Applying to uni [Undergrad] - How?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the application process for undergraduate universities in the US, particularly for a high school student from India interested in Physics. Participants share concerns about personal qualifications, university expectations, and the steps involved in applying.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about not being outgoing or having many awards, fearing that this may affect their application to top universities.
  • Another participant reassures that many students in engineering classes share similar backgrounds, suggesting that the applicant's concerns may be unfounded.
  • The original poster indicates a desire to pursue a career as a Theoretical Physicist and mentions an interest in Quantum Mechanics, noting a lack of exposure to the subject so far.
  • A later reply advises checking the specific university websites for application procedures, emphasizing that the process is similar for international students.
  • One participant mentions financial concerns regarding studying abroad, highlighting the high costs and the availability of financial aid.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the applicant's qualifications or the best approach to the application process. Concerns about personal qualifications and the application procedure remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the applicant's self-assessment of their qualifications and the varying expectations of different universities, which are not fully explored in the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

High school students considering applying to universities in the US, particularly those from international backgrounds, may find this discussion relevant.

dreamLord
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Hi.

So I'm in my final year of high school in India. In a couple of months i'll be applying to universities in the US. I have a strong interest in Physics.

However, I'm worried that I wasn't outgoing enough in my school and didn't win a lot of 'awards'. Also, I don't have a talent apart from my Physics (i'd say I'm the best out of my batch /modesty). I'm pretty sure all the top unis require you to have a complete personality for them to take you seriously and not consider you a typical geek (which I assure you I'm not).

I'll be taking my SAT in a month,which is compulsory for all abroad students. What I wanted to know was the application process - what am I supposed to tell them in my application? Is there something I can say/do currently that will increase my chances?

Merci beacoup.
 
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Considering the amount of typical geeks (myself included) in my engineering classes, I'd say you don't have much to worry about.

Where are you applying? What you say and do is different from one university to the next.
 
Well i'll be applying to most of the Ivy League unis, though again I know it's bit of a downhill task since I'm not an outstanding student at school(apart from Physics again).

As for what course I want to do, I see myself ultimately as a Theoretical Physicist. Also, Quantum Mechanics interests me(ofcourse I haven't had much exposure yet, planning on ordering some generic books like Feynman's QED to get introduced to the idea)
 
Bump.
 
Surely someone here knows the application procedure =/ ?
 
Check the websites of those universities. I am in my senior high school year, from Pakistan. I checked MIT,Caltech Harvard etc websites and they have clear application procedure for international students, which is similar to that for Americans. Although I never seriously thought about going abroad for bachelors. High cost. No scholarships. Although they do have financial aid. Anyway check the websites of specific universities for information.
 

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