To chance or not to chance, that is the question.

<p>Hi, I'm an Indian male (US Citizen) studying in a well-known IB school in Bangalore (India). I am a rising senior. I will be applying for financial aid.</p>

<p>I speak English, Hindi, Punjabi, and Chinese.</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<p>IGCSE Grades: 9 A<em>'s - 4.0 GPA (A</em> = A+)
Bio - A*
Additional Math -A*
English Lit - A*
English Lang - A*
Chem - A*
Economics - A*
Chinese - A*
Drama - A*
Physics - A*</p>

<p>Grades: IB Points = 44/45
GPA unweighted = 4.0</p>

<p>4 HL Courses and 2 SL courses
(HL = Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics) (SL = English, Chinese)</p>

<p>Ranked #1 in my class--> Head Boy of my school</p>

<p>-APs: Psychology - 5 (self-studied)
Statistics - 5 (Self-studied)</p>

<p>SAT IIs: Bio M - 800
Math II - 800</p>

<p>SAT: 2370</p>

<p>PSAT: 240; National Merit Scholar Semi-finalist</p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULARS</p>

<p>-Boy scout for 5 years and I am an Eagle Scout.</p>

<p>-Won the Presidential Gold Award for community service.</p>

<p>-Congressional Gold Medal for community service</p>

<p>-Won 2nd in USA in Science Olympiad in Dynamic Planet held in Augusta, GA.</p>

<p>-Editor of my school newspaper</p>

<p>-I have many hours of community service for organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Agasthya Foundation. In Agasthya, I went to a rural village in India by myself for about a week and taught health and hygiene to impoverished children). About 900 hurs</p>

<p>-President of Model United Nations team</p>

<p>-Captain of my school basketball team</p>

<p>-Certified EMT</p>

<ul>
<li>Did research at the National Institute of Health (NIH) and published a paper</li>
</ul>

<p>OTHER</p>

<p>-I gained admission into the Davidson THINK Institute but because of financial reasons, could not go. (They take only 60 students)</p>

<p>-I interned in a hosipital in Delhi in the neurosurgery wing and I have a letter of recomendation from the head of neurosurgery.</p>

<p>-My principal gives out Principal's Commendations for excellence. I have never missed any for academics and currently have 12 PCs after just one year in the school.</p>

<p>-I know my teachers quite well as well as my guidance counselor and I am sure my reccomendations will be good. (One question--I have last year's reccomendations (same teachers). Can I send them?)</p>

<p>I will be applying to the folowing schools:</p>

<p>UPenn - (Early Decision) -> Dream School
JHU
Stanford
Duke
Wash. U
Berkley
Harvard (maybe)
Columbia (maybe)
UCLA</p>

<p>I want to major in Biology (preferrably do the Vagelos Program (life sciences and management at UPenn) and follow the med track.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot,
rk1000</p>