I've taken a gap year, and I want to know my chances for the Ivies. PLEASE ENLIGHTEN.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey people! This is the first time I'm posting something. I really want opinions on my predicament!</p>

<p>I'll get to the point: I am aiming for the Ivies (another one of those millions x.x), and as you must have read, I've taken a gap year. Below are my statistics, so let me know my chances. (Also, another important thing to be noted is that I'm not American. I'm from India, so that makes me an international student. I really don't know in what light colleges view international students...any information regarding this will be highly appreciated.)</p>

<p>SAT I - 2190
SAT II - Maths I - 750
Physics - 740</p>

<p>Academics:
9th - 77%
10th - 88%
11th - 89%
12th - 77%</p>

<p>My subjects in Junior and Senior years: English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Physical Education. There wasn't any foreign language, so I think that's going to count against me. Also, if there's any need for me to write my subject scores separately, please let me know. I'll state them if they're weighed independently.</p>

<p>EC: Here's the tricky part. I have no stellar ECs to get admitted into the Ivies. I have a few which are hardly noteworthy, but I'll state them anyway, as they're most definitely going to visible on my college application form.</p>

<ul>
<li>9th and 10th - Editor and one of the founders of the School Magazine.</li>
<li>Merit holder in the Maths Olympiad in the 9th and 10th at district level.</li>
<li>First prize holder of an essay contest hosted by the district section of a national newspaper. VERY few people had participated...but my picture was published in the city newspaper.</li>
</ul>

<p>That's it. No noteworthy clubs or anything, no sports worth mentioning.</p>

<p>The main question: Why the gap year? Well, to write a book. I'm almost done, and I will be publishing it by November end, latest. The book is based on my views and opinions of the tough life your everyday teenager has to face in India, in the form of a novel. It's a complete package, not just my boring expressions. It's, as I said, a novel. My friends have liked it quite a lot and they reckon it's insightful. Whatever they say, I'm still not convinced as I'm very scared/nervous about getting admitted in the Ivies. I'll be happy the second the people at the admissions office like it.</p>

<p>I have taken no foreign trips, no summer exchanges and I have not learnt a single foreign language. I have not 'relaxed' as the college heads expect from students who take a gap year...I really think this is going to be counted against me. I also have not worked as an intern or anything. Just what I stated above. </p>

<p>If there is any extra information that needs to be stated, please let me know. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I don’t think your gpa will be high enough for the ivies regardless of if you’ve written a book or not…especially if you’re international</p>

3

<p>Not all intl kids have the same opps for ECs that US kids have. Adcoms know that. But, the questions will be, what you did with the opportunities that are available to you. That includes, during the gap year- ie, what you did that adcoms value, for their freshman class. How you gained from that gap, what new perspective it offers. What strengths, judgment, perspective your choices show. </p>

<p>This is tricky. Lots of kids write books. The matter is the quality and impact- and that can’t be judged by peers or self-publishing. So, let us know more about that.</p>

4

<p>I think you need to broaden your horizons with respect to US universities. Honestly, your grades, scores and ECs are not likely to gain you admission to the most selective schools–and the fact that you’re an international applicant doesn’t help. While having written a book is good, you haven’t published it yet. If it’s being published by a commercial publisher, that could help you, but if it’s being self-published, it won’t be as strong an element.</p>

<p>But there are many excellent schools in the US that aren’t Ivies–including many that have excellent writing programs.</p>

5

<p>Is there some reason, during the gap, that you couldn’t do some public service or pursue something that engaged you beyond the writing?</p>

6

<p>I think your stats are not all that bad, I’m from a foreign country and in my country its very impossible to get 100s and rare to get 90s. But I’ve heard Indians get way higher SATs and higher GPAs. So your chances are not so good. But its really a lottery and good essays and recs improve your chances. I know a guy in my country from a poor family with low SATs 1870. No one expected him to get into MIT but he did!</p>

7

<p>You will not get in with those grades. Sorry. Straight to the point. Investigate other U.S schools.</p>

8

<p>sorry, my opinion is the same as pennhopeful’s.</p>

9

<p>Like others have already stated, your stats are not strong enough for the Ivies/Ivy-level schools. Being an international student makes your competition even tougher. BUT, you still have a shot at many other great universities. Definitely research some other schools.</p>

10

<p>Yes, there is. I traveled around India to see what kind of life students in other states lived…I wanted a broader scope for my book, so I learned a lot from it. Now that I think, I think you’re right when you imply that I should have done some public service.</p>

11

<p>And yes, I thought my GPA is quite low too. It comes to 83%, so I guess that would mean 3.00 GPA, which is of course, not very good.</p>

12

<p>Yes, I think so too. Please, people, if any of you have suggestions on good colleges which are capable of providing financial aid up to at least 75%, please state them. My main reason for the Ivies, apart from their excellent majors and campuses, was the financial aid they can provide. I am clearly not cut out for them…please please state some good colleges that are Govt sector?</p>

13

<p>Also to those who think I’m flat out deluded, please tell me the reasons. I want to know where I lack, apart from the GPA. If there’s anything I should have done or can still do, please let me know! And thank you for your opinions, it’s much appreciated :D</p>

14

<p>I find it interesting you are writing about the tough life of an everyday teenager. You seem sensitive to such a plight. Why not do something outside yourself to help others even worse off?</p>

15

<p>downward trend in grades year 12 does not help</p>

16

<p>@Lelyke - Yes, you’re correct x.x
Many people in India get high SAT scores…While mine is good, it’s still mediocre in comparison. And yes…my chances don’t seem to be good. Probably less than half a percent X.X It’s astonishing to know that an 1870 SAT scorer got into MIT. What kind of credentials did he/she have??
A friend of mine got admitted in Cornell on 100% scholarship. He had a terrible GPA, and his SAT score was 2150 and 1520… He had a Summer Exchange Program on his profile…and that was it. No public service, no foreign language. I was dumbfounded. Funny such things happen.</p>

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<p>@Murphy - Thanks! You have a point when you say that…and I would have done that if I were in the position to do so.The best thing I could do was inspire people through a book and make parents realize how their sons and daughters feel about coercion. And yeah, downward grades can be looked at condescendingly. I wish I had done well…thanks for pointing it out though :)</p>