<p>Last post reminded me of the movie 'In pursuit of happiness'. And for a fact I can't day-dream about Yale as I hardly know about it :P But yes, I am a big dreamer, and accustomed to falls... (Argh! The SSP rejection letter I got yesterday!) But I'm more or less used to it, so I don't think there is much of a prob there. I just don't wanna say, IF I had tried this I might be in a better position than I am in today. Rather, I'd like to be in a situation where I can proudly say, I did my best without unnecessarily sacrificing my IIT-JEE, and I'll just make the best possible use of whatever I have now.
As per turning up as 'exceptional', I have hardly anything to show-off now, but there are 'plans', whether they'll work out or not only time will tell....
Another request, there seem to be a good number of poets and writers here, so could you please direct me to some quality contests etc. where I can have real proof of my ability? I have full faith in myself that I have the ability, I just need a few oppurtunities.
@gary: What is your profile like? School marks, board marks, extracurriculars, SAT scores...everything put together? </p>
<p>School marks, as I said 79% or so. Rank? I dunno, but I'm pretty sure top 20/263 or so taking the eco guys as well. In my section 4/46 odd.
Board marks- 91%~(Not best five-all)
ECs- [hide]Suck when it comes to proof. I write poetry/short stories, like to debate but there aren't any prizes beyond city level. That too lame ones like one at Regional Science Centre in 9th I think for debate and another story one in class 6 lol.
I was into swimming when I was young. Was going to represent my school at inter-school and possibly district level contests, but just as my first competitions were coming near, I fell very sick and was subsequently diagnosed with asthma, allergic rhinitis, DNS and all stupid malfunctions. So my parents put a ban on my swimming. I still love playing basketball and stuff but nothing really to be proud of. The best I've done is been a part of my losing house team.
Apart from that, I've just started writing songs and am a part-time singer in an amateur band. Just one public performance outside school for now :( Though I do think the rest of the band members are VERY talented, and maybe if you guys suggest I could write a new song and record a video of our band performance as supplement material to whichever universities accept it.
I'm also working online as a writer in a new game designing studio. Its currently unpaid and kinda voluntary, but we've been working for something like 6 months and have made considerable progress with our first project. I dunno if dialogue/story writing for some game designing company or a passion for computer games is even an EC haha!
And in case this doesn't come under 'writing, I love creating quotations when I'm in a good mood. On holidays you are likely to find 3-4 quotes stored on my cell's calender for the day when I go out for a walk :P
I also like to solve informatics problems and participate in participating in programming contests, but I started this only a couple of months ago and have no prizes to show off. So its more of a really fun hobby rather than an academic commitment for now.
What else? I'd love to go into social service but my parents would kill me for wasting time....
So that's it I guess unless I'm forgetting something coz I'm really sleepy.[/hide]</p>
<p>Coming to SAT, [hide]I got 2020 on the first attempt, but that was with just around 3 days of prep coz INMO and KVPY interview were round the same time. The practice tests put me a lil above 2200 so I was a bit disappointed. I do believe I can do much better in the next one. With some practice I can realistically get to 2300-2350 but if I were to lay a bet, it would be between 2200-2300.
The breakdown in my last SAT was-
CR-660
Writing- 640
Maths-720(silly mistakes & drowsiness!!)</p>
<p>I'm taking my ACT on 4th in Mussorie. Lets see how that turns out. Studied from all sorts of ebooks. Will take full practice tests when I've completed all the prep material first. Just taken the Maths one, scored 100% going 33% lengthier test in 75% of the time. The english will undoubtedly be a lil more unpredictable. Wish me luck! hehe
[/hide]
About other competitions,[hide]
AIRs 60,67,163 in different years of NSTSE
AIR 172 NCO
AIR 126 NSO
Won 1st prizes in Inter-Branch Olympiads for Physics(twice) and mock NTSE conducted by City Montessori School(My school holds the world record for most students(35K+) in a single city with its 22 branches and has also won the Unesco Prize for Peace Education)
1st prize in Elocution and Quiz competitions conducted by Regional Science City.
1st position in Science Talent Search Exam in West Bengal(But that was long ago)
Came in top 3 in the written round of Birla Scholarship exam and won the interview round(Conducted by South Point High School. Kolkata. Scholarship included completely free education till I was studying there but I had to reject and come to Lucknow the same year)
Came third in the regional round Discovery Kids Quiz(team of 2)
Placed in top 10% of candidates enrolled at my centre for NSEA Sr. and in NSEP(Physics) only one other guy from our school gave it from 11th, but it is cumpolsary for class 12th and only 1 senior(or maybe 2 at the most) scored more than me on the same paper.
Cleared RMO(11th) and NSEA Jr.(class 8)[/hide]</p>
<p>So there's it. Nothing really I can hold on to with pride, though NTSE and KVPY are pretty prestigious.</p>
<p>Is there anything else you'd like to know to give me better guidance?
Thanks a lot to all the helpful seniors and competitors in this thread!</p>