Are grades absolutely defining?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hi, I am new to college confidential, I am an average Indian Student but I have good EC’s ( atleast I think so).
Will my average grades ruin my chances of getting into a top university?These are the 6 I have in mind
Cornell,Yale,Dartmouth,MIT, Weselyan , UC Berkeley.(Computer Science)
Following is my Resume(kinda)
SAT 1 = 2350,SAT 2 =800 Maths 2,800 Physics.
I dunno about GPA
but these are my %es from 9th to 11th.
9th - 90%
10th - 91.2%(ICSE)
11th - 70.2%
12th-I think I’ll score somewhere bw 90 and 95.(CBSE)
(PS: I am NOT in the top 5 % of my class)(yet)
Quizzing Achievements-
1.Bournvita Quiz Contest Semifinalist(Class 8)
2.ASISC All India Quiz (Official Quiz of the ICSE)
National Finalist in 9th and 10th (Came 4th out of 20 Teams(From different States) in the Nationals on both occasions.)
Won a few other Quizzes too.
3.Awards in Debates and Declamations.(9th and 10th)(Both Inter School and Intra School).
4.Two School Topper Gold medals in Science Olympiads(Sof) (Ranked in top 500 many times,best air- 12(Cyber Olympiad)
5.Head Boy of the School(Don Bosco Academy) in class 10th.
Shifted to Delhi(CBSE)
6.Came 4th at the HT PACE Inquizzitive.
7.Finalist at the St. Stephens College Quiz.
8.Came 3rd at Quiz USA(US Embassy Quiz)(Cert. Signed by the American Ambassador to India.)
9.Won A few Quizzes at Tech Fests at various Schools and came 1st in all intra school quizzes.
10.Qualified ZIO(Zonal Informatics Olympiad)
11.Senior Executive of the CODE(Computer) Club at school in class 11th and Vice President in Class 12th.
12.Regional Finalist at the Google Science Fair.
13.Two X Series Certificates from MitX(edX) and one from University of Michigan on Coursera.(All of them A’s and related to Computer Science.)
14.Qualified Technothlon and Went to IIT Guwahati for a short stay as a result.(Won a competetion at their Annual Tech Fest Techniche.)
15. Glowing LOR’s from School counselor, Maths,Science and Computer-Science teachers.

Will take the ZIO again this year,hoping to make it to the IOITC and then the IOI.(Coding is a passion)

Do I stand a chance or have my low grades ruined everything for me.Should I apply in the first place??
Yes or No what should be my course of action now?
(THANKING EVERYONE WHO RESPONDS)

2

PLEASE TELL ME SOMETHING!!!

3

Admissions to America’s most selective colleges are competitive for domestic students, but they are ten times worse for internationals. You have to be at the top of your country’s pool. If you’re not even at the top of your high school, do you think you are among the best in your country?

My point being (sorry, that was a little blunt) to pick out some lower-ranked schools too. You can’t count on 4/6 of yours (I don’t know anything about Wesleyan and not much about Berkeley except that you’d better be able to pay for it.)

4

I actually think you have a chance-though slim- it’s there! Colleges love students who are passionate, and your extra-curriculars show that dedication and drive. My only concern for you is that gpa and the lack of community service. You’ll need killer recommendations and a killer essay to get in, but you’ve definitely got a shot!

5

I will echo the problem you have as an international student. Obviously you have great test scores, but GPA is important too as standardized tests can be prepared for. I would agree with @liuc16 that you have a slim chance. I would also say that it would not surprise me if you were denied to all of your Ivy League choices and MIT. Probably a better shot at Wesleyan and UC Berkeley, but as was also insinuated, you should be prepared to pay full price.

You probably should add some schools that are a bit lower level just to be safe, and you should research which ones might actually give you some great scholarships (as an international student) to attend. Good luck!

6

Can an IOI medal help(overshadow GPA’s)??