13th Hour Decision to Do a BSc. Physics in India

[aishwaryaj]

Hi,

I'm a 20 year old science student, having just cleared my 12th from CBSE. I skipped the 12th exams twice for several medical reasons, and my scores this year are as follows:

Eng: 46
Phy: 71
Chem: 78
Math: 33
CompSci: 77

I will send the English paper for a re-eval, since I wasn't expecting anything less than a 90, but that's only relevant here as far as the GPA goes.

I'm planning to appear for the SAT in June this year, but the winter sessions do not leave me with many colleges, so I will probably be applying for Fall next year. I have a great extra-currics record, so I suppose I can easily make up for this crappy GPA with that, and a 2250+ score in the SAT.

Meanwhile, I do not want to spend another year bumming around, and want to take up a BSc. course in India. Admissions for many colleges have already closed, although there are still some which are yet to release the forms. I WILL drop out next year to go to the US (or if all the Gods may have it, Max Planck in Germany.)

However, for this one year, I am looking for admission in a "good" city, aka something with a Metro culture, so that I can keep studying without getting stuck in the dredges of a dull degree-based lifestyle. Colleges in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Delhi are what I'd aim for.

My 12th scores are horrible, so I hope there will be some good colleges with entrances (because I can study for those, my circumstances being a lot better.)

This is way too late a decision, but if there's a possible redemption of not getting stuck for a year in a nominally Physics classroom, I will be thrilled.

Thanks a lot for any help,
Aishwarya

 

[mal4mac]

Have you considered the UK? You *may* be able to get in somewhere through 'clearing' - what UK students use to find places in the summer if their A levels aren't good enough for their first choice universities - you might even get in more easily than Brit. students this way:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1303700/Universities-tier-clearing-closes-door-Britons.html

UK universities don't bother with SATs - they want 'three good A levels' - so if those three 70+ scores are for exams deemed equivalent to A levels, this could be a good match for you...

 

[vhbelvadi]

if those three 70+ scores are for exams deemed equivalent to A levels, this could be a good match for you...

Been there, tried that
Sadly, there are no examinations in India that are considered equivalent to the A levels.
If you do plan on going to the UK, though, you can take the A level exams as an independent candidate via some IGCSE schools near your city.

 

[pessimist]

sorry to say, but the situation is pretty bad. You could try for the CMI entrance exam or one of the ISI.

 

[shreyaarya]

CMI entrance took place a day before you authored the post.try presidency college in kolkata.they have an entrance test.

 

[mal4mac]

Examinations in India *can be* considered equivalent to A levels. For example:

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/international/study-int-CountryPages-India.aspx

 

[vhbelvadi]

@mal4mac If you are referring to the table on the webpage, those are the minimum requirements in the Indian Education System, over which you will have to consider taking A levels according to the Admissions Tutor at Cambridge whom I contacted some time back.
Therefore, what they perhaps mean in that table is the rough estimate of what level of study you will go to the UK for, for having completed a corresponding level of education in India; but I am quite certain that the A levels are a must.

 

[mal4mac]

@mal4mac If you are referring to the table on the webpage, those are the minimum requirements in the Indian Education System, over which you will have to consider taking A levels according to the Admissions Tutor at Cambridge whom I contacted some time back.
Therefore, what they perhaps mean in that table is the rough estimate of what level of study you will go to the UK for, for having completed a corresponding level of education in India; but I am quite certain that the A levels are a must.

Every University in the UK has its own way of doing things. You cannot say "A levels are a must" for all UK universities simply by talking to one admissions tutor! Especially if he's at Cambridge :) Even UK people don't need A levels to enter some (very good) Universities:

"Some mature students get into higher education with A levels or with equivalent, work-related qualifications (like NVQs or a BTEC).

But traditional qualifications aren’t always necessary. Some institutions may give you credit for professional qualifications or relevant work experience. Others won’t always ask for formal qualifications because the course itself has units aimed at giving you the right study skills and ‘foundation’ knowledge."

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCollege/DG_4017026