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Should I apply? [Admission Query]
saurabh000345
1 replies2 threads New Member
in India
So I'm an Indian student. Here we have national board exams for classes 10 and 12. In my class 10 I got a 97% (stood 2nd in my school by 3 marks) and then I changed my school to prep for JEEs(India's Engineering entrance examinations). I was already very interested in computer programming and was the best in both in schools simply because I gave a lot of time and had a lot of experience building stuff (and maybe a little natural flair- I'm just being real and saying what I feel. I hope I don't appear boastful in any part of this. It's just that I want to stress on my passion and that I'm completely capable of turning it into a good career). So because I was that interested, while I managed my academics and liked the sciences but I did neglect them a lot. Resultantly, I think I this time it'll just be around 95% in my class 12 boards. My school grades are really bad coz I didn't study for any tests (they're numerically bad but people join this school so that they don't have to worry about it too much and can go about their JEE preps. So I still stand in the top 10).
Now I gave mock SATs. The best scores I got of the 4 I gave were: 1580(for the main one. If I practice English I'm sure to score higher. I got full marks in the Math section each time). I have a certificate from an IoT startup in Bengaluru called boltiot. I know Data Structures and Algorithms and 4 programming languages apart from unpracticed web development. I do have a few projects on GitHub. Shell scripts for my Linux workflow and some python. I developed a website for online registration of schools at the annual inter-school event we hold. So I had to use Postgres, Nginx, Flask, Jinja and HTML and CSS. I hosted it on the school network. And it worked a charm. While I can produce a certificate for it, it wasn't actually implemented finally as we didn't get permission to host it from the school computer and the principal rejected the idea of hosting it on a VPS.
Considering I get really good marks in SATs, and successfully pass the Oracle Java Certification (I scored a 95% in their mocks for 1Z0-804), does it make sense to even apply to colleges that can provide a full scholarship? I've shortlisted 8 of them. Or would my class grades and the not so top ranking board marks marr my chances of getting an admission? I cannot afford to pay for my education in the US and I'd prefer not to get into loan scandals. I haven't given any AP tests. I cannot afford them. But if you'd suggest that appearing for a couple would help me tremendously, let me know
If you have any other advice for me, it'll be most gratefully welcome. Also if there are any other affordable certifications that would light the plug, let me know.
4 replies Now I gave mock SATs. The best scores I got of the 4 I gave were: 1580(for the main one. If I practice English I'm sure to score higher. I got full marks in the Math section each time). I have a certificate from an IoT startup in Bengaluru called boltiot. I know Data Structures and Algorithms and 4 programming languages apart from unpracticed web development. I do have a few projects on GitHub. Shell scripts for my Linux workflow and some python. I developed a website for online registration of schools at the annual inter-school event we hold. So I had to use Postgres, Nginx, Flask, Jinja and HTML and CSS. I hosted it on the school network. And it worked a charm. While I can produce a certificate for it, it wasn't actually implemented finally as we didn't get permission to host it from the school computer and the principal rejected the idea of hosting it on a VPS.
Considering I get really good marks in SATs, and successfully pass the Oracle Java Certification (I scored a 95% in their mocks for 1Z0-804), does it make sense to even apply to colleges that can provide a full scholarship? I've shortlisted 8 of them. Or would my class grades and the not so top ranking board marks marr my chances of getting an admission? I cannot afford to pay for my education in the US and I'd prefer not to get into loan scandals. I haven't given any AP tests. I cannot afford them. But if you'd suggest that appearing for a couple would help me tremendously, let me know
If you have any other advice for me, it'll be most gratefully welcome. Also if there are any other affordable certifications that would light the plug, let me know.
Replies to: Should I apply? [Admission Query]
I don't think that 95% in boards will count against you.
Also, you should be able to show that you have done something constructive in your gap year. I suggest you get involved in an internship or research or build something on your own.
*Being in integrated, I think you might not have done many leadership and other non-STEM related extracurricular activities recently. So you could use your gap year for these things.
You could start your essays early.
I think USIEF offers good guidance (on basis of reviews) and you could sign up for their membership.
Applying to top colleges with financial aid means you have to be at the top. All the best!