Please put forward any tips and advice for Indians applying to the States in 2019-20 for undergraduate studies. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks!
Sit down with your family, and determine just exactly how much money will be available to pay for your education in the US. Don’t forget to factor in transportation home at least once each year, and new winter wardrobe if you would be moving to a significantly colder climate.
Then, contact the counselors at the closest advising center of Education USA. There are several in India. https://educationusa.state.gov/find-advising-center?field_region_target_id=&field_country_target_id=306&field_center_level_value=All They are expert at helping students like you navigate this process.
Hi. I have already done that and come up with a shortlist of unis :
Stanford
Purdue
UIUC
UChicago
UWashington Seattle
UWisconsin Madison
SUNY Stony Brook
VirginiaTech
TAMU
UT Austin
UT Dallas
UC Berkeley
U of Toronto
This is me:
SAT : 1520( 720 + 800[math]); 6/5/6 in essay
Will be taking Physics SAT(Confident of scoring 750+) and TOEFL(will get around 110).
ISC curicullum, top 3 in class
97.2 in ICSE class X boards
around 95% predicted for class 12 ICS examinations
Intended majors:
Computer Science(AI or Data Science preferred)
Physics(Astro or quantum is preferred)
Biology(Genetics preffered; mostly ONLY for Stony Brook)
ECs:
MUNs with awards
Debates & Quizzes
Regional winner of TCS IT Wiz Quiz and National Safety Science Quiz.( Took part in national finals of both)
School gold medalist in IMO, NSO, NSTSE, NCO, IEO in 9th/10th(Does it matter?)
Lots of volunteer social work
District level badminton player
school level soccer player
Indian classical vocalist, passed 3 levels of certification examinations with distinction(i also sing “western” songs)
won a science competition for an innovative “invention” (Computer based)
2 time Prefect (Leadership??)
Got my Math and Physics teachers to write RECs, which will hopefully be strong.
chance me 
what is the best uni i could get into for the intended majors?
any general advice?
thanks in advance
annual income ~ $120,000
Dependent on FinAid/Scholarships.
No other preferences.
also, other than the Physics SAT Subject test, do I have to take the MATH II SAT Subject test for the unis as i got 800 in MATH in the regular SAT…?
Please rank my chances for the above-mentioned unis based on the given criteria and profile.
You need to look at each institution’s website, and see which SAT II exams are required.
You are a viable candidate for all of these places. But, given the small number of international students who are admitted each year by each of these places, it is entirely possible that you could be rejected everywhere. If your goal is to study in the US, and you don’t particularly care where, you need to identify some safer options. For example, your grades and test scores would guarantee admissions at some places, such as the U of Alabama, that admit strictly by stats. Of that safe list, some will also guarantee merit-based aid.
If your goal is to study at the best place that can admit you and also be affordable, make certain that you have institutions in your home country on your list. @MYOS1634 may have some ideas for you about institutions in other countries.
Thank you for your answer.
USA/ Canada is my first preference but i am clear about my options in my country.
However, i have just few more questions:
- Would any of the universities in my list be considered “safe”.
2 i checked the universities and they don’t have the SAT II as a requirement per se. But, i would like to know if giving the Math II SAT would increase my chances in any way, keeping in mind that i got 800 in the Math section of the SAT. - if i am" deferred", are my chances of getting accepted less/more than normal???
I’ve applied to most for EA and to honors as well.
You need to remove a lot of these places, unless your parents are able/willing to spend HALF THEIR TOTAL ANNUAL INCOME on your studies.
These universities aren’t likely to provide you with scholarships so you’ll have to pay full price:
Purdue
UIUC
UWashington Seattle
UWisconsin Madison
VirginiaTech
TAMU
UT Austin
UC Berkeley
That being aid, your odds of admission mean you’d likely get into a few of those, probably half, which is quite good for colleges at this level of selectivity.
At Stanford, your odds are 1% like for all ORM applicants, however you’d automatically get a scholarship.
Okay. Thank you for your help. Will take it into consideration!
The only “truly safe” institutions for international applicants are those places that admit strictly based on stats, and that extend that policy to international applicants. As a general rule of thumb, what would be “relatively safe” for a US applicant is barely a “match” for an international, and what would be a “match” for a US applicant, is a reach for an international applicant.
Verify with your parents about what they are truly ready, willing, and able to pay for your education. Check the websites of each of the places on your list, and eliminate any that do not fit well inside that budget (don’t forget to include the costs of travel, wardrobe, etc.), and/or do not offer sufficient aid to international applicants so as to possibly make the place affordable.
Chance me for the Ivy League
Stats:
TOEFL:115
SAT Math 1: 770, SAT Math 2: 790, SAT Physics: 800 SAT: 1540
Class IX: 96%
Class X: 95.8%
Class XI: 91%
Class XII: 92% Expected
Extra Curriculars:
Photography:
GoPro Award, Features on websites like ViewBug, NatGeo YourShot, AdobeStock, ShutterStock and 500px
Selected for the NatGeo Student Expedition and the Sony Kando Trip 3.0
Member of the NatGeo YourShot Photo Community, iPhone Photography School and DJI Photo Community
School Photography Team Leader.
Also mentor aspiring photographers.
Started my own business where I print postcards using the photos I print and sell them at bookstores and exhibitions. All profits are used to buy gifts, books and toys for underprivileged children.
ASCC
Founded an after school coding club in my junior year and also serve as the president of the club. Resposible for designing coding assignments and activities.
Shot Put and Discus Throw
Gold medals in inter school competitions and 2 bronze medals for discus throw competitions. Represented my school for 3 years and served as captain for 2 years.
School Mentor, MAIS Mentoring
Have been Working as a school mentor for 6 years and was the founding member of the mentoring organisation.
Also work with a Brazilian Organiasation that helps students from Latin America and African countries to get into selective summer programs in the US
I’ve co founded a non government organisation to help students in government funded schools solve problems in their lives like sexual harassment through peer and self development programs. Currently working with over 5 schools and 600 students.
Also conduct training programs for volunteers to reach out to as many students as we possibly can.
Robin Hood Army
Serve as one of the youngest members of the Pune chapter of the RHA. Mission: Serve the Hungry Citizen. Have gained over 100 community service hours.
Yale Young Global Scholars Program
Attended the Applied Science and Engineering program at Yale university. Also participated in a human robot interaction program while at Yale.
Serve as an Alumni Ambassador for the program.
Interned are a Startup that aimed to enable local shopkeepers compete with e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart.
Also interned at a document digitisation company to learn the process of preservation of historically significant documents on microfilm rolls.
Awards:
GoPro Photography Award
IEO, NSO, IMO, NCO Gold medalist for 3 years.
State government scholarship.
YYGS Alumni Ambassador Award
School Topper Award
International Youth Math Challenge Finalist