The Official Pakistani Thread for the Class of 2014

[FarazSalahuddin]

Im sorry but theres more to people than numbers, you cant discard somebody cause hes doesnt have a 2370 on his SAT thats freakin ridiculous. Theres a reason why colleges dont do that, they want some diversity not only kids who study all day.

[TheDukeofAlbany]

Also I don't know why some international students get so worked up about the perceived difficulty of getting into American universites with aid. I mean, as some of you guys said as well, these universities are funded by American tax payers' money and if not by that then millions and billions in donations from generous alumni and other Americans. They have very good reasons to be very selective about who they give their money to....

[TheDukeofAlbany]

Yes Faraz. That is why we have a holistic admission approach in the states. Universities here look at a wide range of factors and are never swayed by just one thing.

[TheDukeofAlbany]

Most British universities, on the other hand, are convinced just by grades. And getting 3As is more than good enough for the overwhelming majority of universities there.

[TheDukeofAlbany]

CONGRATS EVERYONE!!!

1. Harvard - 1 (LAS [likely])
2. Stanford - 1 (LAS)
3. Caltech - 1 (KGS)
4. MIT - 3 (1 LAS, 2 Roots)
5. Columbia - 2 (1 KAS [likely], 1 LAS [likely])
6. UPenn (2 Wharton) - 4 (3 LAS, 1 KGS)
7. Brown - 2 (1 LAS, 1 Headstart)
8. Yale - 1 (St. Patrick's)
9. UChicago - 1 (LAS)
10. Tufts - 3 (1 LAS, 2 Roots)
11. University of Texas at Austin - 2 (1 Aitchison, 1 KAS)
12. Texas A&M University - 3 (1 KAS, 1 LAS, 1 Aitchison)
13. SUNY Buffalo - 1 (KAS)
14. Purdue - 4 (1 LAS, 3 Aitchison)
15. NYU - 8 (3 KAS, 2 Aitchison, 3 LGS)
16. Notre Dame - 1 (Choueifat)
17. Indiana University, Bloomington - 4 (Aitchison)
18. UMich, Ann Arbor - 2 (LAS)
19. Bryant - 2 (LAS)
20. Ohio Wesleyan - 5 (3 Aitchison, 1 LGS, 1 Roots)
21. University of Tampa - 3 (LAS)
22. Rutgers - 2 (1 LAS, 1 Aitchison)
23. Syracuse - 4 (1 Aitchison, 3 KAS)
24. University of Florida - 2 (Aitchison)
25. Creighton - 1 (LAS)
26. Dowling - 1 (LAS)
27. UMich, Flint - 1 (Aitchison)
28. Northeastern - 11 (3 LAS, 4 Aitchison, 4 KAS)
29. Florida Institute of Technology - 2 (Aitchison)
30. UIllinois, Urbana-Champaign - 4 (2 Aitchison, 1 LAS, 1 KAS)
31. Mercy College – 1 (LAS)
32. DePauw - 3 (1 LGS, 2 Roots)
33. ASU - 1 (LGS)
34. UC San Diego - 1 (Aitchison)
35. UC Irvine - 2 (1 KGS, 1 KAS)
36. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities - 1 (Aitchison)
37. Washington University in St. Louis - 2 (1 KAS, 1 Aitchison)
38. Rhode Island - 1 (Aitchison)
39. American University - 1 (KAS)
40. Simmons College - 2 (1 KAS, 1 LAS)
41. U Mass Amherst - 2 (1 KAS, 1 Aitchison)
42. Regis College - 1 (KAS)
43. Cal State: Long Beach - 1 (KAS)
44. Valparaiso – 3 (LAS)
45. University of Maryland, College Park – 1 (LAS)
46. Washington College – 1 (LAS)
47. Illinois Tech - 1 (Aitchison)
48. Penn State - 1 (Aitchison)
49. Babson - 3 (LAS)
50. Bentley - 2 (LAS)
51. Hobart and William Smith Colleges - 1 (Roots)
52. Colgate - 1 (Roots)
53. Drexel - 1 (Roots)
54. USC - 1 (Aitchison)
55. UC LA - 2 (Aitchison)

UK List:

1. Oxford - 3 (2 Roots, 1 KGS)
2. Cambridge - 5 (2 KGS, 2 LGS, 1 Engro Chemical School Ghotki)
3. Imperial College, London - 7 (3 LGS, 4 Aitchison)
4. Sheffield - 3 (2 Aitchison, 1 KGS)
5. University College London - 10 (7 Aitchison, 2 LGS, 1 PISES Riyadh)
6. University of Edinburgh - 4 (4 Aitchison)
7. CASS - 3 (Aitchison)
8. Exeter - 3 (Aitchison)
9. Warwick - 4 (3 Aitchison, 1 TCS)
10. Cardiff - 2 (1 LAS, 1 Aitchison)
11. Nottingham - 1 (Aitchison)
12. Regents - 1 (LAS)
13. St. Andrews - 1 (LAS)
14. Kent - 1 (LAS)
15. London School of Economics - 6(4 LGS, 1 Resource, 1 Aitchison)
16. Southampton - 2 (1 Aitchison, 1 KGS)
17. London College of Fashion - 1 (KAS)
18. Loughborough – 1 (LAS)
19. University of Manchester - 1 (PISES Riyadh)
20. University of Birmingham - 1 (PISES Riyadh)
21. University of Liverpool - 1 (PISES Riyadh)

Canadian List:

1. University of Toronto - 6 (1 LAS, 1 LGS, 4 Aitchison)
2. University of Waterloo - 10 (5 Aitchison, 3 LAS, 1 LGS, 1 BSS)
3. Carleton - 4 (LAS)
4. McGill - 37 (1 TCS, 16 LGS, 19 Aitchison, 1 Headstart School Islamabad)
5. University of British Columbia - 5 (1 LGS, 4 LAS)
6. York University - 5 (2 LAS, 1 Aitchison, 1 LGS, 1 PIS, Khobar)
7. Concordia University - 2 (1 LAS, 1 PIS Khobar)
8. University of New Brunswick - 1 (PIS Khobar)
9. University of Manitoba - 1 (PIS Khobar)
10. McMaster University - 2 (1 PIS Khobar, 1 Aitchison)
11. University of Western Ontario – 4 (2 LAS, 2 LGS)
12. University of Alberta - 1 (PISES Riyadh)
13. Queen's University - 2 (1 ISG Dammam, 1 Aitchison)

Other List:

1. HKUST - 2 (1 LAS, 1 Roots)
2. Curtin Institute of Technology, Australia - 1 (PIS Khobar)
3. HKU - 3 (1 LGS, 1 Roots, 1 TCS)

[hb730]

One more thing, if 2370 was a requirement (and an absurdly exact one at that) there wouldn't be enough students to fill the Ivy League. That would create a bit of a problem.

[mushoo]

Actually UK universities don't really make their decisions based purely on grades. I have a friend with 7 A-grades (in one sitting!) at A-Level including Further Mathematics, by far the toughest A-Level, who got rejected by Oxford. Although Oxbridge do still make their decisions on purely academic bases, that goes much deeper than your grades.

I actually agree with the way British universities decide who they take. The primary purpose of a university is to educate its pupils, so it's not exactly outrageous for a university to take in students based on their academic potential. The UK personal statement is a million times better than the US essays because it is what it should be: a formal statement of why you wish to pursue the course you have applied for. US unis expect you to go soul-searching to write applications.

I think by trying to dictate what students should do on their own time US universities are trying to play God. It is so sad to see so many students becoming clones of each other, doing hours of community service and extracurriculars not because they want to but because US unis want them to.

[mushoo]

Also, British universities can be more confident giving grades importance in their decisions as the A-Levels are comprehensive examinations composed of hours of testing including comprehensive written examinations, practical examinations and year-long coursework projects, unlike the SATs which are simply MCQ papers.

[Ecthelion]

@INERT101: Can you tell us how you arrived at this 2370 as the minimum that any college should have for its admissions.This seems somewhat arbitrary and completely ridiculous. Keeping this in context, i feel highly uncomfortable with the fact that you too have 2370 in SAT1. Why not make it 2380? That would be much better.
Its only 10 points higher so you shouldn't really have any problem with it.

[Panda7]

A request for everyone.

Kindly plz HIGHLIGHT the changes you make to the acceptance/conditional offer list.

And plz copy-paste the most recent list when adding ones of your own. Because I remember adding Oberlin and NYU to the list yesterday, but now they are mysteriously missing.

It has happened to my UCLA addition before and I had to add it again.

Thanks

[Panda7]

US List:

1. Harvard - 1 (LAS [likely])
2. Stanford - 1 (LAS)
3. Caltech - 1 (KGS)
4. MIT - 3 (1 LAS, 2 Roots)
5. Columbia - 2 (1 KAS [likely], 1 LAS [likely])
6. UPenn (2 Wharton) - 4 (3 LAS, 1 KGS)
7. Brown - 2 (1 LAS, 1 Headstart)
8. Yale - 1 (St. Patrick's)
9. UChicago - 1 (LAS)
10. Tufts - 3 (1 LAS, 2 Roots)
11. University of Texas at Austin - 2 (1 Aitchison, 1 KAS)
12. Texas A&M University - 3 (1 KAS, 1 LAS, 1 Aitchison)
13. SUNY Buffalo - 1 (KAS)
14. Purdue - 4 (1 LAS, 3 Aitchison)
15. NYU - 12 (3 KAS, 6 Aitchison [4 likely letters], 3 LGS)
16. Notre Dame - 1 (Choueifat)
17. Indiana University, Bloomington - 4 (Aitchison)
18. UMich, Ann Arbor - 2 (LAS)
19. Bryant - 2 (LAS)
20. Ohio Wesleyan - 5 (3 Aitchison, 1 LGS, 1 Roots)
21. University of Tampa - 3 (LAS)
22. Rutgers - 2 (1 LAS, 1 Aitchison)
23. Syracuse - 4 (1 Aitchison, 3 KAS)
24. University of Florida - 2 (Aitchison)
25. Creighton - 1 (LAS)
26. Dowling - 1 (LAS)
27. UMich, Flint - 1 (Aitchison)
28. Northeastern - 11 (3 LAS, 4 Aitchison, 4 KAS)
29. Florida Institute of Technology - 2 (Aitchison)
30. UIllinois, Urbana-Champaign - 4 (2 Aitchison, 1 LAS, 1 KAS)
31. Mercy College – 1 (LAS)
32. DePauw - 3 (1 LGS, 2 Roots)
33. ASU - 1 (LGS)
34. UC San Diego - 1 (Aitchison)
35. UC Irvine - 2 (1 KGS, 1 KAS)
36. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities - 1 (Aitchison)
37. Washington University in St. Louis - 2 (1 KAS, 1 Aitchison)
38. Rhode Island - 1 (Aitchison)
39. American University - 1 (KAS)
40. Simmons College - 2 (1 KAS, 1 LAS)
41. U Mass Amherst - 2 (1 KAS, 1 Aitchison)
42. Regis College - 1 (KAS)
43. Cal State: Long Beach - 1 (KAS)
44. Valparaiso – 3 (LAS)
45. University of Maryland, College Park – 1 (LAS)
46. Washington College – 1 (LAS)
47. Illinois Tech - 1 (Aitchison)
48. Penn State - 1 (Aitchison)
49. Babson - 3 (LAS)
50. Bentley - 2 (LAS)
51. Hobart and William Smith Colleges - 1 (Roots)
52. Colgate - 1 (Roots)
53. Drexel - 1 (Roots)
54. USC - 1 (Aitchison)
55. UC LA - 2 (Aitchison)
56. Oberlin - 1 (Aitchison)

UK List:

1. Oxford - 3 (2 Roots, 1 KGS)
2. Cambridge - 5 (2 KGS, 2 LGS, 1 Engro Chemical School Ghotki)
3. Imperial College, London - 7 (3 LGS, 4 Aitchison)
4. Sheffield - 3 (2 Aitchison, 1 KGS)
5. University College London - 10 (7 Aitchison, 2 LGS, 1 PISES Riyadh)
6. University of Edinburgh - 4 (4 Aitchison)
7. CASS - 3 (Aitchison)
8. Exeter - 3 (Aitchison)
9. Warwick - 4 (3 Aitchison, 1 TCS)
10. Cardiff - 2 (1 LAS, 1 Aitchison)
11. Nottingham - 1 (Aitchison)
12. Regents - 1 (LAS)
13. St. Andrews - 1 (LAS)
14. Kent - 1 (LAS)
15. London School of Economics - 6(4 LGS, 1 Resource, 1 Aitchison)
16. Southampton - 2 (1 Aitchison, 1 KGS)
17. London College of Fashion - 1 (KAS)
18. Loughborough – 1 (LAS)
19. University of Manchester - 1 (PISES Riyadh)
20. University of Birmingham - 1 (PISES Riyadh)
21. University of Liverpool - 1 (PISES Riyadh)

Canadian List:

1. University of Toronto - 6 (1 LAS, 1 LGS, 4 Aitchison)
2. University of Waterloo - 10 (5 Aitchison, 3 LAS, 1 LGS, 1 BSS)
3. Carleton - 4 (LAS)
4. McGill - 37 (1 TCS, 16 LGS, 19 Aitchison, 1 Headstart School Islamabad)
5. University of British Columbia - 5 (1 LGS, 4 LAS)
6. York University - 5 (2 LAS, 1 Aitchison, 1 LGS, 1 PIS, Khobar)
7. Concordia University - 2 (1 LAS, 1 PIS Khobar)
8. University of New Brunswick - 1 (PIS Khobar)
9. University of Manitoba - 1 (PIS Khobar)
10. McMaster University - 2 (1 PIS Khobar, 1 Aitchison)
11. University of Western Ontario – 4 (2 LAS, 2 LGS)
12. University of Alberta - 1 (PISES Riyadh)
13. Queen's University - 2 (1 ISG Dammam, 1 Aitchison)

Other List:

1. HKUST - 2 (1 LAS, 1 Roots)
2. Curtin Institute of Technology, Australia - 1 (PIS Khobar)
3. HKU - 3 (1 LGS, 1 Roots, 1 TCS)

[The Juggernaut]

I'm not going to go into a deep discussion about the differences in admission methods between UK and US universities, but I am going to say this: UK universities accept academics for how much they have memorized for their gazillion O- and A-levels (not to be disrespectful, but how easy is it to get As in O- and A-levels these days?), US universities accept genuine people for who they are as human beings, for how much effort they've put in and for what they have achieved, both academically and otherwise. And very quickly, about the difference between the UCAS personal statement and the personal essays for US universities, US personal essays give you an opportunity to put yourself on paper in the best possible way - they cover what the UCAS personal statement asks for and even more. In short, as you can probably judge from my arguments, the US admission system is far superior to the outdated UK one.

[mushoo]

<UK universities accept academics for how much they have memorized for their gazillion O- and A-levels (not to be disrespectful, but how easy is it to get As in O- and A-levels these days?)>

Actually one aspect of Medicine and Oxbridge interviews is to determine whether you got your grades by a combination of mindless past paper practicing and memorisation or whether you demonstrate true academic potential. Another major aspect is to see your thought process and judge your intellect. What I'm trying to say is that it's through the interview that they determine your academic potential, not merely grades.

Although I am going to agree with you that it has become ridiculously easy to get A-grades in O- and A-Levels. However, this is due to the fact that our schools have started trying to fool the system by focusing their studies wholly and solely on the final examinations without caring for the education of the students. If administered the way they were meant to be administered - i.e. the way they are administered in the UK - A-Levels are a very good tool to distinguish between applicants. I presume UK universities don't know yet about the lowly tactics our students resort to just to get A's.

You will be able to see what I mean if you take a look at A-Level Further Mathematics. That subject still has value because Pakistani schools have 'til now been unable to find the "jugaadh" partially because CIE refused to publish marking schemes for many years.

Also, our syllabuses have been incredibly dumbed-down just to increase participation. On this count, I agree with you.

<US universities accept genuine people for who they are as human beings, for how much effort they've put in and for what they have achieved, both academically and otherwise.>

Yes, that sentence does describe the difference between the two systems and in fact this is what I said too. UK universities focus on aspects relevant to a candidate's education whereas US universities try to play God by making students do community service and extracurriculars to please admissions officers. If I may add in Urdu, US universities chahti hain ke aap har amal ikhlaas ke saath university ki raza ke liye karein.

UK universities explicitly state that extracurricular activities are for your own sake - do them if you enjoy them, but the only way they will help you in the admissions process is by demonstrating time management skills.

<US personal essays give you an opportunity to put yourself on paper in the best possible way - they cover what the UCAS personal statement asks for and even more.>

You are right on this point. Personally, I prefer the UK's formal statement. Others may prefer the US' more personal approach.

(Of course this discussion does not have a definite right and wrong to it - everyone will have different preferences.)

[mushoo]

Oops I didn't realize how long that post got. Sorry!

[Dark_Angel]

btw a 2370 requirement for SAT means a huge income of SAT company.


Intert - U want to purse in the business of SAT thingi in future??