Admission Chances?

Question

I just turned in my college application. I am not nervous but I am eager to know my admission chances. I am from India. I have a gpa of about 3.7(we dnt have gpa in India, I m jus givin US equivalent), but I m 1st in my graduating class(of 60) Since my high school doesnt award high grades easily, would my rank cover up for a low gpa? I got a SAT of 1830 (really low verbal score) but a high TOEFL score of 110. Excellent recs, one said that I was special. I got a couple of awards in international science presentation, national level finalist in science exhibition. I have also been honored by the state government on republic day(not a small thing). Do I have any chance in Cornell or Sanford? I have also applied to Brandeis, Grinnell and Macalester(any chance?)

Actually I got unusual family circumstances. In short, due to medical condition of my dad, we faced a lot of money shortage(no social security in India; if u cant earn, u suffer). I mentioned that, would I get any consideration

Its 'Cornell or STANFORD'. Thanks in advance..

Answer 1

It is too bad that you meant Stanford, because I was about to tell you that you had a good shot at Sanford! Stanford and Cornell, I'm afraid, not so much. The problem is that your email is full of "would this factor make up for that factor?" That may work at lesser schools, when they need to admit people with some flaws, but unfortunately, at schools like Cornell (which is Ivy League) and Stanford (one of the leading schools in the world), they don't have to compromise because they have plenty of applicants with NO flaws in their records. The schools you mention are also all private schools, so when you mention a lot of financial hardship, that may be a negative to them rather than something which works in your favor. Also, being ranked first in your class is great, but your class is tiny by most standards (mine was 50 times as large!), so your #1 might be the equivalent of my #50, which is a bit of a drawback.

Of the schools you mention, Grinnell and perhaps Macalester seem like realistic possibilities. They are only moderately selective, and both are located in areas (Iowa and Minnesota) in which perhaps they will see the diversity of bringing in someone from India as a plus.

Answer 2

Your chances at Stanford and Cornell are basically non existent; there are hundreds of superbly qualified 2350+ SAT international students applying to these schools each year. The international competition is way more fierce than the US competition. Your SAT score is way too low for competition, while your GPA is not superb.

I don't understand how you have a 110 TOEFL when the score range is 133 to 250 (CBT scoring) or 450 to 600 (PBT scoring).

Also; have you checked if these schools are international need blind; only a very small proportions of US schools will admit international students without the ability to pay.

Brandeis, Grinnell and Macalester are reach schools for you; your chances at admission is still low but existent.

Good luck

Answer 3

shut up ull do fine. I hate how smart ppl worry so much about their chances when its a good outlook

Answer 4

Well, you're special. You can go anywhere.