Indian International Applicant. Chances at Ivy and UC?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

International Undergrad Applicant, New Delhi, India (no aid)
Major: Electrical Engineering/Computer Science
Prospective Colleges: UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Columbia, Penn, UCLA,

Academics:
Our school follows the Cambridge curriculum so I had to take IGCSEs in the 2013 and I will be taking A levels over the course of this year and the beginning of next year:

IGCSE:
7 A* (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, French 2L, Information Technology, Geography)
1 A (First Language English)

A Level Subjects:
Mathematics (expected A)
Physics (expected A)
Geography(expected A)
Economics (expected A)
Further Mathematics (expecting A/A*)
AS Level English Language (expected a)

I’m in the top 10% of my class in pretty much every subject, when it comes to Internal examinations

SAT 1: 2040
SAT 2: Taking Math 2 and Physics in June (should get 800 in both)

I’m also considering taking the ACTs because I know that my SAT score isn’t good enough. I’ve practised and I should be able to manage a 33 or more.

Extra Curricular Activities:

Vice President of Quiz Club
Amity International MUN: High Commendation
Modern School MUN: Special Mention
Participated in Harvard MUN India 2014
House Captain of the Thames House in school
Captain on Thames house football (soccer) team
CEMC University of Waterloo maths olympiad: Gold Standard award (top 4%)
NASA Space Settlement Design Contest 2015 (awaiting results)

I have also taught myself a fair deal of programming in computer science but that gives me no credit

I’m in the process of creating a website, a platform for which I can share ideas and express my rather revolutionary ideas to the world. It’s got a long way to go but I want to make it big. I’m also getting some work experience this summer at a manufacturing plant. I’m also getting 60 hours of community service done over the next month.

I’m still drafting my essays.

I’m not particularly proud of my extra-curricular work and SAT 1 but please chance me. Where can I get in?

2

You have virtually no chance at any Ivies with a SAT I score of 2060, especially as an unhooked international.

Try working on improving your standardized test scores. A level grades look good (5 A*) is pretty impressive.

Also you will suffer from the desi-applicant syndrome: virtually all applicants from India are interested in computer science or some variant of engineering and have almost the same ECs as you. You need to think of some way to distinguish yourself

3

I see your EC’s are a bit put together and nothing is related to CS, if you don’t count the programming part, a 33 would help but, I was expecting a 35, ended up with a 33, so unless you have the results in hand predictions don’t count for much.
You have time, increase the ec’s but in the CS field, it’s ok to have ec’s like MUN when you already have ec’s in your field of interest but, if you cannot show interest in your major it becomes a big negative.
Most schools will not look at your website, they simply do not have the time and you will end up listing web designing as an activity which sounds bland.

4

If I’m completely honest, I am not entirely sure upon how I should I expand my CS. It isn’t even the only thing I’m interested in. CS has never even been offered to me in school and I have thus no certified qualification there. There are a few training centres here and there but they don’t count for too much. I’ve been considering getting into app development and expanding on my impact over there. There are few IT competitions or programs here which give me a good enough platform to really get something certified. I’ve been trying my hand at MOOCs on edX but I don’t know how much they count for.

I’m also no hardcore straight up CS person. My field of interest is actually quite varied as you may already tell by my subject choice. I’ve built myself as an all-rounder and I don’t regret it a whole lot. It’s really expanded my frame of thinking. I’m only left confused with how I should specialise and take things ahead. I’m trying to get IT internships; I’ve sent applications but companies here are less open to taking high school students as opposed to undergraduates studying in India.

5

I think this sums up everything

But then why are you pigeon holing yourself into computer science/EE then? Why are you only applying to top engineering schools?

Why not apply to liberal arts colleges so that you can make up your mind later?

6

Try to get 35+ on ACT.

7

Not one of the universities you cited is a realistic probability unless your standardized test results are SIGNIFICANTLY improved.

8

Would a 34 in the ACTs give me a fair shot? And I’m also publishing an app on the Play Store soon.

9
  1. An ACT 34 composite result would certainly be far more competitive, but will not ensure acceptance; generally, however, students with an aggregate SAT I score of 2040 are unlikely to attain a 34 ACT (it's not an impossibility, but neither is it usual).
  2. Stating you "should receive" two SAT II 800 scores is vastly easier than earning them; the same is true for "expected" A Level results . . . documented performance, not boastfulness, is relevant. 3 Even if your standardized test results achieve competitiveness, your app -- at best -- is an interesting EC, nothing more. It's simply not academically germane because admissions evaluators have no way of knowing if it works well, if you actually developed it, if it is an "elegant" design, if it is at all innovative, and so forth.
  3. Finally, you need to understand that undergraduate school (regardless of major or university) requires broad, multi-disciplined intellectual exploration -- most of what you study will not be CS.
10

Thanks for all the advice. I’ll take up everything I can. You’re right. Maybe I’m too confident about all of this. But I’ll work for it. My grades have always been top notch and highly competitive in my class. I’m getting work experience in a manufacturing plant over the summer. I think that should make my ECs more competitive.

Thanks anyway. I’ve taken a few ACT practice tests though. I’m scoring 33-34 quite consistently. It was SAT reading that killed me. It’s much simpler with the ACTs. Thank you for all the advice. I’ll get all the work experience I can.