<p>I'm a senior applying for mechanical engineering to about 11 colleges:
Princeton, UCLA, UCB, MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Cornell, UIUC, Georgia Tech, Caltech, Michigan Ann Arbor</p>
<p>Here's my profile
SAT - 2290 CR 730 M 760 W 800 (one sitting)
SAT II - Physics 800, Math 2 800
ACT - C 34 E 35 M 35 S 33 R 33</p>
<p>Ethnicity : Indian</p>
<p>Academics
9th, 10th, 11th
Throughout >90/100
12th In progress
Course load : Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Economics, English
Top 1 % of students (School doesn't rank)</p>
<p>ECs
Guitar - 4 years, Part of 2 orchestras (Indian Classical and Western), participated in competitions, winning quite a bit
Participated in several quizzes, usually finishing in top 3 or better
Science Exhibitions - 2 times 1st in National level exhibitions
Community service - Two clubs, spent about 60 hours/year
Senior Member - Science Club
Prefect at School (Part of student body)</p>
<p>Essays:
I would say good but nothing fantastic or superawesome</p>
<p>You are definitely very qualified. However, other then test scores, you dont have anything that stands outs. Additionally, because you are an international applicant, it will be even more difficult. MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Cornell, and Harvard are reaches, imo. The rest should be matches. Good luck!</p>
<p>I disagree in that EC doesn’t stand out too much-it’s not definitely a super level, but national exhibition isn’t something “that doesn’t stand out”.</p>
<p>Score wise and GPA wise you are fine, but it will be hard since you are an international student. Do you need FA?
Then take out UIUC, GT.UMich and UCLA.(They would be low reach, match. reach and low reach if you can full pay).
Do you have AP courses in India?</p>
<p>All the other schools are reaches. You don’t have any safety…do you have a back up plan?</p>
<p>@paul2752 I agree with you that those two schools are not safeties for the OP, but I do believe that they can be safeties for national applicants who are exceptional (especially in-state applicants)</p>
<p>As for chances:</p>
<p>Strong ECs, but could use a bit of well-roundedness
Decent Scores
Strong Grades
International hurts a lot</p>
<p>Princeton, - High Reach
UCLA, - Mid Reach
UCB, - Mid Reach
MIT, - High Reach
Stanford, - High Reach
Harvard, - High Reach
Cornell, - Mid Reach
UIUC, - High Match
Georgia Tech, - High Match
Caltech, - High Reach
Michigan Ann Arbor - Low Reach</p>
<p>Look at Op’s stats… uiuc is not a safety but it is definitely not a low reach… It is no more than a mid match and u mich is around a mid-high match. I am an international too and my classmates with similar stats to yours got accepted into the best schools I think your main problem is that there are a ton of kids like you from Asia; you are going to have to set yourself apart either by a spectacular EC or essay. </p>
<p>Princeton, - High Reach
UCLA, -Low to Mid Reach
UCB, - Mid Reach
MIT, - High Reach
Stanford, - High Reach
Harvard, - High Reach
Cornell, - Mid Reach
UIUC, - Low to Mid Match ( if you apply EA don’t be surprised if they defer u to RD and then accept you later, they did that to the best of my school’s students to make sure they won’t be used as a safety)
Georgia Tech, - High Match (might be low reach as they are notoriously selective for us internationals )
Caltech, - High Reach
Michigan Ann Arbor - Mid to High Match </p>
<p>Actually upon further thought, here is an updated list
Princeton, - High Reach
UCLA, -Low Reach
UCB, - Low/Mid Reach
MIT, - High Reach
Stanford, - High Reach
Harvard, - High Reach
Cornell, - Reach
UIUC, - Low Match ( if you apply EA don’t be surprised if they defer u to RD and then accept you later, they did that to the best of my school’s students to make sure they won’t be used as a safety)
Georgia Tech, - High Match
Caltech, - High Reach
Michigan Ann Arbor - Match</p>
<p>You might not make in into Stanford, MIT, Caltech, and Harvard (though you still have a decent chance). Besides those you’re an excellent candidate for all other schools you listed. Definitely apply to all the schools listed. Good luck : )</p>
<p>@paul2752 - are you kidding me
he is definately in UIUC, GaTech,Umich,UCLA,
and most probably Berkley as well. and Cornell is a low reach/high match for you.</p>
<p>Rag22304 obviously you dont know how the admission gets harder since the op is a foreigner. Everything gets harder for int students.
Op can you full pay?</p>
<p>UCLA, UCB-match~high match.
GIT-match
UMich-low reach~reach. The school is very selective on OOS kids, and it will be even harder for international student.
Caltech, Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, cornell: reaches
UIUC-match. Not sure if 15% international students in total enrolled freshmen year last year proves anything, but should be easier than UMich.
I m glad you can afford the COA.</p>
I think your main problem is that there are a ton of kids like you from Asia; you are going to have to set yourself apart either by a spectacular EC or essay. </p>