<p>My Academic Record:-
SAT: 1850 (490: Critical Reading, 740: Math, 620: Writing; 2nd attempt)
TOEFL iBT: 110 (28: Speaking, 26: Reading, 27: Writing, 29: Listening)
SAT Subject tests (770: Math Level 2, 680: Physics, 630: Chemistry)
Average percent of marks over 3 year: 91.39%
Projected percent of 12th grade marks: 95%
My Extracurricular Record:-
Training Taekwondo for the past 8 years and got my 1st Dan (Degree) black belt last year.
Represented my state in a national Taekwondo tournament during my 8th grade.
Worked as an assistant instructor in Taekwondo, helping the needy.
Contributed 30 hours to community service.
Taekwondo state and district champion.
Achieved a honorary medal, award and appeared in the school newsletter for my achievements in Taekwondo.
Won in school high jump, long jump, table tennis, and Hindi quiz competitions.
Collected funds for the victims of Tsunami in Jan. 2005.
Participated in National Science and Cyber Olympiads.
Personal Info:-
International Citizen (Indian)
Critically require financial aid in the form of grants or scholarships.</p>
<p>What are my chances to get into the following universities?</p>
<p>MIT
National University of Singapore
Harvard University
Stanford University
University of Kansas
Michigan State University
Yale University
Nanyang Technological University
Purdue University
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign</p>
<p>The ratings below are subject to change if you identify a major; these ratings assume that the major’s selectivity is the university’s average. </p>
<p>NUS: Reach (unrealistic; it’s about as hard getting into National University of Singapore as getting into Yale, Harvard, MIT or Stanford; I chanced someone with a file similar to this and its holder applied to LMU and other schools of that caliber)
UKS: Safety
MSU: Safety
Yale: Reach (unrealistic)
MIT: Reach (unrealistic)
Stanford: Reach (unrealistic)
Harvard: Reach (unrealistic)
UIUC: Match
Purdue: Low match
Nanyang: Reach (but more realistic than Harvard, Yale, MIT or Stanford, still a rather high reach though; I think they operate on the 1600 scale, and their average was reported at ~1400)</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply; I really appreciate that. What do you have to say when it comes to scholarships or grants consideration? I’d really like to know.
Since MIT requires international students to take either the SAT or TOEFL, what would you say regarding my chances to get into it?</p>
<p>MIT - high reach
National University of Singapore - high reach
Harvard University - high reach to out of reach
Stanford University - high reach to out of reach
University of Kansas - safety
Michigan State University - low match
Yale University - high reach to out of reach
Nanyang Technological University - low reach
Purdue University - low match
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign - match</p>
<p>Finding financial aid is another big obstacle. Try some of the smaller, less selective private schools. Public schools are not likely to accept a non-genius international student who needs a lot of financial aid.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. But what about the need-blind and need-based financial aid? I’ve heard that the most prestigious universities such as the MIT or Harvard offer generous aids to all students incl. international ones.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it, because you’re realistically not getting in with an 1850 SAT score. It’s almost wasting money and time sending the applications.</p>
<p>Focus on your realistic ones, and add more reasonable choices to your list.</p>
<p>To the OP… Dont take this in the wrong way but…You really need to research more on college admissions…</p>
<p>I too am an international (indian) student with far better stats than yours and have friends with far better stats than mine … but fact is … to get into the top schools you have listed (MIT, Harvard, Yale, etc.) … you need to be way way better!</p>
<p>Plus…when you apply for aid… your chances drop to less than half of the chance you’d have while paying the full fee (unless the college is need blind)!!</p>
<p>Also, you havent got any spectacular EC’s to make up for the SAT/etc. Have you been a gold medallist in NSOs/NCOs??</p>
<p>I am not discouraging you from applying… cause you’ll never know unless you apply but you should cut down on the top schools and add few more matches to your list (say UCSD, Texas A&M, GTech)… unless you have loads of money to apply to all!!</p>
<p>Anyway All the Best!! And work hard on your essays!!</p>
<p>I guess you’re right, but I just wanted to make an attempt. Although I do not expect to get into any of the IVYs I listed, I just wanted to know my chances because I’ve heard stories in which students with very low SAT scores get in. Anyway, I consider your statement.</p>
<p>rishav17, I understand what you mean. I don’t think I’m exceptional in any way. So far, I won 3 state gold medals in Taekwondo and participated in the National Taekwondo games, representing my state. That’s my highest achievement. However, I do have a certificate from the World Taekwondo Headquarters (Kukkiwon) approving my achievement of the black belt. I have also been allotted a profile on the World Taekwondo Organization’s website. I just don’t know if this counts.</p>
<p>Hey… I’m no expert… you should really ask your counselor/senior/etc… but from my little knowledge…</p>
<p>Those Gold Medals do count and are quite a remarkable achievement!! But as you say…you want to major in mechanical engineering… and Taekwondo is not related to it!! If you were a marginal applicant (i.e - 2250ish SAT, 780ish Subjects and other strong aspects) then the Taekwondo would have seperated you from the lot!! But with a not so great 1950… Its a far off shot!!</p>
<p>If you really believe in yourself…no harm applying, but if U.S.A. is your only option… or you badly want to attend college there… then you must plan on applying to UIUC, Texas A&M, Brown (maybe), Purdue or even try out Drexel!! </p>
<p>Btw… where are you from in India? Which School??</p>
<p>Hi bud. I am Indian and Sri Lankan and I live in the U.S… The college admissions in the states are against Asian applicants WHO ARE CITIZENS. If you are foreign+Asian, you’ll never get in without a 2300+ SAT for the Ivies. You unfortunately cannot try UCD or UCLA because applications are over for those. Try Georgia tech, a GREAT engineering school. MIT and Harvard will never accept you or me, and I have way better stats. Also try Carnegie Mellon, FIT, and University of Michigan Ann Arbor. The Ivies are unrealistic and American Universities hate international applicants, especially from China and India. I’m sure you Harvard-level smart in India, but on American tests you aren’t. By that I mean English I’m guessing is not your first language so you probably didn’t score well due to that. Why not apply to ITT in India?? That is easier than Harvard I think. Good Luck! Worst comes to worse, you go to an OK American University, and then transfer to the Ivies after you get good grades in college.</p>
<p>rishav17, thanks for your suggestion mate. I kinda got to know about the SAT in my late 11th grade, and so I found it overwhelming at first. I was on the isle of IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) until I was informed of the opportunities to study abroad. I, most importantly want to go abroad (esp. USA) because I’m quite interested in sports and physics research. Anyway, I’m from Narayana Junior College, Hyderabad. What about you?</p>
<p>Galaxialto, I really regret that I came to know about the SAT at a very late stage. Had I known about this opportunity earlier, I would have paced myself properly for the test. Now, I’m not as much interested in IIT, India as I was before. I found out that USA would be a better place for me as I can come up in both Taekwondo and research physics. I’m just trying my best anyway. And yeah- I understand that I am at a huge disadvantage because I’m an international student who needs critical financial aid. But I just don’t see why the American universities would hate us Indians and Chinese.</p>
<p>Would I be able to increase my odds of getting accepted if I write great essays and get weighty recommendations?
So far, I’ve taken recommendations from my uncle, who’s a scientist, my Taekwondo coach, who’s the state secretary, national first class referee, and international referee, and my 10th grade Math teacher.</p>
<p>If you are from Narayana, why are you not confident about getting into IIT? After all, thats what they train you for, isn’t it?
Even I learnt about the opportunities abroad after my 11th (in the summer) and in that matter we are on the same boat!! And I don’t blame you but being in Narayana will neither help your English nor your ECs.
Yes good recommendations and essays are very important but then again, as I said they matter once your SAT marks are in the general range.
About the American Universities hating Indians/Chinese… Its more about them feeling that Indians/Chinese are too academically oriented (i.e to say - nerdy & its true), seldom have passionate interests and the most important thing… are just a bit TOOO focused. Plus as most Indians/Chinese have high standardized scores… It becomes even more tougher.</p>
<p>rishav17, it’s just that I’m not interested in IIT anymore and yes, Narayana trains us for IIT. It was too late for me to change my school. But, regarding the hatred towards Indians/Chinese- isn’t it stereotypical to assume as such? I mean, although it’s true for the majority, that isn’t how every person here/there is.</p>
<p>Hey guys! I do not know whether this counts or not, but…
In my 8th grade, I happened to independently re-discover a formula in commercial mathematics.
Is this regarded as a good achievement?</p>