<p>Hi,
I am Sriram from India - I desperately want to get a realistic estimate of my chances at Columbia or any othe Ivy with financial aid of $40000. I have listed my credentials. Do i have any chance what so ever?
SAT1 - 2100 (CR and writing -680, math-740)
SAT2 - 2380 (math level2 -800, Phy790, Chem -790)
I have secured 93% overall in my 12th board by CBSE with
95% aggregate in Physics Chemistry Maths. My marks in physics is 93%,
chemistry is 95% and maths is 97%.
In my 10th board exam conducted by CBSE I secured 95.4% aggregate
with 99%in maths and 95% in science. (don't know GPA as they don't give)
Always been in top 5% in every exam since Pre-kg (though absoulte marks get low many times)</p>
<p>These are my academic honors
International</p>
<p>International finalist and national winner in the Red Rover goes to
Mars Contest conducted by the Planetary Society in association with JPL (NASA), Pasadena , California .<br>
Team project An Optically controlled Wheelchair was accepted at an
international exhibition conducted by the Japan Institute of Innovation and Invention<br>
Submitted essay Is there ever a right Answer ? to the
Commonwealth International Essay Competition which was highly commended by the Royal Common wealth society
National
· National winner in the physics category in the Intel Science
Discovery Fair with the team project An Optically controlled
Wheelchair
· Through Intel got an opportunity to do a month long
internship at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad and was exposed to active
research in the country and did work in Gamma Ray Spectroscopy ( learnt
basics and took some measurements)
· My team project was selected to represent India at the Japan
Institute of Innovation and Invention through a national science fair
for the winners of different prestigious Science fairs in India
conducted at Homi Baba Science Center . My team project was nominated by Intel
for this competetion.
· In the International assessment exam conducted by the
University of New South Wales , I was placed at 99th percentile all India and
was awarded High Distinction in Science and Maths. I also got
Distinction in English
· In KVPY, a national science fellowship scheme by the Indian
government (Indian Institute of Science), I was selected for Interview
at the Indian Institute of Science after clearing a national level
competitive exam and was among the top 500 applicants interviewed
nationwide
(top 43 students from entire country were finally selected and I
didnt make it there)
· In the National Talent Search Examination conducted by the
Indian government, I was selected for interview after clearing the state
level and national level competitive exams.
· I was selected to appear for the Indian National Astronomy
Olympiad after clearing the National Standard Examination in
Astronomy(ie. Regional level )
· In the National Science Talent Search exams conducted by
Unified Council, I had consistently got top all India ranks in my 8th, 9th
and 10th.( below 200 in all three years)
State, City and School Level (these are the more promonent mentions)</p>
<p>In the Physics Olympiad conducted by the Indian Association of
Physics Teachers was placed in the top 1% in my state (Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry )<br>
Placed 2nd in Time Science Talent Search exam in Chennai city<br>
Placed 2nd in the state level astronomy talent search exam conducted
by the Tamil Nadu Center for Science Education in association with the
Birla Planetarium, Chennai<br>
Awarded All rounder award by my school from 4th -11th grades for
being good in academics and extracurriculars. In 12th , won the Best
Creative Writer award<br>
Was appointed the Maths Secretary by my school and was an active
member of the student government.</p>
<p>I was also a member of the Road Safety patrol and did 4 yrs of service to the RSP.
My reccos are strong and my essay is probably the best I have written so far.</p>
<p>However, Columbia is not need-blind for foreign students. They will award FA to the extent they determine need for those whom they do accept, but they are need-aware for these students.</p>
<p>i think this is definately an uphill battle. I dont think columbia would be very hard pressed to find another student from india with your stats who doesnt need the money.</p>
<p>OK - so i musn't be too hopeful then ???
So can anybody give me exact nos as to how many people get aid and to what extent ????
Is the slope of the uphill too steep what is its dy/dx any estimates???
How realistic are my chances???</p>
<p>Personally I feel your stats are very, very good. The only way you'll be able to find out is to apply, any opinions on this site can't really be relied upon.</p>
<p>that's fine - thanks - but anyway the thing i wanted to know was if i was competetive enough for a good fa given the majority of the pool - there is a realistic possibility that columbia may accept me with aid right???
Or is the money too big a factor (even with good stats)?
how does my resume compare with a typical international student's resume who get into the ivies - any idea- anyone?</p>
<p>With need-blind colleges, your need isn't a factor, with the others, well, I honestly can't tell you.
Your resume's very strong. What you need to do perhaps, is to show your love for your ECs in your essays, demonstrate why you do them, while showing other facets of who you are as well.</p>
<p>I commend you for all of your achievements, but I am pretty sure that what Columbia really wants to see in a student is passion rather than a list of achievements. So if you focus your essay on something you are very passionate about and you really put thought into your "why columbia" piece you will be fine. </p>
<p>It seems like youreally want to get into an ivy school, is that the only reason why Columbia even appeals to you? There's endless programs across the United States that arent offered in Ivy League schools that are truly remarkable.</p>
<p>Columbia is amazing but in order to get and stay in you need to actually like it for what the institution is and can offer you rather than just because it has been named and "Ivy".</p>
<p>NO ONE with a 2100 SAT "stands out" in the Columbia applicant pool. Columbia accepts students DESPITE such SATs, not BECAUSE of such SATs.</p>
<p>The long list of blah-blah-blah ECs is pretty typical of international students, which makes it hard for us (and adcoms) to sort out the "real" stuff from the fluffy-feel-good junk.</p>
<p>No, this student does NOT have very realistic shot at Columbia.</p>
<p>maybe true - anyway just giving it a shot i guess- for your information my native language is NOT english and don't know what might be a good score from india for SAT as obviously people with english as native language should score more and have different standards...
Anyway i guess you gotta point....though don't know if completely valid or correct.....</p>
<p>You wrote: "...but my native language is NOT english and thus can't totally be compared with an native english speaker..."</p>
<p>Well, actually, your SAT scores can and, indeed, most certainly WILL be compared with those of native English speakers. The comparison may not be to your advantage, and it could probably be argued that you could have done better had you been a native English speaker. And, so....? So what? </p>
<p>The POINT of an SAT score is that it provides a basis for comparison between and among students.</p>
<p>Maybe the adcom will mentally (or even as a matter of institutional policy) inch up your SAT verbal score due to your status as a non-native speaker. It's possible. But you will lose far, far more than such an incremental gain, by virtue of being an international applicant. Bottom-line result: Your status as a non-American, non-native-speaking applicant is a net negative.</p>
<p>And the rest of your stats/ECs as presented are just not very unusual. You asked if you would "stand out" as an applicant to Columbia. The honest answer to that (disappointing though it may be to you) is: No.</p>