<p>Hey, I am an indian student, currently in my 12th grade(in india). I'm planning to apply to some US universities for a degree in computer science. I really want to go to Stanford, but I don't have any note-worthy ECs. Its not really a practice to take many ECs here, at least in 11th and 12th grade. So if there are any other indians who have gotten admission into top unis for CS from india, (or even americans,) could you tell me what kind of SAT scores are reqd, what should the essays project about you, and which SAT II should I take?? I'm planning to take a gap year to do something extraordinary so that "my passions" are reflected in my essay. What kind of stuff should I do??
My equivalent school grades are pretty good- 94.6% in ICSE board exams- its equivalent to 10.0 GPA. I haven't taken the SAT yet.
Thanks in advance. Please reply :)</p>
<p>You should take the SAT II you want to take : take as much as you can but take subjects where you’ll do well. Since you’re planning on studying computer science, maybe you should take math (1 or 2).
i think you should aim the higher you can but honestly under 1800, I think it is gonnas be hard to get to Stanford, especially as an international.</p>
<p>My maths is very strong, because I have been learning higher level maths since 8th grade. I have checked out the maths SAT II papers, and I’m pretty sure I’ll get a full score(I’ve learnt much higher level maths). But the problem is my ECs. What do essays really consist of? So many people take ECs, so few get admitted. So what should a really good essay consist of? Do you just give a list of your accomplishments, or what?</p>
<p>^What essays are you talking about? SAT/CommonApp and Stanford supplement? i am guessing it’s not about SAT. Essays should never be a list of accomplishments. The CommonApp has a separate space to list those.</p>
<p>Not the SAT essay. Oh, so you have list them?? Then what should an essay contain?</p>
<p>Also, I was wondering if Purdue Uni is good for Computer Science.</p>
<p>CommonApp provides a place to list your scholastic distinctions/awards/accomplishments and the level of achievements-international, national, state, regional or school.</p>
<p>Essay is a place to express yourself. As many people say, it’s the only place on the entire application which is under your control. So you should approach it more personally. Show yourself as a person, not as scores, grades or any numbers. Write about something which the admissions officers can’t know from the rest of the application.</p>
<p>I guess you will be applying for the Fall 2014. Did you go through the CommonApp prompts for the year 2013-14?</p>
<p>Yes Purdue is good for most of the engineering departments. Do you need financial aid?</p>
<p>Yup, I do. What are CommomApp prompts?</p>
<p>Google CommonApp 2013-14. If you need financial aid, then Purdue is not the place for you. No public universities, including Purdue, offer financial aid to international students.</p>
<p>ok, and what about Carnegie Mellon? Is it very tough to get in there?</p>
<p>Getting into top tier US universities is very difficult as an Indian applicant applying for financial aid and without an international Olympiad medal, any major science fair placements or a major research project.</p>
<p>I am not discouraging you. But think realistically while choosing colleges.</p>
<p>Everything depends upon your stats, SAT/ACT scores, etc. Carnegie Mellon doesn’t offer aid to internationals.</p>
<p>Seriously? Damn, that sucks for me. I’ll think about other colleges. Its actually very tough to get into the best engineering colleges here i.e. IITs. That’s why I was thinking about US unis. But anyway, thanks for your help :). I’ll try applying; though I won’t rely completely on US unis.</p>
<p>Welcome. PM me in case you need any help/guidance. I’ll be very glad to help you. I’m from India and I know about the IITs.</p>
<p>oh, so you’re from India? Are you studying in the US? I’ve joined an IIT coaching class, but I don’t really have a chance of getting a top 100 rank. that’s what is needed for IIT-B. Hence the US unis. I’m gonna take a gap year to improve my score, so I thought of applying abroad at the same time.</p>
<p>I’m from India, but I am not studying in US. I am an applicant for the Class of 2017. In short, I am waiting for the acceptances/rejections by late March/early April. Since I have walked through all this, I came to know many things–many things that I haven’t known before I started applying to US universities.</p>
<p>Which state are you from? IIT-D is as awesome as IIT-B.</p>
<p>Maharashtra. I’ve been studying since two years for this bloody exam, and I’m still unprepared. You tend to feel like **** when a guy in your class gets a gold medal in the Intl. Maths Olympiad. Seriously, two people from my class got medals. A girl got a silver. IIT-B is the best for CS, I think. Some of my friends already got into Purdue. Purdue accepts so many Indians!! What about you? Which state are you from?</p>
<p>Where have you applied? If you don’t mind, could you please share your stats?</p>
<p>Andhra Pradesh. Yes Purdue accepts many Indians. I would have applied to Purdue if I have enough money to pay for my education there, and I’m very confident that I would have been accepted too.</p>
<p>Are you talking about IMO or any other Olympiad? No girl from India won a silver in IMO 2012.</p>