What are my chances like?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Haverford College
1

<p>Hello, </p>

<p>Here are a few details about me -</p>

<p>Nationality: Indian
Gender: Male</p>

<p>I went through a CBSE high school. While not as internationally recognized as the IB or not as supposedly tough as the ICSE board, CBSE is supposed to be quite demanding and intense.</p>

<p>Sophomore Year - 95.4% (English: 91, overall school topper)</p>

<p>Junior Year - 78.4% (Rigor of course increased DRASTICALLY. A dip in the scores in this year is par for the course in Indian education systems) [Please see the PS to this post]</p>

<p>Senior Year - 87.4% (Topped the high school in English: 95)</p>

<p>SAT Reasoning Test - 2280/2400 (CR: 770, M: 780, W: 730)</p>

<p>SAT II - English Lit: 760, Math Level 2: 790</p>

<p>TOEFL iBT - 120/120</p>

<p>I already graduated from high school in May 2011 and hope to enroll in colleges from the Fall 2012 session. Right now, I'm taking a gap year. I moved out of my parents' house, came to a new city and started living alone. Basically, my parents were always hesitant about sending me to a far-away country to live by myself at the age of 18 itself. This was sort of acid test to prove my independence to them. Now, while living alone, I am volunteering at a nearby orphanage for street kids. I teach them, play with them and hang out with them. Should have 50 hours by application time.</p>

<p>I am also writing for AOL India. I don't have to go to office or anything like that. I sit at home, write articles and submit it to them. The articles are posted on their site and I get a stipend + byline credit.</p>

<p>Here are some other ECs I could put in my application. These are the ones I had in high school:</p>

<ol>
<li>INDIVIDUAL: Four first prizes in intra-city debate/extempore/speech competitions. </li>
<li>TEAM: Two first prizes in debate competitions (one was Rotary Club's intra-city, one was inter-city)</li>
<li>OLYMPIADS: Ranked 4th Worldwide in International Olympiad of the English Language. Ranked 274th in the country in National Cyber Olympiad.</li>
</ol>

<p>I wish to major in English, by the way. With a planned minor/emphasis/concentration is either Creative Writing/Communications or Film (depending on what the college has, among other factors)</p>

<p>So, please tell me my chances. How much will they be affected if I apply Early Decision/Action? How much will it affect my chances if I ask for need-based aid? (I won't ask for it if the acceptance rate reduces drastically).</p>

<p>PS - I know my Junior Year grades will raise eyebrows. But, in the Indian education system, it's par for the course for Junior Year grades to be much lower than Sophomore Year (because the school holds the exam in the former, whereas the board holds it in the latter) and the rigor of my workload increased DRASTICALLY. That still doesn't excuse my low score, I know.</p>

<p>But the thing is, I'm going to address this in my Common App essay. Junior Year started with a death in the family and a fracture in my right (and dominant) hand. Both these things had a huge impact on me. I was meek and indecisive and ended up studying subjects picked by my parents and, surprise, I was neither passionate about them nor talented in them. I'm going to write my essay on how all these things debilitated my performance a great deal and brought me down. But they also taught me life lessons (even if it was the hard way) and how they helped me grow as an individual. And that's how I'm going to find a spot to explain my uptick in Senior Year scores.</p>

2

<p>You appear to be a very solid candidate, though with international students the amount of aid available makes it harder to get in if you ask for it. Also, I would suggest your college essay be more about what makes you you, as opposed to an extended explanation for something like a weak academic year.</p>

3

<p>

A lot. Haverford reports that they expect to fund 3-4 international students and you should expect competition for these funds to be very keen. For example, a few years ago Colby College reported 900 aid-seeking international applicants competing for ~10 financial aid packages. Berea (which only accepts applications from low-income students and grants them all a full-tuition scholarship) reported an international admission rate of 4%.</p>

4

<p>Okay then. I’ll apply, but I won’t ask for aid. My dad is okay with footing the amount, but I really didn’t want him to pay all of it - especially if there was a chance at getting something from the college. </p>

<p>Can I atleast be eligible for a merit-based scholarship there? Or is even that out? And my living expenses can be taken care of by an on-campus job, right? I definitely plan to take up one of those.</p>

5

<p>HC does not offer merit scholarships. Some (mostly southern US) schools do offer them, but I think they are very, very hard to get in most cases.</p>

6

<p>

Yes, if by living expenses you mean living expenses beyond room, board and health insurance. At $9 per hour, you shouldn’t plan to earn more than $3,000 per school year. That’s enough to pay for textbooks, laundry and food during breaks when the dining halls are closed, but not enough to help with the $56,000+ bill you will be facing for tuition, room & board and health insurance. And please do keep in mind that tuition charges rise significantly each year. In 2007-08, a mere 4 years ago, tuition, room and board was only ~$46,000. </p>

<p>If you cannot afford Haverford without financial aid, then you should apply for financial aid. What good is an admission officer if you cannot afford to attend?</p>

7

<p>Yeah, I knew that the on-campus job would only pay for my miscellaneous day-to-day expenses. Never expected it to pay for room-and-board (~$12000 = faints).</p>

<p>I also get that tuition will rise not-insignificantly every year. </p>

<p>I don’t think it’s a matter of us “not” being able to to afford the undergrad degree. It’s more about loving any possible reduction that we could get. However, if putting myself in line for this reduction could sabotage my very chance of entry, then we won’t take the risk and apply without seeking aid.</p>

<p>It’s times like these that make me wish I was a US national.</p>

8

<p><a href=“%7E$12000%20=%20faints”>quote</a>

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<p>I initially thought that the room-and-board charges were outrageous, but they are actually fair considering free market prices in the area. A room in a shared apartment might be $800 per month and when I feed myself, I might spend $400 per month on groceries. That makes $700 per month sound fair for an unlimited meal plan, given the convenience of having someone else do the shopping and cooking and cleaning up for you.</p>

9

<p>Haverford has a need blind admission policy, so your admission will depend upon your app, transcripts and supporting docs only. However, if your family has the income, your need will be lower than someone whose family has 2 unemployed parents.</p>

10

<p>From what I know, it’s only need-blind for US students. It’s need-aware for all International students.</p>

11

<p>Correct. Need aware for internationals.</p>