<p>I have been wondering this for a long time. When applying to a college (top 25 college especially), if say a person from an english speaking country such as Australia, New Zealand or the UK, Ireland has a better chance of being admitted to college than someone from a country such as India or somewhere in Asia. I have a hunch that this is true due to the large number of academically qualified Indian and asian students being rejected from these top universities and their place effectively given to someone less qualified than them. I understand that admissions to top universities is more about personal character than perfect academics (a high standard is still required). And was wondering if the admission guys like english speakers more than non english speakers???</p>
<p>Does anyone whant to shed any light onto this issue? Does nationality matter?</p>
<p>I am not sure if it's the fact that the person speaks english or the fact that the US universities would only recieve a very small amount of applicants from the UK, Ireland and Australia (I guess because these countries have very prestigious universities and locals can go to these uni's for a lot less money than going to the USA) while on the other hand they will receive loads of applicants from Asia. Therefore they may choose people from these countries to add some diversity over an Asian person whit better results. This is especially true on undergraduate degrees. </p>
<p>Larry_Berger, Actually thats not how it works. The number of acceptees is usually proportional to the no. of applicants from the country. But, If your from a country that contributes VERY less to the univ's class, then your chances are slightly higher. The large no. of rejections from India and Other asian countries u describe is primarily due to a.)Overwhelmingly Large no. of applicants, so obviously even if a sizable no. are accepted, there would be large no. of rejections b.)Need for financial aid as opposed to less needed by the students from the other countries you describe, which to certain extent has a bearing on your chances.</p>
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The number of acceptees is usually proportional to the no. of applicants from the country.
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<p>That's true only for schools for Cornell where the acceptance rate for Rafflesians is like 50 something percent? Whereas for schools like HYP, Amherst, Williams... they take in at most four students from your country?</p>
not true....in the year 2006, princeton accepted only one indian...in year 2005, princeton accepted 3 indians while they accepted more than 6 romanians. i highly doubt that more romanians applied than indians. So, according to me, many unis set quotas for each country/region.</p>
<p>no Cornell doesn't accept 50% of Rafflesians, it accepts 50% of those Rafflesians who applied (though that's a significant number anyway)! and of course they do accept students from other schools as well...</p>
<p>Nationality doesnt make a difference at all. It's where you graduate from that makes a difference. I am a Norwegian citizen and did my first 12 years of school in Norway. I then moved to S. Korea where I did my last two years of school, and later moved back to Norway for a gap year in which I applied to schools in the States. And guess what...I was considered a Korean applicant! There went my chances...Norway is thoroughly underrepped at colleges, whereas the korean int'l pool is ridiculously competitive...more competitive than most int'l pools. I was told this by and admissions officer to one of the colleges I applied to btw.</p>
<p>"Are Switzerland or Thailand considered underrepresented countries?"</p>
<p>As to that question, I can not tell if they are considered "underrepresented" countries. However, I am from Switzerland, and I got into four out of six of the schools I applied to and was wait-listed by the fifth (I will go to Wellesley). What I also know is that there are very few Swiss who apply to college in the US; at my high school, I was the first in twenty years to do that.</p>
<p>"What I also know is that there are very few Swiss who apply to college in the US; at my high school, I was the first in twenty years to do that"</p>
<p>that means they're under represented...right?</p>