<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 - one English, the other Cyber (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 plan to study English there, by the way, along with a Film Studies minor or some common classes.</p>
<p>Well, Lazy, you live up to your name. You will not get into Smith and this is one of the few times I’ll say my opinion is a guarantee. I suggest you do a little elementary research before you go off trolling. Google “Smith College” and read the description.</p>
<p>Lazy, don’t let them razz you. You are a great candidate, your academics are solid and all but one of your EC’s will be highly valued on campus. So don’t let one little thing get in the way. With one little short cut, you’ll be on your way to Smith and be adding to the diversity already on campus.</p>
<p>Not stupid at all! If I were to list all the mistakes we made trying to get the right college with my D, it would swamp this board. Example: having your Dad drop you off for SAT’s with barely 2 seconds to spare…that got me far more than the rolled eye look from my D, and something just short of “Firestarter eyes” from my wife!</p>
<p>However, assuming you are not going for the operation, perhaps this board convince you that the 5 college system is worth it as it WILL allow you to take Smith classes, and Mount Holyoke classes. You merely have to be a Hampshire, UMass Amherst, or Amherst college student. Those three will allow the dreaded XY chromosomes to enroll.
If your academics are as you state, only acceptance to the latter will be an issue.</p>
<p>Lazy, don’t feel bad. My daughter had a friend in high school who was checking out schools online and he found Wellesley. He got all excited about what he’d found on the website and was telling my daughter all about it; he really wanted to apply. I’m not sure how he found out Wellesley was a women’s college, but he was really disappointed. You’re not the only one who’s made that mistake! </p>
<p>To continue with Brie99’s suggestion, check out Hampshire; my niece has just started there and she’s definitely looking forward to taking advantage of the Consortium. Last spring when I took my sister and her daughter to Hampshire after she’d been accepted, I heard the scoop about the academic structure of the school and I was very impressed. Apparently, fifty percent of Hampshire grads go on to grad school. The Hampshire tour guide was a lively, smart kid who’d been accepted to both the Harvard and Yale architecture grad schools. Check it out.</p>
<p>Hampshire gets a bad rap of the 5 college system. Given a non-traditional session it works for many and for some, it is a license to screw off. I’ve known VERY motivated profs who rave about the quality of the students there. Then again, google Youtube for SNL skits… They report, you decide.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s unfortunate that Hampshire gets a bad rap. College definitely can be a license to play, if you’re so inclined, and that’s possible anywhere. As I said recently in another thread, college is what you make it. My niece is very motivated as she realizes that the non-traditional format really works for her with her learning disabilities. When I heard the spiel last spring at Hampshire for the accepted students, I was surprised to hear them operationalize the amount of homework students are expected to do; I never heard anything like that when my kids attended admitted students days, but I realized that Hampshire is trying to make it real to students that just because Hampshire has a non-traditional approach, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to do the work.</p>
<p>Hey guys, thanks so much for the continued opinions! I am looking at Hampshire right now and btw, I read in a post above that with my grades, the only problematic 5-College Consortium member to seek admission will be Amherst - which is a shame because that is almost the topmost college on my list. I would LOVE to go there.</p>
<p>Lazygarfield, there are lots of wonderful colleges where you would thrive; Amherst isn’t the only fish in the sea. Certainly apply there if you want, but treat it as a really, really long shot. The competition is EXTREMELY fierce.</p>
<p>If Amherst is your first choice, you probably won’t be very happy at Hampshire. It sounds like you’re looking for a more traditional college experience, and while I think Hampshire is a great school for a certain kind of student (free-thinking, extremely self-motivated, highly focused), if you’re looking for a traditional New England liberal arts school experience, that’s not where you’re going to get it.</p>