<p>Big hi everybody,
Im an Indian (Asian) student. Just onto grade 11 (junior year). I took the SAT this May and got a score of 2150 (M-800, CR-630, W-720). I feel I could do better as I had completely ruined a CR section. Academically, I've been strong throughout. In the grade 10 All India Exam, I scored an aggregate of 94.4 (All A1s). My class rank is usually 1 out of 350-360. Im planning to self-study for 3 APs this year: Physics B, Chem and Psych, and probably some more next year. </p>
<p>Other Activities: Last year (Nov 07) I had represented the country at the World Robotics Olympiad (Taiwan) after winning the national competition. We were placed at world rank 13. It was a very unique experience and I'm hoping to participate once again. Besides, I have many school-level quizing, debating, and Student- Council related activities.</p>
<p>Now, I know I've provided very vague stats but here's what I'm looking for:
Majors: My first choice is Aerospace Engineering. Otherwise, I may go for Computer or Mechanical Eng or some other unusual major..
Colleges: Right now, I'm aiming at UnivMichigan - AA, UnivIllinois - UC, Cornell, Carnegie-M, UC Berkeley (out of reach), GeorgiaTech and UnivTexas - Austin.</p>
<p>Now, for the colleges I'm aiming at, I know my profile's severely lacking but I'm very serious about doing my best.</p>
<p>Besides chances, here are some specific Questions:
1) Any other schools you would recommend for my choice of majors.
2) How specifically I could target the colleges I've mentioned, what I need to balance my stats.
3) How I could achieve an SAT score of 2250+. I feel I am pathetic at writing SAT essays
4) I would like your opinion on a program like Jerome-Fisher Technology & Management at UPenn?
5) Whether the World Robotics Olympiad experience would make a good essay topic.</p>
<p>1) You should definetly look at Purdure. Its really easy to get into and they have a top notch engineering.
2) Cant Answer
3) Practice, practice, practice and im sure youll get it although a 2150 isnt the end of the world.
4)Its a good program, but very hard to get into to. If you feel like you may want to get into business then i would apply there. But again, it is very competitive.
5)Any essay would be a great essay as long as you write it well.</p>
<p>You should get into every college you are looking at except for maybe UC Berekely, Cornell, and UMichigan but you will probably get into one of them.</p>
<p>UMichigan- Low Reach
Cornell- Reach
Carnegie-M- Match/ High Match (they like CBSE indians!)
UC Berkeley-Reach
GeorgiaTech- Match</p>
<p>Here's the ones I'd know about... as far as I can see; you're a proper CBSE/ ICSE applicant, right? What I can make out from the Robotics thing is that you're really smart and pro; but haven't fully milked all opportunities you can get. try for science projects (global level); olympiads etc. I think you can get a really good app by class 12th; so WORK ON IT! you have the calibre for a much higher level of universities... so work on ECs and awards and distinctions.</p>
<p>1) Caltech, Northwestern, Stanford... maybe...
2) As i said... work on the robotics... get international project prizes... i know you can... from your stats...
3) Just work on your general english... that's a BIG problem with indians... use your 11th grade for that... get a feel of words and DON'T MUG!
4) Wouldn't know...
5) Yes! It shows your passion... but don't limit yourself to it...</p>
<p>You seem like a good one... aiming too low... look for opportunities outside your school... get those top awards... n go get 'em top univs! :)</p>
<p>I would suggest taking APs in physics and calculus so you can get credit for them in college. Some of the topics in AP calc arent on the CBSE syllabus...CBSE tends to be hard due to sheer competition. AP covers some topics you might not have learnt in CBSE or ISC...</p>
<p>err... okay... do CBSE then... Sid knows better... wayyyy better than me...! :)
sid:> how about a-levels...? should i also have done APs...?
cuz... i dunno... it seems easier than a-levels... (checked out some books...)</p>
<p>hmm i dont know. apparently, IB is regarded as the highest standard for some reason. I mean, i know that IB math isnt overly hard at all...the thing is, the american education, in my opinion, aims to teach students a little of everything, whereas CBSE and australia curriculums teach the important topics in a lot of detail. Which makes the problems in our exams consist of problems that are hard as they require indepth knowledge about the respective topic. AP on the other hand tries to cover a whole range of topics, on a easier scale, so they try to test your knowledge in a range of topics.
A levels are highly regarded, so dont worry about your curriculum. I mean, i did a curriculum that isn't even heard of internationally.
Look tuna, the thing about APs is that you can do them to provide a relation/comparison for admission panels if you want a few levels of comparisons or if ur worried that your curriculum isnt well known. And it also makes it easier to gain credit for subjects. i mean since the scale is from 1-5...tehres a great range of students who get 5, and within that group, the actual difference between the high 5 and low 5 will be quite big, i imagine.
A levels really help if you are applying to the UK</p>
<p>Firstly, thanks a lot for all your replies.
Yes, I am a CBSE student, though I'm studying in Dubai, UAE. Now idk whether thats a plus or minus. I was once contemplating a switch to IB but then decided against it. </p>
<p>Another major EC: Informatics Olympiad - 2006 I was selected for the National Training Camp for the final Indian team selection. I havent given the preliminary round again, but will try again this year. Opinions on this?</p>
<p>Now, I participate in a lot of activities right from Chess to Debating to Quizzing to Squash, even school-mag editing and Student Council, and though I have participated in a lot of competitions, I still dont have many awards and certificates to back it all up. I'll try and spend my 11th getting as many of those as I can.</p>
<p>I lack a lot where community service, volunteering work etc comes in. It just isnt in the culture here.</p>
<p>About the APs, I feel I should give them, they'll definitely help in college credit, and since I'll probably just have finished my grade 11, wont be too much of a hassle.</p>
<p>look your CBSE score itself wont get you in, be it 94, 96 or 98...i mean, my mate from Dubai, got the second highest score in all of India for ISC and he didnt make the big universities either...then a couple of other high 96s made Berkeley and JHU and were rejected from most other big name universities. The MIT students from UAE are both doing A levels...</p>
<p>What i m trying to say is...a 94 will be treated almost as highly as a 96..so dont worry. a 98 is obv splendid, but it wont get you in...they play a fairly small part in the admissions process.</p>
<p>yes, i know two students who made MIT this year from the UAE...neither is from Dubai though...
if u need more info just chat with me on msn: <a href="mailto:sidforeva@hotmail.com">sidforeva@hotmail.com</a></p>
<p>dude......dun worry....u ll easily make it to most of these schools(maybe not Cornell or UC,but then again just MAYBE)......n im saying this cuz i got a 92.4% in my 10th boards......i didnt give any olympiads or anything...i got a 2030 in my SAT....my ECs are not extra-ordinary....and yet i got thru umich,UIUC,UT-Austin,GeorgiaTech,CMU n Purdue....(all for comp science)...just get good grades in 11th n u shud be thru.....oh ya n make sure u mention community service if u have done any..helps</p>