<p>International student admission seems even more tough as compared to domestic student admission even though all are in the same pool.
I just want to know what factors distinguish an outstanding student from a normal applicant ?
From whatever I'm reading at CC some says its a crap shoot while others say there are obviously solid reasons behind an admission decision.
I'm just very confused</p>
<p>The same things as in a regular candidate, plus good English skills. (Good English is, I think, pretty much a prerequisite for domestic candidates.) High test scores, good recommendations, well-written essays, a track record of the best extracurriculars possible. I use “extracurricular” in the sense of its component parts: things you do outside of class. Sure, some people come from places where there aren’t school clubs and teams of the American kind, but the successful candidates don’t just go home and do work because there are no official student organizations. They do interesting things anyway.</p>
<p>Hmm thanks a lot exultationsy
Do you happen to know how are the applications read?
Are there regional officers who read applications from a certain regional pool?</p>
<p>Regional officers --------> Regional Committees------------>Final committees.</p>
<p>What you need? All that and a bag of chips! 
</p>
<p>GL</p>
<p>Hmm thanks a lot for the info Kimathi
You going to Harvard this Fall? WOW Congrats!!</p>
<p>BTW sorry to bother you but do you think Harvard has a cut off score for SAT?
And is interview mandatory for all or only a selected few are called?</p>
<p>One of my distant cousins got into Harvard, but he is the son of the second richest business woman in India. He got a 1820/2400 and had a 3.2 gpa. The admissions officer flew from MA to his house in India to recruit him.</p>
<p>well, deep pockets, for one thing</p>
<p>Jenga - how much did your cousin donate to Harvard? Being able to afford Harvard is totally useless since there are a lot of people with 2300 who can afford but can’t get in.</p>
<p>Harvard does not have an SAT cut off! I know a couple of people matriculating this year with SATs in the 1800 region. However, they were crazy accomplished in a myriad of other things, and English was not their first language, so it was somewhat justifiable. Just because a few people did, doesn’t mean you could. With these things, the higher your SAT score the better for you… (Though the difference between a 2300 and a 2400 is pretty negligible).</p>
<p>Interviews are offered to everyone who has access to an alumni interviewer. Though in regions with limited to no interviewers, the AdComm will only schedule one if they need more information about you. I was in one of these regions and a lot of the people (note I did not say all) who were interviewed got in. Look at the country list on the Harvard Admissions site to know where your region falls under.</p>
<p>kimathi - Jenga is clearly stating his his cousin is unqualified except for the wealth part.</p>
<p>That was for DarthSpawnus sorry! :p</p>
<p>Somewhere around 10 crore ruppee. Like 2.5 mil</p>
<p>This year Harvard accepted 8 Indians. I know that.</p>
<p>^That’s funny, the admits from India know only of five till now and we don’t know of anyone like that. :/</p>
<p>(apart from two others- one from mumbai who has done all her schooling in canada so I’m not sure which pool she falls into, and another non indian from down south)</p>
<p>Out of these 5, there’s only one boy; I’ve met him and he isn’t like what you described.</p>
<p>PS: Kimathi, why are you still confused? :p</p>
<p>He just graduated</p>
<p>Just had to respond to this.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Hmm… you said the exact same thing about Stanford, and I don’t know of any unqualified student coming here from India who matches your description - plenty from other countries though. Care to PM me your “cousin’s” name? I’m a '15 at S btw.</p>
<p>@jengajenga117:
That’s a bit of overkill for Harvard and Stanford to send their officials all the way to India. However if its true then your cousin must be really qualified and a shade more brilliant then the average student :/</p>
<p>@kimathi:
Thanks for your info
However a senior friend of mine applied last year but was not called for interview but one of his class mates was called (even though they are from the same school city etc)</p>
<p>I have a SAT score of 2130 and I’ll retake it again on Oct/Nov I have I have a 2200+ to be on the safe zone</p>
<p>Any more tips ?
LOL and thanks a lot !</p>
<p>Hi. I have a short question. What does the adcom base your ‘region’ on? I’m an Indian citizen but have studied in Singapore and might go to UK this year for my A levels. So which pool of applicants am I thrown into (pardon the pun)? Also, which regional officer would get my app first? Thanks (heh so much for short question :P)</p>
<p>*will try to score a 2200+</p>
<p>Harvard has enough alums in India to personally conduct interviews. Btw, we don’t have GPAs in most schools in India. There are a counted few that follow the american system with APs yada yada but like I said, they are very few. If jenga is converting the Indian marks to american gpa using one of the common methods, then a 3.2 GPA in class 11 is actually more than good because the Indian system follows heavy grade deflation.</p>
<p>Hey 0123456789r: I think as long as you hold an Indian passport you’ll come under the Indian pool only. :)</p>
<p>PS: Hi PD! Google it, Indu jain is maybe the second richest woman in India? :S</p>
<p>It sounds like Jenga’s cousin went to Harvard 4 years ago.</p>
<p>How about Bhatia (number 3?)?</p>