CBSE student living in the UAE
Academics
9th grade - 9.4 CGPA
10th Grade - 10 CGPA
11th Grade - 85.4%( Economics 93, English 86, Chemistry 84, Physics 82, Math 82) [really low, I know ]
12th grade - 90-95% predicted score
ACT - 33
SAT Subject tests- Math- 800 Physics- 780 Chemistry-790
Intened major- Chemical Engineering
Desired Unis- UC Berkeley, UCLA, Georgiatech, University of Illinois, Purdue
Extracurriculars-
Trinity guitar exams Grades 1 through 6 with merit and distinction
Member of school band
Active member of international organization called Best Buddies. It is a club where me meet up and interact with challeneged individuals (9th-12th)
Best Buddies prefect - 11th
Best Buddies Vice President - 12th
Editor on a blogging website (12th)
MUN (10th and 11th)
Work Experience-
Internship at a local firm in India during summers of 10th and 11th
Internship at GM company summer of 12th
Voulanteer at Dubai Autism Center summer of 12th
Extra info-
Completed a uni level course on coursera.com
Appreciate all the help
Your junior GPA may hurt you. How is your class rank? It is hard to chance an international student. UCB/UCLA are particularly popular among international students that your chance would be lower. Purdue may be a match for you. GATech and UIUC would be in the low reach/high math area.
Well, all my subject teachers hold a high opinion of me and I’m sure they’ll wrote great recommendation letters. Also there was a curriculum change from grade 10 to grade 11 and hence I found it rather challenging to adjust to this new environment. I can get my teachers to write about how curriculum change was the reason for the dip in my score in 11th and that in 12th I was back on track
Will these factors at all increase my chances at Georgia Tech and illinois ?
Well, all my subject teachers hold a high opinion of me and I’m sure they’ll wrote great recommendation letters. Also there was a curriculum change from grade 10 to grade 11 and hence I found it rather challenging to adjust to this new environment. I can get my teachers to write about how curriculum change was the reason for the dip in my score in 11th and that in 12th I was back on track
Will these factors at all increase my chances at Georgia Tech and illinois ?
For UIUC, they don’t want any recommendation letter. You may need to explain the situation yourself.
I would say University of illinois is a match for you. I am an Illinois resident and U of I lets in about 50 applicants each year from my school that are much less qualified than you. I would say just work hard to get your GPA up senior year because your junior year grades will definitely hurt you.
Another piece of advice: you should do some extracurriculars this summer or in the beginning of next year that are related to your intended major. That will stand out to the admissions officers and show that you have excelled in a specific area.
Chance me back please?