<p>i'm from India and presently in ISC class 12 and hope to apply to a number of US Universities. i've got great marks in my ICSE board exams (95% overall). but in my school (although it's ICSE-ISC), they mark like horrible state boards. they just don't give marks and set the toughest question paper possible which is not at all in compliance with ICSE or ISC standards and all my school marks (9,10,11,12) are around around 60%. </p>
<p>the only thing that can be great about my transcript is my ICSE result. i plan to apply to MIT and the Ivys (since I need financial aid). i have great SAT, ACT, SAT II scores. i plan to participate in olympiads. i've done some good amount of research projects in Physics, Maths (which no other student from my school has done) and based on where i come from, it's extremely difficult to do all those things but it's all driven by my love for the subjects.</p>
<p>but whenever i think of my school grades, i feel like killing myself and all my friends, teachers discourage since they believe, i'd get rejected because of my school grades. Should I not apply at all?</p>
<p>First of all, that “killing” comment was stupid. It almost makes me want to ignore your question.</p>
<p>Secondly, you need to provide more info. How many people go to the US from your school? And how many of those go to the Ivy Leagues / MIT?
Are you in 12th? What are your ECs like?</p>
<p>Yes, I’m in 12th. No one applies to US Univs from my school since everyone prepares for IIT JEE and other entrances. In the recent past, I don’t know anyone who has got into/applied to a US Univ, let alone MIT or Ivy League. In Kolkata, West Bengal (where I’m from), the desire to apply to US Univs is not that high and very few Kolkata schools (apart from perhaps the best few) encourage ECs. Still I’ve participated in Inter house school activities like painting, creative writing and photography.</p>
<p>No no I never said that I wanted to kill my friends, I was just saying that all my friends and teachers discourage me from applying. And I apologize for the “killing” comment.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying. Yes, the school transcripts part is the most problematic for applicants like us from India. How did you do in Class X boards? And did anyone from your school that you know get into a US University?</p>
<p>I don’t think you should worry about school marks much. Didn’t apply to any Ivies, but MIT I don’t think places that much emphasis on school marks, especially for Indian kids. My school (which is super JEE focussed as well) wasn’t as stingy with the marks, but it was bad enough. What you Should be worrying about are ECs, essays, and the Interview. And yeah, don’t talk about ‘killing’ people at the interview, it (the interview) is Really Very Important. Good luck :)</p>
<p>Oh, she must be the girl who won Gold at IPhO, topped IIT JEE and made it to MIT. Wow! But I was asking about extra curriculars like sports, arts etc.</p>
<p>So esconie’s the one who turned down my FB overtures . <em>Accept me</em></p>
<p>Nevermind, fanofphysics, I’m a fan of physics as well, from Kolkata , my school isn’t even a good JEE prep one :(. But I tell you the desire is high over here.</p>
<p>I know the tendency is high among the numero uno schools and many students from those schools apply. But I was talking about the general tendency in Kolkata. Almost none of my classmates take any interest in applying. What I meant was that the desire isn’t as high as it is in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore etc (I’ve got relatives in those cities, hence I know). </p>
<p>Anyways, I never meant any offense to anyone.</p>
<p>Hey, what I was rather trying to say is that the awareness about US Undergrad opportunities isn’t that great where I live. And obviously it’s true that everyone would want to study in the US but the competition while applying from India is so high that it puts off some people.</p>
<p>Competition is high only in the top few schools in the US. Most others would jump through hoops for international students, because of the fees they pay.</p>
<p><em>embarrassed</em> anonymity, anyone? lol. anyway, so the thing is, i hadnt already done any of that while applying to mit. so what got me in was probably student council (my only real ec ha!) and interest in random things like languages/linguistics. not quite sure tho. like i said, it all boils down to the Interview :)</p>
. <em>Accept me</em></p>