Strong GPA [41/45 IB], but a weaker SAT [1440], chance a full pay India for top us colleges

You might want to read this thread. It’s older, but actually admissions have become even harder. No one expected the student to be shut out everywhere he applied the first time…very top student (SAT score was close to 1600), top of class, national merit finalist, excellent ECs. And he was an U.S. citizen. And he applied to all reach schools really. You have your colleges in India as sure things…but you really don’t have any U.S. schools on your list that are. Consider that.

There are other less competitive schools where your goals could be met. I’ll mention two I know of…Fordham in NYC is one. Southern Methodist University in Dallas is another. SMU might not land you an IB job in NYC, but there is no guarantee you will get that anyway.

Your list is reach heavy…

You could be shut out here like this kid was. Read the whole thread…