Help for the small town applicant, please

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I study at a school run by Aligarh Muslim University in India, which, incidentally is the ninth ranked institute of higher learning in the country. The syllabus is pretty similar to that of CBSE, which is the board from which most students here apply to universities in the States. So my course rigor is set.
A major problem is the lack of a high school guidance counselor, at either my present school or the one I attended till 10th grade. So I have no one to go to to get my school forms filled or counselor recs written. What do you suggest I do about this?
My grades are good and I will be giving the SAT in October and 3 SAT subject tests (Physics, Math Level 2 and Chemistry) in November. If I get good scores in these I will take the English Literature test in December else I will retake as required.
Also, do I have to give the TOEFL to apply to schools in the US? I have studied in English medium schools all my life, till 6th grade in Saudi Arabia, and in India thereon.
My school also doesn't conduct mid-term exams. I posted this in a thread on CC and people said that this and the lack of AP classes wouldn't be a problem as my school doesn't offer them. What are your views?
The schools I am planning to apply to are (I need aid):
Princeton (my first choice)
MIT
Caltech
Yale
Purdue
John Hopkins
Northwestern
Dartmouth
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
UPenn
Penn State
Thanks for helping.</p>

2

<p>bump</p>

3

<p>Are you sure you want to apply to so many of the most selective schools? Wait and see for your score ballparks then decide. You need to have variation, it could happen that don’t get into any of them due to the same reason (scores, gpa, or essays.)</p>

4

<p>What is your intended major, final exam scores?</p>

5

Hi.
I applied to the following colleges:
• Princeton
• Harvard
• Yale
• Columbia
• UChicago (deferred)
• Cornell
• Brown
• Penn
• Williams
• Rice
• University Of Rochester
• Amherst
• Reed
• Swarthmore
• Yale-NUS
• Georgia Tech
• Stanford

My stats are

Test Scores
SAT 2270/2400 (750/770/750)
SAT II Math II 800
Physics 800
Literature 700
TOEFL 116/120

Percentage
Grade 9 9.57
Grade 10 10
Grade 11 86%
Grade 12 85-90%
Academics

  1. 10 CGPA in class 10
  2. University Merit Scholarship (awarded to 11 students out of 350) Class-11th
  3. International English Olympiad conducted by the EduHeal Foundation Rank: 7/9830 Class-9th
  4. Was amongst 1200/40000 selected for AMU 11th admission Class 10th pass
  5. National Interactive Science Olympiad conducted by the EduHeal Foundation
    Rank: 231/15780 Class 9th

Extra Curricular

  1. National Children’s Science Congress- National Level (Class 9th) and Pre-State Level (Class 10th) Weeks- 24 Hours-4 per week
  2. Dadasaheb Phalke award for best school documentary (The highest theatrical honour in India)- As an actor (Class 10th) Weeks-4 Hours-4
  3. Campaign Against Polythene in our city (class9th and 10th )- Weeks-120 Hours-3
  4. Student Council member (9) (full time)
  5. Universal Solidarity Movement (co- founder and treasurer)- Charity Organization (Class 9th and 10th) (full time+ weekly meetings)
  6. Was part of a campaign protesting Crimes Against Women (Class 10th)
  7. Articles for School Magazine (Class 10th)
  8. Intra School IT quiz 1st position (Class 9th)
  9. Intra School General quiz 2nd position (Class 10th)
  10. Intra School Essay writing 3rd position (Class 10
  11. Intra School Play 2nd position (Class 9th)
  12. Comedy Competition at Aligarh Muslim University- 1st prize (Class 10th)

I’ve written really good essays (according to everyone whose read them) with really unique styles. The only thing holding me back is the lack of ECs in class 11th. I had a great Princeton interview and have been shortlisted for an interview at Yale-NUS (only 15-20%) are. Please chance me.