Trying for UCLA, Berkeley, Georgia Tech, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Columbia, Penn, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, University of Illinois Urbana Chamaign, NYU
Major: Computer Science/Mathematics
(I know that a lot of these are very high reaches or close to impossible)
SAT I : 2040 (I know it’s terrible. I’m taking the ACTs this June. Hopefully get a 34)
SAT II (Taking Math 2 and Physics this May. Expecting 770-800 in both)
Our school follows the Cambridge curriculum. So I’ve taken my IGCSEs in 2013 and I’ll be taking my A Levels next March.
IGCSE Grades:
Mathematics: A*
Economics: A*
Physics: A*
Chemistry: A*
French 2L: A*
Information and Communication Technology: A*
Geography: A*
First Language English: A
A Levels:
Mathematics (expected A)
Economics (expected A)
Physics (expected A)
Geography (expected A)
Further Mathematics (expected A/A*)
Extra Curricular Activities:
NASA Space Settlement Design Contest 2015 - Honourable Mention
AMC 12 International Maths Contest - South Asia Regional Topper - first rank holder
CEMC University of Waterloo Galois Maths Contest - Gold Standard Award (top 4%)
Student Government Appointee (2014 - 2015) - Thames House Captain
Thames House Soccer Team Captain
Amity International MUN - High Commendation
Modern School MUN - Special Mention
Harvard MUN India 2015 - Participant
Quiz Club - Co-founder and Vice President
The Blind School, New Delhi - 40 hours of volunteer work (reading and writing)
I’ll be completing a number of MOOCs for Computer Science on verified tracks:
- Microsoft Programming with C# (this one is directly from Microsoft)
- Academic and Business Writing (UC Berkeley X)
I will also be pursuing a Computer Science certificate from NIIT (a professional corporation with training services in a number of fields)
Aside from my standardised test scores, where should I work on improving? Are any of these universities within my reach? I still have another 6 months before I apply and I can get a lot done in the time I have. Please make suggestions.
PS: I’m also applying to Canada; University of Toronto, McGill and University of British Columbia
I’m also in the top 10% of my class in pretty much every subject I take.
International students are hard to predict, but you do need a higher test score particularly for UIUC CS/M.
With such great O level and predicted A level marks this makes me wonder if your school is not too rigorous. The low SAT scores will sink you. Work on raising.
Also wouldn’t hurt to take some SAT 2 tests.
Thanks. But I mentioned that I would take Math II and Physics soon. Do you suggest that I take more? Also, are my extra-curricular activities okay? Do I need more? Which of the schools I mentioned are within my reach?
u have a very good chance at all the mentioned schools if you raise your SAT to over 2200… also, congrats on getting all A’s
If you can bump that SAT to hopefully a 2250 or get that 34 ACT I’d say you have a good chance into most of them and the Ivies could be low reaches or high matches. Again, international students are unpredictable. Good luck!
I’ve been getting my decisions now and all I can give you is, the application is quite academic-oriented at the end of the day. If you have that, then work on your EC’s. First, get the academics straight. Work on your standardised testing without neglecting your school exams. All the best!
Thanks for all the feedback. I’ll keep my academics in mind and definitely work on the ACTs. I’ve never been great at standardised tests but I’ll do everything I can to turn that around.
Take at least 3 SAT II subject tests, preferably in an area related to your prospective major. This is needed to show that your A level marks are not simply a fluke. The schools like to look at the SAT subject tests to compare the ‘quality’ of education across different international schools.
Nice stats but your ECs are dry, nothing stands out really. The applicant pool for indian internationals is very competitive. Btw I suggest putting soccer as your first EC. It shows you are not just the common nerd haha
How much more can I build up my ECs? I’m getting some work experience at a maths learning centre in a few weeks. I’m also getting into app development soon. I’ve taken every opportunity I could to add something to my list of ECs. I’ve just never found it to be enough X_X.
I guess I’ll start sending applications to a few Non Governmental Organisations (there are many in my area). I don’t know how else to move forward with it. Any suggestions?