<p>This is a simple question: How does an ad-com look at the rigour of say a CBSE Class XI/XII Science Medical/Non-Medical stream? I mean, we dont have any AP classes or such, so this is the most course load one can have . So my question is, do the ad-coms think that this curriculum stacks up against say a curriculum of a student wth 2 honors classes and 1/2 AP classes in his curriculum. o.O</p>
<p>I had the same question for ISC.</p>
<p>You don’t have to worry about the lack of AP classes, unless you take one AP class somehow. Its all considered in context. Honors classes don’t matter either. You’ll be at no disadvantage when compared to someone with honors and AP classes. Most adcoms are familiar with the CBSE (and maybe ISC) system, but just in case you’re applying to a school with a smaller no. of Indians, ask your counselor to put in a letter explaining the system.</p>
<p>Ok and how do we calculate our gpa when they ask for it?</p>
<p>I mean do we use the grading system they use it in U.S. to calculate gpa? Well if I count all grades from my freshman year my gpa’s going to be awful.</p>
<p>I’m looking to pursue engineering/ computer science at HYPS or MIT ( the prayer from the half-line) The problem really is though,. that Ill be needing a very good fin-aid package. ~ 60-80%</p>
<p>@blue: Thanks and Univ of North Carolina? MJ/23. \m/</p>
<p>@Sam- With aid? Well, are you exceptional? Have you taken part in olympiads?</p>
<p>Yeah, I think my EC’s are pretty good. As for Olympiads, Ive gt a huge stack of merit certificates for IMO/NSO/NCO/Unified. JSTSE ki interview hai july mein ( yes Im in 10th) . My ECA profile is pretty strong and i say that not to brag but just to be truthful.</p>
<p>That good to know… You must atleast top your school if you want fin aid from hypsm…</p>
<p>Hmm, well, I come in the top 5 every year and recieve a scholarship. Our school doesnt distinguish between awards to the top 5. So my rank has been 4/120 or 5/120 each year.
@ anirudhc: What year are you?</p>
<p>But wouldnt outstanding EC’s make up for not being THE top ranker but in the top 2-3%?</p>
<p>Sam, apart from intl’ school students, 95% of Indians who get into HYPSM/ivies don’t do AP/IB. I tried a few APs coz my % at school was like 79. And I was barely at the 10% mark myself. If your school is super competitive, 10% is good enough. And 2-3% is certainly good enough if you have strong ECs and all.</p>
<p>Can you be a little more detailed about your olympiads and stuff?
Also, HYPM and a few other top colleges are nee-blind, so its as difficult getting admitted with aid as without.</p>
<p>they are not need-blind for internationals, and they do not guarantee meeting 100% of need for internationals</p>
<p>^I am sorry, but you are terribly mistaken my friend! Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Amherst and Dartmouth are need blind for not only American nationals but also for international citizens. They, in effect, also guarantee to meet 100% of the applicant’s demonstrated need.</p>
<p>I’m applying this year…</p>
<p>4/120 is amazing! Try and push yourself a bit more to come first! :)</p>
<p>debarghya: You don’t submit GPAs. You’ll have to submit your % marks from 9, 10, 11, and 12 class (with 12 half yearly or preboard exam). They’ll calculate the GPA according to their own system.</p>
<p>sam1995: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and MIT are all need blind. You only need to pay how much you can afford, the rest they’ll cover through their own funds. Even if you’re not exceptional, as long as you’re admitted, they’ll give you aid equal to the amount you can’t afford. This is called a need-blind system. They ARE need-blind for internationals, ignore what IB says. Stanford doesn’t do that though.
Also, it doesn’t really matter if you’re 4/120 or 3/120 or 2/120 or whatever. As long as you’re in the top 12. Colleges rank by decile, so if you’re in the top 10%, then that’s good enough. If you’re no. 1, that’ll help, but there’s no difference between rank 4 and 10.</p>
<p>And the remaining ivies also meet full-need even though they are not need-blind.</p>
<p>^ You choose the way you report it. Deciles or Rank.</p>
<p>That’s need-based / need-aware aid, and is sort of merit based. They’ll keep how much aid you need/want in mind while looking at your application, which is not the case in need-blind admission. So the more aid you want, the harder it is.</p>
<p>Gary: Deciles is a better idea, unless you’re no. 1.</p>