<p>Hi, I am an international applicant from India and am applying for financial aid. This is very, very stupid but I am incredibly nervous and would appreciate it if someone could chance me.</p>
<p>Received a full scholarship to study at Raffles Institution, Singapore at the age of 13.
GCE A-Levels: Perfect score, with a distinction in Modern Physics
SAT: 800(M), 750(R), 680 (w)
SAT II: 800(Math II), 800(Physics), 800(Chemistry)</p>
<p>ECs:
- President of Raffles Entrepreneurs' Network 08-09. Spearheaded ventures that yielded a revenue of USD 24000 and profits of USD 15000 in one year.
- Spearheaded fundraisers and social programs that resulted in education being sponsored for an entire village in India, raised funds for homeless children in Cambodia and allowed autistic children to integrate into the mainstream society, among other things. A total of more than 2500 volunteers/donors were engaged.
- Awards: Four international awards, six national. All pertaining to entrepreneurship.
- Traveled to Brazil and Indonesia for competitions, forums and leadership camps. Organized and took part in camps pertaining to business and social issues in Singapore.
- Was awarded the title of Mr. Personality 2008 at my boarding school consisting of more than 500 members.</p>
<p>Other random stuff:
- Play the electric guitar. Play amateur soccer and tennis.
- Have been in a committed relationship for 5 years (probably irrelevant, felt like putting it down nonetheless)
- Grew up in an environment where I had to study under a kerosene lamp because of financial difficulties.
- Have been working on creating a Social Innovation Center at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.</p>
<p>I'm insanely nervous about the results. Anyone else feeling butterflies in their stomach?</p>
<p>1) It doesn’t matter if you applied for financial aid.</p>
<p>2) You have the grades, but what makes you better than everyone else? Why accept you and not the person who’s application is reviewed right after yours? Think about that.</p>
<p>I was just asking. The OP seems to have penchant for business/entrepreneurship, though. He/She does, however, need to stand out through the essay, as well. It’s one thing to list accomplishments; another to actually showcase how these things have improved/ affected him/her.</p>
<p>Thank you for your replies. What makes me stand out? I guess that is, to a large extent, a very subjective question. But compared to the vast majority of Harvard applicants, I might have a different perspective on life, love and work.</p>
<p>I have seen my father work as a blue-collar worker in the Indian post office. He starting salary was USD40 a month, well below the UN poverty line. My mother started out as a primary school teacher. We lived in a cramped one room flat for three years. No electricity, no bed, no fans.
But my parents worked really hard, my father is now the Head (Quality) in the Indian branch of an American multinational; my mother is now the vice-principal of an esteemed school. The work ethic my family imbued in me has continued to serve me well. In spite of financial difficulties and a dearth of resources, I was amongst the top students in my school in India (I do hope I do not sound like a narcissist xD). But I saw the starkest things in life. Two of my cousins committed suicide due to the pressures they faced; my grandfather died because we could not afford the medicines to cure his disease. These things inspired me to change people’s lives for the better. And that, in essence, is what drove me to social entrepreneurship. I have been sleeping for four hours a day for the past two years, trying to desperately juggle my projects, social life and academics (though I haven’t been entirely successful in the latter xD).</p>
<p>The point I’m trying to make, is that I want to change lives around the world and am willing to work hard for it. I believe social innovation, coupled with free market forces, is THE way to change the world. I do not know for sure how the things I have done have affected me. But I do know that I embarked on them 'cause I am deeply affected by the human misery, and motivated by a desire to reduce it.</p>
<p>I apologize for the long post. Guess I got carried away while posting this xD I wish both of you the best of luck for you application!</p>
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