“ I am a Maharashtra State Board student, having completed my SSC (10th Grade) earlier this year with 94.4%. I then took admission in a top HSC(11-12th) Commerce junior college of the city, partly because I had grown to like Economics, which was taught to us in 9th and 10th grade. I always liked computers as well as computer science, but I didn’t want to spend my entire +2 (11th and 12th) studying physics, chemistry, biology, etc., and instead spend time doing some extra-curricular activities and having a normal social life. Also my father feels that software engineers lead an extremely unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle. Now (even though I like Maths and Economics), the other subjects feel boring. I wish to pursue a double major in Computer Science and Economics in the US (where I like the flexibility of changing majors and the global exposure). Here are my Stats:-
Average grades in 9th (around 70%). Picked up tempo in 10th (scoring 75% in mid-terms, 80% in prelims and 94.4% in the final exam). On track to score well in 11th.
- Extremely interested in English language. High grades, secured the 3rd place internationally in I.O.E.L. in 7th grade. Won a mobile phone at that time. Intrigued with technology ever since. Took part in Student-Teacher competitions(won 2nd place in the school) , dramas, volunteered for compering in school, traditional dances, etc. Now I am a part of the English Association in my junior college and recently won ‘High Commendation’ at a debate competition. Also considering taking part in a MUN in our city.
- I am currently doing an edX course called “CS50” in computer science.
- Doing a training program for a local tourism agency. Will intern there, provided I get the required grade. (Includes Rifle Shooting, First Aid training, Wilderness Survival, etc)
- Volunteering as a writer for blind students. Also help out my aunt who runs a school for autistic children.
- Suffering from severe flat foot, hence taking part in most sport activities is difficult, even though I did get selected for my college’s basketball team.
I definitely need scholarships/financial aid as I come from a middle class family. What do you think? Which colleges would you recommend? Should I give ACT/SAT? Both? Any more extra-curriculars? Any SAT Subject Tests? AP Tests? "
Review both SAT and ACT and take practice tests before taking them for real. Take the one you’re best at.
Choose a couple activities and push them as high as you can. You don’t need to do tons of things but the things you do should get recognition.
Being in commerce and not a typical stem applicant will help.
Taking subject tests beside math2 will help (English, History, a foreign language)
Start looking at national liberal arts colleges and regional Universities as well as national Universities.
Get familiar with honors colleges, too.
As an aside, Comp Sci jobs are very social at many companies these days. Open, collaborative work areas and agile teams are becoming the norm. Your father’s view is outdated.
Very high test scores will help you. However, mid-tier colleges usually don’t give the best financial aid and scholarships even to domestic students, and less to international students.
I forgot to mention, I also studied German as a foreign language, and did two external exams from Max-Mueller Bhavan, Pune- Fit1 and Fit2. Recieved “Very Good” and “Good” grades respectively
“I didn’t want to spend my entire +2 (11th and 12th) studying physics, chemistry, biology, etc., and instead spend time doing some extra-curricular activities…” Will you have completed the full track of expected courses for a US college? Physics, chem and bio matter for CS admission.
They will still look at this candidate holistically. And, expect the proper, full prep. It’s not just recognition in activities, but the right ones, including related to the major.
^ grades 11-12 are tracked after the students completed the basics, just like for ALevels. The commerce track is the broader one, for students who aren’t interested in STEM but in business and social science. Theres a Science stream and an Arts stream, too. International students are evaluated according to what their system offers. Those with 11-12th grade streams or early majors are evaluated within that major.
Op, it means you need to be very very good in your stream.
@lookingforward What do you mean by the “full track of expected courses”? Could you please elaborate? (I studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology till 10th Grade)
@MYOS1634 Does that entail being a topper in the HSC Board Exams? (But those results won’t be declared until after the college applications have been submitted, if I am not mistaken). Or does it mean scoring high in the junior college exams?
Have you looked at what the colleges expect in hs courses? Eg, 4 years of lab science.
^ expectations are different for internationals - expectations are framed by the constraints of the “streams” and national curricula.
OP: yes, you need to be in the top few or the topper for your stream (depending on what colleges you’re aiming for).
MYOS, maybe, maybe not. OP wants CS. I don’t see colleges named, but the more selective will want adequate prep to manage the college courses. They’re going to cherry pick a fraction of intl applicants. The one stem “activity” is an edx class.
I do realize econ is the sister interest.
@lookingforward Would it help if did SAT Chemistry/Physics Subject Tests and/or AP tests?
@MYOS1634 Alright, thanks for the advice! 
Yes it’d help. You’ll need high scores in math2 and physics, plus perhaps one more score indicating achievement in one of the subjects you have in your stream.
You should also apply to colleges that do not admit by major - or, if they admit by major, choose something like IST or MIS.
Can I get in by initially declaring Economics as my major, and then add another major (i.e CS)?
Only at Universities that do not admit by major. That would mostly be private universities, plus a few universities where you can apply “undecided” and selection for the major is not competitive (IE., all undecided students with the required grades get into major).
At most public universities you must declare a major when you apply, then you’re admitted to that specific major, and it’s very difficult to switch.
Look at the conditions to switch from a major to another at Lehigh, Northeastern, Villanova, Stevens, Fordham, SMU, WPI.
You can apply and switch with no hurdle at Union, Lafayette, Triniry, Centre, Franklin and Marshall, Dixjinson, St Olaf, St Lawrence, Bucknell, Wooster, Wabash, Earlham.
Among public universities, you can apply undecided and switch to CS later at UFlorida, Penn State (called “DUS”), and Miami Ohio.