<p>I will be giving my SAT in October. Is it better to apply early decision if I want an aid? Also, do I need to give the SAT subject test? What are the chances for getting an aid? A good SAT score or a good extracurricular record? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>This issue has recently been addressed here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1186413-what-advantages-applying-early.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1186413-what-advantages-applying-early.html</a></p>
<p>Nonetheless, the gist is DO NOT apply ED if you want aid …you need to apply regular decision.</p>
<p>As for the rest of your questions,
*most top schools require that you take the subject SATs. Considering that most ‘good’ schools or often the ones with the best aid, I’d say yes, take the subject SATs.
*A good SAT score or good ECs? –> BOTH. why would colleges settle for just one of those, when they receive so many qualified applicants who have great SAT scores AND strong ECs? Unless you are phenomenal at your EC (participating globally etc), you do need at least decent SAT scores. However it doesn’t work the other way; a 2400 doesn’t excuse having no ECs.</p>
<p>Hope this helps :)</p>
<p>Thanks so much!! 
It did certainly help! </p>
<p>Also, is it necessary to take coaching for SAT? or hire a councilor? Or would self study suffice?</p>
<p>Thanks again!!</p>
<p>Also, chances of getting a financial aid is bleak this year right?</p>
<p>“Are chances of financial aid bleak this year?”</p>
<p>No more so than last year, if you’re talking about the impact of the 2008 recession. If you’re talking about the current ‘probable recession relapse’, it won’t affect aid policies for this year, because those are decided much in advance. It might hurt the next batch of students more…</p>
<p>Yes, a lot of colleges have pulled back a bit as an aftermath of 2008, but it’s nothing unique to this year, so we should be fine :)</p>
<p>Coaching for the SAT; I’m not a personal fan of these coaching programs, because I’ve never seen it really work for anyone I know and it takes up a lot of time and money, but I have small sample size to judge from so I can’t fairly judge their helpfulness.</p>
<p>I’m not exactly someone who can give you good advice on this considering I barely studied myself, but there is an SAT board on collegeconfidential that you might want to check out. You’ll find great advice. Like this thread: (the pdf link on the first post is very helpful)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html</a></p>
<p>And if you were asking about the SAT 2… The SAT Subject Tests are not about trick questions. It’s a subjective test, you just have to really know your stuff. Go through the syllabus (I used sparksnotes to check what would likely come on the test, but you might want to get the official Collegeboard books), and just STUDY for these, I know of no ‘tricks’ for the SAT Subject Tests that can supplement studying. </p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>
<p>Thank you so much!! you certainly cleared most of my doubts!
Thanks for the pdf link!! Xiggi’s SAT advice is beneficial, I am going to follow it…
Thanks so much!! </p>
<p>okay, one more doubt. Is applying ED for the Ivy’s a wise decision? Because the competition is very tough… Also, about the aid, do colleges offer aid only to meritorious students? Do average international students stand a chance for getting an aid at a good liberal arts college?
Thanks so much!! :)</p>
<p>Applying ED for ivies: like I said before, ED = no aid. If you can afford it without seriously putting strain on your family, and without graduating with a huge debt, go for it (if this is true, then you wouldn’t qualify for aid in the first place). If you cannot afford it, you have to consider whether a SLIGHTLY better chance is worth the financial consequences (and remember that although ED acceptance is superficially much higher at first glance, the numbers are skewed. ED applicants are on average more qualified/driven than the RD applicants, so its not fair to compare the two rates directly).</p>
<p>Aid to meritorious students: to even get in to any ivy/good LAC you’d have to be pretty damn ‘meritorious’. </p>
<p>Anyway, I think you have the concepts of merit and need based aid mixed up. Need based aid is awarded when you can’t afford to pay for college either partially or wholly. Your grades and stuff don’t come into the picture once you’re admitted - those who need the money get it. This is usually a significant amount of money.</p>
<p>Merit based ‘scholarships’ are for students in the already talented lists of acceptees who are really stand out is some remarkable way. This is nothing to do with finances, they’re just rewarding the super talented kids for being super talented And of course, its a way to tempt them to pick that college over the other colleges they have almost certainly gained admission to 
Merit based grants are not generally worth as much as the need packages, and even families who can easily afford the college fees qualify. It’s just a little something to sweeten the deal :)</p>
<p>Applying for MERIT BASED grants DOES NOT affect your admission chances + you can apply ED if you’re applying merit based and NOT need based.</p>
<p>Oh, now my doubts are fully cleared!! </p>
<p>Thank you so much! </p>
<p>So, I will be applying regular decision and asking for a need based scholarship.</p>
<p>Thanks again!!</p>
<p>It seems like you’re Indian. I have one more question for you, I really need somebody’s advise on this. </p>
<p>Since I was unsure about my SAT plans, I joined Symbiosis Law School Noida… Earlier my plans were to go for law through the CLAT exam. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get through a National Law School, so I joined this place.
I don’t like it here, and I am steadfast about my decision for SAT and applying to colleges abroad. I need a pragmatic point of view.</p>
<p>I have decided to take a drop and fully prepare for the SAT’s and college apps this year. Will be giving my exam this October. I do not have an outstanding academic background also my ED’s aren’t upto the level which are required for colleges in the States. But I am serious about my applications and I am going full throttle about the SAT preparation.
Should I take a drop and go for it? Or should I stay here and study side by side? I am unable to give my 100% for the preparation in the hostel though… Also, do I stand of getting a need based aid in a “good” college if my SAT score and apps go well? </p>
<p>Please help.
Thanks so much!!</p>
<p>EC’s * not ED’s :|</p>
<p>Hello, veethiv. On the outset, I would clear your doubt on one particular issue. If you DO plan to apply to LAC’s and do require FA, it is usually wise to apply ED. I applied to a few LAC’s myself last year and got into a couple of them. However, I had applied RD and was therefore given limited aid which did not suffice my need to study in the US. I was waitlisted at three top LAC’s as well. From what I figured, I was waitlisted simply because of my high FA requirement. The entire purpose of ED is to attract brilliant applicants and to bind them to their institution. I would suggest you to apply ED to that particular college which you are very much interested in and as per your judgement would have a little below average chance of getting accepted to. If you play your game wisely, it is pretty possible that you would be accepted ED.
Good Luck
As a side note, I’d just like to add, that admissions to the US are a crapshoot if you require FA. I worked my butt off for two years as well, and didn’t land anywhere satisfactorily. I’m glad that good stuff worked out for me in India and therefore I didn’t have to drop a year. Just be geared to work tremendously hard, because admissions to the US ARE as strenuous as IIT JEE/ AIIMS/ CLAT preparation.</p>