<p>Hi. My family's annual income is about ~30K USD. It's not very low by Indian standards, since the president of the country falls int he >60,000 bracket.
It's, however, low by US colleges' standards.
I am applying ED to Cornell, and will be asking for aid. I know they are need-blind for intl' but don't promise to meet full aid.</p>
<p>This is a little 'subjective' question, and there is no exact answer to this, but I think you guys can give me a general estimation: *What's the ballpark SAT score required for a kid in my situation, with good ECs and very good high school scores? *</p>
<p>I know the application process is very "holistic", and SAT is not the only criterion, but still it'd be great if you'd weigh in. </p>
<p>Thanks guys.</p>
<p>The competition among Indian students needing aid is brutal. I’d shoot for 2300 plus.</p>
<p>I agree with Redroses. In addition, the school will be looking for some special hook.</p>
<ol>
<li>Right thanks!</li>
</ol>
<p>Enough of forum work now. It’s time to act upon all the advice I’ve got. </p>
<p>Thanks again the both of you!</p>
<p>Oh and hook yeah. Tell me if this can be considered a hook. I along with 4 friends of mine, made a Music Album and released it in the city. It consists of about 10 songs, all originals. We made 2000 copies, using pocket money, and money from garage sale. Spent nearly 40+ hours on each song including mixing, recording, editing and the works.Self made project. All copies were sold, and we are printing new ones. We all did this along with managing high school stuff, and managed to top in our classes. Hmm, and I am planning to send the songs to whichever college possible. The profit we’ve made, half of its been donated to Satya - an organizition helping autisitc people. we really put our heart and soul in the Album- Album artwork, printing, cover design, everything… :)</p>
<p>I hope that’s what a hook is? Or is it only being a URM/legacy/staff kid/celebrity/celebrity kid/athlete?</p>
<p>That’s not a hook, you do have right what hooks are with recruited athlete by far being the biggest.</p>
<p>Oh, I didn’t know I that. I had read lots of forums and threads and websites. Here’s one I found.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-chances/609568-what-hook.html?highlight=hook[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-chances/609568-what-hook.html?highlight=hook</a></p>
<p>It says being an award-winning musician is a hook. I have won awards, city-wide, and nation-wide for my keyboard and music arrangement. And the tracks I will send will speak for themselves.
Still not a hook? </p>
<p>Oh and I almost forgot. My mother, all her three sisters, and brother went to study at Columbia University. My mother couldn’t graduate since she had to urgently return back to India because of an emergency. She had to leave in the middle of her last year. But all my aunts and my uncle graduated. Is this in a way a hook? Not a strong one, but a hook nonetheless? </p>
<p>I am sorry if my idea of a hook is at a tangent to the real meaning of it. :|</p>
<p>Would you suggest that I apply to Columbia for ED, rather than Cornell.
There are some pros and cons for both. Cornell is need-blind but is very stingy with aid, Columbia isn’t need-blind, but if admitted, is generous with aid. Cornell has a better acceptance rate ~30% compared to Columbia’s abysmal ~19%. My relatives are from Columbia, none from Cornell. </p>
<p>I don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>Columbia has under a 10% admit rate, far lower for internationals needing aid. ED only looks higher because of those with true hooks. Only a parent who graduated makes you a hooked legacy unfortunately. Both schools have precious little aid for internationals. Give them a try but understand they will each take a handful of superstars from India each year.</p>
<p>Terrific. Is it worth getting into Columbia/GAtech with no aid, and taking loans? Is the degree from these top colleges worthwhile? My friend at Cornell tells me that going to one of the best colleges in the world is an investment. He took loans too, didn’t get aid.</p>
<p>No. First, without US cosigners, getting significant loans is impossible. If you can get the loans, how will you pay them back on an Indian salary?</p>
<p>Hopefully, post-graduation I am assuming I shall get a decent job at the US itself, and will work there for a few years before coming back to India. The average starting salary of an industrial engineer is ~60K. This is the median value for the national average income of the work force. I’m assuming if you graduate from one of the top 10 colleges for the course, you’ll be getting a little more than the average, I should hope. After all, there are thousands of colleges in the US, and not all are remarkable for their engineering courses.
Moreover, you don’t have to pay back the loan immediately right? The process is spread over a period of time.
But all of this is in theory. I’m sure you will provide me with a more practical viewpoint.</p>
<p>
I’m sensing a little contempt/ignorance there. My parents’ income is ‘low’ only because they are government officials, and the government jobs aren’t highly paid ones. However, you must realize that the private sector in India is booming, and the IMF projected a 9.8% growth rate for India. People working as engineers, doctors, lawyers etc. are having very good pay packages, almost as good as the ones in any developed country if not better. Lol, I don’t want to sound all ‘patriotic’ and ‘frenetic’, just stating a fact.</p>
<p>No ignorance or contempt, just reality. If you graduate from a US college, you have 12 months to work/train in the US. That includes any jobs and internships during college. Employers that will take you on student visa terns will not be high paying.</p>
<p>If you’re lucky and win the H1B lottery you may get a visa to work longer in the US. MAY. It’s a lottery.</p>
<p>Taking out huge loans is crazy. Your parents won’t qualify to co-sign.</p>
<p>Thanks, you both! :)</p>
<p>Why are you applying ED? You NEED financial aid. The schools you mention are either need aware for admissions OR they don’t meet full need for international students. SO…if you can’t pay the bills (and you can’t) at some schools this will be considered with your admissions application. This means your acceptance chances go down at these need aware schools. Some schools don’t meet full need for international students. If that is the case, you won’t likely get the aid you need to attend. To get a visa to study here, your family will have to demonstrate that they have the money (including your financial aid) to provide support for a full year. On $30K income, what CAN they contribute to your education?</p>
<p>You will not be eligible for loans here. You will need to secure these in India and likely will need to have your parents cosign. If you don’t get sufficient aid, can your parents shoulder that financial obligation?</p>
<p>And as others have noted, you might not even GET a work visa once you graduate here.</p>
<p>thumper1
I guess, I should apply for aid to all colleges possible. But the real problem with that is that, that’ll strike off all my safeties/targets UIUC, Purdue, GAtech etc.
Could you suggest some colleges that are lower-ranked, but not too lower-ranked that give aid/are cheap to attend? I want to do engineering, which department I’m not too sure, or studying applied physics/economics. Lol, spoilt for choice. :|</p>
<p>*But the real problem with that is that, that’ll strike off all my safeties/targets UIUC, Purdue, GAtech etc. *</p>
<p>A school is NOT a safety unless you KNOW that you can afford to go there. At this point, you don’t have ANY safeties.</p>
<p>*Could you suggest some colleges that are lower-ranked, but not too lower-ranked that give aid/are cheap to attend? I want to do engineering, which department I’m not too sure, or studying applied physics/economics. Lol, spoilt for choice. 
*</p>
<p>The problem is that few schools below the “top rank” give financial aid to int’ls. However, there are some that will give merit scholarships to int’ls.</p>
<p>What are your stats?</p>
<p>If your goal is to go to school in the US, and you don’t get into your top schools, the would you go to a lower ranked school (if affordable) or would you go to school in your home country?</p>
<p>are cheap to attend?</p>
<p>How would the cheapest schools be affordable? How much can YOU pay?</p>