SOS desperately unclear - HHHHHEEEELLLLPPPP

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>Hi,
I am Sriram from India - I desperately want to get a realistic estimate of my chances at Columbia or any othe Ivy with financial aid of $40000. I have listed my credentials. Do i have any chance what so ever?
SAT1 - 2100 (CR and writing -680, math-740)
SAT2 - 2380 (math level2 -800, Phy790, Chem -790)
I have secured 93% overall in my 12th board by CBSE with
95% aggregate in Physics Chemistry Maths. My marks in physics is 93%,
chemistry is 95% and maths is 97%.
In my 10th board exam conducted by CBSE I secured 95.4% aggregate
with 99%in maths and 95% in science. (don’t know GPA as they don’t give)
Always been in top 5% in every exam since Pre-kg (though absoulte marks get low many times)</p>

<p>These are my academic honors
International</p>

<p>International finalist and national winner in the Red Rover goes to
Mars Contest conducted by the Planetary Society in association with JPL (NASA), Pasadena , California .
Team project “An Optically controlled Wheelchair” was accepted at an
international exhibition conducted by the Japan Institute of Innovation and Invention
Submitted essay “Is there ever a right Answer ?” to the
Commonwealth International Essay Competition which was highly commended by the Royal Common wealth society
National
· National winner in the physics category in the Intel Science
Discovery Fair with the team project “An Optically controlled
Wheelchair”
· Through Intel got an opportunity to do a month long
internship at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad and was exposed to active
research in the country and did work in Gamma Ray Spectroscopy ( learnt
basics and took some measurements)
· My team project was selected to represent India at the Japan
Institute of Innovation and Invention through a national science fair
for the winners of different prestigious Science fairs in India
conducted at Homi Baba Science Center . My team project was nominated by Intel
for this competetion.
· In the International assessment exam conducted by the
University of New South Wales , I was placed at 99th percentile all India and
was awarded High Distinction in Science and Maths. I also got
Distinction in English
· In KVPY, a national science fellowship scheme by the Indian
government (Indian Institute of Science), I was selected for Interview
at the Indian Institute of Science after clearing a national level
competitive exam and was among the top 500 applicants interviewed
nationwide
(top 43 students from entire country were finally selected and I
didn’t make it there)
· In the National Talent Search Examination conducted by the
Indian government, I was selected for interview after clearing the state
level and national level competitive exams.
· I was selected to appear for the Indian National Astronomy
Olympiad after clearing the National Standard Examination in
Astronomy(ie. Regional level )
· In the National Science Talent Search exams conducted by
Unified Council, I had consistently got top all India ranks in my 8th, 9th
and 10th.( below 200 in all three years)
State, City and School Level (these are the more promonent mentions)</p>

<p>In the Physics Olympiad conducted by the Indian Association of
Physics Teachers was placed in the top 1% in my state (Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry )
Placed 2nd in Time Science Talent Search exam in Chennai city
Placed 2nd in the state level astronomy talent search exam conducted
by the Tamil Nadu Center for Science Education in association with the
Birla Planetarium, Chennai
Awarded All rounder award by my school from 4th -11th grades for
being good in academics and extracurriculars. In 12th , won the Best
Creative Writer award
Was appointed the Maths Secretary by my school and was an active
member of the student government.</p>

<p>I was also a member of the Road Safety patrol and did 4 yrs of service to the RSP.
My reccos are strong and my essay is probably the best I have written so far.</p>

<p>Any chances ???</p>

2

<p>Well, this is the Harvard forum, not the Columbia forum. I’ll assume you meant to change that to Harvard. And though I don’t advocate applying to all Ivies, I’ve decided to respond since you need “HHHHHEEEELLLLPPPP”.</p>

<p>1) Good news. Harvard is completely need-blind in the admissions process. If you’re EFC is 0, Harvard will pay for everything (minus $4000 from the student). This applies to ALL applicants, even internationals. So if you get in (and you need it) you will get aid.</p>

<p>2) Nobody on these boards can accurately predict what your “chances” are. Your stats are competitive, your ECs look strong, so you definitely have a shot of getting in. Beyond that, who knows? Harvard admissions is a random process… you may get in, you may not.</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>It’s $2,200 from the student.</p>

4

<p>do you mean that these are maybe not good enough???
is this not a typical ivy resume if not where might it fit in???</p>

5

<p>why don’t you advocate applying to all ivies???</p>

6

<p>actually i am not that desperate - but if it clicks then really really really great</p>

7

<p>xjayz: I was referring to the info on [url=<a href=“http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/prospective_applicants.htm]this[/url”>http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/prospective_applicants.htm]this[/url</a>] page… but if you’re correct, the less the better. ;)</p>

<p>sriramfever:

I don’t understand this question.</p>

<p>

You have good stats, but these days, almost nobody is guaranteed admittance to any university. It is possible that you will be rejected by all the Ivies, not because you have an uncompetitive “resume”, but because you don’t fit what they happen to be looking for at that time. That said, you might be accepted to more than one Ivy. But the process is so random, nobody (especially people on an internet forum) can possibly tell you whether or not you’ll get in.</p>

<p>

I don’t advocate applying to all Ivies because generally it is an indication that one has not conducted a thorough college search. Each Ivy is so different that one cannot possibly have narrowed down colleges based on where one would best fit. There are so many criteria in selecting colleges, and I don’t think its the best idea to choose based on a name, which anyone who’s applying to all Ivies is basically doing.</p>