<p>My nationality is Indian, although I've lived in quite a few different countries. Right now, I live in Brazil, and I will be graduating and submitting my application from here. My question is, will top universities like Caltech, MIT, Johns Hopkins, etc. look at me compared to the Indian pool? Or will they compare me to other Brazilian/South American students? If anyone could shed light on this it would be great, I'm just trying to get a feel for what my competition is because I know colleges tend to have a quota for international students from different regions.</p>
<p>they look at all the students who apply the same way.
so you will be competing with US students in the admission office.</p>
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<p>Swimmers in the deep end; non-swimmers in the shallow end.</p>
<p>Sorry, I actually have no idea.</p>
<p>Funny, Sikorsky.</p>
<p>Actually, international students compete against other international students, not against Americans.</p>
<p>How long have you been in Brazil? If your last 3 years were in Brazil you’ll be compared to other applicants from Brazil, however if most of your high school grades are from Indian schools you’d be in the Indian pool. Then again, that’s the last step, when deciding between two possible applicants who are neither shoo-in nor immediately rejected, for the first cut (5mn on file to decide if admit/reject/look at further) all internationals are looked at together.</p>
<p>I did my first year of high school in an American school in China, and then I came to Brazil beginning of sophomore year. By the time I graduate I will have been here for 3 years, so I guess I’ll be considered “Brazilian” if I make it past the first cut. Thanks for the info!</p>
<p>let me know on Private if you get admitted to MIT. or any top program.</p>
<p>@02agarwalt
Actually those top universities like MIT and Caltech admit very few international students. It is extremely competitive!</p>
<p>Financial aid at JHU is very limited for international students.</p>
<p>Also, you may not apply for Early Action to MIT as an international student.</p>
<p>what if a student with Indian nationality finishes his high school from an Indian school in middle east ( in my case Oman)? will he/she be compared to the Indian applicant pool or omani applicant pool ??</p>
<p>first important division would be those who ask for aid/scholarship vs those who are willing to pay full. priority for those who can pay.</p>
<p>Good question.</p>
<p>To my understanding you will be compared to the high school you graduated from. So if the high school is based in Brazil then you will be placed in the Brazil pool. In some universities (eg Harvard) this rule applies even to college applicants who are US citizens who graduated from high schools abroad.
The most important thing is to forget about the things you cannot control, and focus on the things within your control (your grades, extracurriculars, etc) and try to do your best.</p>