<p>I’m an Indian student applying to Wharton through Early Decision.</p>
<p>Academics: Straight As with the odd Bs, I top my class, my school is regarded as the best academically in the city. We’re not provided GPAs and all students are enrolled in the same study curriculum.</p>
<p>Standardised Test Scores: 2190 on the SAT I (800M, 720W, 670R) and a perfect 300 on the TOEFL. I would be taking the SAT II in October (Math I, Math II and Literature)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars: Okay I’ll try to make this brief…
I’m the School Prefect (Head Boy) of my school. I’ve won US$10,000 for coming first in an international environmental competitition conducted by Volvo and the UN. I was among the top 30 students in my city to be selected for a programming training course at my country’s largest IT firm. I have been the Editor of my school magazine and school News Desk for two consecutive years. I have recurrently won a number of literary competitions at the national and city level. I maintain an avid interest in quizzing and have won a number of prizes to that effect. In addition, I have won Model United Competitions and Crisis Management competitions in my city.</p>
<p>Aid:
I think I’d need 35% or so financial aid.</p>
<p>Given this profile, what chances do I have at Wharton under ED?</p>
<p>Your test scores ain't too shabby, ec's aren't bad either. FinAid for Int will hurt ur chances. Write some great essays, and ace the SAT II's and you'' definately have a decent chance.</p>
<p>I have got a list, may seem rather farfetched but here's my principle: It's going to cost me about the same to attend a normal school or a really highup school, both financially and in terms of leaving my country and adjusting to an alien culture at an impressionable age. Given this, I'd only like to apply to the very best, if I don't get in, then I stay in India</p>
<p>So here's the RD list...
Harvard / Yale / Princeton (hopefully the need-blind for internationals at these places works for me) / Stanford / Northwestern / U Michigan Ann Arbor / U Washington St Louis / UT Austin</p>
<p>Your doing economics or finance right? Don't forget University of Chicago. Their economics is sick. I'd rather go there for economics than Yale and Northwestern.</p>
<p>You're international like me so its going to be much harder than if you were a US citizen. So for places like UT Austin and Umich and UCberkeley it might be a nuscance. But your rank and SAT's are good so it shouldn't be a problem.</p>
<p>HYP are need blind for internationals I think. I know definately Princeton is need blind and so is Harvard.</p>
<p>Yup I am into economics.....will look at UChicago...their Grad School of Biz ranks as one of the best, so yeah their undergrad course should be decent as well</p>
<p>From what I've seen, Harvard Yale and Princeton are need blind for internationals, don't know if they meet 100% of demonstrated though...</p>
<p>Harvard has a good policy where if your parents earn less than 40,000 they've waive your entire tuition. If Upenn allows for it you can also apply EA to UChicago along with your ED to UPenn. I know Cornell allows for it but I'm not too sure for Penn. You should check out the fine print on the ED and see if they let you apply EA elsewhere cauz that would give you a boost!</p>
<p>Nice point, shall check up on that...in that case even Harvard / Stanford allow EASC....the form states "You may apply Early Decision only to one university"...so that leaves room, will check on it</p>
<p>Might want to rethink your list. Schools like chicago and berkeley doesnt offer any need-based aid to international students (not even competitive, just non-existant)</p>
<p>Yup, I'm aware of that...if you notice I didn't mention Berkeley on my list and only looked up Chicago because it's supposed to be good, but then found to my dismay that it doesn't offer aid for intls, it's the same story with Carnegie Mellon...damn</p>