This is so weird. I think there is something wrong with my application

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
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Why did I get rejected from MIT and even uchicago? rejection from MIT is still okay. but uchicago too? was my profile that bad?

I need help. what is lacking in my application.

Do I connect with some professional to show my application to?

Academics and Background

• School: top of my class

• Academic Interests: Computer Science, Mathematics

• Honors: India Topper in IGCSE Hindi (Cambridge); 5th in Caltech Math Meet (worldwide); Rising Star Humanitarian Award (Indian Red Cross Society); ranked 36th in ISTSE; Intl Rank 1 in IMUN Math & Sci Olympiad; Finalist in Cognitive Classroom challenge in New York Academy of Science (we built an AI-AR education system)

• SAT: 1410 superscore; Lower than I’d hoped (concerned this will be a setback)
• ACT: 26; Lower than I’d hoped (concerned this will be a setback)

Extracurriculars & Projects

• Founder & CEO of STEMExpedition: Built a community with 3,000+ members, hosted global STEM events, created an AI therapist tool for mental health support

• HBV Risk Assessment Research with Stanford Asian Liver Center: Developed an AI tool to assess Hepatitis B virus impact and support early intervention

• Edumadeasy: Created a platform for IGCSE resources, reaching 15,000+ students in 100+ countries

• Employmentally App: Designed to connect local vendors with workers to reduce unemployment in my region

• Volunteer Work: Active with the Indian Red Cross and Dera Sacha Sauda, volunteering at blood drives, and providing educational support to underserved communities

Leadership

• Academic Minister & Head Boy: Led multiple school initiatives and events, including a 1,000-attendee webinar on cybercrime prevention

• New York Math Circle: Selected for the most advanced level and later served as a Teaching Assistant

Additional

• Research Papers: Published on topics from algorithmic problem-solving to compact MRI systems for low-resource settings

• Personal Story: My background and financial struggles have driven me to become self-sufficient and help support my family through freelance AI/web development projects

some of my application

can it be because my essays had some AI use?

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Where else have you applied? If you have only applied to schools like MIT and UChicago, maybe you need help finding some schools that are more likely admits?

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Hope you applied TO with those scores for T20 schools for STEM. Those are not even near their middle 50%.

Also, are you an international that needs aid? Because that will also be a big anti-hook.

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have applied other too though

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oh yes TO

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You are clearly an excellent candidate, however, you discussed financial hardship in your application. Although these universities are ‘need blind’ you basically informed them of your probable inability to pay full tuition. That may have been a factor in their decision, particularly if you are an international student, in which case your chances were infinitesimally smaller.

With your profile many schools would be lucky to have you as a student - I hope you have other applications pending and wish you the best!

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understood. thankyou!

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It is definitely not weird. MIT, UChicago as well as other elite US universities must be considered a reach for any unhooked applicant – even more so for an international student from an over-represented country. Your need for financial aid will be an additional negative at some colleges. You are a well qualified applicant, but so are most of the applicants to the top schools – much will depend on things we cannot and should not see on a public forum such as the thoughtfulness of your essays, the strength of your LORs, etc.

I recommend you apply to a wide range of US colleges as well as colleges in your home country.

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I have heard estimates that 85% of applicants to MIT are academically qualified to attend. They accept more like 4.5% You can be a superb applicant and still be turned down. MOST superb applicants are turned down.

If you are an international student then admissions to MIT and Chicago is even more difficult. The acceptance rate at these schools is more like 2% for international students.

If you count both public and private high schools, then the number of applicants to MIT in an average year is only slightly lower than the number of high schools in the US. If you are the top student in your high school, then you are not all that far away from being an average applicant to MIT.

Admissions to Chicago is not much different, and is also exceptionally difficult.

What is the breakdown between the math versus English part of your SAT score? This is very good in general and for most universities, but is quite low for MIT and Chicago.

You appear to be a very strong student. The issue is just that MIT and Chicago really are that difficult for admissions.

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if i dont apply for aid, but have the same essays describing my limitation in paying the tuition fee, is it an issue?

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youre right. im going TO thought. 740 math and 670 ebrw.
should I not apply for aid for need-aware T20s? see if i can get in.
maybe i could get a student loan?
what are other ways of paying?

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Instead of focusing on T20/Ivy, I would focus on schools that are able and willing to fund an international student with financial need. This is also a short list, but one worth your effort.

You might want to start here:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/colleges-that-offer-the-most-financial-aid-to-international-students

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These are very good SAT scores. They just aren’t good for MIT or U.Chicago (or Caltech). They are good for a large number of other very good universities, particularly schools outside the top 20.

You will not be able to borrow anything even remotely close to the cost of attending a private university in the US. If you need financial aid, then you need to apply for financial aid at the same time that you are applying to universities.

What can you and your parents afford to pay? If the answer is close to “nothing”, then you really do need to apply to schools that meet full need, and if they are need aware for admissions then just hope that you get in anyway.

If you are an international student, then one of the requirements for getting a student visa is that you can demonstrate that you can afford to pay for the cost of studying in the USA. If you parents have a high income, or large quantities of money in the bank, or if you get a very generous financial aid from the university, these are all examples of ways to demonstrate the ability to pay the cost of attendance.

Yes, exactly.

There are a lot of universities in the US that are very good for mathematics and computer science. Which ones makes the most sense to apply to is likely to depend upon multiple factors. Which schools are a good fit for you, and what you can afford to pay, are two of the factors that will impact which schools are the most likely to work out.

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understood. thankyou very much

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If you do that and get accepted, how will you pay for college?

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THIS! And there are tons of well qualified applicants to these schools.

I hope you applied to colleges outside of the top 20…because all of those have extremely low acceptance rates. And especially low for international students.

ETA…if you need aid to attend, then you have no choice but to apply for financial aid. Period. To get a visa to study here, you will need to show that you have the funds to pay for college here. This can include approved financial aid. It cannot include maybe future money.

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You asked the question before even applying, so given the responses, the results, while disappointing, are not surprising:

Your SAT is well below the 25th percentile for MIT. You’re international, which lowers your chances further. You need aid, which is an issue for UChicago and any need-aware university.

MIT has a 2% acceptance rate for internationals. Aside from exploring local options, hopefully you’re applying RD to universities with higher acceptance rates.

Good luck

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Agree with the advice here, but will add one more thing: do not use AI for any part of your essays, period.

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These scores are too low for MIT even for recruiting. They typically want 770+ for math.

Realistically, TO for CS is going to be a huge problem, even at TO schools.

Then you won’t get aid. And no, $400,000 in loans is not realistic.

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Did you get rejected at both of these colleges early action?