<p>Hi, I am an International applicant from India. I have applied for Harvard, MIT, Princeton, CMU, Duke, Cornell and UMBS.
My credentials are as follows:
SAT : 1750
SAT II:
Math: 670
Physics: 710
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Extra Curriculars:
School Leader (President) for two years
State level Quiz competition winner
District level Science Fair, 5th place.
Volunteer at a Mental Health Camp
School Volleyball champion
Learnt JAVA, C on my own
Moreover, in the very limited opportunities I had in a country like my own, I have tried my level best to participate in extra curricular activities besides managing to cope up with the rigorous Indian System of Education. Whatever I did so far, was purely out of my self interest and not intended to suffice any resume requirements.
Most importantly, Engineering is my life's passion. I feel to be the most happiest when working with machines and computers. I have been designing small prototype robots since my 4th grade but unfortunately didn't have any resources to develop that talent and take it to the next level.
I have an intense enthusiasm to be an innovator in the field of technology and make the lives of people more happier with every innovation of mine. However, until now, I haven't done anything substantially credible to support this passion except for few interesting ideas that only are limited to my desk.
I know my SAT scores are low but I have applied to Ivies with a belief that unlike anywhere else in the world, they consider passion of an applicant more than any scores. Also my education system doesn't offer any AP classes or anything like them, we have to take only classes that are implemented as part of a common syllabus for all the students. However, the subjects we have taken are equally challenging as any AP courses including Advanced Calculus, Trigonometry and Mechanics etc.
I do seriously think that the purpose of my life is to be an engineer, no matter how that's gonna happen. I have always solved every problem of my life in the perspective of an engineer- In short I've always thought, behaved and lived like an engineer. I strongly believe that "People who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the one's who do." Now the question is, can my moderate scores be so detrimental that they take over my passion and not get an admit into an Ivy league college?
Pls post your opinions.
Thank you.</p>
<p>Correction, its “UMBC” and not “UMBS”</p>
<p>I can’t be the only that misses “Really?! with Seth and Amy”</p>
<p>Really?! 1750. Really?! Sorry, no chance.</p>
<p>I like the passion, really, but a 1750 SAT!? Keep in mind that no amount of passion can make up the difference of nearly 750 points, which most applicants to those schools do have (or are very close). </p>
<p>If you are really good at math (and the SAT only goes to Algebra II levels) then you should have an 800 (which is very important for engineers), so that means you had either a 500 on the writing and critical reading each, or had less than 500 on one, and more on the other.</p>
<p>Yikes.</p>
<p>@DHCP6768UDP @skieurope Thank you for your opinion. I really appreciate it. However, I would like to mention here that I have problems with timed entrance tests. For example, when I practiced for the SAT without any time constraints (That’s usually an added 5 mins to every section) I easily did score more than 2100 unlike when I worked practicing under timed conditions, when I just managed to reach around 1800.
I have explained this to colleges in my essays in a slightly different way. However, my question is, I donot have a lifetime period to only try to excel in timed pattern of SAT, I have to move on with my dreams. I already had taken SAT twice but found no significant improvement. Maybe I have been wrong somewhere with my preparations but time a lot of time has already passed.
How can I now satisfy my bigger desire to be a great engineer if my incompetence with standardized tests is causing a severe hindrance?</p>
<p>@DHCP6768UDP @skieurope And also what about those 3-4% of the admitted applicants in these schools who happen to have secured similar scores?</p>
<p>The people who get into those schools with low scores are legacy’s or kids of rich endowments, or they accomplished something big (E.G. 1st in national anything)</p>
<p>The competition from your country is extremely fierce. Even from the USA, it’d be a very long shot. I don’t think you can get into the first six, and I don’t know anything about UMBC. There are plenty of people who have a passion to be a great engineer <em>and</em> great test scores. I think you should try for colleges in your own country, and then try to do grad school in the US. </p>
<p>Not happening, sorry. Should set your sights lower. </p>
<p>Frustrated with my country’s education system that relies on ranks and marks offering no regard for passion and personality, I finally thought that I found some place wonderful where a single test doesn’t discredit your entire life’s hardwork. Disappointed to find that not even USA offers a different and more meaningful environment.
Everybody need not be good at any common standard, everyone is different. Its disturbing that a single test erases your entire life. Whatever might be my position now, I hope this changes at some point in future… 
</p>
<p>Hey! Don’t be dissapointed buddy. I too have a low ACT. Its always about what you do in college rather than what college. So, lets hope your potential is seen. Chance back please <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1623363-chance-me-please.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1623363-chance-me-please.html#latest</a></p>
<p>I don’t think you will have any problem getting admitted to UMBC. They are an up and coming school, but they still have a generous 60% admittance rate and a 1750 is slightly above their average admitted SAT score. </p>
<p>@Abhi27nav Hey man! I just read your thread. I think being an Indian you understand what we go through here at home with dreams and reality. Thanks for patting my back, it’s kind of a relief. Thank u!
@ANNIE1389. Thanks for your response, it’s been helpful</p>
<p>It’s not about some test erasing your entire life’s hard work, or whatever. It’s just that your score is much lower than most of your competition, so you need to give them a good reason to accept you over one of the other students. </p>
<p>I agree with the others that your scores are just too low. You say you had calculus, but 670 isn’t that impressive for a math score for an engineer. I am sure there are good programs which would accept you, but you chose to apply mostly to some of the most competitive programs. I don’t know if there is still time for you to apply to any other programs. Also, how are you planning to pay for all this? </p>
<p>I definitely agree that the test scores seem low, but I think you can definitely overcome that with passion
I feel more concerned about your awards. Even if you had stellar scores, your awards range from school to state level only, and to minimal acclaim, you definitely need to show that you are competitive relative to others by showing your prowess at some field on a national/international standing.
Chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1622944-chances-uchicago-stanford-columbia-northwestern-carnegie-mellon-mit-etc.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1622944-chances-uchicago-stanford-columbia-northwestern-carnegie-mellon-mit-etc.html#latest</a></p>
<p>Your problem isn’t your test scores per se but rather your lack of anything distinctive. Kids who apply to the schools you chose have to be the best in their country in something. That’s not how your profile reads. You have a passion for learning and it’s clearly met many obstacles, but you haven’t found a way to overcome these obstacles. Kids who get into the colleges you applied to, no matter how disadvantaged, “find ways”. Those who didn’t grow up in the slums or homeless or in the ghetto or battling terrible illnesses are the ones winning national or international competitions. If you look at the list of Top 10 universities and LACs, you’ll have the list of the most accomplished students in the world.
A problem is that you didn’t apply to schools where you had a shot. There’s literally one hundred schools between the Ivy league and UMBC.
(BTW, it’s very likely you’ll get into UMBC, but I’m not sure whether it’ll be affordable. Still it’s a good pick based on what you said about yourself.)
Depending on how much money you have, you still have a chance if you apply to Hendrix, Albion, Wittenberg, Juniata, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Plattsburgh, Colby-Sawyer, Elmira, New College of Florida (which may be the ideal college for you based on what you said), Drew, Flagler, St Edward’s, Florida Institute of Technology, Creighton, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Lawrence Tech, Luther, Hiram, Umass Dartmouth. Plus some state engineering colleges may still beaccepting applications. I think UCF, USF, UWF, and UNF still do.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 Thank U! Your post has been a lot helpful. I am gonna know about your proposed best fits for me and if they happen to have an opportunity to apply for the fall of 2014, I’ll definitely apply to two more. Thanks again for being helpful.</p>
<p>@antismathmatter When it comes to showing my prowess in anything national or international, it has only been a year or a bit more since I’ve been freed from the restrictions of my education system where you have no option but to follow the rigorous schedule of the system (it’s nearly 12+ hours a day).
However, I am definitely doing something (I can’t explicitly give a name to it as of now) that’s going to be a unique achievement and prove myself in the coming time but don’t know when will I succeed . Thanks for your help again…</p>
<p>Yes all the colleges I listed still accept applications.
I’d start with New College of Florida, it’s Florida’s Honors College and it’s dedicated to creative thinkers who like to build, research, and explore. :)</p>