Plssssssss Help Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>Hi guys,
I am new to this forum..... I am international from India.
Please guide and chance me at the following univs according to the following stats.:-
1) I am in grade 11. I have accelarated my studies so much so that I'll be giving my AP's next may(missed it this time). My main reason for considering US education is that Indian system isn't flexible enough to allow me to skip a year.
2)I'll be giving my SAT this september but expect 2200+ for sure.
3)I have givebn SAT Biology e- 720. SAT maths level 1- 710. TOEFL - 109/120.. Do you think I should improve my TOEFL score?????
4) I'll be giving my SAT MAths level2, physics, chemistry in october. expect 750+ in all.
5)95.5% in ICSE grade 10. Applied for reevalutaion.
6) School topper since the last 10 years.
7)Class president since the last 7 years.
8) Great grades. always above 90%.
9) The recommendations will be good. But please advice me as to what type of recommendations should i ask for.
10) Activities:-
Debating, quizzing. won a few national level quiz contests. Also paryicptaed in singing and theatre contests.
Sports:- In school cross country and football teams.
11) Social work:- Active against female foeticide in the region.
12) What else is included in Ec's??? What else do I need to tell for you to have a more complete picture of mine in front of u ?????????</p>

<p>I'll be applying to MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Princeton, Cornell. please keep in mind that I'll be applying for financial aid around 38000-40000 dollars. That's a big impediment.... Which other universities should I apply to??? I shall need financial aid. Are there any other scholarships available??????
Please chance me honestly at all these universities indiviually.
Also please suggest me as to how do I improve upon my applications?????</p>

<p>What kind of essays, applications should I have.????
Also please keep in mind that my applications wuld not be handled professionally handled.So, I need your advice much more.</p>

<p>What other things will improve my chances.........???????
Any other suggessstions???
Waiting...........
Dreammaker........</p>

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<p>Heh calm down.</p>

<p>It looks like you have a good chance with the top schools. As for need-blind schools, you've got the HYP, MIT, Williams and Middlebury and they'll pay how much you need. There are around 10-15 other schools like Grinell for example who are not need-blind but who'd pay your full demonstrated need if admitted. Make sure your financial apps for these non-need-blind schools do show the maximum amount you can comfortably pay otherwise it will jeopardize your chances of admission.</p>

<p>They'll mainly look at your GPA, rigor of courses for the last two years, SAT scores and any other academic and non-academic achievements in the national/international level. If you can stand out in those areas, you're in. Visit US News (not the college main rankings but you may use the Best Values ranking for ideas) and Collegeboard website regarding the financial aid. Also browse through these forums and they have enough information elsewhere. You should take into account some definite factors when applying for college:
size (student-body)
cost (and financial aid offering policies and recent offer stats)
need-blind/non-need-blind & if not need-blind do they promise to meet full need?
academics/oppurtunities available & what majors are their areas of speciality
environment/campus --- what the students say</p>

<p>Do not follow rankings and apply to a safety school (high acceptance rate) just in case. Remember, it's all about fit. You shouldn't apply to a school just because it's one of the top 10 schools. Whether you'll like it there is also a factor as unlike high school, you're going to be spending your whole undergraduate period there. For example, University of Toronto is a great school (it's not hard to get in as well although they're stingy with financial aid - then again since you're a good student you may get a good package) but its student-body size just totally repelled me off.</p>

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<p>Hey dreammaker, first of all, welcome to CC! =D! ur so lucky u found this site! It’s incredible helpful.
I already graduated from HS and I'll be attending Duke U. this fall :)
Ok, now I'll tell what I think u should and shouldn't do:</p>

<p>1) Don’t take the toefl again. As long as you have a good SAT critical reading and writing score, your toefl won't matter at all. </p>

<p>2) Search for some "safety" schools. MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Princeton, Cornell are all reaches for everyone. So be sure to include some safeties in your list. I'd recommend you: SUNY, lewis&clark(no application fee), Roanoke College... there are not so many colleges that give a lot of financial aid to internationals but you have to find some. </p>

<p>3) Apply to some need-blind colleges (Princeton is one of them, as well, as Harvard, Yale, Wellesley, Williams, Middlebury, Amherst, Pomona, Haverfod, Swarthmore
are) </p>

<p>4) Check this out: <a href="http://www.edupass.org/finaid/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.edupass.org/finaid/&lt;/a> </p>

<p>5) Choose another SATII test. I mean, u have to convey that ur a "well-rounded" applicant, so taking MATH level2, physics, chemistry would only tell that ur only focusing on SCIENCE.</p>

<p>6) Write your essays as personal as possible!. Really, you have to start working on them. There are the most important part of your application!</p>

<p>6) Sign up at fastweb.com. There are not many private scholarships for international students (yeah I know everything is harder for us), but I have found some there that allow internationals to apply. </p>

<p>I cannot really tell u about ur chances, but if u want my opinion, ur only an average applicant for Princeton, Cornell, Stanford, MIT. I know that sounds harsh, but u have to realize that there thousands of students like you. Hopefully, your essays will make the difference. </p>

<p>Definitely, there are gonna be other opinions and suggestions, so be sure to check at all of them. Good luck with ur application and enjoy the process.</p>

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<p>In all honesty, you have a very small chance of being accepted at one of those school with aid. That get thousands of applicants from India every year, many with national honors in many things, and they accept very few with aid. Without being one of India's top students with many 800s, chances are very low.</p>

<p>You need to look at less well known schools that don't have a ton of top Asian internationals applying.</p>

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<p>ok. so any other advices??</p>

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<p>my chances r extremely low,right. i suspected dat. which point on my application is the reason 4 it?? how do i imrpove it??</p>

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<p>which test apart frm science shud i take?? english or world history?? any other suggestions??</p>

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<p>your sat's are good enough! Don't take sats in every subject!! I myself concentrated on MIIC, Physics, and Chem and got 800 in all! You don't need to do evry test.</p>

<p>Same goes with AP's. In fact, you don't actually need them since they will hardly make a blip in your application. US students take it for the rigour, not the scores. AP scores are only good for college credit. So focus on SAT I and more importantly, you essay. Also, I see no initiative toward your passion, assuming you want to do engg or some science. Focus on that.</p>

<p>Your 95.5% ICSE is impressive though. I myself only got 91.2% but I am satisfied.</p>

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<p>You need to nail a perfect 2400 in your next three SAT2's for those schools you mentioned. But don't take me very seriously...</p>

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<p>Are you female? Females are mostly underrepresented among internationals at good LACs, well, at least I think that's the case in my school. Think LAC too. - Williams, Amherst, ConColl, Wesleyan...</p>

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<p>what kind of things show my passion??????? pls advice......</p>

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<p>first of all, I request (not command) you to stop with using more than 2 exclamation or question marks.</p>

<p>What kind of things? Awards , research, showing initiative toward your passion, EC's, etc. If you are really passionate, I am sure you are already doing those things.</p>

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<p>I second rama_GB.</p>

<p>Can you please format the text before posting it? Something like this <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=335204%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=335204&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Awards:- Of what kind?
Research:- I don't have much facilities here, what do I do?
What else can show my passion? I am passionate about Science but how exactly does it show?
And thanks a lot for your advice. You see that I am following it.</p>

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<p>Don't stress too much:)</p>

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<p>YOu can do research on your own too. Your passions shows in your extra curricular activites and awards.</p>

<p>Precisely Jrock, DONT Stress too much!</p>

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<p>echo Jrock</p>

<p>Research: You obviously haven't tried to find the facilities. I live in India, and am now working on my second research project for heaven's sake.</p>

<p>Awards: Anything that shows your passion and skill, preferably at the national or international level.</p>

<p>Passion...start a club in your school, start a intra-city network for you passion, etc.</p>

<p>And yes, thanks that you cut down on your number of punctuation marks. Much appreciated</p>

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<p>rama_GB what are you doing research on?</p>

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<p>Computer Science: Search Algorithms</p>

<p>That is why I can do research, no need for labs.
Even so, it doesn't mean dreammaker can't do lab-based research i India, he has to ask around...</p>

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<p>Listen!! To be passionate to something doesn't have to mean a million awards, years of research etc. Also interest in science articles, science museums or many other simpler things mean passion.
Maybe try to volunteer in something related to science (a labartory in a local college).
Good luck!</p>