This is really urgent !

<p>I agree with 2college, try for a satellite of a reknown University, for example, you will never be accepted to UNCCH, but you have a better chance of being accepted at UNC Wilmington or Greensboro, from there do your1st yr with strong grades and apply to UNCCH as a soph or a jr. This is very common. The same for PSU, very few go straight to College station, but transfer over. That is how many state universities work. They have a lesser ranked campus that belongs to their university, typically used for those who can’t qualify for main campus, but with time would be a qualified candidate.</p>

<p>Point being missed here is that the OP doesn’t sound as though being far from home in a not super-supportive environment is going to work. You (in the general sense, not specifically addressing the OP) can’t use all these life-was-tough excuses (not unusual, as others have pointed out, and not necessarily all so tough for that matter) and then say despite having all these excuses for why things did not go well in the past, you are going to do just fine thousands of miles and several oceans away from home doing schoolwork you may or may not be academically prepared for in a setting you probably know very little about surrounded by people whose expectations in many areas may be quite different from your own. Seems like a waste of everyone’s time and money at this stage to keep pursuing less-than-stellar opportunities with a less-than-stellar record and a series of reasons why it just wasn’t fair and next time will be different.</p>

<p>Mattmom,</p>

<pre><code>You are correct, the OP needs to realize that admissions in the states look at the whole student, this is why EC’s have become an important factor in selection. They have found that many students with stellar stats, but few or no ECs do worse as a freshman, than the student with lower stats, but tons of ECs. The reason for this disparity is that those with ECs have time management under their belt, and are also more likely to transition easier from a social standpoint. As an international student this is even more important, not only do to distance from home, but a foreign county, where your V SAT shows that the English language will be a barrier. College is not all about books, a lot has to do with outside the classroom, such as football games, dorm parties, frat parties, even going to eat is a social event.
</code></pre>

<p>Thus, that is why I think everybody is harping on using the wedding, death, and chicken pox as an excuse, because it does not ease the admission fears, instead it raises many more questions…what if you get H1N1 or mono,(very common in dorms) what if another sibling gets married, what if someone else dies? Now if the OP had stated that they had a scoliosis operation, than admissions could be eased, knowing that is a one time deal and takes you out of school for a few months, not a few weeks.</p>

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<p>2collegewego is very right. If 9th grade had been low, that might get overlooked. But, no one overlooks 11th grade - especially for the reasons you’ve mentioned. Seriously…NO ONE.</p>

<p>You keep saying that you want advice…but really, what you seem to want is to find that ONE PERSON that will tell you what YOU WANT TO HEAR. You’ve posted on a few threads searching for that one person who will naively tell you some wishful thinking scenario. You won’t hear the truth. You want someone to “tickle your ears” and tell you that with the “right” note, you’ll be let in. Won’t happen. Believe it. Accept it. Move on.</p>

<p>The advice about applying to a satellite school (such as a regional Penn St) is a very good one - as long as it has a good undergrad program in your interested major. </p>

<p>I have repeatedly suggested UAHuntsville to you. It’s not a satellite school; it’s a stand alone u that has a very strong engineering program that will accept your stats. Since it sits on Cummings Research Park you would have opportunites there that you wouldn’t have at many schools. If desired, you could transfer to a “big name” school after a year or two.</p>

<p>Miss St is another option. Strong engineering, and would take your stats. It’s a state flagship, so it has all the bells and whistles - pretty campus, campus life, big football program, the works.</p>

<p>Thanks all of you for the constructive criticism and the hating . </p>

<p>I have been through ups and downs in my life and this one is definitely not on top of my list . It is just that going to the US for quality education is not what every Indian or for the matter of fact an international student gets . I have definitely screwed up my grade 11 marks partly due to a few issues that I stated and partly due to slacking off (not because I am not good at studies but i think I chose not to , as I wasn’t sure of leaving India where college admission is based on one entrance exam or grade 12 board exam) . I just feel that I have some potential in me and I should certainly be given one chance just one and If I don’t succeed I wouldn’t be disappointed if the college threw me out. </p>

<p>I don’t want you people to sugar coat it for me . for my parent’s it is either a good (I am not looking at MIT or Stanford , my main preference is Purdue) college in the US or a college in India (which is where I am and where I don’t want to be) . All I ask is for help , is there something I can get or do (I know it may seem desperate and to an extent it is) , may be a letter to the admission’s office asking for a chance or something . I am really confused at this point of time , If someone has any ideas ? . I mean universities such as UIUC , Purdue and UMich have around 30,000 students , do all of them have a 3.7 GPA and 2000+ SAT ? . What can I do to improve my chances (even though It is very late) </p>

<p>I cannot take a year’s gap or my parent’s may think that I am not interested in studying and they may start reviewing marriage proposal’s for me … It is India and my mom never went to college nor did my great grandmother neither did her mom and my dad has a degree in textile engineering and now he is working as a sales manager in a computer company , so the whole college thing is not supported by my family </p>

<p>Thanks a lot for taking some time out for me . I will always be grateful to you people for all the advice .</p>

<p>any tips ? </p>

<p>BUMP</p>

<p>Priyanka…</p>

<p>You’ve been given tips…you’ve just not wanted to hear what we’ve told you. </p>

<p>It now sounds like the problem is that your parents will only financially support a US education if you go to a top school. What is the lowest ranked school that they will accept/pay for? Will they pay for Auburn which is ranked just a bit below Purdue? </p>

<p>The problem isn’t “Don’t some of the students at these higher ranked colleges have my stats”??? Yes, some might, but their grades didn’t do a major dive in 11th grade because of slacking off. Or, they’re a student athlete and the school lowers standards for them. Or, they are an “in-state” resident and schools lower req’ts for in-state students. </p>

<p>So, find out from your parents what lower ranked schools they will pay for (say, lower ranked than Purdue). Will they pay for Auburn U? That’s ranked just a bit lower than Purdue and it has a strong engineering program - very strong.</p>

<p>Auburn info <a href=“http://www.collegeview.com/school/school_hub.jsp?scid=2400026&location=1500&pAreaId=8&referLocation=4600[/url]”>http://www.collegeview.com/school/school_hub.jsp?scid=2400026&location=1500&pAreaId=8&referLocation=4600&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Auburn website… <a href=“http://www.auburn.edu/[/url]”>http://www.auburn.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I really, really doubt that the admissions office will accept your reasons for why your grades fell so low. Perhaps the grandmother dying excuse is acceptable (people can become depressed because of the death of someone close to them), but I don’t think that those of us reading this thread have even understood how chicken pox, a wedding and grade deflation can cause someone to make a series of such low grades. Can you please explain?</p>

<p>Priyanka, as others have pointed out, it is not just one or two bad grades. It is a 2-year downward slide. Coupled with poor SATs, it means that you need to adjust your expectations downward. You have been given excellent advice here. Pay attention to it. And start telling the truth consistently.</p>

<p>BTW, there is a strong likelihood that you need to take TOEFL also. You ought to look into it right away.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes! There is something you can do! Several things, in fact, that have already been suggested. Let’s recap, and add a couple of things, too:</p>

<p>1. Craft a list of colleges which look for students like you, and apply to those colleges. A number of such colleges have been suggested already. Apply to the ones already on your list as well if it makes you feel better, but make sure you apply to matches and safeties. </p>

<p>2. Make your parents familiar with the names of your matches and safeties. You don’t need to market any of these schools to your parents yet, though a few remarks here and there within earshot of them over the next few months wouldn’t hurt. To a friend when a parental unit is around: “Have you heard about Mississippi State’s engineering program? They are doing great things there!” Over the phone to someone else: “Auburn University looks really interesting, and they have a very strong engineering program.” And so on.</p>

<p>Let them hear good things about these schools; if you can get some printed material from these schools – or whatever schools are matches and safeties for you – leave the materials where your parents can see it. Let them see you looking at it, talking about these schools with your friends.</p>

<p>3. Market once you have your admissions results in hand. You can ramp up the marketing campaign for the two or three schools which interest you the most after you’ve been accepted. It’s not “Purdue or nothing.” It’s “Mississippi State – wow, look at the dorms! – or Auburn – such a great engineering school – or UNC Greensboro – soooo many opportunities there – and OMG, how am I ever going to decide which one to pick?! I have great choices here!”</p>

<p>4. Don’t engage in black-and-white thinking (such as: it’s these schools on this list or nothing!). Expand your list, expand your opportunities, expand your thinking, and your real education will have already begun. </p>

<p>So… that’s what you can do. Four things.</p>

<p>Good luck to you, and I hope you drop back by in May to let us know which school you picked! There ARE colleges out there for you; go find 'em!</p>

<p>

From: <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&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>So, which was it? Not being serious enough about academics, or all of those factors you listed on this thread?</p>

<p>Show your parents the Auburn website…</p>

<p>[Auburn</a> University](<a href=“http://www.auburn.edu/]Auburn”>http://www.auburn.edu/)</p>

<p>Show them the video tour
[YouTube</a> - Auburn University Behind The Scenes](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrNYou5F_Vw]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrNYou5F_Vw)</p>

<p>Go to the website and look around.</p>

<p>Since the application process would need to occur promptly (especially to get HOUSING!!!, you wouldn’t have time to wait for Auburn to send you any info by regular mail.) </p>

<p>Owlice is right…talk up Auburn and other schools around your parents or when they’re within earshot. They need to know that going to Auburn is going to give you a high quality education. Auburn engineering graduates get jobs.</p>

<p>Owlice has laid out a good plan for you, I suggest adopting it. Also, your best strategy may be to admit slacking off as the reason for your poor results and forget all the unacceptable excuses you’ve given so far. Admit you messed up and explain how you’ve seen the error of your ways, it’s a long shot but who knows.</p>

<p>BTW…Auburn isn’t a safety…For the OP, it’s a match.</p>

<p>And…it could be a bit of a reach considering her grades.</p>

<p>But…an adcom once told me that the earlier you apply to Auburn, the more forgiving they are about “lower” stats. The later you apply, the more difficult it becomes, because they start raising their admit standards as the admission process goes forth.</p>

<p>In any letter you send do NOT bring up your sister’s marriage, your bout with chicken pox or some grade deflation. Admissions officers don’t want to hear these types of excuses for poor grades. Your application most probably would get immediately rejected and laughed at. The death of a grandparent, unless this person was your primary care giver usually will not have any impact on the Admissions rep. Just explain you had various personal problems that year that are now behind you. Keep it simple!</p>

<p>Look everyone has given you suggestions, and now it is becoming to the point of being passed repetitive. Either take the advice, or don’t, but it is apparent you will choose the latter since you are refusing to budge on this issue.</p>

<p>We have all given our suggestions, we have all stated that your list is not realistic, we have all said your excuses at best are inane. We have all tried to be polite and supportive, but the goodwill is starting to cease as you can plainly see from all of the posts.</p>

<p>Now if you want to come back and ask for what we believe maybe matches, than please do, but if you are going to continue to ignore the advice, than I think it is best to the let the thread die.</p>

<p>Honestly, if you want true chances for those schools, go on to the actual college site, it is the left blue link “colleges” than scroll down until you find the school. Post the info there. I think you will be shocked at the amount of negative responses you will receive.</p>

<p>It is always great to hope for the best, but expect the worst, yet in your case the sad truth is all you will get is a thin letter, and would have wasted one yr of your life because you refused to see the writing on the wall (in this case forums)</p>

<p>I wish you good luck, and hope that you do some soul searching before it is too late.</p>

<p>Hey again , </p>

<p>Thanks a lot for the tips . I have started working on them . I showed my parents the UAH video and they were impressed. My list so far is :- </p>

<p>UT - Arlington
UAH
Penn state with University park as main preference (but if i dont get in they will place me in some other campus)
Texas A&M
Drexel
Purdue (It’s worth a shot) </p>

<p>Also ,
My English teacher wrote a recommendation on behalf of my counselor in which , Instead of bragging about my meager excuses she wrote (In one of the para’s) :- </p>

<p>I have known Priyanka for four years and I have found her to be a reliable and sincere student. She comes across as a warm and amiable person who interacts well with others. She shows readiness in doing work assigned to her. Priyanka is a person who can overcome setbacks and work with perseverance in overcoming setbacks . </p>

<p>So Is my college list good to go ? </p>

<p>I have started working on the essays . </p>

<p>Thanks for the great help . </p>

<p>Also is there something that I can do with my application to increase my chances ?</p>

<p>Check into the TOEFL requirements of the schools to which you intend to apply.</p>

<p>Purdue, Texas A & M, Drexel, even PSU college station are way too high.</p>

<p>PSU with a satellite is a better shot.</p>

<p>I would still bring it down a shot to something like UNC-Wilmington, and convince the folks that your intention is to transfer as a sophomore into you JR yr into UNCCH. UNCCH, is one of the top 10 public universities in the nation, typically ranks in the top 5 with USNWR, this might overcome their fear of not going to a top tier straight out the gate.</p>

<p>Also it is true have you checked into TOEFL? This might all be for naught.</p>

<p>UNCCH is Chapel hill right ? … If then I don’t think it has EE and Mech Eng !</p>