<p>I am a current class 12 ISC student. After my 12 boards I plan to pursue Computer Engineering in US colleges like MIT,Harvard,UCB and the sort.
Now my question is-Is a social service certificate important for admission in the prestigious colleges?
If not then does it give a good impression?</p>
<p>Also, my 9th percentage was somewhere in the late 80s. I secured 95% in Class X boards. Unfortunately my class XI marks were very low(70%). Will this negatively affect my application to a great extent?
I am going to give SAT 1 on June 7.
How many extra-curriculars should I aim for? </p>
<p>You seem a little misguided on the whole process, you should search around on the India forums as well as the general ones about admissions; esp. those concerning MIT + Ivies (Hint: W/out a medal you dont have much of a chance at MIT and ‘number of EC’s’ doesn’t matter)</p>
<p>Mind posting some links?
I do have a Silver Medal in National Cyber Olympiad.
I tried for International Physics Olympiad but I was not selected(How am I supposed to know class 12 stuff when I am in the middle of class 11)?</p>
<p>First of all, please don’t do community service for ‘giving a good impression’.</p>
<p>A lot of applicants do community service. But it is just another part of your application which comes under ECs.
The most important aspects are your academics, and your SAT scores ( often always). Top colleges do look at it, but I don’t think it is considered ‘important’ unless you have spent a hell lot of time, pursuing it with dedication, to improve your society.</p>
<p>National Cyber Olympiad, and other private Olympiads do not matter.</p>
<p>There are people who clear NSEP ( IPhO is the final stage) in class 11. They might have prepared for months/years for the same.</p>
<p>I understand that certain schools set tough papers in both 9th and 11th to ensure that students read for the 10th and 12th boards. Since each school is different, colleges consider your class rank.
What was your class rank in 9th and 11th?</p>
<p>If you were in the top 5 % or top 10 % , it won’t negatively affect your application.</p>
<p>But if your class rank was bad, colleges will look at you as an applicant who has the potential to perform extremely well ( As demonstrated by your excellent marks in 10th), but is inconsistent. This will affect your application.</p>
<p>Anything which you pursue outside your class is considered as an EC . Have you pursued anything in classes 9,10 and 11?
The number of ECs do not matter. The depth does. There are people who get admitted to top colleges with 2-3 ECs , but they are extremely dedicated, and have superb achievements in the same.</p>
<p>College applications specifically ask for the no. of years you have pursued an EC. So if you add 5-6 ECs in 12th, colleges will definitely look at it as resume-building .</p>
<p>Feel free to ask any more questions, or just check out prev. threads in the Indian forum to get a rough idea of the process.</p>
<p>My class rank in 9th was in the 10th but not in class 11. In class 11 I was below the average. I can make up for it in class 12 though.
I got a chess certificate in class 9.
One dramatics certificate in class 11.
I plan on competing for both in 12th. Both are interschool btw.</p>
<p>Well I think we two are in the same boat, but my 11th marks were better than this. You have to give SSC if the colleges ask for it, or else it’ll not be considered.</p>
<p>What’s ssc?</p>
<p>Social Service Certificate.</p>
<p>Which universities ask for ssc?? Btw what are your grades from class 9?</p>
<p>Universities ask if they need to verify it, but it’s very rare. You don’t need it in my opinion.
My grades were-
9th class- 9.0 CGPA approx. 85.5%
10th class- 9.8 CGPA approx. 93%
11th class- 82.3% </p>