<p>Hey everyone.</p>
<p>Here are some 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>Class 10/Sophomore Year - 95.4%
1. English - 91
2. Sanskrit - 99
3. Math - 98
4. Science - 95
5. Social Sciences - 94</p>
<p>Class 12/Senior Year - 87.4%
1. English - 95
2. Computer Science - 95
3. Math - 86
4. Chemistry - 84
5. Physics - 77</p>
<p>SAT Reasoning Test - 2280/2400
1. Math - 780/800
2. Critical Reading - 770/800
3. Writing - 730/800</p>
<p>SAT Subject Tests - English Lit: 760/800 and Math (Level 2): 790/800</p>
<p>TOEFL - 120/120</p>
<p>Extra-curricular activities:</p>
<ol>
<li>A total of 4 first prizes in debate/extempore/speech events in high school.</li>
<li>Participated in the school's Table Tennis and Soccer teams. Have certificates.</li>
<li>Very, VERY highly ranked in two international-level Olympiads (by a privately-run organization, though.)</li>
<li>Doing a writing internship with AOL India at the moment. Will be doing it for some time.</li>
<li>Am teaching street kids in an organization. Will have logged in 50hrs by the time applications are due.</li>
</ol>
<p>I wish to apply to the Film Studies program by the way.</p>
<p>So, thoughts? Please be honest!</p>
<p>Hey there,</p>
<p>Concerning your Sat’s I think that You should be fine without retaking those.
But I don’t know how demanding and recognised the CBSE Program is.Even though I slightly got the opinion that your Senior Year scores might be less strong than average grades (Ivy-League Applicants) from students participating in the CBSE Program it could also be that in contrast to that your grades are just fine given the fact that if you translate your scores into the GPA-System, they would get valorized; For example in the German System a German ‘B’ in the US still is an ‘A’)</p>
<p>Furthermore I would say that your Ec’s are quite within the range of an slightly above average Ivy-League Applicant. The internship and the two rankings in the Math Olympiad are quite impressive, but not outstanding.
What bothers me most is that you want to apply for the Film Studies program but have not participated in any activities related to your planned field of study, which could be a negative point on your application.</p>
<p>Although your application doesn’t have any unique points nor does it point out any things that you did with passion and considering the fact that competition from India is really strong I would say that you have a shot, if you write outstanding, passionate and unique essays which set you apart from the other approximately around 25000 applicants. Adding to that the recommendations which are handed in by your teachers and your counselor also have to be spectacular.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>P.S. : I would be grateful if you could chance me back! Merci</p>
<p>Hi!</p>
<p>Thanks for the detailed and informative reply. I’ll make some clarifications -</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I know my Senior Year grades aren’t that great. I graduated in just the top 25% of the class.</p></li>
<li><p>I didn’t get the ranking in Math Olympiads. One is an English Olympiad (4th worldwide) and the other is a Cyber Olympiad (ranked quite high, but not as good as the English one).</p></li>
<li><p>I know there’s not much in my application that will showcase why I am apt for Film studies.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve been asking around & reading about it, and I have realized - I could also apply for the English Language & Literature program. How does that affect my chances?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I will gladly chance you, even though I’m not that well-versed in this. :)</p>
<p>Impressive…impressive… umm if you really like film studies, what if you wrote about that for your essay? Just a suggestion ^_^</p>
<p>Lazy garfield, you applying for this year? I’m just thinking if you would have time to explore areas of film studies (e.g. take on an internship, work in a studio etc.) that will help refine your decision to major in it and also help gird your CV in this area. If not, I agree with Wilhelm9 that you’ll have to have an outstanding essay/personal statement to really stand out…Because right now your CCAs don’t seem to have a common thread linking them…</p>
<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>Thanks for the help 
</p>
<p>I know my grades aren’t great. In fact, I haven’t even posted my Junior Year grades, which are the worst - 78.4%. Now, 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, but that still doesn’t excuse my low score.</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. I was meek and picked a workload my parents thought was best for me and, surprise, was neither passionate about it nor talented in it. I’m going to write my essay on how all these things debilitated my performance a great deal but they also taught me stuff (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>
<p>I don’t want to sound vain but I am very fond of writing and, some would say, good at it too. This topic is very close to me and I’m confident of pulling out a great essay.</p>
<p>Now, about the supplement I really don’t know.</p>