<p>“Do you really think Indians can afford to host such a shindig for three weeks?”</p>
<p>Well firstly don’t trust everything on wikipedia.Anybody can edit those pages(including dimwitted, pseudo-intellectual dweebs) Secondly, Indian weddings can go on for three weeks depending on a number of factors. Just because most of India is poor does not mean that the whole country is poor. So, lavish weddings are very very common here.</p>
<p>P_K: First, this is not “really urgent”, so please give your threads appropriate titles.</p>
<p>Second, all the reasons you cite sound like lame excuses (even the chickenpox). I’m not necessarily saying they <em>are</em> lame excuses, I’m just saying they <em>sound</em> like lame excuses, which is what matters.</p>
<p>My advice: Write a letter and sign it yourself. In that, simply state that you had several personal and family issues that affected your performance in 11th grade, but that you have resolved those issues and that you have straightened the boat in 12th grade. Take the SAT subject tests in the subjects that you got C’s and D’s in, and prove that you know the material now. </p>
<p>That will impress the adcoms much more than a sister’s marriage, a grandmother’s death, and, of all things, grade deflation.</p>
<p>emeraldkity, I AM Indian and my comment was based on anecdotal evidence rather than Wikipedia. I try not to chime in during discussions when I don’t know what I’m talking about. :)</p>
<p>The fact and the reality is it is not an excuse that will fly with admissions. 3 days. 3 weeks for a wedding, doesn’t matter. It is not a viable reason for defending the drop in grades. To defend it, they have to explain that while at the university this will not become an issue.</p>
<p>To be quarantine with chicken pox for 2-3 weeks even a month and not being able to pull out the end of year grades also is not going to pass the muster.</p>
<p>Do you realize how many kids get mono, and still pull out their EOY grades of A’s and B’s. 4 weeks is a small fraction of the yr, we are not talking about 4 months.
2 D+'s means that they never had it to start with.</p>
<p>I think your counselor, stated their position very politely to you and you did not hear it or refuse to see it. Here’s what I take your counselor to be saying in cold harsh terms.</p>
<p>You are reaching too high, if you want to waste your time, go for it, but since I feel it is not realistic I am going to place my attention where I can make a difference. Now if you are that energetic, go for it, and do it, I am still not going to attach my name to something I don’t agree with on paper. In other words, sit down with the counselor and ask them point blank, will you support me if I say X,Y, and Z. If they still say depends, then the odds are not in your favor.</p>
<p>You need to get your SAT scores up if you want to have a chance. You can write the letter yourself, but don’t use the grade deflation excuse. Don’t whine. Make it matter-of-fact. Say how many absences these other things (illness, death of grandmother, wedding) caused you your junior year. Point out your improvement senior year. That is all you can do. (If you have $$–as you said in previous post, your parents will pay-- you can probably find a college that will accept you). But SAT scores of 1570/2400 won’t cut it. Improving your scores will be much more important than the letter. Good luck.</p>
<p>It seems to me that all you need is one sentence saying that family and medical issues resulted in only 68% attendance in Grade 11.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>From another of this student’s posts:</p>
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<p>Source: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/793628-my-first-only-chance-thread.html#post1063365500[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/793628-my-first-only-chance-thread.html#post1063365500</a></p>
<p>Even if the OP’s calamities were sequential, (a 3-week wedding, a 4 week quarantine and a month-long period of mourning), it still wouldn’t be enough time to explain away the poor level of performance.</p>
<p>The issue that everyone has overlooked is the overall trend in the OP’s grades. After a strong freshman year, every grade except science with practicals deteriorated during sophomore year. In three of those classes the results fell by a full grade. This trend continued and in some cases accelerated into junior year. Where was the commitment to achieve during sophomore year?</p>
<p>If the OP’s grades had stayed level or only dropped slightly during sophomore year I think an admissions committee might have been willing to dig into an explanation of junior year. Junior year just looks like a continuation of the sophomore trend with the OP coming to the sudden realization that senior year is the last chance to impress colleges. The reasons given are pretty meager excuses for what is a three year negative slide in performance. I don’t see how any letter of explanation/recommendation can overcome the profile.</p>
<p>It appears from what was posted on another thread that no letter is needed, since a counselor has already written one.</p>
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<p>If I’m remembering the OP correctly, she’s upset that her stats don’t qualify her to really have a good chance at the same top ranked schools that her friends are applying to. So, it’s kind of a ego and peer pressure thing. </p>
<p>The OP needs to just make lemonade out of lemons. She needs to apply to reaches, matches, and a few safeties, and then do well at the best school that will accept her. </p>
<p>She can always excel for a couple years and then transfer to a “top name” school, or graduate and then go to a top name school for grad school.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<</p>
<p>I just wanted to add to my own post, and comment on another’s post.</p>
<p>I don’t think there is a way to explain a 68% attendance (to explain grades) unless the OP herself was seriously ill (cancer treatments or something similar). My sister had a situation when she had kidney failure, dialysis treatments, and subsequently a kidney transplant while in school. My sister was able to provide medical documentation as proof. Colleges made allowances for that because SHE was the one who was seriously ill. </p>
<p>The OP can do whatever she wants, but she really needs to make sure she has 1 -3 safety options as well. From what I’ve read in her other threads, she might be setting herself up for a pile of rejections in the spring.</p>
<p>I agree looking at the link, the reality even Drexel in the US with those stats would come with a thin letter, and that is the lowest of all of the schools, regarding selective chances.</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest lowering the school levels to maybe something that has a 65%+ in acceptance. You are shooting way too high. Not breaking at least 650 will hurt you for EE, even state schools like NCST has higher stats for OOS American students.</p>
<p>You should realize that the way the system works for public universities, is that you are going against EVERYBODY in the International pool, not just your country.</p>
<p>With your stats UMich, UIUC, GATech and UT would say NEXT!. VATech which is not even comparable to GATech, would most likely say NEXT. 75% of the student population for those schools are IS, and you don’t meet the criteria for IS.</p>
<p>I know that is brutal, and it hurts, but your best option is to shoot lower, and then transfer from there.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for replying to my post . </p>
<p>Firstly , </p>
<p>I was appointed prefect - which is a part of the student government in grade 11 . </p>
<p>I have written my SAT’s and I am expecting a 1800+ . </p>
<p>All I ask from you people is that , throughout my high school life I have worked hard , really hard , getting a B+ in a CBSE curriculum school is not very easy , but getting a D+ is nothing to be proud of either . </p>
<p>Throughout my high school , I have been a disciplined and hardworking student . SO can grade 11 marks really screw me up ? . </p>
<p>I have worked really hard over the past few months and now I have good mid-term results and expected grade . Throughout my high school , I have participated in various activities , community service and Model UN. </p>
<p>So does a very bad grade 11 screw me up ? </p>
<p>All I ask is for suggestions . My school has a reputation for sending students to good schools (good but not the very elite ones) and they will definitely try and help me out as I have been a very good student . </p>
<p>So what will it take for me to get into a good university - a letter ? , a postcard ? or whatever it it . I am ready to face the challenge . Maybe not sending in grade 11 marks , if that is an option ! . </p>
<p>So instead of telling me to go to community college and then transfer or telling me to stay in India . Help me get in to a good university in the US (possibly 1 from my list ) .I am not going to back down now as I am not going to put 3 years of constant involvement in school activities , licking teachers as*es , and hard work go down the drain because of a wasteful grade 11 .</p>
<p>Again ,
You people are great . </p>
<p>P.S. - It is urgent as many uni’s have November 1st as a deadline for early notification .</p>
<p>What does grade deflation have to do with this? Also, how can someone’s marriage affect you bad enough that you cannot get good grades?</p>
<p>I know that some of the parents here have been more than willing to help other students with basic editing/providing feedback on their admissions essays in the past, but they are not going to write anything for anyone else.</p>
<p>You have said on other threads that you were a slacker earlier in your high school career. </p>
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<p>What it generally takes to get into the top tier of universities is: excellent grades in the most rigorous courses offered at one’s high school, excellent standardized test scores (SAT and SAT IIs, or ACT), and demonstrated passion for something as shown by one’s extracurricular activities. Either well-roundedness – demonstrated by ECs – or singular focus – demonstrated by often outstanding work in one EC – probably helps a lot.</p>
<p>Getting into a good university isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon, and that marathon starts before one’s senior year does.</p>
<p>Sure, apply to a few reach schools, but really, you need to find schools that are matches for you, schools where your SATs/GPA are in the range of admitted students, preferably comfortably in the middle of the range or higher.</p>
<p>You might consider taking a post-grad year of study – a gap year – before starting university, too, to get your grades up at a school which offers a post-grad year.</p>
<p>So, why did you say in this other thread that you “slacked off”?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/770037-girl-delhi-needs-help.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/770037-girl-delhi-needs-help.html</a></p>
<p>Hmm…I think there is some money to be made for all the time we have spent on this forum. We could set up a business where we could help students with their applications and essays, charge a fee for our service (no more free advice). There are some great writers on this forum, not me, so I would be willing to be the business person. We’ll use PayPal as a payment method. We won’t even have to see each other, we could all do this from home. At the end of month, we could just transfer money to everyone’s acct. </p>
<p>I am just day dreaming on how I could stop working. Carry on.</p>
<p>UMICH and UIUC are as close to an ivy as you can get, they are not easy schools for an OOS, which is the pile you would fall into. You might as well have said UVA and UNCCH.</p>
<p>You are honestly not on that level.</p>
<p>Honestly, 11th grade boffed you, especially when you want EE.</p>
<p>1800 out of 2400 is in the states a borderline for general admit for IS, let alone EE.</p>
<p>Good universities look at stats, post cards and letters explaining your sisters wedding or chicken pox will not ease their fears, when you have only a 500 range on Verbal. They are going to see language as a barrier. Even as an EE you will take English and History courses, if the language is a barrier you are not an optimal candidate. </p>
<p>I think we have all politely stated, that you need to re-jig your dream if you want to attend school in the US.</p>
<p>You need to find small universities and go from there.</p>
<p>To say I am disciplined and hardworking, but don’t look at my D’s creates the question of how disciplined are you?</p>
<p>You wasted your 11th grade, and to be honest not one on that list looks viable with your stats. The only thing that might get you over the edge is to see their profile, and maybe your country is not competitive, but remember you will be competing against OOS that will have heritage as their URM to cancel out your country.</p>
<p>I am quite curious about the explanations for low grades that the OP has provided, but I wish that he or she would explicate in more detail.</p>
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<p>The answer is yes. Grade 11 is very importnat-- possibly the most important year regarding college apps. Grade 10 (when your grades dipped) is also important. Grade 12 is important BUT the colleges only get half your grades on time. So yes, an across-the-board dip in grade 11 will kill you at the top colleges. </p>
<p>It’s not a matter of a letter. It’s not a matter of money. You need to apply to schools where your gpa and SAT scores are in line. Fortunately, there are many colleges in the US and if your parents can pay full price, you may find a school. There may be a private college or a state school that is not the flagship (a satellite public college) where you will be admitted and you will flourish-- or you can stay in your own country, as you wish-- but your determination will not get you admitted to a top engineering school with those numbers. I’m sorry.</p>
<p>Just amazes me that the story keeps changing. Has no counselor, has counselor who has written great rec; slacked off, didn’t slack off. Wants one of us to write a letter for her, now says all she wants are suggestions.</p>
<p>And yet, doesn’t like any of the suggestions she’s gotten from others…!</p>
<p>Priyanka, you have to do the best you can with what you’ve got. What you’ve got are average test scores and average grades. That doesn’t mean you can’t go to college; it just means you’re unlikely to get into Purdue (which BTW requires internationals to have a 480 or better on the CR of the SAT OR a 570/230<em>/88</em>* or higher on the TOEFL for engineering prospects; see here: [International</a> Students and Scholars: Application Process](<a href=“http://www.iss.purdue.edu/Admission/UG/AppProcess/]International”>http://www.iss.purdue.edu/Admission/UG/AppProcess/)).</p>
<p>A letter is not going to explain away what you’ve got. Please work with what you’ve got; there are many colleges that will accept you, but please look for ones which look for students like you. There IS a school out there for you. Don’t look for prestige; look for an education instead.</p>
<p>And please, keep your story straight. Try the truth; that usually works best.</p>