Which colleges should I apply to? What are my chances at the ivies,MIT,stanford,etc?

Question

I am an international student from India hoping to pursue an engineering undergraduate degree in the US(electrical engineering and computer science)
I got 95% (~4.0 GPA) in my class 12 board exams [12 marks away from the All India Valedictorian] and secured 2060 on the SAT 1 (Math=780;CR=670;Writing=610). However I may retake it for a better score.
I am a skilled quizzer,elocutionist and artist. I also enjoy playing table tennis, lawn tennis and chess.
I have consistently been ranked 1st or 2nd throughout my high school years. I have also done a lot of social service in my city.
I am also an inventor and am involved in discussions with university professors.I was selected as one of 400 students to compete for a scholarship in UK.
However financial aid is a major concern hence I would like to know which colleges I should apply to which may offer me maximum need based or merit based aid (almost full).Also what are my chances at renowned universities such as the Ivies,MIT,Stanford..

Answer 1

The good news: You have great grades and SAT scores -- which means that you should be able to get into an excellent university in the United States.

The bad news: While your SAT scores are excellent -- about 80% of those admitted to Harvard, Stanford, MIT and the other Ivies have better SAT scores.

Harvard only accepts 10% of those who apply. If half of those who apply are qualified (and I suspect that the number is actually higher), then qualified students only have a 20% chance of getting in.

You have a chance at the top schools -- but I think it is unlikely that you will get in. You have a better chance at some of the top public universities, the better Liberal Arts colleges or private universities just below the elite universities.

Answer 2

To add to what Taranto said, the top programs in electrical engineering and computer science aren't necessarily at the Ivys. In fact, they are here:

- Carnegie Mellon
- MIT, of course
- Stanford
- U Illinois Urbana Champaign
- California Institute of Tech
- U California Berkeley
- Georgia Institute of Tech
- Princeton
- U Michigan Ann Arbor
- U Texas Austin
- Cornell
- Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
- Harvey Mudd
- The Cooper Union

And because you're doing engineering, they are going to weigh your math SAT scores a bit more heavily than your CR or writing. Still, these programs are competitive, and you'd do well to retake the SAT and see if you can bring your score up, if you really want MIT or Stanford. But since you are an international student, and perhaps your first language is not English, your SAT scores actually are outstanding. Since the rest of your application package, including your writing, appear to be quite strong, I think you actually stand a shot at some of these schools. Look at each one carefully and find those that really are a good fit for your scores and skill set and interests. I think you could be an in for Carnegie Mellon, for example. Your test scores are right in their range, and they are truly the top of the top in your field, ranking right up there with MIT.

I'd have you take a special look at The Cooper Union, and also at the Olin College of Engineering. Both are very strong schools, although Olin is rather new. The Cooper Union is among the elite, though, and Olin's reputation is fast-growing. Thing about both of them is: they are free. if you can get in (and that's a major "IF"), then the tuition is covered.

I'd also have you look at a couple of schools that rank just a bit below the top ten in your field, but which are really outstanding:
- Rensselaer Polytechnic
- Boston University

It's possible that, because you are at the high end of their range re: test scores and etc., they may offer you merit aid, even though you are an international student. And RPI and BU are solid, well known engineering schools. RPI especially has been moving up the rankings lists at top speed.