<p>hey guys, I just found out yesterday that my father’s friend was a Stanford professor. If he writes a rec for me, will that increase my chances at stanford??</p>
<p>Sure, thanks!</p>
<p>@Tizil7; My D has received from Rutgers-NewBrunswick& Indiana Bloomington in EA so far
4 more to go.She intends to do Bio tech/Bio Chem major.She is from India</p>
<p>Mrinal, [Undergraduate</a> Admissions to US Universities for International Students - YouTube](<a href=“Undergraduate Admissions to US Universities for International Students - YouTube”>Undergraduate Admissions to US Universities for International Students - YouTube)</p>
<p>10:01 - 10:40</p>
<p>I hope that succinctly answers your question.</p>
<p>Yo Bisty! Hey man, how’s everything going on?</p>
<p>Well till yesterday everything was going on fine, got an acceptance on the group, canhaz got into Drexel… </p>
<p>How’s the prep going on for the boards? And when your results for the Astro olympiad coming out?</p>
<p>@Mrinal2207- Did you work or something with him?</p>
<p>Otherwise I think it doesn’t make a difference. Its not equivalent to a legacy hook…</p>
<p>Looking at all these posts, it looks like Tizi,l you the man, man! Helping out, doing some virtual social service and all ;)</p>
<p>BTW +Iamthebisty, PM me, I have something in mind for the bank robbery :D</p>
<p>And by the way, anyone has left any more college applications deadlines left?</p>
<p>Going through previous years’ Indian threads, there has been a lot of discussion on how adcoms at the “top-tier” schools, for the fear of admitting students who have been lying on their app, do not give much consideration to local community service or volunteer work and do not consider anything under a state level award or recognition. While I agree getting a fake certificate is not a difficulty in India and therefore the adcoms tend to overlook its significance, where would it leave the kids who have actually been doing that stuff for real? Does it count for nothing? If a person is really involved in community welfare but does not have an “award” or “recognition” to show for it, is it rendered completely useless?</p>
<p>
Is that a trick question? Because I don’t think that helping the community is “completely useless.” Are you doing your part of community service because you think it will improve your chances at some university in the US or because you truly believe that a small effort on your part will be appreciated by others?</p>
<p>@tizil - ^ +1</p>
<p>@phr34k - yeah i had a samll chat yesterday…drexel was sure wasn’t it? 
the results for astro will come out at first week of march…i have no hopes whatsoever!</p>
<p>If you mean does it count towards helping your app if you have no proof, then obviously it is a wasted effort towards that endeavour. How are adcoms supposed to know you did something if you just say you did it?</p>
<p>Or maybe they take your word for it, I dont know.</p>
<p>You get it mentioned in your counselor’s letter.</p>
<p>Whoever here applied to Penn, did you people get an interview request? How many of you got phone interview request?</p>
<p>+Bisty- Yeah…
Why no hopes? If I remember correctly you told me one section went bad, but didn’t the other two go pretty well?</p>
<p>@Tizil, that was not a trick question. My parents have been doing it for years and I have been really involved in community service ever since I was young and didn’t even know I would be applying to US for undergrad. I asked because I wanted to know if it would help me in admission if I put it in my app? I did not do in the first place with admissions in my mind, far from it. All I’m asking is, would it be worth including it in the app? Thats it.</p>
<p>@texaspg, that’s a great idea! Thanks! :)</p>
<p>If you’re passionate about it and it’s a big part of you, you can write about it! Writing helps because it fleshes stuff out. It will make the thing seem more credible, more important to you, and tells people exactly where you’re coming from. Your post @tizil told us a lot about your social service, for instance.</p>
<p>iam a newbee, applied to MIT,Harvard, UPenn and to the extent common app allowed. i have got a letter written by my principal regarding financial hardship for app fee. any one know the mail ids to send them. it will be helpful :)</p>