<p>Hey guys! I'm new to this forum. I'm an international student from India and I've applied to MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Cornell, Drexel, Carnegie Mellon, 5 UCs, UMich and Harvard.</p>
<p>My SATs:</p>
<p>Physics - 800/800
Math 2 - 750/800
Math 1 - 730/800
TOEFL - 107/120</p>
<p>I captain my school's basketball team and have given concerts of which one has been aired on TV. I've designed a new form of a motor that is more efficient and has a very high power output. Won many robotics competitions and music competitions alike. Volunteered in many places and have gone for about 15 treks. And lots of other extracurricular activities. My passions are Physics and Music. But my grades aren't upto the mark. This is owed to the fact that I study in CBSE and my school doesn't award marks very generously. I also went for IITJEE training where we are trained to clear IITJEE; one of the toughest exams in the world. I had to work on my research as well. So because of bad time management, I wasn't able to give a lot of attention to my school. I regret that now though. </p>
<p>My SAT 1 is also very low. 1930.</p>
<p>Math - 720 (Pretty low)
Critical reading - 560 (Not an ounce of preparation)
Writing - 620 (Screwed up the essay. Only got 6/12 and 5 questions wrong)</p>
<p>These pathetic scores are because I hardly had any time for preparation. Yes, it may be looked at as an excuse, but hey, that's the truth. I also don't have time to prepare for any upcoming SAT as I need to focus on my board exams. So, taking another SAT is out of the question. </p>
<p>I have great letters of recommendations from my Physics and English teachers and guidance counselor.
So what are the chances of my acceptance into the colleges I've said?</p>
<p>Your ECs seem to be WOW! Though ur scores in 11th grade are bad, do not worry, u’ve got nice marks in SAT2. But again you or your counselor can indicate that the courses you took are hard! And if you are doubting because of your SAT scores, I have seen people who have attended those colleges with even a lower mark than that. So, be cool! :)</p>
<p>You shouldn’t have posted a chances thread - you are bound to be disappointed. You’ve already applied & you can’t change much!!</p>
<p>Yet, my inexperienced observation is this. You’re SAT scores are TOO low to be competitive for all the colleges you have listed (except Drexel & UC’s other than UCLA & UCB).</p>
<p>Now I’m assuming that you aren’t applying for finaid.</p>
<p>You said you are the captain of your school’s basketball team, are you hoping to be recruited? Do remember that level of basketball in India is nowhere compared to the level of football. Also have you played for state teams??</p>
<p>^ If yes, it might help overshadow the low SAT 1 of yours.</p>
<p>Also, did you send in an arts supplement? (Inferring that you play an instrument/sing - from your EC activity of being in a “Concert”)
And is it a major passion of yours? Was it aired on national television and what was the context of the concert??</p>
<p>And are any of your robotics competitions national/international/state level??</p>
<p>Answer these questions and I’ll chance you properly!! :)</p>
<p>P.S. The marks are something that is common with almost all Indian ISC/CBSE applicants but as my friend’s Harvard Interviewer(also from India) told him - A good student is expected to be clear about what he wants to do and manage his/her time. :)</p>
<p>I am an Indian student applying for financial aid. </p>
<p>My SAT I: 2150 (M: 780, CR: 670,W: 700)
SAT II: Physics: 790
Math 2: 800</p>
<p>ECs: Low.
President of the school Science Club, represented my school at programming Olympiads, MUNs,
I have also written a code for a model facebook app, that uses the Facebook API for Java.</p>
<p>Academics: Stellar.
I am from an ISC school so all my scores are on 100. I am a science student.
Physics, Chemistry, Computer, Math: all 90s, every year from the 9th to the 12th grade.
Won awards in the 10th and 11th grade.</p>
<p>Recommendations: Excellent.
All my teachers like me.</p>
<p>Essays: Excellent.
I had asked 4/5 strangers to read my essays. They all loved them (unbiased opinions).</p>
<p>I will be applying for CS majors.</p>
<p>I have applied to the following schools:</p>
<p>1) Colgate (ED 2)
2) Drexel
3) Northwestern
4) Harvey Mudd College
5) Wooster
6) Princeton (taking a long shot here)
7) Amherst
8) Washington University in St. Louis</p>
<p>I am in desperate need of aid, 50% or more.</p>
<p>Hey rishav! Thanks for the reply.
I do agree with whatever you say. I played basketball only in my school’s team. And no, I really don’t intend to be recruited. My performance was relayed on a ‘national television’ per se. However it also was broadcast in the US. So I really don’t know if I should be saying it is ‘national’ or ‘international’ because US is the only other country apart from India where it was broadcast. By the way, the music that I am referring to here is South Indian Classical music. So, submitting an arts supplement wouldn’t have been really relevant for me because from what I understand, the music program offered by Harvard has nothing to do with my chosen genre of music. Hence, I didn’t submit an arts supplement. But here’s the youtube link if you want:</p>
<p>^ Someone once told me on a chances post. You never know unless you apply!!
You never know what the adcoms like about your application!! You may offer something which they need in the student body!! Though your chances are very low, they are so for almost everybody.</p>
<p>I’d say Drexel, UCD, UCSD are low matches for you!! CMU & UMich might still be within reach. Cornell, Harvard, MIT are high high reaches!! :)</p>
<p>Well, I sent in an arts supplement to Dartmouth even though I won’t be majoring/minoring in it as Dartmouth is open to accepting arts supplement as an additional application material. You should have checked out with all your universities!!</p>
<p>And the music thing is probably your +point!! I would have portrayed that more!!</p>
<p>I’m sure you are focused, just pointing out that Admissions officers really don’t see IITJEE prep or anything similar as a genuine hindrance to academic achievement!! And well I’m sure my marks are equally bad!!</p>
<p>Ohh and you do know that the UCs, CMU & UMich have no aid for International students, don’t you??</p>
<p>You should not hijack someone else’s chances post. Start a new post! </p>
<p>1) Colgate (ED 2) - High Match
2) Drexel - Low Match
3) Northwestern - High Match
4) Harvey Mudd College - Reach
5) Wooster - Don’t know
6) Princeton (taking a long shot here) - High Reach
7) Amherst - Reach
8) Washington University in St. Louis - Match</p>
<p>Thank you Rishav17. The paranoia over admissions is killing me. Needed some reassurance. Sorry for barging into this thread.</p>
<p>sadagops:your chances looks great, though I would recommend you try to take the SAT/ACT again. I had applied ED to Cornell, and I got rejected. Its really competitive there, so dont get your hopes high for that one.</p>
<p>The reason that I’ve applied only to top tier colleges is because of the following reason:
If I were to spend 1 crore on my undergraduate education, I’d rather do it in one of the best in the US rather than ‘any’. So, that’s why I’ve chosen to apply to all the tier 1 colleges. And btw, I’ve applied to UCB, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD and UCSC. How good are UCSB and UCSC?</p>
<p>In fact, I would suggest you try to make a new robotics project/improve one that you already have. Work on it for a few weeks and send in details of that to the admissions of the various colleges. They love that stuff. Ask them how to send in such things and try to send that in by mid Feb. It will have this effect on the admissions officers known as the Failed Simulation Effect. Read up on it. And try to work on something. I know that you dont have much time, but try to power through for this last stretch. Give it your best shot.</p>
<p>Infact, one of the other reasons I didn’t do my 11th very well and struggling a bit with my 12th is because the CBSE system doesn’t allow its students to select the subjects they want to study. I’m horrible at chemistry as I really can’t learn things by rote and prefer studying a subject that is more analytical such as physics. Since I had to atleast pass in my chemistry tests, a lot of time was devoted to it which resulted in reduced time dedicated to other subjects. This is one of the MAIN reasons why I sort of flopped my 11th.</p>
<p>^ Well you can’t do much now. Try and concentrate on something else!!</p>
<p>Even though I am SO SO eager for decision time, I have somehow got it into my mind that my main aim is ISC Boards and that any other good news is a bonus!! :)</p>
<p>Is it possible for me to take the ap exams now? I just read up a bit on it and looks like the scores will be out only by july. However, the admissions decisions will be out by march end itself right? So would it be sensible to enroll for the exam now?</p>
<p>APs don’t really help admissions. Most colleges use AP to give admitted students college credit while others use it as another proof of academic quality. However, it cannot cover your school grades. Also, since you won’t have any scores available soon - don’t sign up for AP exams just to boost your app!!</p>
<p>And amazing to see so many Indians apply to Drexel this year!! I am suddenly feeling that Drexel is no more a safety for me!!
Getting rejected from Drexel will b my biggest insult!! :D</p>
