Sidfromaus

can u please list all the universities you are applying to? because evaluating for HYPSM is just going to be a REACH...random things happen, so we cant actually honestly give you a yes/no...
but obviously, u are a student of the 'accepted' calibre. Even then...it would just be easier.
But yeah, i would say REACH for HYPSM...especially since i know a lot of random decisions are made. People better than me have been rejected from these unis, whilst those not so impressive have sometimes been accepted.
u can just try ur best, and hope for the best.
For some reason, i can see you making Princeton and Yale, but not Stanford and MIT - its just my reflection from your application. As for harvard, i wouldnt have a clue mate. Sorry

100%Tuna

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of California, Berkeley
Stanford University
California Institute of Technology
Brown University
Carnegie Mellon University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Princeton University
Harvard University
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Illinois
Cornell University
Purdue University
Yale University
University of Chicago
Duke University
University of Pennsylvania
Columbia University

Still not decided... but will probably surely apply to the ones mentioned above! Can ya guys chance me for them... thanks!

Thanks for the response... keep 'em coming!

Sidfromaus

Here you go. This is just my opinion, and knowing me, i m probably gonna be wrong.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - reject
University of California, Berkeley - Reach
Stanford University - reject
California Institute of Technology - reach
Brown University - wouldnt know but i guess a reach
Carnegie Mellon University - match
Georgia Institute of Technology - wouldnt know
Princeton University - Reach
Harvard University - Reach
University of California, Los Angeles wouldnt know
University of Illinois - wouldnt know
Cornell University - Reach
Purdue University wouldnt know
Yale University - Reach
University of Chicago - wouldnt know
Duke University - wouldnt know
University of Pennsylvania - reach
Columbia University - reach

The 'wouldnt know's are universities i did not research or apply to, hence giving you an evaluation would be an educated guess. The Reach universities are only so because all Ivy leagues are reaches. But of the ones that i marked 'reach', i think you should make Berkeley, Caltech, Cornell and Princeton (but this is gonna be hard).

galoisien

You might have a strong chance at Chicago. If you weren't an international I'd say you'd almost be a match.

But if you apply, do think of why you would want to be there. [Both for the app's essays, and for your future.]

llpitch

Reject at MIT and in at Harvard Sid? lol...

Sidfromaus

@llpitch
umm...no i said he has a reach at Harvard, a high reach, but a reach nonetheless. I jst don't think he fits the MIT and Stanford criteria. But i think he might make some of the other ivy leagues like (cornell, princeton and Upenn) because he fits their criteria. He is more of the academic type with awesome academic acheivements, and less of the EC person.
I have just spoken to soooo many people at MIT and Stanford that i have a general idea of what those students are like.
Look, he is an amazing candidate, much more academically accomplished than me, but all i m saying is that i wouldnt be surprised if he gets accepted at some of the top ivy league schools whilst getting rejected by MIT and Stanford.
PS: i dont think i ever said he is 'in at harvard.' u should be particularly sure of what i said, before 'lol'ing at me

100%Tuna

Thanks Sid, for the honest response... really appreciate it... ermm... actually, i'm one of the best actors in my school and was runner-up for national level debate (back in 10th grade) in India... and play national level cricket here in singapore... sooo... is that still less for ECs...? just wondering... should i like highlight all this more...?
llpitch: yeah... i guess MIT reject and Harvard reach does sound kinda woerd the first time ya hear it... but i guess Sid does make a loada sense...

Others... whaddya guys think... reply eh! please please please!

Thanks again guys... looking forward to loadsa other opinions, views, replies etc. etc. etc.!

Sidfromaus

ok..i think that saying MIT and Stanford will reject you is too cynical... i just reread my comments and your thread for the 3rd time.
Look, you, i and all the people commenting here know you are amazing, and have a killer resume, but to simply put it, i just think you are gonna make some of the ivies over MIT and Stanford. Thats not saying that you're gonna get rejected, but thats not saying that you're in either. I m just saying that your accomplishments suit ivy league schools a lot more than MIT and Stanford.
The reason i say this is because i dnt see a passion in your essay. From all the talks i ve had with other MIT and Stanford students is that they were REALLY passionate about something they did, and they really committed themselves to it. Like, if u are really into cricket, u can talk about how you have played at different levels, coached younger kids' teams, etc. If there is something you are passionate about and are able to portray that, then you should make most of these universities. For ex: u say you were a national runner up in a debating competition. dont just stop there, tell us howmany years you've carried them out for etc.
Just exhibit passion as a main theme in your essays and u ll be fine!
Dude, you have a much better chance than i thought i did. So you ll be just fine.

Sidfromaus

btw, since ur in singapore, u probably use MSN...add me, sidforeva@hotmail.com

innervisions

I think having more of an idea of the kind of school you want to go to, and having more of an idea of the personality you want to forward on your application is going to be very important in getting into these top places, particularly as an international from Singapore. You have 18 schools on your list, including all HYPSM. Would you really fit in at all of those places? They are all great institutions sure, but it just looks like a list of top schools rather a list of places somebody is applying. Also, to a certain extent, your extracurriculars are laid out in a similar laundry-list format. What I'm trying to say is to deal with the college process on a more personal level, and look like a student that some colleges see as the right match rather than an ambitious international trying to get into a top U.S. university.

100%Tuna

Thanks Sid! Noted! Will try and focus on stuff I'm actually passionate about instead of just mentioning everything... I thought they needed well-rounded people... but I guess having diff things but focusing on a few ones is probably a good idea! thanks!
lol! yeah... ya guessed it... live-in-singapore=have-msn... though I prefer gtalk... tried adding ya, but dunno... probably the internet just sucks or smth... will do soon asap!

Innervisions: ermm... yeah... well ya guessed it... I am prettty much going by the banner-name-factor in choosing univs... cuz I guess that NUS and NTU (the singapore national univs) ain't too bad either... so yeah... I guess NUS' gonna be my safety school... n yeah... am not really clear about what sorta engineering i want to pursue which further stops me from focusing based on course than just the rank... ermm... could you please elaborate on the personal level thingy ya mentioned... is this about essays?

thanks a lot, guys, for your response!!
others, plz plz plz chance me... the more the opinions, the better it is... being in a system totally different from the US systems, to be frank... i'm really uncertain and unsure of my chances... any response will be greatly appreciated! thanks a LOT, guys!

100%Tuna

Thanks Sid! Noted! Will try and focus on stuff I'm actually passionate about instead of just mentioning everything... I thought they needed well-rounded people... but I guess having diff things but focusing on a few ones is probably a good idea! thanks!
lol! yeah... ya guessed it... live-in-singapore=have-msn... though I prefer gtalk... tried adding ya, but dunno... probably the internet just sucks or smth... will do soon asap!

Innervisions: ermm... yeah... well ya guessed it... I am prettty much going by the banner-name-factor in choosing univs... cuz I guess that NUS and NTU (the singapore national univs) ain't too bad either... so yeah... I guess NUS' gonna be my safety school... n yeah... am not really clear about what sorta engineering i want to pursue which further stops me from focusing based on course than just the rank... ermm... could you please elaborate on the personal level thingy ya mentioned... is this about essays?

thanks a lot, guys, for your response!!
others, plz plz plz chance me... the more the opinions, the better it is... being in a system totally different from the US systems, to be frank... i'm really uncertain and unsure of my chances... any response will be greatly appreciated! thanks a LOT, guys!

galoisien

NUS is far from not bad. Even if you were accepted into every Ivy League school I'd think twice about rejecting NUS in your position, because NUS' tuition is around 2600 USD per year, which if you think about it, is almost 10 SGD a day while affording reasonably good education.

Puddly

While your awards have a focus, your ECs do not. Hence,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- REJECT
University of California, Berkeley -- REACH
Stanford University -- HIGH REACH
California Institute of Technology -- REJECT
Brown University -- REACH
Carnegie Mellon University -- not sure
Georgia Institute of Technology -- not sure
Princeton University -- HIGH REACH
Harvard University -- HIGH REACH
University of California, Los Angeles -- REACH
University of Illinois -- not sure
Cornell University -- REACH
Purdue University -- not sure
Yale University -- HIGH REACH
University of Chicago -- not sure
Duke University -- not sure
University of Pennsylvania -- REACH
Columbia University -- HIGH REACH

Seriously look into some safeties either in Singapore or in India. Don't rely on the US to accept an international.

100%Tuna

uhkay! thanks! what exactly is defined as focussed ECs... like.. i've been in drama for 6 years now... n have done tonnes of public performances and school open house films etc. plus a lotta community service... soo... is that like focussed... cuz... my main ECs were students' council (as I had a major position, drama, debates)... so would focusing only on them help rather than showing myself as well rounded in sports, culture, performing arts, community service, leadership etc. etc.??
thanks for the reply! =)

PS: others...? whadsay...? am i in...? and yeah... with the reach/high-reach/reject/match etc. etc. could ya guys also mention what would raise my chances (cuz i have a lotta other not so major achievements which i din't mention)? what... as in... rephrasing? better SATs? focusing on smth... etc. etc. thanks!