<p>Hi!
First of all thanks for reading this post, whoever you may be!</p>
<p>I'll be applying to the Unis in the title this autumn, for Computer Engineering. Please give insight on my chances based on the following:</p>
<p>Nationality: British
Origin: Pakistani (Living in Pakistan at the moment as well)</p>
<p>Languages: English, Urdu, French (Fluent) and Italian (Almost fluent)
GPA: 4.0 unweighted. I'm taking Cambridge A-levels in June. These are equivalent to AP.
Subjects: Maths, Physics, Computing, World History and Economics</p>
<p>SAT score (This is pretty low compared to most students applying to these schools):
M690 CR 730 W700 (2120)
I'll take the subject tests on December 7th.</p>
<p>EC's: Summer school at Oxford University
Internships with the UN, WHO and PEPSICO.
Founder and head of a charity which provides free healthcare to underprivileged kids
living in rural Pakistan
Played in the National U-19 Basketball team
Captain of my school cricket team
Deputy head boy
Loads of community service and volunteer work, such as organizing/participating in<br>
charity drives, teaching underprivileged kids etc.
President of school quiz and science societies
Numerous accolades at national and international level in the quiz/science competition
sector
School humanitarian society and literary society executive member</p>
<p>I'm sure there is more but this is essentially the bulk of it.</p>
<p>I don't know if I'll be able to afford college, so not sure about aid (If I can pay, I'll have to break the bank to do so). How much of a hinderance will my sat score be? I'm a decent writer and think my essay/supplements will be competitive, but not entirely sure.</p>
<p>How much of a problem is the low SAT score?
Only mentioned my reaches here. I feel rather confident about safeties and targets.
What if I could pay?</p>
<p>Im pretty sure you can get into Rice and Cornell they may have a low acceptance rate, but they are not as selective as the other schools. And Rice meets a 100% of their students financial need.</p>
<p>The Bad: SAT score isn’t bad, but it definitely isn’t great. 2120 is considered mid-low end for the Ivies you’re applying to, but is competitive for the other schools. If possible, take it again to cross 2200. I was at exactly the same score for a few months, so I sympathise. Fin Aid won’t be a problem at Harvard, Cornell, and Yale. However, UCs, Stanford, Columbia and Rice are need-aware, so you need to keep that in mind. Plus there’re a LOT of very qualified applicants from India and Pakistan, so that’s another factor. </p>
<p>The Good: Your extra-curriculars are very good, and I’m sure you’ll have something interesting to say in the essays. Make sure those are good, and I reckon you’ll make it into an Ivy(or another top 10/15 school). Also, your grades are excellent. All in all, a strong applicant imo. Good luck!</p>
<p>Like Stanfordmania said, 2200+ is usually an “Ivy quality” SAT score, although you make it up a little in your grades. Your ECs are great, and well-rounded (even though you don’t really have any that relate to your major), so you have a good shot. You’ll probably make it into at least one of your top schools, maybe more if you can get your SAT up.</p>
<p>Hi all! Forgot to add that I play golf regularly, and do have some accolades at national level. Also, as far as pertinent EC’s are concerned, I computerised the previously paper based admissions process of a local university by making a database software, I have designed a website and I interned in the IT office of my country’s largest retail company, where I conducted research on issues in their retail management system that was leading to losses in sales. I have a LoR from the CIO. How much will this help? Also, where do I stand with Carnegie Mellon?</p>
<p>All of the things you just mentioned do play a big role, and I think you have great chances at these colleges! I would recommend retaking the sat though the math is a bit low for engineering.</p>
<p>Do not worry too much about the scores. They are important, yes, but not so much for the Ivies.</p>
<p>Your internships and your work with the charity immediately stand out to me. I expect that you wrote very nice essays on them, and that they will be the bastion of your application.</p>
<p>You mention you did software and design. Make sure to point this out somewhere in your app, because you are applying for Comp Eng and because many of your ECs seem more Humanities based than STEM based.</p>
<p>I think you have a good chance at all of those schools. If you want to retake SAT, do it: it can’t hurt. It will definitely help for the UCs, especially if you’re applying for aid. Otherwise, you’re good.</p>
<p>P.S. Very impressed by the Pakistan charity. Keep up the good work!</p>
<p>Thank you very much! It isn’t as great as your CV, but it will just have to do I guess. Do you think a decent SAT 2 score in math 2 would help cover up the SAT 1 math score?</p>
<p>Pretty good ECs and academic background, but computer science is highly competitive. You can try USC which is a high match and CMU(reach). There are also a bunch colleges which have strong CS department like UIUC, UWMadison and Purdue, these are matches. And one thing to note, if you apply for finance aid, it would surely diminish your chances. As for UCs, they do not provide FA for international students.</p>