<p>Would anybody else wish to comment? Please? I also forgot to mention that I have taught Grade 7 and 8 students their regular maths curriculum for a month in Kolkata. It is an honorary post given to the school topper. I also play table tennis, and used to participate in inter-house competitions.</p>
<p>you'll get into CalTech, most likely. Since you're a senior, likely you won't actually "accomplish" anything else with your math proof (like ISEF or something), so I'd probably say high reach for MIT. Especially you coming from Singapore, which produces like a billion IMO medalists (who get rejected from MIT)
If i were you, i'd also apply to other American colleges.</p>
<p>bump............................</p>
<p>Its not easy, not at all!.... if your an international you need some kind of medal or mathlete thingie or something... or else your in trouble.</p>
<p>bumpchabump</p>
<p>Generally, everything seems to be good or even exceptional, but I think you lack substantial awards such as medals and awards from national competitions. More extra curricular activities also wouldn't hurt, but if your SAT scores are high enough you might have pretty high chances.</p>
<p>QUE?! A MI ME GUSTA COMER CHICHARRRRRRRRrrrRrRrRrrRRRrrrONES!</p>
<p>It depends on which "game" you play. What is your selling point to the college? That you're the smartest kid? Hell no. There are plenty of international math, physics, chem olympians who can argue they are smarter. But what I've noticed is many of my relatives who've gone to Yale, Stanford, Berkeley from Asia have had unique profiles with strong ECs, high SATs (actually quite rare from Asia, if you get 2400 there and you have a decent app, and you don't apply for fin aid, you will probably get into a top 5 or top 10 US univ), very high grades, etc. This puts them into a different league than the much smarter kids like you who try to play the "I am so smart so take me" game.</p>
<p>But as for Caltech and MIT, they look for personal qualities like curiosity, perseverance, motivation, problem-solving skills, etc.</p>
<p>cocky stats, but you should try ISEF, STS, Siemens, or USAMO, looks really good</p>
<p>hey. thanks for your replies. but i will be applying for financial aid, as there is no way my family can afford such an education for me. As for ISEF and the rest, I cannot participate in them now because Singapore has its own internal details for applications which I wasn't aware of. I cannot take part in USAMO because I do not live in the US. If I apply for financial aid, do I stand any chance?</p>
<p>MIT is need-blind so that will not affect your application.</p>
<p>Your stats seem to be within the MIT threshold, so as long as you keep them up, you only need focus on other things such as EC's. With MIT, after a certain point, they mostly just try to fit you in the campus; whether or not you'll fit in with the student body.</p>
<p>Caltech, on the other hand, is need-sensitive for internationals. Thus, it will hurt your application if you apply for financial aid - especially with the economy the way it is. BUT! If you think you have a shot at all, go for it.</p>
<p>(I don't chance threads because I believe that we have no real way of knowing, and it'd just give you false hope/unnecessary despair.)</p>
<p>But yes, financial aid wouldn't hurt at MIT, but will at Caltech.</p>
<p>Thanks Shoyz. But I've heard that in spite of the fact that universities declare themselves to be need-blind, asking for financial aid does affect chances of acceptance; behind the curtain of course. So I was wondering how much truth there is in it.</p>
<p>bump.......</p>
<p>well you cant know can you.. no one but the people who work there can know.. if they say they are need blind, no one can disprove them unless it is someone on the inside.. </p>
<p>i would say you have a shot, as long as you(like someone earlier said) portray a different side of yourself than the 'im uber smart, i own' side.. never said you did, but as you know asia has a lot of that kind of person.. they would probably rather have a well rounded person :) </p>
<p>it will hurt your chances at caltech, possibly by a lot.. which is too bad, but nothing you can do about it really.. MIT is need blind(according to above posts) and so they shouldnt care, hopefully! :)</p>
<p>good luck though!</p>
<p>thanks ns89. My friends were telling me about the "behind the curtains" thing, so just confirming. I'm sure MIT is need-blind both officially and unofficially. Could you guys think of any technical colleges that I could consider as safeties??????</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>Hey. Actually my first choice is really Caltech. Should I abandon all hope? I do need financial aid.</p>
<p>you said that you are the lead singer for your school, you should probably also highlight that in you application since the admissions officers like to see Asians that are different from the standard stereotype. I’d give you 30% chance at MIT, 20% chance at Caltech</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>It’s pretty easy to get into Caltech from what I’ve seen. My friend just had good grades/SAT score, no international (or even national) awards in any subject. So I wouldn’t give up hope on that.</p>
<p>MIT is a lot harder</p>
<p>wait, so did you study in Kolkata or Singapore</p>
<p>anyway, very nice stats! I would say mid-reach
maybe emphasize your passion for science and maths in the essays
i think both universities would be hard to get in, but you have good ranks and you come from a competitive school, so maybe describe the hard work that was put into coming in 2nd in the class in such a competitive school…</p>