and probably a minor in Astronomy). I study in a ISC board and I scored the following marks through out my high school:-
9th- 70% average taken from all 3 exams
10th- around 80% avg. for first two terms; 82% Preboard; 87% ICSE board
11th- around 85% average taken from all 3 exams
12th- studying now... but I hope to score in 80-90 region.</p>

<p>SAT - 2200 (will take it again this year)
ECs:-</p>

<h1>3rd overall - NASA Humans in Space Youth Art competition 2010</h1>

<h1><1st, 2nd, or 3rd> (Won't reveal which position as that'd help people to perceive my identity) overall - NASA Humans in Space Youth Art Competition 2012</h1>

<h1>Won a few school and city level quiz and photography competitions</h1>

<h1>3rd in a national level quiz competition</h1>

<h1>Commended - RHS Photography Competition (international)</h1>

<h1>rank around 500 in National Science Olympiad 2012 organised by NSF</h1>

<h1>Vice President - Computer Club</h1>

<h1>Vice President - Astronomy Club</h1>

<h1>Written a few articles for our semi-annual school magazine about robotics and space exploration</h1>

<h1>Core member (and Content Manager) of an internet educational project started by my classmate (which gained a lot of recognition in my city and a bit nationally)</h1>

<h1>Started a project around an idea for which I was shortlisted in IRIS.</h1>

<h1>Helped juniors learn about AI/Robotics (nothing like this done before in our Computer club..most difficult for me, given various circumstances)</h1>

<h1>Helped to organize two national level quiz competitions.</h1>

<h1>Member of a small-scale open source project related to artificial intelligence.</h1>

<h1>2nd in an event of COFAS (sort of international competition) organised by CMS.</h1>

<ul>
<li>I have a few more months, so I'll probably have a few more titles on the list. </li>
</ul>

<p>Essays: I'll write it later this year. But seeing the essay topics, I think I'll prepare very good essays (especially for MIT and UChicago)
LORs: Probably, will be good! Nothing exceptional since I'm only known correctly by our Computer sir.</p>

<p>I can get along without financial aid, but i don't want to burn half of my parent's money just for my education. So I'll probably take fin. aid.</p>

<p>I'm thinking of:-
MIT
University of Chicago
Stanford
UPenn
Cornell
UIUC</p>

<p>I'm not sure which colleges to choose as safety
I'll probably apply to a few more universities between 8-10. Please list of a few safety and reach schools if not mentioned here, which have a good engineering program (specifically AI, Robotics, Astronomy, CS, entreneurship program), loves research, give fin. aid.</p>

<p>Chance me please! And list out a few safety and reach schools you know of. I'll them out, and shortlist then. And how is drexel?
Also, please tell me what can I do to improve my chances?</p>

2

<p>Sorry to be blunt but if you apply for fin aid you probably wont get in anywhere.</p>

3

<p>feeling soo sad that you wont apply to UC Berkeley :’(</p>

<p>but in any case
MIT --NOPE( with/without aid )
UChicago-- NO IDEA ( depends largely on your essays )
Stanford-- NOPE
UPenn- Mostly not ( not too sure )
Cornell-- I guess not
UIUC–Mostly</p>

4

<p>UIUC does not provide aid to international students</p>

5

<p>@quiverfox
can you please elaborate on the Cornell, UChicago and Upenn part?
I just want to know what is likely to have in resume to get in?</p>

6

<p>If you don’t apply for FA, you are likely to get into Cornell and UPenn. UIUC is definitely a match.</p>

<p>Don’t think about MIT and Stanford. And UChicago needs outstanding essays, high test scores and a very good academic record. Also, the more quirky you are, the more likely you get in. For example, someone with a demonstrated interest in Physics and Poetry can rock!</p>

7

<p>@Mohit – It isn’t always a “crapshoot”. MIT,Cornell and Stanford are 3 schools you should definitely apply to as they 100% cover your (Cost - EFC).
Your SAT is just enough to get you in the door(take it again) and your grades and ECs are, nothing that stands out in general, but not bad too !
Don’t get me wrong, you’ve achieved a lot but you know… :)</p>

<p>Also A lot will depend on your essay.Explain your story, forte, weaknesses in them and lastly but most Importantly; never lie to the adcoms. I’d like to write that gain so that you know its importance -never lie to the adcoms ,okay once more never lie to the adcoms. :slight_smile:
Good Luck !</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the help guys! What’s up with the FA issue? If I take it, will it decrease my chances? I mean for need-blind/aware universities? </p>

<p>@quiverfox: Yes! If I don’t choose FA, then it’d open more avenues, especially UC colleges.
@Heythere7: No! I won’t lie to adcoms. I might not to Stanford, but I’ll go to a good college, I guess. And that’ll provide me enough opportunities, considering what I want to do with my life. :)</p>

<p>Please list a few safety universities. I’ll apply to 1-2 of them. How’s Trinity College, and Brown university?</p>

9

<p>Just curious! How do my chances look for UCs, expecially UCSD, UC-David, and UCLA? </p>

<p>Sorry for UIUC mention! Wrote it by mistake. It doesn’t offer international aid. :P</p>

10

<p>I am not that good with public unis but I think you have a very good shot at UCLA and UCSD.</p>

<p>Coming to the safety list, Trinity College and Brown University are not safeties!! Trust me. They are not.</p>

<p>I think if you apply EA/ED to Trinity College, then I’ll be surprised to see you rejected or deferred. But then, it is binding and if you are admitted in that cycle, you have to withdraw all the other applications and enroll at Trinity unless the FA package is too low for you to attend Trinity.</p>

<p>If you apply for FA, there are no safeties!</p>

<p>NOTE: Yes, if you apply for FA, you are almost dead! (not literally :p)</p>

11

<p>@mathsoul… Well, for Cornell and UPenn, I have no idea ( actually in general for ivy league )
For UChicago, your essays matter a lot, it shows your moods, personality, academics ( to an extend) and culture and heritage. Write your essays wisely and U will get into that college…</p>

12

<p>To correct some assumptions: Both cornell and upenn will not help you in terms of finances. Additionally, both schools judge you heavily on your stats; albeit essays will make some difference in characterizing you as an intelligent individual. As far as Cornell is concerned, seeking for financial aid will lower admissions success, but you are still able to receive acceptance if you refrain from mentioning financial aid.
The same goes for UChicago. </p>

<p>You will have to find out all merit based scholarship or loans on your own, the university will not aid you.</p>

13

<p>Mohit, apply to Nortwestern instead of uchicago. It is ranked a bit lower but it offers much more in a location that is much nicer and safer.</p>

14

<p>Northwestern is not really a good idea since thy only have a 5% acceptance rate for international students who require aid( for the purposes of this discussion I am assuming you do not have U.S citizenship or a green card) .You must be barking mad to consider brown a safety ( I mean it is still ivy league).Looking at ED threads of Cornell and Upenn you really have to have stellar SAT scores to get in. And no matter what people say you do have an edge if you apply ED</p>

15

<p>Chubbycheeks can you tell us how you got into northwestern. I am really curious</p>

16

<p>I know that being in the top 12 finalist in Google Science Fair would increase one’s chances. But what about regional finalist? Will that help? Just asking, since my friend was a regional finalist once. </p>

<p>Olympiads like IPhO, IMO helps you increase your chances a hell lot, and that’s completely understandable. It shows that the applicant is really into the field of study, and is very good at it. But what about other international competitions related to one’s field of study, which isn’t an international Olympiad or science fair? Like Oracle Thinkquest, or some programming/app dev contest? </p>

<p>I’ve developed 2 applications. One is an android app (simulation based game) which garnered around 5,000-10,000 downloads. Another is a virtual education software (open source project). Do these things count? I mean I gave most of my time making apps, and working in projects, and not preparing for contests. :stuck_out_tongue: </p>

<p>What would be a safety college? Drexel?</p>

17

<p>Everything counts… smile :)</p>