Chance me for colleges listed.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

[International Appplicant planning to get an undergrad in Physics/Astrophysics]

Colleges:
MIT
Harvard
Yale
UChicago
Cornell
Caltech
Princeton

I gave SAT I just to see how much I get and I got really horrible scores. This time, I’ll make sure that I get 2170+ on SAT I and 720+ on Math II and Physics and a decent ACT score, let’s say 32.

Academics:
Till 8th grade-- straight As
9th-- 8.4/10 because it was a new school and I was like the “new” kid, had trouble adjusting.
10th-- 9/10
11th-- (expected) 8.2/10 (top 10% of my class)

Family background:
Middle class (or lower-middle, maybe). Annual income: about 3500$/year
VERY dysfunctional-- might be the reason for bad academic performance

Achievements [All of the things I did-- learning programming, video editing etc.-- were self taught]:
Placed 10th in my organization in Google Code in 2014
Will have published 2 Psychological Research papers
Selected in National Level Science Exhibition, will most probably come in top 10 or top 15
Came in top 5 in Regional Level Science Exhibition
3rd in Arts in Science Exhibition in 5th grade
In Cosmo Youth Festival, came second in the Science Exhibition
Attended 3 International Model United Nations’ conference
Organized over 5 MUNs in my school
Gold medal in school level IMO (2014)
Silver medal in school level NCO (2014)
[Got selected in both the Olympiads for the second level, awaiting results.]
Bronze medal in school level NCO (2013)
Silver medal in school level IEO (2013)
Participated in Aerobis in 8th grade
Have been programming for the past 2-3 years. Proficient in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Linux, jQuery, MySQL, MVC, AJAX, and will learn more along with iOS programming.
Created a few sties which have tutorials for various programming languages
Have re-designed mine and another school’s website, also created a small social networking site for my school.
Have about 26 MOOCs’ certificates in Physics, Math, Philosophy, Psychology etc. from edX, Coursera and Udacity.
Wrote a 9 page long article on how to improve the education system, some of the points are currently implemented in my school.
Have contributed in lots of open source projects in Github and will contribute more
Have been also playing Basketball and Cricket for the past 5-6 years (no special achievements, though)
Have a couple of blogs in which I post my views on various issues; not a typical blog in which you describe your daily life events
Have an experience of one or two years in video editing, also created an advertisement for HNLU’s cultural fest (a law school)
Been playing guitar for the past year
I also take OCW courses in my free time and watch TED talks
Have certificates of merit in ANCQ
Got Distinction in Computer Skills, Mathematics and English in IAIS (2013) (was in top 10% in my region)
Got Credit in Mathematics, Science and English in IAIS (2014) (was in top 12% - top 18% in my region)
Participated in a women’s rights seminar in school
Wrote a paper for Religious restrictions on women for some organization (sorry I can’t remember)
Also love to draw, paint and create gun models using paper mache (no special recognition)
Have got articles in the newspaper about me and my school for the Science Exhibition and MUNs

Letters of recommendation:
My principal sir, Senior coordinator and my Physics teacher love me-- say that I am VERY bright and will accomplish a lot in life (so the recommendations are not an issue).

So, chance me and also let me know what else I can do to improve my application, thanks a ton. :slight_smile:

2

You surely mean $35,000?

Although your ECs are impressive, your grades - including the SAT/ACT - will be a huge drawback. Also, if international, what country you are from matters as well.

3

I am from India and no, it’s not 35000$, it’s 3500$.

4

Grades will bring you down. I am also an Indian, and half of my school has 10 CGPA in Grade 10 and they also have above 80% marks in grade 11. Almost 25% children have 10 CGPA in grade 9 also. And so is the case for most Indian schools. (Seriously, what happened in 10th grade dude. You’re a pretty bright kid!)

SAT needs to be much above 2170. At the schools you’re applying to, every other child will have a 2200+ or 2250+. And thousands will even have 2300+.

Now, about your ECs.

Most of your ECs are interest based, rather than merit based. First of all, the grade 5 achievement you listed needs to go. Basically, anything before 9th grade is irrelevant.

Your performance in olympiads is also not that great. School level ranks are next to nothing in the universities you’re applying to. People with International Ranks are standing next to you in the applicant pool. A Gold Medal in school level IMO (or silver or bronze) holds no importance.

Performance in IAIS is also not good. Since I’m familiar with this exam and also with the level of competitiveness, I can safely say that you’re better off not even mentioning these. I got top 1% and got High Distinction and still didn’t mention it because I know that LOTS of kids have it.

Now, don’t be disheartened. You have OUTSTANDING ECs in other fields. When you fill your application next year, mention the MOOCs and the programming languages, the research papers etc etc. Mention these. Very few people have all this.

Also, your familial and financial situation may give you the edge. Mention your family problems and your financial limitations somewhere in your essays or ask your guidance counselor to put it in her LOR. Your achievements in the limited opportunities you had are commendable.

PM me for anything else :slight_smile:

5

Your list of colleges are high reaches for everyone, even applicants with nearly perfect grades and SAT/ACT scores. You will expect financial aid, and that’s a challenge for international candidates. My recommendation is that you set your sights much lower with the understanding that your chances are not high. If you were a domestic candidate you may be able to get merit aid at some lesser (albeit competent) universities. My sense is that whatever merit aid you do get though will not be enough.

6

Okay, suppose if I were to ask you what would be my safe colleges if I wanna get into the possible, what would you say? Where might I get enough financial aid/scholarship and would also be a good college?

Thanks.