letusseenah

So i guess this is the most trite question on this forum but im asking anyway because im desperate to know my chances of getting into us colleges.

My Academics
I did really badly in 9th, less than 80%
in 10th i got 94%,
in 11th i got 85%, a really good rank and awards.

MY ECs
Im really into debating and public speaking, having compered at many functions, assemblies and the whole lot in school
also recently i have been bitten by the mun bug and have won best delegate at the two muns that i have participated in
Im also into theatre and a constant fixture in school plays and form evenings.
apart from that i have my own column in the school magazine and am also on the ed board
ive done a fair bit of community service at an orphanage and school for the poor and physically challenged.

Apart from that ill be applying in fall 2013, my sat -2250 math-800, wr-770, cr-680
sat II- phy-790, chem-790, mathII-800

So Im planning to apply to the following colleges/universities/liberal arts
Macalester
Colgate
Bowdoin
Carleton
Oberlin
Swarthmore
Amherst
Princeton
Brown
UPenn
Cornell
Vanderbilt
Rochester

I want to do an econ major, with the possibility of coupling it with international relations
so i was hoping that you guys could tell me whether im fit for these colleges?? and if i have found a good mix of safeties, reaches and dream?

Also if you guys could give me some advice regarding some other colleges that i should look at or something that would help bolster my resume.

Finally the deal breaker :financial aid
My parent are ready to foot the bill for about 10-15 lakhs (the lesser the better as my dad says) so that means ill be looking for a considerable amount of aid. thus also if you guys could advice me on some other colleges that provide some good aid? or some colleges that would be a good fit for me?

Thanks

moneyp

Good choices. Princeton may be a super reach. UPenn may also be a super reach since you need financial aid, otherwise if you did not need aid, it may be doable.

rew2402

Almost my case.
I need lotsa FA as well.

Try applying to other Need-blinds schools as well, like-
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Dartmouth
MIT
Amherst

Also, focus on your extracurriculars more? One should Show in-depth involvement in a EC.

Also, am sure many of the colleges you mentioned make it a reach school to you because you will be asking a lot of financial aid.

letusseenah

@rew2402

yeah i know, i was told that asking for fa will prove to be detrimental!
also because my scores are not par excellence, ive decided to apply to only some need blind colleges because there are super-competitive. THus im keeping in mind amherst, upenn and princeton as super-reaches.

since you are almost in the same boat, i was wondering if you could advise me on some other good non-need based but generous colleges

So when are you applying? Where are you planning to apply? what major?

rew2402

hey letusseenah.
so, check out : WUSTL, Indiana University-Bloomington, MIddlebury , williams, vassar, UChi and those top LACS.

i am applying for the class of 2017, this year.
i am applying to Need-blinds (just the HYPD) and a few LACs which'll give generous aid, and maybe also at georgiaTech and drexel.
major might be either biomedical engineering or psychology.

phr34k

9th scores hardly matter, so you can chill about them.

Overall, you have got decent scores. Key in your applications will be the essays and your activities.

You have also managed a good mix of colleges. However also, apply to U Minnesota; its one of the world's best places to do economics and is ranked far ahead than most of the Ivies for economics. Its also an easier place to get into (relatively than the others) and is not at all that expensive..

anvesh95

^Are you sure 9th scores don't matter a whole lot? My 9th scores are really less then my 10th and above.


And about UMinnesota-Twin Cities. I think it costs around 27k together, without aid.

lifegang

Hi,
I am also in the same scenario. But my 10th scores are bit less like 87% with best of five of 91%. But I will be publishing a research paper this month(one plus point atleast ). I hope to get 90% in pre-board and have a perfect SAT I and hope to have a perfect SAT II. Have few good extracurs. And will be getting extremely good recomendation letters. But the problem is I need full aid. So, please suggest me some good colleges in which I can get in with full aid.
Thanks.

phr34k

@anvesh95- Colleges generally ignore bad 9th marks. If have a rising trend in your scores, that's seen as a positive thing. So relax about your 9th.

@lifegang- Google it. And also to get into those universities which give full aid, you need a lot more than marks.

lifegang

@ph34k: can suggest like wat can be done to get in. I will try to write an outstanding essay and will be having lot of people with me to proof-read it. Does good recommendation letter help?if yes then by how much can it make or break the deal?i have few extracurs like football for school team,guitarist in school band,head of cs dept in school, and more. Does the fact that I will get published in a journal put a good impact on the app? And I am good at selling myself. So how much chance do I have? And wat more can be done to make my MRP rise higher?
Thanks

Zoidberg93

if you're into international relations, consider: George Washington, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Georgetown, Syracuse, and American

Mrinal2207

Okay, you have an awesome SAT score. You seem to be a very strong applicant to me. Have passion in your essays, and you should be fine.
I don't know much about Econ major, but rew and anvesh can give you the best advice. Listen to them and follow you passions.
You seem to have a good range of ECs as well, and I personally think that 9th grades matter much( freshmen year is not taken into consideration by Brown much).
So, sccording to me, you are on the right track and keep going !

rew2402

^touché.
Recommended- stArt working on your essay. Start thinking about it. Start making it's framework. Keep a notebook with you and scribble down ideas when you get one- be it totally unrelated to the essay ( later, it'll make some sense ).
Also, don't worry much about your
Scores, I guess. That a great score.
As once said to me, SAT scores aren't everything, yet, a good score will get a step closer to the door.
And, concentrate on your EC which you're already involved in ( even if you have little or no Time left now.

We 17ers have been offline a lot these says, and have taken over Facebook instead. If you want fast answers, you should probably contact us there as well. PM me for the fb groups page!