The Indian Thread (TiT) # 16

<p>Different colleges, different procedures I presume... And seriously speaking, I dont think it works that way... I mean, for all you know, you could go to a virtually non existent high school somewhere, even if you have all the resources, top the school and still come off as a potential reject... And schools in the US, the adcoms they do know about some of the schools in India, which perform very well. To say some, I've seen MIT adcoms talk about DPS and PS and DAV... While SAT n HS scores arent really that advantageous if you are already in the top say, 5% they can be cause for rejection if you have done badly....</p>

<p>^ Agreed 10 Char.</p>

<p>^ What else did we say? :p</p>

<p>
[quote]
To say some, I've seen MIT adcoms talk about DPS and PS and DAV...

[/quote]
Any proof to back up the claims?</p>

<p>Top 10% is generally considered the class rank threshold for Ivies</p>

<p>I think you didn't got my point..
And you are not making the right sense. On one side you say:

[quote]
SATs are used just to sift you initially

[/quote]

And on other hand you say:

[quote]
In fact, scores are often the last thing seen in your application.

[/quote]

First clarify this..
And as for the principle, it is a reality. And I tell you, I am not in class of 2012. (Although I may be wrong, but I am not here to assume anything). I have had already gone through the admission process and seen how people and which kind of people get in where. Many adcoms do tell you that your SAT scores are not the ultimate thing and I am saying that as well. I am just trying to say that SAT scores do hold their own importance up to an extent.Again, I never said that perfect SAT scorers are not the ones to get in on first hand. They do have advantage, but when other factors comes in account, many get rejected.
And as for 10,000s of apps, it is really true. Adcoms don't have really good time to go through each and every app, so they indeed follow some sorting techniques. And believe me, from their experience, they can tell that they get what they look for from that sorting....
And in the sorting Scores means both, your SAT as well as HS scores..</p>

<p>ajayc.. follow this link.
MIT</a> Admissions | Blog Entry: "Questions Omnibus, Part 1" </p>

<p>Read the question that Sephy asks.. Matt says that MIT is quiet familiar with DPS. And if they are familiar with DPS, I am sure they must be familiar with other top schools of India.
Last year, Directors of International Recruiting from Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Drexel, NTU, BU, NTU and many others visited ours and other top schools. This happens almost every year.
So, colleges do know how to differentiate between a ruddy goverment school scholar and a top school's not-so-scholar student.</p>

<p>Hmm... I have studied at DPS for two years. Well DPS is an international school so its not surprising they know about it. </p>

<p>
[quote]
So, colleges do know how to differentiate between a ruddy goverment school scholar and a top school's not-so-scholar student.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Dont be too sure about that. You are presuming things. :p</p>

<p>I second issac.</p>

<p>
[quote]
So, colleges do know how to differentiate between a ruddy goverment school scholar and a top school's not-so-scholar student.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You won't be denied admission just because you come from a school the adcom doesn't know about. And it's any day better to be a valedictorian at a school other than DPS than being a mediocre student at DPS. Just the fact that you're in a certain school won't get you in, your performance there matters too.</p>

<p>But DPS follows the CBSE curriculum and an adcom will compare a "ruddy government school scholar" with a DPS student through their 10th CBSE results.</p>

<p>I doubt people from 'ruddy government schools' apply to the US.</p>

<p>FWIW, my school sends maybe 4-5 students to the US every year, and this year someone got into Wharton, so...</p>

<p>"""You won't be denied admission just because you come from a school the adcom doesn't know about"""---> Did I say that the student would be denied..???</p>

<p>"""Just the fact that you're in a certain school won't get you in""" ---> I very well know that.. There are hundereds of DPS all over India.. Everybody doesn't get in..</p>

<p>"""your performance there matters too"""---> Obviously!!</p>

<p>"""And it's any day better to be a valedictorian at a school other than DPS than being a mediocre student at DPS"""----> Mediocre term is relative. I scored 87% in 11th and only 84% in Pre-boards.. Would you say I am a mediocre student?? 87% or 84% might be mediocre in other schools but I was a scholar at my school.
Now if an applicant from a completely non-existent school comes with 93%, I don't think the adcoms would be less impressed with my scores...they know how competitive and tough my school is. </p>

<p>"But DPS follows the CBSE curriculum and an adcom will compare a "ruddy government school scholar" with a DPS student through their 10th CBSE results"-- Ofcourse they can.. But what if there is a student from ICSE board..?? 93% in CBSE is almost equivalent to 87% in ICSE(because it is tougher) and 99% in Maharashtra board(its wayyy esay). </p>

<p>The moral of the story--- Adcoms do know about various schools and boards in India and their course content. If your school is non-existent, they do try to find out about yours, and if not, SAT scores are always there.</p>

<p>tetrisfan.. I know 2 students from government school applying to top colleges this year. They got into government school after 10th. Reason---> No attendance problem. They got ample of time for various extra-curriculars.. They went to Ghana last year for voulnteering and stuffs. One is deeply involved with an organization- Deepalaya. They have done loads of research work too apart from preparing for IIT like bull asses. I wonder where they'll end up at..</p>

<p>Adcoms wouldn't need to "know" about your school, even if they had the time. They'll compare you by your board and that'll make things pretty clear. There is a world of difference between CBSE, ICSE and state boards and that is enough for an adcom to judge the difficulty of your courseload. </p>

<p>Beyond that though, your school doesn't matter. Adcoms know only a few schools in India and so, they would judge CBSE, ICSE and state board student differently. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Mediocre term is relative. I scored 87% in 11th and only 84% in Pre-boards.. Would you say I am a mediocre student?? 87% or 84% might be mediocre in other schools but I was a scholar at my school.
Now if an applicant from a completely non-existent school comes with 93%, I don't think the adcoms would be less impressed with my scores...they know how competitive and tough my school is.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>True. DPS is the best school in India and most adcoms know about it. But it doesn't mean that a "non-existent" school is easy. As I said earlier, adcoms can compare a DPS student to one from a "non-existent" school by their 10th board marks.</p>

<p>10th CBSE boards are common for students of all schools and so being a DPS student won't matter there. If a student from a "non-existent" school scores 95% in his 10th boards and a DPS student scores 90%, adcoms would invariably deem the former as more qualified. </p>

<p>rashi</p>

<p>You in no way are a mediocre student. I agree your school is tougher than most others and adcoms respect that. If they wish to compare you, they could do so with your 10th board marks.</p>

<p>
[quote]
tetrisfan.. I know 2 students from government school applying to top colleges this year. They got into government school after 10th. Reason---> No attendance problem. They got ample of time for various extra-curriculars.. They went to Ghana last year for voulnteering and stuffs. One is deeply involved with an organization- Deepalaya. They have done loads of research work too apart from preparing for IIT like bull asses. I wonder where they'll end up at..

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I know a few govt. school students applying to US colleges too. Sure, they get lots of time for ECs, but adcoms would be impressed by that nevertheless.</p>

<p>"Adcoms wouldn't need to "know" about your school, even if they had the time"--- Oh well, I was assuming that! :D</p>

<p>rashi</p>

<p>Which colleges are you applying to by the way? What are your 9-11 marks?</p>

<p>9th-88%, 10th-91.2%, 11th-87%, 12th-91.4%... Am applying to the whole of Ivy League except Dartmouth and Brown + MIT + Caltech + Smith..</p>

<p>yahan pe hindi main bhi baat karte hain kya? :)</p>

<p>No, your class rank is more important than the %</p>

<p>what if ur skul doesn't rank?</p>

<p>Andhra Stae Board is good though...TN is crap</p>