<p>I wanted to start this forum since a very long time since I was beginning to realise how much more tougher it is for an international student to go through this very selective application process. With our own tough exams and all, managing application essays, SATs is no cake walk. </p>
<p>Since, for the class of 2018, the application process as such is over (probably not the interviews), it would be great if we could share our experiences and give advice to one another. The reason why I specified Ivies and other selective colleges ( MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Amherst, UCs, UChicago etc.), is because the process for these colleges is significantly different. </p>
<p>For the Class of 2018, we can still share our interview experiences, advice on sending additional materials and updates to colleges, any tips for deferred or waitlisted students etc. Class of 2019, we hope you do not procrastinate and that you benefit from our advice and not make the mistakes that we might have committed. </p>
<p>Speaking of interviews, were any of you contacted by the ivies yet? I was contacted by just Princeton and will be having a Skype interview in a week. </p>
<p>I seriously wonder if the other colleges are going to offer us interviews. Interviews don’t have much weight but still, it is nice to get to talk to the alumni. Any idea when Indians are usually contacted?</p>
<p>Hey! All the Best for your interview. I had my Princeton interview just now; it went on for an hour and a half. The interviewer talked more so it was basically more informative than evaluative. Btw @aks2014 , which city do you live in? I applied to UPenn and didn’t get any email regarding the interview yet and I AM freaking out . Does it have anything to do with alumni unavailability?</p>
<p>hey, guys i’m in delhi…and i have still not got any e-mail from UPenn for any interviews…Should i also be freaking out…coz delhi is like a central place…???</p>
<p>The Penn website FAQs say that interviews are not scheduled by the admission office but the alumni committees. Sob basically, once they receive applications, they just forward the names to the alumni committees. Whether or not one gets an interview depends on alumni availability and application volume in an area.</p>
<p>@jjkiller911…Since, you are in Delhi, there might be many more applicants because of which you weren’t contacted. BTW, applicants are apparently not filtered. The Alumni is not given any information other than names and contact details. And also, there is the whole of February left…so we should chill a bit! :P</p>
<p>The website also says that if someone is not offered an interview, they can submit an additional recommendation from someone who can give the adcom a different perspective. </p>
<p>Hi, UPenn candidates:D would you all mind giving me a brief idea of your scores/ extra curriculars/ grades etc etc? I’m going to apply next year- I’d like to know how it goes, if you don’t mind. </p>
<p>If any of you have enough time, please please please chance me! Link-</p>
<p>Hi @Sophia91397 ! I posted on your thread; hope it helps.</p>
<p>I forgot asking you, which board are you studying in? Because, you have a GPA and all, so just wanted to ask.
You will be compared to candidates from the similar academic environment; in your case, which ever board you are in, country etc. Since letter grades are used in the USA too, straight Bs will look bad. So, make sure your counsellor specifies the tough correction.</p>
<p>As far as stats are concerned, it is really difficult to tell. People with 2400 have been rejected. Below 2000s have been accepted even if they aren’t recruited athletes. But it is always safer being above 2250. </p>
<p>Coming to ECs, you can’t compare 2 students. Just do what you care about. I know it sounds clichéd but it is the truth and the only thing that works :)</p>
<p>You have really good ECs. Build on the debate. Rad that you made a website; could you get an opportunity to more of that? Focus on depth.</p>
<p>@Conscience13
Thanks so much for your advice! The school I go to in India follows the CBSE system. </p>
<p>I suppose I could build more on the website. The problem is that I live in a somewhat small town in India, so debating opportunities are somewhat low-level:/ I suppose I could just do more of them?</p>
<p>I’m thinking of maybe going to debate camp in US over the summer. I suppose that could help.</p>
<p>Anyways, thanks a lot for your time! If you have any other advice, I’d love to hear it, and good luck for your college application process!:D</p>
<p>If you can go to the debate camp, that would be great. Since you are in a small town, why not start debate competitions! You already have a club right? When opportunities are not available, create them. If you have the time, think about that.</p>
<p>And CBSE is giving grades? I thought it followed the percentage system. And in case you are getting both percentages and grades, don’t try to convert percentage to GPA; that would be disadvantageous to Indians. </p>
<p>@jjkiller911 …received any information regarding the UPenn interview yet? Just today, I received an email from my interviewer and I am having the interview on Wednesday. Looks like it totally depends on the interviewer and not on the admissions office. Wait for like a week more and then you could probably just send an email to Penn. But they are probably helpless now. They might send a reminder to the regional alumni committee though. So, it is worth a try.</p>
<p>@Conscience13-
That sounds great- we’re actually holding our first competition in April. Great minds think alike;D jkjk. Anyways, good luck for your UPenn interview, I hope you do fantastic!</p>
<p>I had Princeton and UPenn phone interviews.
They were rather good!
I don’t see anymore coming to indian students though. What’s your take on this?</p>
<p>It is very unpredictable; depends totally on the interviewer. They are given a deadline to submit the interview report, which is due mid-Feb or end of Feb (depending on the colleges). But some college websites do state that they will accept these reports even after the deadline.
Princeton and UPenn have a very good alumni interview network and looks like they have covered most Indian applicants. I am guessing those who still didn’t hear from an interviewer might do so till around the first week of March.
That said, interviews do not carry much weight, so those who aren’t contacted shouldn’t be worried!</p>
. Does it have anything to do with alumni unavailability?</p>