<p>With the Jan deadlines nearing... I was a bit curious to know the chances I have at getting into Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern, Princeton & U Penn with the following scores/achievements --</p>
<p>SAT (single sitting) -- 2180 (R-650/W-730/M-800). Have taken it again in Dec... will positively get 700 + in reading!
SAT II -- Math II 780, Physics 760
GPA/Percentage -- 85% avg ( Indian schools rarely give marks + ISC board is one of the toughest) and a class rank varying from 1st to 5th out of 100. 94% in 10th std boards.
Also have an electives in electronics at school (something I want to major in) and am the class topper in the subject.
EC's -- Outstanding delegate at Harvard MUN India, other delegate awards at various inter school MUNs, Was on the ExecBoard of my school's first inter school MUN.
-- Event Head and organizer of school's science fair
-- School Basketball, football and cricket teams. ( Selected to play district football for Hyderabad and captained the U-15 basketball team in 10th to 3rd at a state tournament)
-- School debate team, quiz team....won various inter school competitions
-- School House sports captain and literary competitions incharge
-- School Prefect in std.10
-- 10th Board Subject topper award (School/State/Country??) ... I got a 100 in E.ed.
-- 9-12th School Academic Merit award
-- Have gotten good teacher recs(especially from physics teacher) and written quite strong essays ( not the wordy types though).
-- Volunteer work.. NCC (National Cadet Corps) in 9th and 10th... and NSS (National Service Scheme) in 11th & 12th ....mainly visiting orphanages, cleaning up neighbourhoods,etc.</p>
<p>Additional Info :- I am an international applicant(Indian) and a major reason I've chosen these univ is that I need financial aid!! </p>
<p>Would love to hear some honest replies as to what my chances are and any last minute tips for the common app are welcome!!! Please reply.... Not many people I know have applied prev to these univ or any univ in the US at all... so I have no real idea!!
Thanks!! :)</p>
<p>@ Johnb45The way I look at it… I’d study in the USA only if i get into a top university with a well balanced curriculum in my field of interest i.e Engineering… these universities that I have chosen meet that criteria and plus are the ones which give financial aid…so I have chosen them!! I pointed out i need aid…because isnt it that admissions are need aware for Intn’l students??</p>
<p>Anyway thanks for the reply! … So should I go ahead and apply to them?? I do agree that Northwestern’s by best chance though!!</p>
<p>If you were American I would say you have an average chance. However, I do not think, as an American you would be considered an academic star. I believe that is what the colleges are looking for, unless you were bringing a boat load of money. As an international, you will be competing against some very talented Indians.</p>
<p>@perazziman … Thanks for the reply! But the fact that I’m in India and studying the Indian curriculum itself prevents me from being an academic star as schools here give us lower scores in a deliberate attempt to scare students and make us work 24x7 for our final board exams ( which is all people care about here in India)!! Which is why even though my class rank keeps varying in the top 5%, my marks aint that great!! Yet I do agree I have a high level of competition!!
Anyway all I need to know is whether it is worth applying and whether I actually have a shot!! Also are there any alternate universities you can think of?? Which offer aid??</p>
<p>^Since chances of getting into these schools are higher if you apply than not apply, I would say, apply. However, I would also apply to some LACs for Physics or something other than engineering. One can always switch to engineering at the Graduate School level.</p>
<p>Thanks anyway… though a bit discouraging… It’ll at least help me shift my focus to the local engineering exams in India!! And I’ll go ahead with my applications…but I’ll keep my feet on the ground. And I’m not to keen to study physics especially at a liberal arts college.</p>
<p>^Most of the time admitted students from India have won national and international championships and competitions in math and science alongwith tremendous standardized test scores and class grades. There is an Indian forum on cc where you could ask some other members about setting realistic expectations too. good luck.</p>
<p>Ohh… Just stumbled upon that anyway!! Thanks alot!!!
Ohh BTW… does my HMUN outsanding delegate and other MUN awards & experiences count as a major award and can it influence admission decisions??</p>
<p>^Certainly, it will help the marginal candidate, but if it is not related to math and science it will not make you an academic star in engineering. (in my opinion)</p>