Help!! I just need somebody(to accept me ;)) ... Help!!

adrivit · 05-13-2008, 12:01 PM

Hi
I am from India. I want to do a major in Neuroscience and Computers. Do I have a chance???
I am sure my essays are going to be fantastic. Why? I gave them 1.5 years of thought. My recs are in the process now ... they'll be top-notch too ... my Physics teacher loves my research on neural networks and my English teacher for my recent play. So ......... CHANCE ME!!! As accepted or rejected. And also do mention some safety schools if all my given schools appear ridiculously out-of-reach. Thanks in advance.

My Profile ---

Grades ---
94% in Class 10
90% in Class 12
Courses are really really tough ... eg, we got Quantum Mechanics in Physics and Combinatorics in Maths .. so that really tough (at least I think so ....)

SAT ---
SAT I - 2360/2400
SAT II - 2340/2400

ECs ---
I am a recognized poet and writer
Won International Students Quality Circle
Research paper on fuzzy circuits and iridium satellite, neural networks
Led Save Tigers Campaign
Made a short film
Nationally recognized essay on Modern Education, play on Culture
Member of Quiz, Debate, Drama, Science Club at school

Sports ---
Did advanced Rock Climbing and mountaineering for many years
I don't play but I give classes to the local football team about dynamics and stuff to help them understand the physics behind the football

Music ---
Member of School band. Sing and play the guitar
I also teach singing and guitar

Social Service ---
Member of Lions Club
Volunteer work of 300+ hours
Did all sorts of Environment activities with Green Peace
Supervised the micro-credit system in local villages
Did classes for adults and kids, the underprivileged.
Helped village people sell their cottage goods.

insaneabd · 05-13-2008, 12:08 PM

err... I think you are posting this in the wrong thread. Post this in the international sub-forum...

ejr1 · 05-13-2008, 02:38 PM

You have as good a chance as any other international. Realize the numbers of internationals are not huge. None of us can predict with accuracy, becasue it will depend on how many Indians are applying, what the school needs to fill out its class in terms of talents and EC's, etc. Nothing on your Resume would disqualify you, but Amherst looks at the whole person, so make sure that essay is the best of you!

adrivit · 05-13-2008, 08:39 PM

More replies please!!! How are the neuroscience and computer programs at Amherst?? With a LAC degree can I go on to a job in Google, etc?? I want to do further research in AI and Robotics .... so how is Amherst for such a combination of majors??? REPLY!!

bigp9998 · 05-13-2008, 09:10 PM

First of all, posting this in the forum for EVERY top LAC is not the way to go about figuring this stuff out. If you have a question about a specific school, by all means post it in the school's forum, but if you have a long list of schools that you want to know about, post it in the chances or college search forum and you will get many more responses.

That being said, international students tend to have much higher chances at schools like LACs that don't have huge international reputations simply because there are less of them applying. There is nothing you have listed that would make me think you wouldn't get one or two acceptances to top schools, but at the same time nothing particularly distinguishing. Good luck.

adrivit · 05-13-2008, 09:20 PM

Hmmm .... not every top LAC!!! Only Williams and Amherst ..... and people reply about the programs and careers please!!

Catfish · 05-14-2008, 09:56 PM

Two questions and one request:
- What does "recognized" poet and writer mean?
- Will you be applying for financial aid?
- I understand that you are excited and nervous, but it would make your posts easier to read if you laid off on the punctuation a bit. The returns on exclamation points and question marks diminish very sharply after the first one.

adrivit · 05-15-2008, 07:18 AM

By recognized I mean that I am famous ... and my writings, though not published are well-known .... I am passionate about my literary work ... sorry about that .... u get the reason for such meandering writing ---- excited and nervous ..... Yes and I will be applying for aid ...... I know that makes a HUGE difference ....

Lemonjello · 05-15-2008, 09:20 AM

Amherst's needblind for internationals now, so financial aid won't make a difference.

chaucers_pal · 05-15-2008, 10:12 AM

adrivit - if you are interested in neural networks and other AI related topics, LACs are really not the best place to go. They are going to have a much more limited set of course offerings in computer science topics than larger universities.

Some suggested universities that have excellent CS programs - Carnegie Mellon - great AI department, Stanford, Berkely, CalTech, MIT, RPI, University of Rochester (NY), Harvey Mudd (LAC with a science/math bent). I know some of the NY state universities also have some good CS programs, thought I don't have the details here.

Also consider some English Universities - Imperial College and Queen Mary (University of London) both have fine CS/AI programs, as of course does Cambridge and University of Southhampton.

I can't quite understand how you are famous as a writer, yet you have not published? How are your writings shared with others?

adrivit · 05-15-2008, 10:36 AM

Well writing is not exactly what I'm ultimately known for ... its my science talent ... the classes i give, the research work i do .. that said .. i write a lot of poetry (which i don't publish), many of my short sotries and plays have been enacted by local theater groups ..... as a recognition my essay on modern education and my play called Culture got rave reviews nationally ..... but I am more a science person .... thats what I will focus on more in my application .....

Most of the univs u have stated I am considerin .... as for RPI, UofR, CM, Berkeley .. these don't give aid to internationals .... so no chance for me ............. are u sure about what you said about LACs .... I mailed my queries to Middlebury .. they were pretty enthusiastic about it .... if what you say about LACs are true then its pretty bad .... I had heard that you don't get cool jobs after LACs .... I m in trouble it seems!!!! Advise!!!

adrivit · 05-15-2008, 10:58 AM

OK .... My choices .... Please do advise!!

Dartmouth (ED)

Reaches ---
Brown
MIT
Stanford
Harvard

Matches ---
Northwestern
Amherst
Middlebury

Safeties ---
St Lawrence University
Dickinson

Okay enough?? What say??

vogon bard · 05-15-2008, 11:57 AM

Your matches are reaches for American domestics, and it's worse internationals. Middlebury is almost as difficult to get into as Amherst and Northwestern isn't need-blind for internationals.

adrivit · 05-15-2008, 08:00 PM

I am pretty sure I'll get into Middlebury ..... Northwestern well it depends on the aid ...... am i wrong?? Are there other matches which I am missing out????? And what about my safeties?? Please reply!!

bigp9998 · 05-15-2008, 10:21 PM

Vogon isn't saying that your stats are bad or anything. He's just saying that the competition for a limited number of international spots is fierce. I don't think it's realistic to call Amherst and Middlebury matches (or Northwestern for that matter). Feel free, obviously, to apply to them, but they are some of the most selective schools in the country.

Your safety schools are fine.

But Brown, Dartmouth, Stanford, and Harvard? Those are all VERY different schools. I know it's tough being from India since you can't necessarily visit them, but each has its own very different vibe and a very different student body, the only unifying factor being the fact that they are top tier schools. I'd recommend researching them a little more from a student life standpoint before you finalize your list of colleges.