Hi everyone! I am opening this discussion for indian students applying abroad in 2019. Everyone please join in. Let’s team up! We can do this.
Hello and thanks for opening this thread. I am from India and I could surely use some help.
I mostly decided to apply abroad like last year end, basically a couple of months ago. I haven’t taken the SAT yet (I know it is super late, but I am optimistic - will be taking it in May). I haven’t really researched colleges, so suggestions would REALLY be welcome - I am mostly looking for a college with a great CS program and I’ll be needing full(or almost) financial aid.
So here’s what I have as of now
Female
Intended major - computer science
Colleges(as of now…those are all “reaches” obv, but I have no idea of ANY college which can be a “safety” and provide lot of financial aid)
– Cornell
– MIT (haha)
– Dartmouth
– Caltech
School
– Upto 10th grade: a really great school, somewhat competitive (can expect some really good LoRs)
– 11th and 12th grade : extremely competitive JEE/AIIMS focused school which had 3000+ applicants from all over the state, only 300 got in and 50 out of those got placed in a separate section with an extremely rigourous currculum
Academics -
– 9th grade - 86ish% (top 10 out of 300+)
– 10th board (ICSE) - 95.8% (top 5 out of 300+)
– 11th grade (average) - 75ish% (Super low but I believe I have a valid reason)
Extracurriculars
– Google Code-In Winner (top 50 of 3000+ students, going to HQ in California this summer)
– Trained classical dancer (5+ year) State level events
– Interning at sort of successful startup this summer, based in New York. (But it was founded in my city, so I’ll be working from home to develop standalone apps)
– Scouts and Guides member (5+ volunteer hours/week for 5+ years. attended camps, qualified all three exams to be a certified Girl Guide.)
– Badminton player (doesn’t count for much in US I guess…) but state champion.
– got accepted to a summer camp in computational research which accepts only 45 students/year. ( don’t know whether I will be able to make it though. Somewhat expensive once converted into rs)
– Self-taught proficient programmer
– Student Council
– Organising a free to attend technological fest for high-schoolers in my city to create awareness about computer science (600 applications expected)
– starting a community to teach students about computer science, provide basic instruction
…and that’s all I can remember for now 
So…chance me! And provide suggestions, etc if any!
@justHere2001 , i have just closed the admission episode for my D. Just to give you a quick update based on my few months experience… generally CS and engineering is very very competitive for internationals. All the colleges you have listed are extremely ambitious and need blind. Your ECs are very strong, if you score 1550 and above in SAT or 35 and above in ACT with minimum 2 800s in 2 subject sat (Maths 2 and one science) you can get into a good CS programs from colleges like UIUC / CMU / Gtech / UT austin /Umich and UCs. But again i would suggest dont expect any financial aid, applying for aid will minimise your chances even from the colleges i have suggested.
Again it does not mean you have no chance of getting into MIT and likes… pls do apply for those too, but those would be like a lottery.
Really cool!
I totally focused on GCI in past 2 years and won thrive in last 5 years (went to HQ only two times tho,personal reason)
I hope you’ll enjoy your time there!
Cheers!
Can anyone please guide on transcripts? Are attested marksheets for 9th / 10th / 11th are acceptable? or one has to type transcripts on school letterhead and get attested? Thank you.
Some proper advice. Never come on college confidential. It’s full of pretentious parents who don’t know half the things about the actual college process. Head over to reddit and check out the page “The great Indian dream class of 23” on Facebook. You’ll tend to get much better advice there.
@Siddu2912 Thanks. Will check there as well. Can you please answer my question about transcripts? Thanks.
@justHere2001 You work at…? I have my own startup,so we can talk over this.
Fellow programmer!
For 9th and 10th I had my counselor upload an attested copy of my board certificate. For 11th I typed out my final grades on a school letterhead, got it signed by the principal and uploaded it. 12th mid term marks were uploaded the same way as 11th.
@Siddu2912 Thank you.
@UmaSridhar Thanks for the advice! Without financial aid though, every college would be totally unaffordable - and I really don’t want to be debt-ridden in my 20s. So I am not in a very ideal position right now. :’) @Cliber That’s great - but now they have the one-time winner rule 
And as to where I work…I am not sure posting that here would be a good idea. DM And erm - who are high-school counsellors? As far as I know, my high school doesn’t have one, so what am I supposed to do? Also, how important are your high-school grades? (I am really stressed out about my 11th grade marks). WIth college selections I am kind of going #ivyorbust which is a terrible idea - I’ll probably end up getting in nowhere. :’)
If your school does not have a counselor, ask a teacher or your school’s administration office how your transcripts should be sent. If you have access yourself to your transcript, it is sometimes admissible to self report your grades on the Common App under the Grades and Courses section. Some schools, such as University of Washington, University of California and USC, ask you to self-report your grades in any case, and then only require a transcript once you are admitted and about the enroll.
Usually your school’s principal, or another official who has seen your academic progress, can verify your grades and give you recommendations, as well as send in your transcript for you.
Studying at Delhi Public School Indirapuram (CBSE)
Have English, Math, Psychology, Physics and Chemistry as subjects.
Want to major in English/Linguistics/Journalism/Philosophy
SCORES
SAT: 1560, Essay: 6/4/6
AP: English Literature 4 (took only one as I only had a month to study)
SAT Subject Tests: Literature 740, Math II 760, Physics 770
IELTS: 8.0 (8.5 in Reading, Speaking and Listening. 7 in writing)
Had a perfect 10 CGPA in Grades 9 and 10, 83% marks in Grade 11 (okayish by my school’s standards), Targeting a 90% in Grade 12 First Term, will probably submit that transcript.
EXTRACURRICULARS
-School Magazine Editor 2017-18
-Ted Ed Club Co-Founder President 2018-19
-Three years invested in Model UN International Press, Editor-In-Chief at school conference, won awards at all 11 MUNs participated in
-Model UN and Debating Society Scribe and Core Secretariat Member 2017-18, 2018-19
-Student Council Member 2017-18, actively organizing role in all school events.
-Summer Internship as Trainee News Editor at an English daily newspaper
-Volunteer Teacher for underprivileged elementary school kids at an NGO, organized several EC Activities like story writing, poetry recitation, spell bee etc for the students
-Volunteer English teacher at an after-school teaching initiative set up by the school.
-Electric Guitar for 5 years, have a Grade 3 Certification from Rockschool London with Distinction. Part of school guitar ensemble in 9th grade
-Robotics Club Member in 9th Grade. Won the Senior Manual Robotics category at annual inter-school event representing the school club. (Unrelated to my skills but I think I should show a little diversity of interests)
HONORS
-Gold Medal for Seven Consecutive Years of Academic Excellence (from school)
-International English Olympiad 2015 School Silver Medallist
-Unified Cyber Olympiad 2016 Regional Gold Medallist (Tests Math, English and Computers)
-National Science Olympiad 2013,2016 Finalist
-IPEC Talent Search 2018 4th Position out of 200 participants. (Math and Current Affairs)
RECOMMENDERS
Great relations with English and Psychology teachers. They can be vocal about my writing and communication skills. Also considering the MUN club in-charge. Spent a year with her organizing our school’s MUN and made close ties.
May also get a letter from the Editor I interned under.
School has no counselor, so will probably get that part from the Principal.
I’m not too sure if my ECs carry enough substance to completely cement me as a strong writer/journalist/editor. I’m also concerned because my writing scores on the SAT and IELTS are relatively low, don’t know if that would send mixed messages.
Applying to Amherst, Northwestern and Williams as targets
Hamilton College, Whitman College as Safeties.
I’m applying to three reach Ivies- Princeton,Cornell and Columbia.
I’ll most probably be applying REA to Princeton as it’s my top choice dream school.
Chance me?
@ExUtero2001 : Schools with acceptance rates lower than ~25% tend to be reaches for most applicants. All but one of your choices fall into this category. If you will not require financial assistance, a factor commonly considered in the case of international applicants, then you may have listed a match or two as well. Amherst and Williams tend to be more selective than Cornell.
@merc81 : Well, I do need hefty financial aid. I know that’s it isn’t practically possible to predict yes/no for a college, but do you think I have a fair shot at Cornell and Northwestern, considering my money needs? Assuming that I can craft stellar essays, of course.
Your application would be fully appropriate for those schools, so, Yes, a fair chance. Not incidentally, your SAT subject testing shows very nice breadth, @ExUtero2001. Hamilton might be the best writers’ college on your list. Wishing you luck with all of your choices.
G. P. A: My school doesn’t give GPA but the percentage is 95-96% (Class rank is 2 in 256)
SAT:1490 (E-700 M-790)
ACT: Taking it on 28 Oct. (Expecting 34-36)
APs:Physics 1-5 Calculus BC-5 Physics C-5 Microeconomics _5 (Taking 4 next year)
Subject tests: Math 800 Physics 800 Chemistry 800
Extra-curriculars:Run my own organization that uses funds from recycling to promote sustainable development goals. Raised almost INR 20000 as of now. Donated approximately 3500-4000 books and about 1000 sanitary pads. President of School eco club and quiz club. Vice-president (and Co-Founder) of another organization that plants forests using a scientific manner. Raised about INR 350000. Planted approximately 25000 trees Organised the largest plantation in the history of my city. Wrote a research paper on environmental and financial effects of the plastic ban in my state. Also thinking of writing a research paper on the deteriorating groundwater conditions in India. Also started a fundraiser for the flooding conditions in Kerala and raised INR 100000. Built an app that tracks carbon footprint. Have an internship at 2 stock firms and have myself made INR 600000 at the market.
Awards- Nil
LORs: One by counselor, One by chemistry teacher , and by English teacheranother by a chemistry prof. at a college where I attended introductory classes. (letter is great but I didn’t get credit for college)
Applying RD- Cornell, UPenn, UCs, Brown, UTs(S), UMich, UIUC(S), Princeton, RHIT, UW Seattle(S),
ED- Pomona
Also applying to Nortwestern, Johns Hopkins, and Georgia Tech
@ExUtero2001 Your profile is great for an Indian student. Consider applying to Harvard and Yale. You probably have a chance to get in.There’s nothing to lose if you apply. I’m applying REA to Yale and I hope to get in.
Hey! I will start applying for US universities now.
My grades are:-
9th : 90%
10th : 96%
11th : 63%( I have explained the reason for a dip in marks in my common app essay as it revolves around a major obstacle I encountered in 11th)
12th Boards : 91%
ACT : 34 Composite
TOEFL : 99 I have given SAT subjects but don’t wish to report ( Physics 710)
Major :- Biomedical Engineering
Extracurricular Activities:
- I have completed 2-year course in Photography and Journalism
- Won the best journalist at school’s MUN. Only journalist to get all his articles published on all days of the event.
- Work Experience:
A) Worked at a Diagnostic Clinic for a period of 3 Months.
B) Worked under a Biomedical engineer for a period of 2 months.
C) Filed Tax Returns for a private Finance company for a period of 3 months. - Part of School Cricket Team for 4 Years
5.Hobby : Stand up comedy, performed at a few open Mics - Leadership :- Hosted Teacher’s Day programme , Led dance groups
- Volunteering : Collecting funds for old age homes and even taught 10th standard underprivileged kids for a period of one year.
- Online certification courses displaying my interest in Biology and Economics
My shortlisted Universities:-
- Georgia Tech
- University of Wisconsin- Madison
- Purdue University
- UIUC
- University of Washington - Seattle
- University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
- UT Austin
- Penn State
What safeties would you recommend seeing my Profile? Is purdue a good chance?