<p>I am an International from India, applying for financial aid(EFC=100$).</p>
<p>I have absolutely no Idea about the waitlists. Based on the statistics, I have more chance of getting into Harvard compared to getting into Amhrest.</p>
<p>A lot of people here are saying that there have been more waitlists this year. So, that means that colleges would be taking more from the waitlist? If I don't get in, I am planning to take a Gap Year and applying next year. The problem being that, by the time I get into a college next year, I would be 19! Born Aug '88. Would that affect my app negatively?(I am of course planning to add heavily to my ECs, I would enjoy a gap year actually) </p>
<p>And how much does showing interest helps for a prestigious LAC with excellent yield (say Williams)?</p>
<p>Sorry for So many questions(:o) and thanks for reading.</p>
<p>You have done so much at such a young age; I mean, you startred a Tech start-up company! You are even very involved in your community.</p>
<p>But despite having great stats, the essay sample you posted showed a lack of focus. You have many great parts and paragraphs, but they are not cohesive. Frankly, I had a difficult time reading your essay because it lacks flow.</p>
<p>As an international student, you are under much greater scrutiny compared to US students, so your application needs to be strong in all areas. Your only weakness, as I see it, is your essay. You could benefit by taking composition classes outside of school, which I did before my senior year at a local university.</p>
<p>You should continue to stay on the waitlist for the colleges that waitlisted you. Maybe you can write them a well-written letter stating why you should be accepted. If it is indeed well-written, they could be swayed to accept you.</p>
<p>I wish you the best and hope that I was of some help.</p>
<p>Also, your ACTs could have been a little higher. However, the amount of time you put into community service should have overshadowed that. IT's amazing.</p>
<p>" would be 19! Born Aug '88. Would that affect my app negatively?(I am of course planning to add heavily to my ECs, I would enjoy a gap year actually) "</p>
<p>Your age won't hurt you. There are many U.S. students who are 19 when they are applying to high school as seniors. </p>
<p>Your essay, unfortunately, told more about India than it provided info about you. You'd probably have done beter providing some specifics and anecdotes about your start up experience -- challenges you faced and overcame; what inspired you, etc. Read one of the excellent books about writing college essays.</p>
<p>Difficult as it is for Americans to get into top colleges now with the surge of baby boomers' kids applying, it's even more difficult for internationals, particularly at the colleges that promise to meet 100% of financial need, which are swamped by excellent applicants including the top internationals from their countries.</p>
<p>If you do a gap year, apply to more colleges than you did this year. Don't make the mistake of assuming that if you reapply to the colleges that rejected you, you'll get in if you boost your ECs, polish your essay, etc. From what I've seen, that seldom happens paritcularly since admissions gets more competitive each year.</p>
<p>EFC killed you. Unless Williams or Amherst is need blind for internationals in regular admissions AND for taking kids off the waitlist, I doubt you have a shot. Sorry :( Sucks being poor. Retake the ACT, maybe the SAT next year and work on those ECs. </p>
<p>There's an inspiring story in the Paren'ts forum about a boy who was rejected from everywhere, took a year off, and got into (i think) MIT. Read it because it may give you some strategies and hope. Also, try talking to Denzera who hangs out in the Columbia forums. I believe he took a year off and reapplied successfully. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I really liked your essay. I think it was thoughtful and well written. I'm assuming that English is not your first language, so it is even more impressive. I do spend a lot of time in India working at a school in UP so I was interested in many of your observations. I don't think your essay affected the decisions.
Unfortunately, financial aid for foreign students is tough to get. But, you did get waitlisted at some great schools, and there is the chance you will get off one of the lists. Schools like Williams and Amherst are so small that it makes it tougher to get off the list, but still I wish you the best of luck. You sound like a wonderful student who would be an asset to those schools.</p>
<p>you have amazing stats. I'd just say two things...
1) you only took 3 classes junior and senior year??
2) the essay isn't "personal" enough, as others have mentioned.</p>
<p>Abhi, You focused more on the events around you rather than how they shaped you. Try to give specific and elaborate examples of how Indian culture has shaped you, connect it to people around you (how they were different/similar etc.) and explain how its significant and the University should exactly care about it all.</p>
<p>To alinhappyland:
He took the British A-Levels administered by Cambridge University, and the recommended courseload for these is 3 subjects. People do take more, but it gets very intense. One A-Level subject is roughly equivalent to what one would cover in freshman year at university (they are more in-depth than the AP's and IB subjects, but limited to a narrower range). </p>
<p>Abhi0854:
Your EC's are absolutely fine. If you do take a gap year, however, it is essential that you do something productive during the year and so it would be a good idea to build on them. Bear in mind though, that EC's that look forced or appear to have been pursued simply to "pad up" one's application rather than genuine interest can harm your application. Many students from India pursue activities with the sole intention of impressing admissions officials and such attempts are often seen through. Make sure your choice and commitment to your activities during your gap year does not point in this direction. It is better to pursue a couple of things with strong dedication and commitment (like you did in high school), than several haphazardly and with little passion. I just thought I'd point this out because it can be easy to lose focus when you have a whole year ahead of you and are trying to improve your application. If you focused on a couple of things and showed immense dedication to them like you did in high school, it could appear more impressive.
Also, since your A-Levels are restricted to such a narrow field try to expand your academic interests if you take a gap-year. Your SAT II tests are in the same subjects as your A-Levels--a slightly broader academic profile may help. You could take an additional one or two SATII's in a language/literature/history or something to demonstrate your proficiency outside the sciences and math--or perhaps even sit for another A-Level in oct/nov? </p>
<p>Good luck with the wait-lists! I hope things work out. The fact that Amherst/Williams waitlisted you shows that they considered you to be well qualified but did not have enough space in their incoming class. If you consider reapplying after a gap-year, strategically an Early Decision application at one of these schools (if they are your top choices) might really improve your chances.</p>
<p>snooker, I believe one has to be either a citizen or a permanent resident (of USA) to apply for Early Admission. Anyone ? (I only looked at a few colleges that interested me, so correct me if I'm wrong)</p>
<p>I think that's probably only true for certain universities...I'm an international student that applied ED and am currently attending Penn. All the Ivies+Duke, Stanford, MIT, top LAC's etc. accept ED applicants from internationals, and so do a lot of other schools. There are probably some exceptions regarding some schools that I am not aware of.</p>
<p>No it definitely hasn't. This varies from college to college. (MIT doesn't have EA for internationals and most other colleges that allow EA for Internationals don't offer aid to early applicants.</p>