<p>@COMPSCIFAN totally upto you, dude. Personally, I don’t see the point of sending a bag load of certs, which’ll (I bet) straight go to the bin once it reaches the college.
College officials often complain that too many certs, etc can often prevent them from perusing the aspects of your application that really matter.</p>
<p>^Seconded. I’m not sending anything either.</p>
<p>I didn’t want to send them.
It’s just that my parents heard from someone who said
" All applicants submit a bundle of certificates and this increases their chances "
Now they are adamant abt it…
Having a hard time convincing them that IT IS NOT NECESSARY</p>
<p>^ You mean to say your parents are involved with your applications???</p>
<p>Sarcasm, Ani, Sarcasm. You’ve done well!</p>
<p>
It is a good thing.</p>
<p>Don’t send them. Colleges often advise against sending them.</p>
<p>I agree with it’smylife. (Even though he’s a dipsite. wait, you are a he right?) lol. Ani you’re not gonna get in anyyyywhereee with ONLY a 750. The HORROR. 
</p>
<p>(I really, truly hope you get the sarcasm.)</p>
<p>Also, i vote for giving itsmylife a nickname. For his username. So much better than saying itsmylife. It seems weird. </p>
<p>22 days to yale decisions!! Does Berkeley give FA? I’m trying to decide whether to apply there or not. </p>
<p>Also, has anyone written the roommate essay for Stanford? Is it okay to be creative? I was thinking i’d mention my general disorder and then random fits of cleanliness and stuff like that. :S (I know that’s not very creative. But I’ll come up with something better.)</p>
<p>^^Yeah. My mom’s involvement in my apps is next to nil. Apart from the ocassional “You’re neglecting CBSE” comment and horror stories of people not getting accepted anywhere even with great resumes, she doesn’t really talk much about the process.
LOL. Okay, it’s not as bad as that, haha.</p>
<p>Okay, I learnt a lot at my Smith interview which took place at one of the best hotels here(this is in context with what follows). Since it was followed by an informal snack session and meeting/chat with 8 alumni, the President and many of the Deans and ended with them talking about the school, I learnt that…</p>
<p>There are 4 different type of Prawn dishes.
There are 3 different types of spicy sweet and sour chicken.
Small cupcake shaped/looking spinach- sweet corn dishes exist.
Some yucky olive-onion combi exists.
There are five different kinds of spring rolls among which is the Vietnamese Spring roll. Funnily enough, it tastes exactly the same as the good old spring roll we are all familiar with.</p>
<p>I learnt a lot indeed-> Their PR is very good.</p>
<p>Compscifan-Don’t send it. It’s overkill.
My parents have left everything to me. It’s liberating and slightly maddening at the same time. They’re just concerned with me sticking to deadlines.
Hahah Pixie, quite an eventful interview huh? What did they talk about? (Like for real).
Got another email from UChic. Why must Universities confuse me just when I think I’ve sorted everything out?</p>
<p>Haha i take it you’re not very keen on Smith then? I’m curious, why are you applying to a women’s college? I could never stand being in one. It’s unnatural. No guys? WEIRD. And girls become *****ier without guys around. 
Though of course i respect your decision.</p>
<p>Oh yaay my first CC post that got censored. I feel so awesome. :P</p>
<p>That’s what I thought too till I met with a Wellesley Alum. Thing is, with Wellesley since pretty much everyone is cross registering at MIT and Harvard and BU and what not, you’re around guys a lot of the time. It’s not as closed as an environment as I thought. Plus, their superb academics and teaching environment make it one of the best colleges in the country. I’ve talked to people who’ve been in girls only schools and colleges, and they do say that there is a difference in the classroom when the whole gender dynamic between guys and girls is removed (can’t really explain it well in writing, soz). Anyhow, that’s why I’m applying to Wellesley-this is my opinion though, since I like it much better than Smith and Bryn Mawr and such (W is the only Women’s college I’m applying to).</p>
<p>And girls will always be *****y. It’s in our genes, you see?</p>
<p>Arun- It was actually great tbh. The interview wasn’t long; I had to get it scheduled a month in advance and the Dean could only give me 30 minutes. I arrived 10 minutes late. I can see you cringing. The traffic was horrible. I was banging my head against the dashboard. But yeah, she was great and it was short and sweet. The real fun started when we went down to the conference hall where there were around 8 Indian alumni(and very prominent ones too) with whom I interacted. I was introduced to the President and the other Deans and I could really feel the sense of community that Smith talks about! They could recognise me as my mom had been down there interacting while I had my interview so it was very nice. I was at the centre of attention. Yep,
it felt very good indeed. :D</p>
<p>Haha, just kidding. But yeah, seeing all the very successful alumni there, the meaning of “it’s not where you are but what you do once you’re there” actually hit in full force! I mean with famous Indian political activists, Harvard Business School/ Oxford post grads and other very accomplished people from what I considered to not be a very competetive school was an eye opener. They were all so open and welcoming!</p>
<p>They spoke about what they learnt at SC that made them different and helps them today, why they decided to come back to India, advantages of being in a single sex school(okay, I still don’t really see many benefits, but w/e), the awsome sense of community. It was great.</p>
<p>You know, once one of the grads was really unwell and she couldn’t eat food with salt for a year. The Smith Chefs specially made food for her without salt and went by the Doc’s requirements which tbh, is something really extraordinary; I mean one would definitely not find this in a big school/university.</p>
<p>And they were talking about their experiences with the alumni network and it seems that it really does help out a LOt!</p>
<p>Attending this really made me realize that it matters less where one reaches and more what does there. To develop, to grow, one doesn’t really need to be in an HYP. It’s possible to become someone worthwhile in a smaller school too and that’s what really matters.</p>
<p>Wow. That post is just so well written I feel that anything I say will be inadequate. Perfectpixie, I too believe that college is more about excelling wherever you are rather than getting into the big colleges and doing nothing then. IMO, you’ve clearly got the right spirit and I’m sure you’ll do well wherever you go!</p>
<p>
.
But of course! Glad you realized that. It’s silly to apply to Ivies just for the name and it’s very misguided to think you’ll get the best education in an Ivy. There are many schools that offer just as good, if not better education than Ivies. Sure, the name on the diploma will help you get noticed initially, but a fancy piece of paper isn’t going to be the one to move you up the ranks. It’s all down to what you make of the opportunities you’ve been granted, and that’s what distinguishes a successful person from the crowd.</p>
<p>Dude,I’m so glad I met really sensible people here. Usually people on the internet are ■■■■■■ or ****** monkeys <em>cough</em>. I think I’ll take it as a personal insult if a University (God forbid) rejects any of you.</p>
<p>Thank you kaira!</p>
<p>Arun- Yeah, I knew that of course! But it never really made as perfect sense as it did today. You should have been there. It was an experience to remember. Plus I only mentioned the HYP’s to stand for all the well known schools we all apply to- HYP, Amherst, Swat, yada yada.</p>
<p>EDIT- And I love you too!(I’m assuming you’re including me here, haha) :)</p>
<p>@Kaira, the answer to your question is, I don’t know myself about Smith/MHC.
Wellesley, I’m highly impressed with as a school as a whole. It’s absolutely awesome.</p>
<p>I get what you mean. I have no clue how I would survive without guys for four years too. Many of my very good friends are guys and yeah, girls can get *****y. But from what I’ve heard from alums, in a single sex school, it gets completely different and the sense of community and ‘sisterhood’ steps in.
I really first and foremost care about a good education with great oppurtunities. But yes, I would consider a womens school a little behind on my college list. I just hope AdComs don’t see this, eeps!
Because. Guys are cool. Guys are great. I love them very much, haha. They just provide a very different kind of friendship. There are less responsibilities. In my senior year, my guy friends have been more supportive than many of my girlfriends.</p>
<p>@Aniruddh- Stop whining! They’re great scores! :)</p>
<p>Itsmylife, you idyaat! :P</p>
<p>Dude, seriously.
I was really depressed since the time you posted that. I didn’t know I was SO sensitive about my admits. Good lord. What is wrong with me, man.</p>
<p>Berkeley does give merit based aid but idk. As for need based aid, most probably they won’t accept people who cannot pay full, because of the whole california debt problem. </p>
<p>My parents play a very limited role in my apps. My dad’s really good at english (I made him take the sat under timed conditions and he scored a 2340, so yeah :P) so he reviews all my essays and suggests changes etc… Other than that, nothing really. </p>
<p>15 days to Cornell decisions! </p>
<p>Pix, I get “you’re neglecting isc” a lot =(</p>