<p>Am not even considering MIT…does anyone know if places like Duke/Georgetown/Northwestern understand the Indian system etc???</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>North Carolina international admission is at least as tough as Duke. But why would you put money aside?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There’s no way anyone outside the admissions office would know this for sure. Basically, if there are a lot of Indians at the school, then you could be reasonably sure that they understand it.</p>
<p>They do know that students who do well in the external examinations are equally capable of doing well in the boards. I’m being completely honest here. </p>
<p>Duke, Northwestern, etc. etc. is really difficult to get into. Try your luck, you might get in especially with your amazing SAT score.</p>
<p>I’d suggest you to look at the Common Data Sets for each university and base your application list mainly on the ones which “highly consider” standardized test scores.</p>
<p>fair point Bluebox…</p>
<p>@aniruddhc - what exactly does the first sentence mean??? That colleges might see me as “smart enough but lazy person” and hence throw me out??</p>
<p>And forgive my ignorance - what are “Common Data Sets”??</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/76444-links-common-data-sets-posted-colleges-4.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/76444-links-common-data-sets-posted-colleges-4.html</a></p>
<p>Blue coloured box,thanks a lot for that!!!It’s nice to have a list I can refer to instead of having to search on each school’s website :)</p>
<p>The list is slightly outdated. Just Google: “College name” Common Data Set.</p>
<p>Oh,then I’ll do that.Someone told me that the ‘importance of demonstrated interest’ to the college is also given in the CDS.Is that correct?I couldn’t see it anywhere.</p>
<p>Yes, it should be there.</p>
<p>Anyone can fake demonstrated interest na?</p>
<p>My profile is almost similar to yours.
Interest in CS.
Taking a gap year for SAT and JEE.
Except that I scored slightly higher in boards ( CBSE ) but not very high ( coz of JEE ) but I don’t have those many science related ECs.</p>
<p>Do you have any ECs to show that utilised your gap year productively ?
And
Why not apply to GTech ?</p>
<p>Thanks Blue Box</p>
<p>@ivycollege - I do not have EC’s right now to show how I’ve used my gap year - I have been doing stuff, but showing evidence will be possible only in November earliest. I’m pretty sure GTech is a reach for me, but it does’nt offer financial aid at all - and scholarships - dunno. I have to think about GTech and places like UIUC, UM@AA etc.</p>
<p>One more question people - does context matter?? I mean, I know for a fact that my Inter marks are the 11th best in my college of 89 students. Does that matter??</p>
<p>Then your college is either made of idiots, or all of them were fixed on JEE. Either way, your rank does make a bit of difference. Alongwith your SAT, it makes up quite a bit for your otherwise deficient marks. </p>
<p>and why Duke?? if u really want a top school, try UPenn. As far as I know, Duke is more selective than UPenn. U stand a chance at UPenn if u apply ED and your essay is solid (plus some luck). Duke is otherwise a very high reach - despite your SAT. Even Cornell has a 30-35% acceptance rate under ED. Duke is barely 20-25% (under ED). Northwestern is prob your best shot - and it is a very good place. </p>
<p>Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>Since he studied for the JEE, I assume he wants to do engineering. UPenn is not good for engineering.</p>
<p>Umm, Duke and Northwestern are almost impossible with aid. Penn usually has more Indians on aid… That said, all 3 colleges are high reaches.</p>
<p>Also Georgetown for engineering?!?</p>
<p>@blue_box - UPenn not at all worth it for engg??? surely its decent…prob the best shot with this profile anyway…</p>
<p>@prateek92 - would ED actually make a difference??</p>
<p>and Duke is need-blind I guess…so applying for aid will not damage his chances…Northwestern is need-aware though…no idea abt UPenn…</p>
<p>and what’s the criteria for scholarships for Indians?? from private sources as well as college sources??</p>
<p>^Duke is not need blind for internationals.See here <a href=“http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply_international.html[/url]”>http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/apply_international.html</a>
It mentions only limited ie 20-25 forign nationals.
Also,Most good schools do not have merit scholarships.</p>
<p>but Duke guarantees to meet full demonstrated aid for those limited intl students…that’s not bad…besides, the amount of aid you need does not make a diff…better chance at Duke for aid then other need-aware places, like Johns Hopkins/Northwestern - there they even consider the amount of aid needed…</p>
<p>and scholarships from private sources???</p>
<p>I reiterate that it is not need blind.</p>