<p>GPA: Well, our school doesn't have it. However, I'm in the top ten percent of my class for most subjects and the topper for CompSci.</p>
<p>SAT I: 2250
SAT II: will answer next month.</p>
<p>ECs: Lots of stuff here (all international competitions: eg. Google Code-in 2010 & 2012, SyScan Hardcode 2013, etc.)</p>
<p>Intended major: CS</p>
<p>Other stuff:
- Have work experience with several companies as a tech consultant.
- Was offered an internship at Google by members of Google's online security team.
- Editor of the school magazine.
- Several awards from our school's dramatics and computer clubs.
- I regularly contribute to several open source projects. (eg. the Sahana Software Foundation)
- I volunteer with our school's Interact Club and help teach kids computer skills at school.
- I love creating things, so I've got a lot of stuff that I've created online, like web applications, games, and so on.
- etc.</p>
<p>I can't afford a US education without a scholarship and that's one of the major negatives on my application (I think.) My first choice (ED) is between Stanford (actual preference, but they don't give too much aid and are extremely selective) and Cornell (for the TATA Scholarship). Which one should I pick? What are my chances?</p>
<p>Also, what would be a good set of safety schools with these stats?</p>
<p>If you get into Stanford ED (your chances look good! ) and they do not give you enough aid to attend, you can go to another school. So if Stanford is really your first choice, I would apply ED!</p>
<p>Stanford and Cornell are equal when it comes to financial aid for internationals. Or to put it more bluntly, they are both equally bad So apply to the one that you really want to go to and see what happens. Without financial aid I think your chances are high for both – but asking for financial aid really reduces that a little.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider: I’ve seen many students get accepted to one or the other, but rarely to both. This is not statistical data and I may be wrong, but I have a feeling the profiles these two colleges look for are very different from each other. See if you fit one more than the other.</p>
<p>onemoreparent, you’re right, I think I’m more of a fit for Stanford. Cornell is more for financial reasons. Which is why I’m asking if anyone knows colleges with good CS programmes where I’m more or less guaranteed to get in (with scholarships)</p>
<p>Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - [now</a> Free](<a href=“Tapatalk”>Tapatalk)</p>
<p>I’m sorry to say this but there are hardly any safety schools for international students who need aid, regardless of their profiles. However, given your achievements, I recommend you apply to Grinnell College. Great CS program, very wealthy institution so likely to be able to assist you to complete internships in Palo Alto and such. There are other liberal arts colleges too with strong CS programs that you could look into, like Harvey Mudd (although Harvey Mudd is more selective than Cornell). However, be aware that none of them will be safeties and liberal arts colleges have quite different admissions from top universities where top stats and awards are seen as a definite boost.</p>
<p>If you can pay about $10k-$15k, the University of Alabama would be a wonderful safety. It is also very possible that you would receive their full ride scholarship.</p>
<p>And regarding Stanford’s aid policies, Stanford is far more generous than Cornell. However, because of the TATA scholarships, Indians would obviously be in a more advantageous position in Cornell admissions because they are not competing against students from all over the world. If I were you I would find out what Cornell’s tendencies are when distributing those TATA scholarships – do they generally defer Indians to compare the whole pool or are those scholarships just usually given to ED people because of the guarantee that they will attend?</p>
<p>Anyway, consider Vanderbilt too – apply for its Cornelius Scholarship program. However, I recommend go ahead with Stanford SCEA if that’s your dream school. You <em>seem</em> like an extremely qualified applicant and trust me, you don’t want to get into Cornell and be like “what if” for the next 7 months.</p>
<p>There is a difference in admission process between Stanford and Cornell.</p>
<p>Both treat internationals the same way when it comes to FA. However, Stanford is SCEA and not ED. You are not required to say yes immediately and drop all your other applications.</p>
<p>No, there’s no separate process for the TATA Scholarship; all you need to do is apply for aid at Cornell and they’ll automatically register you for the scholarship if you’re eligible.</p>
<p>You have a decent shot at TATA scholarship. Only downside is they give around about 4-5 each year and with so many applicants applying, you can never be sure. Apply to CAS at Cornell, nail your essays and keep your fingers crossed. The Google code thing is great. They send down scholarship notification along with admission decision. Stanford is stingy with international aid, since it is need-aware and full need, contrary to cornell which is need -blind but not full need to internationals.</p>
<p>Stanford does give aid. And all the top schools are selective. And Stanford doesn’t have ED, they have SCEA( where you can only apply to one school in the Early round, but this isn’t binding ). For safety schools, with aid, there ain’t no safety schools for you brother. But I am sure that you will get in at a good school, just keep the essays realistic.
As of aid at Cornell, they declare that after you get in. Isn’t that the case with most schools texas ?</p>
<p>"If you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, your request for financial aid will be a factor in our admission evaluation. Because of the limited financial aid resources available to international citizens, Stanford can offer admission with financial aid to just a small number of international citizens each year. International citizens who indicate on their applications that they will not be applying for financial aid and subsequently are admitted are not eligible to apply for financial aid at any time during their four years at Stanford. </p>
<p>Stanford is need-blind for all U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents (regardless of the country where you attend high school). This means a request for financial aid will not be a factor in our admission evaluation. Visit our financial aid website for more information and the required application forms."</p>
<p>GAH! I too am aiming for Stanford and Cornell. I chose to apply early to Cornell because of 1) The TATA scholarship 2) it’s need blind for international students and 3) it’s got a very high early admission rate.</p>
) and they do not give you enough aid to attend, you can go to another school. So if Stanford is really your first choice, I would apply ED!</p>
So apply to the one that you really want to go to and see what happens. Without financial aid I think your chances are high for both – but asking for financial aid really reduces that a little.</p>