Chance me, pleasse... (I'll chance back)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>Hey guys, I've read the guide to chancing, and I know this isn't the best of thread, but still as an International, the process of US admissions is pretty intimidating and every advice is really helpful. BTW I'm applying for NEXT YEAR as in batch of 2015!</p>

<p>Nationality: Indian (I know... Asian.)
SAT 1: 2140 (730M 710CR 700W)
SAT 2: Math II: 760
Physics: 740
Chemistry:730
I am studying in a CBSE school, bot did my 9th from US (Minneapolis):
9th: 4.0 Rank 1 in a decently competitive public school.
10th: Got 94(M) 93(Science) 100(comp.) 80(English) 87(Social Studies) 85(Hindi).
11th: Percentage in CBSE school not so great but took the AP exams independently(self studied) and got:
AP Physics B: 5
AP Chemistry: 4
AP Calc BC: 5
These were the only AP's I could take as AP's are not offered in my school.
12th: Hopefully will get good marks...!</p>

<p>Awards:
School topper in 9th grade! (School)
Subject topper in Comp SCi. (National)
Hindi(language) Merit Certificate (National)
Blue Blazer for academic merit for 3 consecutive years(School)
Merit Certificate, National Informatics Olympiad(National)</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:
10m Air Pistol Shooting: Rank 5 in Delhi State(the capitol of India) in under 18 category.
Silver medal in Uttrakhand (A state in India) States.
National rank 42 but will Improve a lot this year! (I hope)
Animation: I am into 3D animation and have designed animated short films for school and for Non-profits, related to stopping child labor and harms of smoking.
Writing: I have written my own novel, inspired by my experiences in the United States, and it is due for publication next January.
Share trading: Got really inspired to understand the stock market in the time of recession, and to know what the hell a bull and a bear market were, so I started trading in stocks and analysing the market, with a motive to convert $2000 to 5 $10,000 in an year's time and it is going pretty well!!! (but just started out so...)
Still looking for a 5th Activity worth it... but if nothing comes up, I am infolved in MUN(Model United Nations)!</p>

<p>In Non-Scholastic awards, I haven't got much except shooting and some school awards :(
but I've still got time!
Volunteer Work: Have taught underprivileged children math in a poor neighborhood, but nothing major so far.
Recommendations: Physics teacher- Great
English- Amazing
and I think I'll send one in from my shooting coach Jaspal Rana, 2004 commonwealth games and Asian games gold medalist!</p>

<p>Essays: I think I can write pretty well, and I have some amazing experiences from the year I spent in Minneapolis!</p>

<p>Chances for:
MIT
Harvard
Princeton
UC Berkeley
UCLA
Stanford
Carnegie Mellon
Georgia Tech
U of Illinois </p>

<p>Thank you all for your time, and really sorry for such a long post!</p>

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<p>I’d say increase your SAT and SAT II’s for those top tier schools (MIT Harvard Stanford).
Unfortunately there are tons of smart indians and asians, I recommend a 2300+ on SAT I and at least one 800 on SAT II</p>

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<p>Well I guess I can say that I’m glad I’m not completely Asian. There’s really no pressure for me to prove to myself to everyone or do well simply for my parents’ sake.</p>

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<p>@Djokovic: Yup, thanks for the advice am gonna take SAT I again in December, not sure about the SAT II’s, but i’ve still got an year so maybe i’ll take them again in may.</p>

<p>@kemcab: Well being asian isn’t so much about proving anything to anyone, maybe in Korea it is!(They have 11 hours of school a day). But in India, It is more about doing something so that you aren’t just someone in a country of a billion people. For me, its about solving problems. Both my parents are officers in the Government of India, and I’ve seen the BS that goes around the country all day… dude 40% of Indian land is not under the direct control of the government, it is in control of Naxalites (Communists), and revolutionary factions like the Bodos, Ulfa and Mizo’s. Northern india is claimed by pakistan and the eastern by China… Besides, there is also the effect that a population of 1 billion brings with it… poverty, corruption, unemployment…
For me its about making a difference, and going to the US for education might be a good idea in that respect, that first I earn something, launch my own company, and when i have liquidity… its Politics for me!!!</p>

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<p>I was mainly referring to the motivation behind many Asian-American kids that I know, who are similarly motivated. I have no idea what goes on in India except that it’s become really turbulent due to rapid economic growth. I think that’s a good approach to problems. Changing the world isn’t really about just doing it one step at a time. It should also be about moving towards a general goal by first getting the means to do it and doing it while adapting to changing circumstances.</p>

<p>I have a firm belief that the proving ground of the 21st century is not going to be the United States. America may have the best education system but the real potential for new opportunities is going to be in India, China, Southeast Asia, and Africa. I don’t really mean anything dramatic by that, I just think that the United States may more or less fade into the backdrop of a more globalized and unified world. Until then we should make the best out of the best education we can get and use it.</p>

<p>Back on track, the international pool is usually very, very competitive compared to the national though. I can’t say for sure but I don’t really feel you should have a problem. You have a clear, defined purpose and that will definitely attract their attention more than a 2140 or 2300 SAT score.</p>

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<p>i mean, yes its true that the international pool is more competitive than the national. Think about it: In India, there are IITians that dont get into MIT but eventually come to US and end up somewhere in an ivy or MIT. Think though for a second. These people put it an as much effort as people studying for IIT. Do you? Also we are not just talking about India, I am talking about Korea, China, etc. There is brilliance everywhere. I am not saying you wont get it, I am just saying to consider this</p>

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<p>lol sorry i meant to say “there are IITians that dont get into IIT but eventually come to US and end up somewhere in an ivy or MIT”</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/784737-ea-mit-chance-me-i-return-favor.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/784737-ea-mit-chance-me-i-return-favor.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Raise your SAT Score (although the score you have currently is good for many higher tier schools.) </p>

<p>Your course load will hurt you unfortunately.</p>

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<p>@kemcab: Agree with you totally on ‘first getting the means to do it’!
WoW! It might be a more unified world. But I think america will still be on the top of it. Well America not being the economic superpower it is, i’m not qite sure… what I think will be the case is that for a while China will be the economic superpower, but ultimately… as the oil reserves of the world start to disappear, it will be the US who discovers/invents the alternative. Well it only makes sence as they are the only nation that is investing so much in research! Then they regain their position… since all of the nations you mentioned depent upon energy for their economic growth, besides, even after the phenominal economic growth, all of which is concentrated on less than 5% of the population in india and china, there are still the countries with the maximum number of people below the poverty line, so the first line of action for there countries should be education, as it is the only thing that can help the poor come above poverty. After that, these nations can think about becoming the proving grounds.</p>

<p>@SA-07: I probably do not understand (AT ALL) what you are asking me to consider! :s
Well there sure are alot of people that don’t get into IIT and then get into an ivy, but most of them go to the US for Masters (Grad) not under grad. As is the case, the Indian system is designed to create really efficient employees, who do not question. So, the US universities interpret their appoach as hard work and therefore admits them. Well they are hard working and are the best of employees, the ones going to US for grad, have a clear intention of staying there and making money. I personally have no plans for staying in the US for more than is necessary to complete education(If i get in!) and i’m definitely not interested in working there for a fat paycheck. So, if I go to the US it is for undergrad.</p>

<p>onhcetum: Thanks, but I did not get the part about course load…? Everyone in India who opts for science after 10th grade has the exact same courseload. No choice there, I self studied and took the AP’s (In a different city!).</p>

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<p>The US will undoubtedly remain at the top for a decade or two but I think that other countries will inevitably rise and compete with America technologically and economically. It will probably remain where it is but there won’t be any explosive growth that other countries are experiencing- which will close the gap between nations. Which I feel is a good thing, because it puts all countries on an equal level. Even if it were the United States that discovers or invents a possible alternative energy source, it won’t stay on top simply by monopolizing the energy industry. And even then who’s to say other nations won’t catch up to America?</p>

<p>India, China, and the rest of the developing world are growing but, I agree, they’re not there yet. But why I have faith in them is because of the immense potential these countries carry once economic and political obstacles are overcome. Same thing with Africa. America didn’t become wealthy overnight, and neither will the rest of the world, but it will happen at some point in our lives. Education is definitely the key to economic success, on an individual level as well as in the grand scheme of things. Innovation is the spearhead of progress.</p>

<p>The US will probably remain at the top but circumstances may change at some point. </p>

<p>I believe that the world should and will eventually collaborate as a whole instead of as individual states in order to respond to solutions to global crises and try to achieve a level of general economic parity. Ultimately that’s the most important thing.</p>

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<p>While countries may compete, and beat, America economically, which they kindof already are starting to do (dude you guys have a 800 billion $ trade deficit!)… I don’t think anyone is even coming close to beating America technologically, or in new research, but who knows, maybe after a decade or two…! And the way I see it, whosoever monopolizes energy… is pretty much staying on top.
And ya, the BRIC nations might beat US economically… but I still do not see these nations collaborating. And as far as globalcrisis are concerned, like global warming, China simply claims that US has caused it while using resources unjudiciously for their economic growth and now when its China’s turn, the US wants it to cut emmissions, hence cutting the economic growth!!!</p>

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<p>Well, maybe not, but wherever the money flows science and technology will surely follow. </p>

<p>Brazil, Russia, India, and China probably won’t work together, but one could always look at other countries as well. I’ve visited Istanbul, Turkey over the last few years and saw how it was changing. When my dad was growing up there, its population was around 2.5 million. When we went back it grew to 11 million and extends far beyond that which the eye can see.</p>

<p>I don’t think we’re ready for a fully global system yet or even a BRIC economic bloc, but I think smaller nations will gravitate towards systems like the European Union whereas larger nations like China and India will prosper on their own as they constitute around a third of the world’s population by themselves and contain vast resources.</p>

<p>As far as global warming goes, I think it’s going to be almost impossible to prevent the worst from happening. China aside, the rest of the developing world is not going to want America and Europe to interfere in their economic growth, which will probably continue for a while into the next century. We can plan for green technology but right now, that’s at best wishful thinking as it will take years to design and implement even if we do make a significant breakthrough.</p>

<p>I’m surprised that nuclear energy hasn’t made a comeback yet considering that it’s just as competitive as fossil fuel, if not more so, once you get past the initial capital costs, and that we can actually do something with the radioactive waste, unlike the CO2 we pump into the atmosphere with coal, oil, and natural gas.</p>

<p>Anyway, I wish you luck getting in. You have a much more impressive record than I do but then again, the international pool is a lot more competitive. It’s a similar situation for me if I wanted to apply to Oxford or Cambridge- spots for international students are relatively few and hard to get.</p>

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<p>Thanks, and best of luck to you too!
And lets just wait and see what the future holds for the world.</p>