Hello Everyone! New to college confidential. I’ve applied to the following colleges for the Fall 2016
MIT
Stanford
Caltech
Duke
UIUC (accepted but getting no financial aid)
And All 8 ivy league schools
My stats are as follows
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2280 CR (680), Math (800), Writing (800) Superscore
1st- 2160 CR(640) Math(800) Writing (720)
2nd - 2230 CR (680) Math (750) Writing (800)
SAT II Math II 800
Physics 770
Chemistry 750
TOEFL : 109
School rank : 1/100
Have taken Non-Medical CBSE
3 AP Tests: Calculus AB (5) , Physics (5), English Language and composition(4)
AP scholar with merit
I am an NTSE Scholar
In Grade 10th I took the NSTSE exam and acquired an AIR 1 in the Maths section of the exam getting 25/25 on the maths section
Class 10 : 10 CGPA
Overall great grades in class 9, 11 & 12(midyear)
Essays: Overall very good essays
Teacher Recommendation: Both were very good
Counselor Rec: good, i know her well
Subjective:
Extracurriculars :
Have actively participated in school quizzes and debate competitions and have even won the best speaker in the house debates.
Selected for participation in a science internship camp at a University
Participated in the National Chess Championship this year and also won a gold medal at the interschool chess tournament
Have been playing chess since I was 10
I was the school editor in class 11
Big buddy classes in school to teach the underprivileged and backward sections of the society
Nothing so extra in community service
Other
FINANCIAL Aid?: Yes my parents income is roughly $18,000 per annum
Intended Major: Mathematics
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): India
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Average
I have been accepted to UIUC in the Mathematics and Computer Science Program but unfortunately won’t be attending because i haven’t received any financial aid.
It would be a great help if you could chance me for these schools with the possibility of full financial aid.
The fact that you applied to all 8 ivy schools, plus nearly all the others on your list means that you really didn’t consider the schools, you just considered prestige.
You’re from India where a gazillion top students apply to top US schools. Your chances, as you probably ALREADY know are extremely low to be admitted.
If you had wanted to go to a US school with aid, then you should have applied to at least a few schools that would have given you very large awards for your stats. But, it seems that you’re chasing “a name.”
Your parents have a low income, so it appears that they can’t contribute much/anything. Is that correct?
You need a LOT of aid, and some of your schools are need-aware for int’ls. That will hurt you. I think some of these schools are need-aware because they know that it’s hard to verify int’l income, and often income/assets are not reported/under the table. In other words, the families are presenting as being needier than they really are.
Good luck, but you should probably expect to attend school in your country.
You are an international student from India. The elite schools on your list get tons of applicants from your region.
I think all of these schools are reaches for you.
You can’t afford the only school where you got accepted.
Some of the schools on your list are need aware for international students…meaning your ability to pay will be considered when your admissions is considered.
Is this a financial aid question?
If you do get accepted by any of these other schools, your full need will be met.
I hope you applied to a school in your country that is affordable, just in case one of these very competitive schools doesn’t work out for you.
Where you also have a HIGH probability of being accepted? The remaining schools on your list are extremely selective schools. They have thousands of applicants just like you who do not get accepted.
Yes I do have backup options here in my country. And I do know that my chances of getting admission in these schools are not that great but i have only applied to these schools because they can only offer me the most financial aid and furthermore are one of the best ranked and prestigious schools in the country.
Also i forgot to highlight in my stats that my intended major is in mathematics which i believe I am passionate about.
I also have great achievements in mathematics and have expressed my passion of mathematics in my essays.
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t all of these schools (except UIUC) need blind and will meet my full financial need?
I know that my EC’s like community sevice/volunteer probably affects my overall application but i believe my other aspects are equally as important and are somewhat in par with other top applicants(test scores, grades). Leaving aside HYPS, MIT, Caltech , do you believe I have some chance at other universities?
It is hard to tell with internationals because need is considered at some schools for internationals. All of your listed schools are difficult entries.
You are taking a major risk with those universities. You could wind up with no offers, especially as most universities are “need aware” for international students. The few that aren’t are very, very competitive. Your stats are very good but not extraordinary. Many international students with similar stats don’t get offers.
Guys I too am from India and i believe that his amazing SAT scores as well as academic achievements are in par with other top indian applicants. NTSE is actually quite a big deal as there are only 1000 students selected for this in a nation with a gazillion population. NTSE, over here, is one of the biggest achievements of a high school senior. Also he has given AP exams and performed well in them which most cbse applicants haven’t even heard of.
An NSTSE all india rank 1 in maths is also crazy.
On the other hand you don’t have extraordinary EC’s which is a bit disappointing but I believe you have a good chance at ’ some of these schools’ solely because of your academics and considering your essays went well.
Furthermore many loans are available today and if you do get admitted in any of these ‘need aware’ universities, you always have the opportunity of getting private loans.
Good Luck on your admissions!
Please don’t suggest loans. His parents earn $18,000 per year. That means he would be paying for his entire college experience-- tuition, room, board, books, transportation-- himself, aside from whatever aid he can get.
He has applied to a number of schools that don’t offer it, and/ or that are unlikely to accept him.
How can this possibly end well?
I shudder when I read of the loans that some of the kids on this forum anticipate. They’re planning to cripple their entire futures with loans that will take decades to repay.
The kids on this board tend to be very bright kids. I simply don’t understand how they can be so very shortsighted in this regard.