<p>Hey CC,</p>
<p>Over the past few days, I've been scouring the College Confidential threads, and have found the posts to be pretty useful (contrary to my seniors, who advised me to not waste my time on the forums like they did - though both of them got accepted to CMU, GATech and UCLA). So, firstly, thank you for that. </p>
<p>Okay, now getting to the point:</p>
<p>I'm a Grade 11 student at New Delhi, India (international applicant) I will be applying to colleges in 2014 (Class of 2018).
I wanted to get some advice on where I stand and more importantly, what I could do to improve my chances for admission. </p>
<p>Academic Profile:</p>
<p>Mostly, straight A1s, some A2s on my class 9 and 10 reports, with rare B+s (Which are probably for missing the summer project deadlines or something - CCE sucks).</p>
<p>9.4 GPA in both Class 9 and 10. (I know it isn't the best, but I was involved in a lot of other activities which should make up for this)</p>
<p>2150 on SAT (almost without prep) currently, taking it again in October, expecting 2250+</p>
<p>Now for the ECs:</p>
<p>I have professionally designed websites for many Indian and international clients, including startups and independent businesses.</p>
<p>I've designed, coded and developed a technology for QR-code identification. Developed and contributed to several open-source projects. Recently started an Android application business with two others.</p>
<p>I have co-founded a startup out of this technology (Incidentally, my partner is a graduate from Cornell)</p>
<p>I have also recently started (co-founded) another education-based startup, we're currently on a pilot project with Pearson.</p>
<p>I've participated and won in a lot of IT competitions in high school. Also participated and won in some writing competitions, and have a commendation for MUN.</p>
<p>I head and teach the web-design team at my school's IT Club. I'm also one of the founding members of the club. Also a member of the business club. Write a column in the school magazine, thus part of the editorial board.</p>
<p>100+ hours of social service, and I'm also volunteering for a Red Cross project.</p>
<p>Won a Microsoft app-design competition, registered WP developer.</p>
<p>Finalist at Texas Instruments' TI-Nspire competition.</p>
<p>I play the guitar, I've been a part of three bands at school. (I'm thinking of taking a grade exam to make it tangible)</p>
<p>I play tennis, soccer, and table tennis. I also swim. - Sports may be an area I need to work on, since I don't have any distinctions as such. Maybe I will try to diversify in breadth and not depth.</p>
<p>I'm considering the following universities (the first 5 being the only ones which offer need-blind financial aid to international students):</p>
<p>MIT
Harvard
Princeton
Yale
Dartmouth
Cornell
CMU
Georgia Institute of Technology
UCLA
UC Berkeley
Stanford</p>
<p>I will be asking for financial aid. It is important, though not absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>What can I do to improve my chances? I know that I'm applying to the most selective colleges, so I want to make sure that I give them my best shot. (I'm also enrolled in coaching classes for IIT, by the way :P). How hard is it to get a merit-based scholarship once I am in one of these colleges?</p>