Grade 11 and 12- IB curriculum: Mostly A*, As, nothing lower. Predicted score- 43/45. A perfect student, with no discredits to her name.
Here are her test results-
SAT- 2380/2400 (CR- 790, M- 800, W- 790)
Subject test Math level 1- 760/800
Math level 2- 800/800
Physics - 800/800
Chemistry- 800/800
Literature- 780/800
APs: English Literature, Physics C, Calculus BC, Economics, Statistics, English language- 5/5 (did not take AP classes)
She is a national merit scholar, and was a finalist,and obtained a massive scholarship.
ECs-
She has published a book of short stories and poetry- with a very reputed publishing house, after months of criticism and editing
She has been published in several honorary magazines
She has published 2 ebooks of poetry
She organized the literary department of her school fest
She topped her district in the Spelling bee, and reached the international level, as organized by spellbee international
She is the editor and writer of her school’s magazine and journal
She has been learning piano for 10 years. She has reached grade 6, and was one of the highest in her city in the grade 5 practical.
She received scores of 96-100% in all her theory exams- until grade 6
She has been learning Hindustani vocal for 12 years, and was successful in her 3rd year examination, as organized by the Kalanjali school for learning
She is a member of her school’s Model United Nations team
She is a member of the NGO- Make a Difference, and has been volunteering there for several months. She also undertook community service at a blind school, and undertook an internship at IIIT-B institution. In Samarthanam trust, another NGO, she started an English club, which was very successful
She passed several examinations at Alliance Francais with flying colors.
She has obtained admirable state ranks in the Mathematics Olympiads, and city rank of 13 in an aptitude competition.
She has gone for a few exchange programs, and is the secretary of the literature club at her school.
Her essay is a stellar one, and she has around 9 excellent recommendation letters from teachers at school and from the classes she has taken.
Your sister has the makings of someone with above average chances at top schools. I think she’d get into a number of the schools you have listed above. What is the family financial situation? Is she international student? How much can parents pay, and she should also check out how much various schools will expect your parents to pay (run some NPCs and the EFC estimator). Are you a CA resident? What massive NMS scholarship did she get? I didn’t think the designation were complete yet, Is it a general award she can use anywhere or is it a school award? What school is she designating as first choice for NMS? She did not apply early action or rolling to any school?
Yes, she is an international student, but our financial situation is nothing great. She got a scholarship of $2500- a general award. I am not too sure about the other questions, but I will get back soon!
Her dream school is Brown, but she has also applied to Harvard. What do you think her chances are there?
She is in the running with average chances at each of the schools, which puts her at about what the accept rates are. No hook, is the problem. But nothing to eliminate her. IF she has financial need, that is taken into consideration, and how much money will she need? Also what country? Schools often put quotas on international students per country and if she comes from one where there are tons of applicants, her chances are lower.
She is a fine candidate and it would not be a surprise if she were accepted to Harvard but also not a surprise if she is not, as she has no hook that I can see. That’s where the issue is. She fits in with all the kids, more than can be accepted with near perfect numbers, which puts her ahead of those with lower numbers, but not those with certain hooks the schools want.
Didn’t know NMS included internationals.
The problem with most of the schools (other than H) is that they are need aware in admissions for international students. But with her numbers, she’d be at the top of the heap for those quotas. How much money needed will also be an issue.
At this point, there really isn’t anything else. She is a cut above the rest. Absolutely. She just isn’t a celebrity or a phenomonon. She has won any national, international awards that the top schools have on her list, like being a grandmaster at chess, an Olympian, a Siemans finaliist, etc. She’s not published in distinctive journals or anything with a national audience. Those things you can’t just do. Those are the superior super accomplishers. She also is not waif, a legacy, have celebrity parents, URM, athlete, development, from an underrepresented country. At most of the schools, her biggest detraction is that she will need financial aid so she has to be worth paying for.
I don’t understand why people bother spending so much time making this stuff up… The national merit finalists for this year haven’t even been released yet.
@PassionatePoet if she is a citizen then she shouldn’t be applying as an international;however, being Indian/Middle eastern will still hurt even if she isn’t applying as an international.
The books show passion but aren’t exactly IPhO/Siemens level especially since it is, from what you said, just in a few local stores.
The major thing she has going for her is her scores. Great SAT and grades.
You have to remember than about 1/5 36(2370+)ers are accepted, and it is normally because high scores also have other things, not neccisarily because of the schools. Her chance should be around there in my opinion. 20-25% for Harvard, Columbia, and Brown. It should be a little higher at HMC and quiet a hit higher at UCs.
Would you mind mentioning what decision she has gotten so far?
Tell her good luck!
P.S. if you think $2,500 is going to cover an ivy level education(unless your income is south of 65,000) you’re dreaming.
She is not applying for financial aid to any colleges. She has been accepted to a Harvey Mudd… but I know that that is not at the top of her list. Will not applying for financial aid help in any way? Her dream school is Berkeley.