<p>I am a student from India.Your views would be highly appreciated:
My intrests:
*Art
*Computers (everything)
*Filmmaking
*Passionate for reading
*Web designing
*The sanskrit language( i feel that mentioning about it in my application will boost my chances of admission in a liberal arts college)
(i do not intend to pursue a bachelors in these feilds,other than computers, they remain as my hobbies only)
Achievements:
*winning the 3rd prize at Symposium by Vigyan prasar(govt of india)
*Paintings exhibited in the 5th all india child art exhibition 2000 & the 7th international child art exhibition.
*poem published by NBT (national BOOK trust)
*won runner up position at the international young film makers competition.
*the first prize in the 8th international children's festival of performing arts
*i am currently working on a science project this year which is intended to go for a CBSE science competition(and has strong chances of winning!) and the IRIS.
Own School Achievements:
*Been a prefect for 3 consecutive years(06-09)
*Became the all rounder in my 10th class(08-09)
*am the face of our school's achievers calendar(march).
*class rank above 10% of 80 students.
*there are some confusions as per the GPA ( which i think i have around 3.6)
*Won the school's scholar title for year (08-09)
*1st position in the school's interhouse powerpoint presentation competition (interhouse).
*1st in the classwise caricature competition and classwise poster making competition.
Interschool and other Achievements:
*2nd prize in painting competition by Tristar colman & lions club.
*1st in advertisement designing competition ,consolation in book-jacket designing & 3rd in poster making at Bal bharti school,brij vihar.
*qualified for NTSE 2nd round.
*1st position in poster making at Amity International, Vasundhara.
*1st position in movie making and 1st in AD-MAD show (advertisement designing, why did they name it ad-mad?)at DAV pushpanjali enclave.
*3rd in documentary moviemaking at cambridge school,noida
*2nd in painting competition by resident welfare association, ashok vihar,delhi.
(please do not assume that i am 'bragging about myself', i merely want to know how you feel about them, to understand how the admissions officer would take my ECs)</p>
<p>Why i am trying out for colleges in the US:
I feel disappointed to see everyone around me aspiring for admission in the IIT's like life ends if you don't make it through.Thankfully,i have an open mind and feel that the right desision for me would be admission to a prestigious in the US.(Another fact; I hate the fact that to get into good engineering colleges in india, you are required to study a totally different course,the irony is that the preparation for engineering exam itself involves studying engineering related subjects(which are meant to be taught later), a point i cannot digest.However i have just this one chance to make it through (for fall 2011).Further i am positive that i may require financial aid(need based, which makes me try out for the ivies).I would be taking an educational loan of nearly $41,000 to supplement the aid($10,000 per year and my parents an additional $10,000 per year) but i intent not to put any burden on them (and hence will try for the ivies).If possoble, i may try out for scholarships.you must understand that i am desperate to make it through in a good college .
Waiting for your response:</p>
<p>Forgot to ask questions:
Q.can you help me formulate a good college list?(one that includes colleges that provide need based aid to indian students(international students) .Where are my chances more?How much?
Q.I came to know that you need to write down the school CEEB/ACT code in the application. i used the ‘lookup feature’ but was unable to find my school at all,do i panic?what do i do?
Q.Which achievements should i list down in the application?
Q.Any good ideas or tips for a remarkable essay?
Q.When is the SAT exam held(for india)?(i want to give it early so that i may retry later, although i am confident of a good score!)
Q.What SAT score is considered satifactory/good/exceptional for the ivies or similar?
Q.Which book do i use to prepare?
Q.Applying online is not a risky buisness ,is it?</p>
<p>2100+ is minimum for an Ivy, usually. Get the college board blue book for SAT and get princeton review for prep stuff.</p>
<p>Thanks.
I think that getting above 2100 would be within reach.
But there are loads of questions that need answering.Waiting…
(plus ,help me formulate a college list)</p>
<p>Q.can you help me formulate a good college list?(one that includes colleges that provide need based aid to indian students(international students) .Where are my chances more?How much?
A: Apply to Cornell. The Tata scholarship essentially makes it need-blind for Indians. Other options should be MIT, Harvard, Princeton etc etc. (ASSUMING you have the stats to be competitive and are seeking need-blind colleges).
Q.I came to know that you need to write down the school CEEB/ACT code in the application. i used the ‘lookup feature’ but was unable to find my school at all,do i panic?what do i do?
A: Many High schools don’t, so you either put down 0000 or 9999 (don’t quite remember).
Q.Which achievements should i list down in the application?
A: All that YOU feel were significant.
Q.Any good ideas or tips for a remarkable essay?
A: Write about a PERSONAL experience. Employ good grammar. etc. It can be open-ended so write as you wish.
Q.When is the SAT exam held(for india)?(i want to give it early so that i may retry later, although i am confident of a good score!)
A: October, November, December, January, February, May, June.
Q.What SAT score is considered satifactory/good/exceptional for the ivies or similar?
A: 2250+ (imho).
Q.Which book do i use to prepare?
A: Official SAT study guide 2nd ed. Also, do see which supplemental books suit your needs.
Q.Applying online is not a risky buisness ,is it?
A: Nope, not at all. It’s the most efficient way to apply.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. I should definitely get back to studying now lol. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Extremely thankful for your help.
But you didn’t tell me what you feel about my ECs.
Anything Ivies consider of more importance?(E.g. Volunteer work)
Plus :What college would be the safest and best bet to apply?(one i have definate chances of getting into.)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It’s about what’s important to you, not them. Don’t do things because you think they’ll look better to colleges; do them because you’re genuinely interested in them. If you’re truly passionate about something, colleges will be able to tell; they don’t have a list of ECs ranked in order of importance.</p>
<p>Help me formulate a college list. I didn’t write this foot-long thread to decorate the site.
I need some answers , and i need them quick!
(please)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>what do you mean? r u a cricket player?</p>
<p>No, the allrounder award is given to a student who does exceptionally well in extra-cocurricular activities as well as studies.Now answer my questions please?</p>
<p>dude don’t be so sure that you will definitely get a 2100+ on ur SAT in the first attempt, from the looks of it i don’t think you’ve even given a single practice test published in the bluebook.try out one before you jump to conclusions.
also remember you will need to give your subject tests too for the ivies.so plan out accordingly.
if prestige is not so much of an issue apply to 2/3 tier universities also( just as a safety), for instance Lehigh-they provide FA to internationals.
a few things you could do without on your application-
“Passionate for reading”</p>
<p>"The sanskrit language( i feel that mentioning about it in my application will boost my chances of admission in a liberal arts college) "
not unless ur doing a major in sanskrit, or have achieved something extra ordinary-after all, almost all good schools have Sanskrit as an option.</p>