Confused but determined

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey there...okay, I know the title I've given this post is totally cheesy, but really, I think it explains my situation here quite more concisely than I thought it would. I'm really confused about what to do about my education here, but at the same time I'm determined not to let the expectations and thoughtful silences get to me. So, here goes:
I'm a sixteen-year-old girl, and I'm an Indian. I studied in a convent school and am currently a student at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. I've made a decision to enroll in a school in the United States for my Liberal Arts degree, after which I'll most probably go for something in Economics or Law. But I'm confused about going about the whole thing. I guess I'm a sort of poster child for 'Novice and Really Needs to Know More' or something like that, but I'd really really like to hit the ground running with this thing.
Here's a list of questions I'd like to know the answers to:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Is it totally and one hundred percent true that most Ivy League colleges will prefer kids of rich parents and kids of glamorous families and/or famous parents? [I've heard this quite a lot of times and it's really dampening my spirit because I'm not a SINGLE one of them!]</p></li>
<li><p>When it comes to recommendations, do internships merit to a lot? And what proof do I give for extra-curriculars like participating in rallies and stuff? Also, if blogging extensively and writing articles for newspapers counts, how do I incorporate them effectively into my resume?</p></li>
<li><p>I need to stand out in my application, right? So when I get down to writing it, should I also go for something more digital like a video montage along with it?</p></li>
<li><p>How effective and conducive ARE the SATS????</p></li>
<li><p>What matters the most: SAT scores, recommendations or extra-curricular activities?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>HELP!</p>

2

<p>Www.EducationUSA.state.gov</p>

<p>Read through the website, and make an appointment with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. There are several in India.</p>

<p>You also will find useful information in the International Students Forum here. </p>

<p>Talk with your parents, and find out how much they can pay. It is very difficult for international students to get significant financial aid.</p>

<p>The single most important factor for admissions is your grades. Then ACT/SAT scores, then ECs. In fact many colleges and universities here don’t care about ECs at all.</p>

<p>The Ivies admit all kinds of students, you don’t have to be rich or have famous parents. You do need to have excellent grades, letters of recommendation, and exam scores to be even considered - and then as an international applicant you would have less than 5% chance of admission. This means that if your goal is an Ivy, your chances are not good (no one’s chances are good). However if your goal is simply to study in the US, there are many other options to look at.</p>

3

<p>Dear happymomof1, thanks a lot, especially for those last few lines, cos they really helped clear a misunderstanding in my mind. I guess the uncertainty of getting into an Ivy League school is universal. I can’t force myself to aim lower, but I can definitely think more realistically now. Thanks a lot again!</p>