<p>Hello, I'm a student from India seeking admission into US universities. Perhaps you folks could help me know where I stand, since you're more tuned into the system.</p>
<p>Academic:
We don't have GPAs here. The traditional evaluating system is to consider two parameters: The public examination and your internal record. In the internal record, I stand 1st in class, and my grades are healthy. On the public exam, I goofed up a bit and got 85% (considered good) whereas generally a 90+% is considered excellent.</p>
<p>Extracurricular:
I have won USD 10,000 for winning an environmental competition conducted by Volvo, the carmaker. The project was aimed at social service and helping rural womenfolk. I was also selected for a software training course at my country's largest IT firm, Infosys. I have also won prizes at many events such as Model UN, creative writing, quizzes etc. For two years in a row, I have been the Chief Editor of my school magazine and News Desk.</p>
<p>Standardised Test Scores:
I'm hoping for a score between 2200-2300 on the SAT I and believe I could get 700+ on the SAT IIs. The TOEFL, which is necessary for international applicants, I think I can get a 300 / 300 on that.</p>
<p>Given the above, how would you rate my chances of getting into the Ives / top 50 for an accounting / economics course?</p>
<p>If you can afford to pay for most of the tuition, you have a decent chance at Harvard, Yale, Stanford.</p>
<p>If you can't afford to pay for most of the tuition, you don't have a very good shot at any except for NYU, Michigan, and Texas. Many Indian internationals who can't afford tuition get rejected at a large number of schools. Some on this board got rejected by all, even though they had very strong stats.</p>
<p>If you can't afford tuition, add several safeties to that list, especially mid-range LAC's since they like internationals.</p>
<p>Agree with Trout on the money aspect, but even if you can pay full freight, you need to add some safer schools. There are MANY highly qualified Indian candidates applying to the schools on your list and you will be competing directly with them for relatively few spots.</p>
<p>Hey, thanks for your reply, will keep that in mind.</p>
<p>However, on their official websites I read that Harvard / Stanford etc. have "need-blind" admissions policies, where they look at your financial standing after they look at your credentials. For example, official College Board stats on Stanford show that it gave an average of $26190 in aid to international students.</p>
<p>Is this all a farce? Your help is much appreciated</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don't think need-blind policies ever apply to international applicants. Even the wealthiest colleges are need-blind only for U.S citizens. If you are admitted, you should have no problem getting the aid you need to attend. Getting admitted is the tough part.</p>
<p>And it is true, you will be competing with the best candidates from your country.</p>
<p>BTW- I read that the acceptance rate at Harvard for international students is around 4%, while US students are accepted at a 9% rate. Considering financial need and excess applications from India specifically, it can be even tougher than that.</p>
<p>hey.....dont go 2 northwestern 4 undergrad acctg b/c they don't hav an undergrad business program.......try Stanford (business sux if they even hav 1) , UM-Arbor awesome business, UT Austin(great acctg), and NYU also good business</p>
<p>Those schools are need blind for Intnls, but they are only going to take so many non US Indians (US ones too, as well as whites, blacks, chinese....) so to get in and get money, you'll need to be at the top of the pack of Intl. Indians applying. There will be many 4.0 (100%) 2400s competing with you. Your ECs look good, but so do most of theirs. </p>
<p>Bottom line, apply to those schools, but go a couple of tiers down when applying too. There have been many threads about schools that are generous to Intnls, such as Grinnell, which are less likely to get lots of applicants with your stats.</p>
<p>No, I meant Northwestern / Stanford / Harvard / Yale for economics, you're right they don't have accountancy. UT Austin / UM Ann Arbor / NYU are for accountancy</p>
<p>Pff...You would have to be Mexican, living in the 'ghetto' and getting 4.0 GPA while working to feed your family....that's how you get into Harvard...Or so I hear.</p>
<p>Stanford is definitely not need blind for intls. What you can pay is a very very big factor.</p>
<p>Harvard on the other hand is most definitely need blind for intls (as Princeton, Yale and MIT). You could try pming ritz on these boards- she's from India and got into H EA this year :)</p>
<p>I guess you got decent chances everywhere, but do apply to a considerable number of safety schools, u might even get fin aid and also secure a seat.</p>
<p>Just a thought, I'd be paying $75 approx. for all the universities. Generally, the acceptance rate is around 10%. Why can't they charge the 10% only? That is, you charge the one who gets in $750, and make application free. If you can get in, you're paying $40,000, so $750 is no big matter. But when you're applying, especially from countries like India, this can be a deterrent.</p>
<p>Coming to think of it, colleges would be able to attract greater talent this way.</p>
<p>Joe .. I guess there are costs attached to with the processing of the admissions letter, if it was free , then'll it will probably take more than a year to process all the applications... N besides the officers wudn't be able to find the "talents" with the load of applications...</p>
<p>The costs I guess would be offset if you hike the fees for those who get in. Instead of charging 10 people x, you charge one person 10x, or maybe 12x since they'd be more applications.</p>
<p>But you're right, perhaps there would be an overload.</p>