I’ll keep this short and simple. I’m an international applying to colleges for admissions to the class of 2020. I want to know whether I stand a good shot at all the colleges on my list currently.
SAT: 2200 (710 CR, 720 M, 770 W) (11 E) - retaking it in November for boosting the math score. Perfect scores in math and physics subject tests.
Grades: All 90%+ throughout the schooling years. It easily puts me in the top 1%
ECs: Research, Sports, Volunteering and Student Body.
I have published research (in math) multiple times and am in the running for a very prestigious award. I am also a multi sport athlete and have captained both my school’s soccer team as well as my school’s basketball team. I am also the founder and the head of a very important national organisation (we have been commended by the president of our country for it). I am the head boy of my school and I also am the president of the math and the computer clubs of my school. I have reached the national levels of the maths and informatics olympiad
I do not need financial aid at all. Repeat, I can (my family can) bear the entire cost of college.
My current college list is as follows: Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, MIT, Stanford, NYU - Stern, Wharton, Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon MCS, Harvey Mudd, UCB/LA/SD, UChicago, UIUC and Duke.
Please let me know whether I stand a realistic shot of getting into these colleges. Also, how much difference would a 2300 make over a 2200? I’m fairly certain of getting a perfect score on the math section and also improving CR by 20 - 30 points when I retake it in November.
I think you’re into Georgia Tech, YOU, UCB, UCSD, and Carnegie Mellon for sure.
It’s hard to tell for other schools though, they’re very selective.
What country are you from? That can play a considerable role in your chances.
Being from India will put you at a significant disadvantage. The reason is that MANY highly qualified Indians apply each other (both from India and NRIs). Colleges have to limit the number of Indian acceptances as too many apply. But I think you have a decent chance nevertheless. MIT, Cornell, and Columbia are so competitve that it’s hard even for stellar applicants to gain admission. But you have a good range of backup schools to attend if you don’t get into a top tier college.
I’m sure you’ll get into at least some of the schools you listed.
Best of luck
Not so sure for most of the schools that outlooker thought to be for sure. I know an in state student with better stat got waitlisted by UCB but admitted a couple weeks ago finally. Chance at UCSD is higher though.
SAT 2300 does give you a boost over 2200 at all these schools.
helloo! first of all, I would like to state that your extracurriculars sound phenomenal - all those leadership positions show that you are committed to whatever projects you take on. However, the ivies should all be considered reaches, as there really is no certainty of getting in. As for your SAT score, if you could get it to a 2300 or even higher, that would be awesome! It will be harder for you to get into the ivies since you are an international student, so I would also look at some lower tier colleges (but nevertheless top-ranking ones) such as Georgetown, Tufts, Notre Dame, Wash U, or also Northwestern. Good luck with everything in the future!!
You’ll get in UCSD LA and maybe Berkeley. You’ll get in Harvey mudd and nyu. The rest is unclear.
*I’m just guessing like a magic 8 ball. But honestly, no one in the world can predict admissions to Harvard, except maybe the Dean and admissions officers. You have a real chance. How high? Depend. What journal, what essay, whether u do win the award etc. Unless you are first in the world in multiple disciplines, it is hard to be sure of admissions into ivies (I said multiple bc there are firsts who don’t get in. If you are the best at everything ever invented, I would say there is a pretty decent confidence
@andyis Thanks for replying. Wow, never knew that Harvey Mudd was easier than Berkeley L&S
To answer your questions, the journals are ranked in the top 5 for the respective fields (bar one, which was published in a non descript journal). One of my work is also currently under review at a top 3 math journal. I am the first author on that study. The first stage results of the competition will be out in July.
Honestly tho, you probably stand a chance as anyone. However, that means you should nail your essay and whatever you can do now. Also I think Berkeley has a slightly lower acceptance rate, but it and Harvey mudd are really quite different (LAC vs public)
@andyis Thanks. I have already started working on my essays. As for the LAC v. public thing, I would be willing to forego my preference of a LAC if I get into a college with a really strong math program like Berkeley