Mallika Sahaya (Brown University ´17) on what excites her about the courses she is going to sign up for

What excites you about the courses you'll sign up for?

The open curriculum at Brown will allow me to pick whichever courses I want without any requirements, which is a (very) welcome change after the rigid structure offered by Indian schools; so I can actually experiment and with the guidance of experienced mentors, arrive at a major tailor-made to suit my ambition.

What did you find most challenging about the college app process?

Rather than the college app process itself, I found managing my time pretty trying. In the midst of studying for ISC, keeping my school grades up, working on extra-curriculars AND studying for the SAT I and II, finding the time to actually sit and write the essays was challenging.

What was your SAT and Subject Tests prep strategy?

For the SAT I, it was pure practice. I was told that I should ideally solve three mocks a week, and even though it didn’t quite happen that way, it was ultimately solving and reviewing the mocks that brought my score up.

For the SAT II...considering I changed the subjects two days before the actual test (literally), I can’t say I had much of a strategy.

How did your college list change over time?

Initially, my college list consisted of 4 Ivys and 6 top colleges, but when I realized just how much work goes into one college, I narrowed it down to two Ivys and four top colleges.

What advice would you give future applicants?

1) Manage your time well - make a schedule you can stick to        without going insane.

2) Pick subjects you like and are good at (SAT II), NOT the ones people say will be ‘scoring’.

What are you looking forward to the most in college?

Actually learning instead

of uselessly mugging and...FREEDOM!

What major/s are you considering?

Economics and English

What are your plans for summer?

I’ll soon be starting an internship with the Editorial department of a newspaper.

​

Rohan Nagpal (Harvey Mudd ´17) is looking forward to the honor code system at college

What are you looking forward to the most about college?

I'm really looking forward to the honor-code system in place at Mudd which will allow me to take all my tests in my dorm room, have access to all the facilites on the lab round the clock and just develop this different sense of trust with the people around me, that seemed lacking to a large extent at school.

What did you find most challenging about the college app process?

I think the most challenging part about the college application process for me was writing the essays. After getting started though, I got done with the 'Why X?' questions pretty quickly but the personal essay was somewhat of an anchor on the application progress bar that wasn't lifted until I was three or four days away from the submission deadline. 

What was your SAT and Subject Tests prep strategy?

I struggled with the Reasoning Test quite a bit actually. Math was never a problem conceptually, but it was hard to stay focused long enough to get all the questions right. Writing seemed to be forever mundane and I was pretty satisfied with my performance on the test. CR never seemed like a problem because I kept getting better and better at the mock sections, until the test day that is. All in all, I ended up with a poor 2160 (Math- 760, CR- 690, Writing- 710)

The Subject Tests were quite a breeze. The curriculum was similar to that at school, and it was a couple of notches below the school curriculum on the difficulty scale. I managed to max both the tests I took, Math level II and Physics. 

How did your college list change over time?

My college list didn't change much over time. It started off as most people's lists do, with almost all of well known colleges. After researching a lot more on various colleges in the US, I added a few lesser known colleges and safety schools to that list too. Ironically, the college I applied to under the ED program and will be attending, Harvey Mudd College, was one that wasn't originally on my list.

What advice would you give future applicants?

I think it's best to get done with your testing as early as possible. Most people start taking tests seriously and preparing for the standardised tests in the eleventh grade. Looking back, I'd say it's best to try and get it out of your way in the tenth grade itself. This makes even more sense now, since there aren't any board exams for the tenth graders.

What major/s are you considering? 

General Engineering because Mudd doesn't offer specialisations at the undergraduate level. I would like to explore the possibility of majoring in Physics as well.

What excites you about the courses you'll sign up for?

I'm particularly excited about the experimental engineering courses which call for a lot of hands-on work.

Archit Agarwal (Denison ´17) gives valuable advice to college applicants

What was your SAT and Subject Tests prep strategy?

Originally I joined a coaching class, which I thought was quite really a waste of my time. The best test prep would be to do more papers. For English you should ask for help from your school English teacher. She would be happy to make some questions for you or check where you’re going wrong in your passages.

What did you find most challenging about the college app process?

Trying to balance the school course work along with the application. Since I was in ISC nothing we did in school really give us an advantage for the majors we take in college. For any sort of credit we would have to put an extra effort.

How did your college list change over time?

The first thing that I did in my list making process was to write down a bunch of college names. Then by reading reviews I determined if the college was right for me. Then I factored in my academic record and the list changed further. Then my parents had a certain viewpoint regarding the size or cost and the list changed again. In 2012 my list had deviations every month, but I am glad it did because it resulted in a perfect college list at the end of the day.

What advice would you give future applicants?

The three most important things that any student has to do before selecting colleges is

1. Ask their parents how much they can afford per annum. Make sure you know EXACTLY how much they can, other wise you would be changing your college list every month (like me)
2. Don’t be blinded by the popularity a university has in India. Small liberal arts colleges that you might have not heard of are just as good because of the personalized attention they offer and the post grad college placements they end up getting you​.
3. Buy the Fiske’s Guide to colleges and be sure to buy the current version. It truly is a college selection bible

What are you looking forward to the most in college?

Exploring a different and independent approach to education, playing sports and meeting different people

What major/s are you considering? 

 I am considering Biology and Psychology.

What excites you about the courses you'll sign up for?

Seeing the way the college would approach the major and the amount of research work I might be able to do.

What are your plans for summer?

I am in search for internships and volunteer work around Delhi, but apart form that I plan to continue my photography excursions.

Vivan Marwaha (CMC '17) talks about the challenges of the college application process.

What did you find most challenging about the college app process?

Writing the essays: It was very tough to begin the essay, because I was always at a loss for words. I would spend more time procrastinating compared to actually writing. Eventually, once I got into the 'flow' it was easy to write.

What was your SAT and Subject Tests prep strategy?

I decided to first tackle the main SAT and get it out of the way. I went for Math Classes because my Math was weak. After that, I took the SAT Subject Tests in Math 2 (770) and World History (800).

How did your college list change over time?

It actually remained pretty constant, but towards the end I kept adding colleges which did not require supplemental essays (Vassar, Wesleyan, WashU and Middlebury)

What advice would you give future applicants?

To direct equal amounts of attention to 1. school life (grades, extra-curriculars and class participation)  and 2. SAT Preparation

What you looking forward to the most about college?

Meeting new people, taking classes that interest me and having fun!

What major/s are you considering? 

PPE (Philosophy, Political Science and Economics) and/or International Relations

What are your plans for summer?

Relaxing after 13 years of school!

Neeti Banerji (RISD '17) talks about what excites her about studying in an art school in the US.

What did you find most challenging about the college app process?

All the work I had to put into the essays along with getting a hold of all the necessary documents. Obtaining my transcript and academic records was the only part of the process that was out my control. The earlier you ask for the transcripts, the better. 

What was your SAT and Subject Tests prep strategy?

Practice, lots of it. After I grasped the basic principles of maths and the language that the SAT would be testing it was simply the format which separated the SAT from any other test. I ended up taking several tests, as many as two a day. The test taking in a test day simulation comprised ninety percent of my preparation and I ended up learning how to manage the time available for each section.

Similarly with the Literature and World History tests, I took several practice tests. However in this case, the material mattered more than the format. The only reason I took the practice tests was to learn how to manage time better, which was a major issue. 

How did your college list change over time?

My safeties and dream colleges remained more or less the same. My target colleges changed as I steadily eliminated colleges based on various factors. For instance, I wanted an art college that had on campus housing which eliminated quite a few design schools. Also, once I had my SAT scores it became easier to see where I stood. 

What advice would you give future applicants?

Begin as early as possible. Preferably give your SAT while you're in the eleventh grade so that you can dedicate as much time as possible to other aspects of your application. 

What are you looking forward to the most about college?

Generally, just the very fact that I'll be living in a different environment for four years; meeting different people, coping with a new climate. More specifically all the opportunities that an art school in the States offers. 

What major/s are you considering? 

Illustration is my first choice but it's very likely that it'll change as I get exposed to a whole range of choices once the term starts. 

What excites you about the courses you'll sign up for?

The sheer variety of courses available ranging from printmaking to liberal arts courses. Even at a specialized design school, the importance of liberal arts is not undermined. 

What are your plans for summer? 

Applying for a student visa will take up a fair bit of my time but apart from that I intend to enjoy myself swimming and meeting friends. I have found a few odd jobs here and there for NGOs to keep me occupied but I primarily aim to just relax considering that the summer post twelfth grade is the last summer I'll be free for a very long time. 

Aditya Vijay (UPenn '17) explains why his college list changed over time

How did your college list change over time?

My college list constantly changed from time to time. This was due to many reasons. Initially, I jotted down those colleges which I really wanted to attend. But I realized all the colleges I was keen on were highly selective ones, and so I had to have some backups. The list then came to about 25. There were too many! It was then that I started to go deeper and read more about the colleges. Their course catalogue, information regarding the economics department (my intended major), various clubs and student organizations. To my surprise, many colleges which superficially seemed fitting for me were not so. This caused a wholesale change of the list and I finally settled on about 13 colleges, which included dream, midrange and back up schools. Reading in depth about these colleges is when you'll truly find out of it's the right fit for you or not.

What did you find most challenging about the college app process?

The entire college application process provided me with a great opportunity to do some intense introspection, and through this process I learnt a lot more about myself, my passions, strengths, weaknesses, etc. For me, the most challenging aspect was deciding on a topic for my CommonApp essay. While my mind was brimming with ideas from my life experiences, I wanted to select one that was unique to me and that would elucidate my character development well. After a series of unsuccessful essays on topics that seemed mundane or clichéd to me, I settled on recounting an anecdote during the Everest Base Camp trek. So in my experience picking an appropriate topic for my essay was the biggest challenge.

What was your SAT and Subject Tests prep strategy?

Trying to 'learn' vocabulary by memorizing word meanings a month before test day is the worst possible way to prepare for the test, and I say this with a touch of personal experience as well. No one can learn English by memorizing words and meanings. Reading is the best method of improving your grammar. Fortunately, I was an avid reader and that not only improved my language, it also increased my reading pace, which is very important for the SAT. Regular practice of different question types will be more than sufficient for math. The SAT Subject Tests were an easier ride for me. I gave the Chemistry and Mathematics Level 2 tests. The content of these tests was covered in the syllabi of Grades 11 and 12 and so I already had a thorough understanding of most topics. A good grasp of the concepts will go a long way in ensuring you get a great score.

What advice would you give future applicants?

For future applicants, my advice regarding finding suitable colleges is simple: You don't need every aspect of a college to suit you for it to become a dream school. If it feels right for you, if you feel that this particular college will help develop my interests, then that should definitely be in your list. There will always be certain things about every college which may displease you, but since every college has it's pros and cons, don't let them bother you.

As for the essays, you can pretty much write on ANY topic that interests you. There are no restrictions, so take some time to think, or better still write rough drafts on various topics, and you will discover which one works best for you.

What are you looking forward to the most about college?

College is when students leave the protective environment of high school and take their first foray into the real world. What's most enticing for me is the opportunity to learn many new things that had always intrigued me in high school. As I read about the clubs and organizations at work in Penn, I rediscovered lost or buried interests on various things. The opportunities are endless and it's exciting for any incoming freshman.

What major/s are you considering? 

At this moment in time my mind is juggling between various majors. International Relations with a focus on Economic Relations is currently my first choice for a major. But I'm also considering Macroeconomics theory, International Trade and Communication. Penn, as do most schools, require students to declare their major only at the end of sophomore year so I've plenty of time to decide on what is best for me.

What excites you about the courses you'll sign up for?

 The flexibility in the curriculum will allow me to opt for certain other courses like Ancient History or Linguistics (which I might do a minor in) which have keenly interested me.

What are your plans for summer? 

This summer I have registered for AP Chemistry and AP Physics B which will give me college credits (provided I get a 5 in each) and will allow me to skip intro classes. Other than that I plan to read, meet up with friends before we part ways and just kick back and relax, given the intense year of Grade 12 that I had.

Sanjana Arora (McGill '17) gives advice to future applicants

What did you find most challenging about the college app process?

There were many obstacles is the process. The most challenging was to find inspiration for my essays. I had also applied to a few Canadian universities and they take weeks to update the application and document status which got quite stressful. 


What was your SAT and Subject Tests prep strategy?

I have only given the SAT reasoning test. Doing timed practice papers is key for a strong preparation. Usually, I kept my weekdays light and gave the tests on weekends from 8am and worked till about noon. This way I trained my body clock to be alert at that time, so both schooldays and weekends I’d be up and about at 7am. Also, it's important to take note of your mistakes as well as what you're doing right. 

Keeping in mind a few examples from history, literature, experience, current events etc that could be used in the essay section would be helpful as well. This way you can save a lot of time for proofreading and structuring your essay.

Lastly, taking Math classes in school in 11th and 12th grade can make it easier to tackle the tough questions and move fast in the the Math section.

What advice would you give future applicants?


It is best not to let yourself be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that needs to be put in the applications. I decided to apply abroad only a month and a half before my pre-boards and the only reason I was able to complete on time was because I didn’t allow myself to get discouraged along the way.

Also, with the number of college majors to choose from, I think it is wise to postpone making a decision on the major that you want till the sophomore year (if the colleges you are looking at allow that) even if you have one in mind. This way you can experiment with different courses and maybe find something new that you might like to pursue.

What you looking forward to the most about college?


Being way from Delhi! Having lived here all my life, it will be exciting to move to a new city and immerse myself in a different culture. The academic work will be very demanding and I look forward to being on my toes and challenging myself.

What major/s are you considering? 

Major in Economics or Communication and Media Studies 

Minor in Marketing and/or Finance.


What excites you about the courses you'll sign up for?


There are many factors to consider before signing up for courses especially in the Freshman year. I don’t want to overburden myself yet have some challenging ones on my plate. I am also eager to do courses that will enable me to discover something new. I am still in the process of researching more on the faculty members and coordinating my timetable with the academic advisors.

Vedika Agarwal (Mathematics and Economics major at CMC´13) answers questions regarding right-fit.

What according to you works better at an undergraduate level, a small liberal arts school or a larger university?

It depends on the personality of the student. I have friends at CMC who wished they were at a bigger school because they are bored of seeing the same people or want to meet different types of people. Sometimes in an economics and politics dominated college like CMC you come across the same kind of students. I personally like small liberal arts colleges.

Does having to meet a core curriculum turn out to be an annoyance in any way?

Usually there is a very good balance between electives and the core curriculum. If you make sure you have a few core classes and a few fun electives every semester, it is a lot of fun.

While deciding on colleges what part did the geographical location (NE, Mid West, West, South) and setting (urban, rural, suburban, college town) play in your decision? Did your opinions regarding this fact change when you joined college?

I did not concentrate on geographical location when I got into Rutgers. Initially the snow was fun but the excitement lasted for a very short time. There were times when you do not want to get out of your room because it is snowing, wet and windy. It is a lot of fun playing in the snow and no doubt the snow looks beautiful, but it can get gloomy. Living in California has been a lot of fun. The weather adds to your happiness.  I have learnt that location is important.

A beauty of the American education system is that you’re not required to commit to any subject the minute you join. Did this flexibility help you in anyway when you joined college?

I was a very confused student throughout freshmen and sophomore year, so the flexibility definitely helped me. I came in as a premed and pre-business major. At Rutgers I took mathematics and decided to take at least one math class every semester. I dropped business and premed. I transferred to CMC as an Economics and Mathematics major and have stuck to it.

Taking electives I realized that I would like to learn a little bit more about computer science and philosophy. If I could do undergrad all over again, I would definitely have considered majoring in them.

 Did you consider size (student population) as an important criterion while choosing schools? What do you think is a size that is ideal for you? Why?

I personally think small liberal arts colleges are good for me. I transferred from Rutgers University which is a large public school. Even though I enjoyed my time at Rutgers, I think I like CMC better. I get to interact with the professors on a personal level which is important to me. Professors have classes at their homes and invite you for dinner here. It’s a whole new atmosphere. At Rutgers I would hang out with 10-12 kids because it was difficult seeing the same people again in such a large school. It is easier making new friends at CMC because it is a smaller college. There is a very high chance you might see the people living in your dorm in one of your classes or at the dining hall. I did not consider size when I applied to Rutgers because I did not know better, but I think it is an important criterion.

My Definition of Intellectual Vitality: To unlearn and relearn

​

Ratnika Prasad (Cornell) answers questions regarding brand value and right-fit.

1.What according to you works better at an undergraduate level, a small liberal arts school or a larger university? Does having to meet a core curriculum turn out to be an annoyance in any way?

The choice is extremely personal and to be honest, shouldn't be
something that makes or breaks your college decision. At the end of
the day, I have seen kids who loved both large and small schools and
kids who hated the size of their school.

I think the core curriculum is one of the areas where American schools
score over Indian ones. I do think there is a lot of value in having
to take classes across a broad spectrum of fields and I know many, many
people who end up majoring in something different from what they
decided after taking a class they loved. So don't be shy about
exploring subjects you know nothing about or revisiting those you
might have dropped after Class 10.

2. All the students know that rankings ARE important. But, how
important are they in your opinion?

As a junior who just completed the all stressful junior internship
search, I have come to realize that brand value is EXTREMELY important
for some things and couldn't be less relevant for others.

What brand value won't affect:

1. Your college experience. At the end of the day the majority of
colleges are amazing and your undergraduate experience will be amazing
no matter where you are

2. Your likelihood of getting into  grad school/ PhD/ research: How
far you advance in academia REALLY depends on your personal academic
effort- your GPA, the research work you do, your work experience etc.
If you look at graduate schools or prestigious scholarships (Rhodes,
Truman, Udall, etc.), no school ever dominates. The catch here is
however that it can be hard to pursue such opportunities if your area
of interest isn't something the college has devoted many resources to.
So if research and academia strike your fancy and your college isn't
the No. 1 in that field but has a decent program, you will be just
fine.

What brand value does affect:

1. The kind of companies that recruit internationals: Certain colleges
are known for being good in certain fields and that affects the kind
of companies that come to hire at your college. As international
students, this is something you REALLY need to think about because
fewer companies (and typically the most selective ones) tend to be
willing to hire internationals. As an example, a LOT of tech companies
and financial services firms recruit at Cornell- Goldman Sachs comes
about 20 times a year to hold events. On the other hand, the CIA or
State Department don't even hold info sessions- Cornell kids do make
it there, but obviously the numbers go down compared to say
Georgetown, which is known primarily for its great foreign affairs
program.

I know thinking about your career after having your brain exhausted
from the college application process is hard, but job security is
something that is important and will matter later on. So if you think
there is a chance you might want to follow a certain profession out of
undergraduate, make sure to research on whether employers in that
field hire from your school.

3. While deciding on colleges what part did the geographical location
(NE, Mid West, West, South) and setting (urban, rural, suburban,
college town) play in your decision? Did your opinions regarding this
fact change when you joined college?

No role; I went purely by how good the college was in my field of
interest. If you come to the Northeast, expect to hear a lot of
complains about the weather (we are always jealous of all the sun the
California kids get). At the end of the day though, I like Cornell's
unpredictable weather and wouldn't trade it for anything.

4. A beauty of the American education system is that you’re not
required to commit to any subject the minute you join. Did this
flexibility help you in anyway when you joined college?

Definitely. I have been passionate about environmental conservation
since age 6 and going to college, I knew I wanted to go to a place
with a strong environmental program. However, I wasn't quite sure what
majors best suited the work I want to do and so I entered Cornell
undecided.  Cornell has over 20 majors that directly relate to
sustainability. Exploring classes and talking to faculty helped me in
my ultimate decision to major in Natural Resources and Applied
Economics

5. How important was diversity to you when you started evaluating the
US as an option? Have your notions regarding this factor changed over
a period of time? What part does the ‘diversity’ angle play in the
college lives of international students?

While applying it wasn't something I considered much. Having lived
here, I can safely say that being in a reasonably diverse place is
helpful- the stereotypes some students hold about people from other
countries is unbelievable, which is why being in a place as
cosmopolitan as Cornell is great. What I also love is that Ithaca,
despite its small size as a Collegetown is UNBELIEVABLY international.
Funny fact- it is the official seat of the Dalai Lama in North America
so don't be surprised if you randomly run into Tibetan monks!

6. Did you consider size (student population) as an important
criterion while choosing schools? What do you think is a size that is
ideal for you? Why?

I applied without considering size. Personally I am a fan of large
schools as a. there are no cliques and you never cease to meet new
people and  b. It is a much more representative microcosm of the world
than a small school.

My Academic Goals: My interests lie in environmental conservation, particularly working in low carbon development operations.

Major and Minor - Double major in Natural Resources and Applied Economics and Management with a minor in Climate Change.

What big plans are you working on? We'd love to know more.

Three projects currently- I am a US youth representative to the United
Nations Climate Change Conference and am currently working with my
organization (SustainUS) on planning our strategy for the next
conference in Warsaw as well as planning a workshop in India to be
held in May 2013. I am also working on a project to conserve
indigenous flowering species in India.

My Personal Branding Elements: Environmentalist, debater (I am a member of the varsity debate team), policy fanatic

In a video interview Tanmay Dhanania (UC Berkeley ’08) explains why he chose acting as career