<p>Here are a few questions about applying to elite American colleges from India. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Admissions officials from the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution that is one of the most prestigious and competitive in the United States, Eric J Furda, dean of admissions, and Patrick Bredehoft, regional director of admissions answer them. <br /><br />To what extent is the process of applying to be an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, and other selective American colleges, similar for applicants from India (and other foreign countries) when compared with the process for American applicants? To what extent is it different?<br /><br />As with other international regions, the most significant differences for students applying from India (as compared with their counterparts in the United States) are likely to be: varying levels of English preparation (particularly academic English, since most Indians get exposed to some of the language in school), inconsistent SAT/test preparation and most of all, limited and even inaccurate information about American schools.<br /><br />Admissions officers also have to be sensitive to cultural context around extracurricular opportunities, grading policies and family expectations as they relate to choices like intended major. <br />Students and families should also be aware of the financial aid policies at the schools to which they are applying. Is the school need-blind? What is the availability of financial aid for international students who are admitted?<br /><br />Is there, in effect, an upper limit for the number of applicants you will accept from India and other countries? If so, how does the figure for India compare with the figure from China?<br /><br />India is typically in the top three for admitted students by school country. Inherent in the college admissions process is a degree of selectivity. Although there is no upper limit from any one country, the class size at Penn is 2,420 students, so that is our enrolment upper limit.<br /><br />How many applicants overall applied to the University of Pennsylvania for the current freshman class, and how many were accepted? How many applied from India, and how many were accepted? <br /><br />Has the percentage of Indian students, and applicants, changed significantly in the past decade?<br />Penn’s applicant has grown by 55 percent over the past five years, and the pool from India by 80 per cent in that same time. For the class of 2015, 31,663 students applied to Penn, and 3,931 were admitted. (That is an admission rate of just over 12 per cent.)<br /><br />From India, 460 students applied, and 42 were admitted, for an admission rate of just under 10 per cent. Still, a growing number of students have been admitted from India, with increasing diversity in terms of geography, number of schools, ethnicity and professional/socio-economic background. <br /><br />Does the University of Pennsylvania provide financial aid for applicants applying from India and other foreign countries, and how is that process different than it might be for American applicants? Are admissions need-blind in both cases? What sort of financial information does the university need to determine a student’s financial need?<br /><br />Although we’re still need-aware for most international students, we have seen growth in the endowed funds available for Indian students, along with the growing availability of financial aid for international students in general. Penn has a strong commitment to fully finance all students who are admitted. This includes a loan-free financial aid package, so students can graduate debt-free. Between $6 million to $8 million per year has been awarded to international students.<br /><br />What advice would you give to applicants from India in particular when applying to the University of Pennsylvania, and other selective private colleges in the US? Is there any common theme you see among Indian applicants and how could a student from India stand out?<br /><br />In general, Indian students tend to put forth strong applications in nearly every respect. The two of the most common issues and areas for improvement are: 1) Recommendations (which often tend to be brief, vague and short on details that help to define the applicant as an individual) and 2) Essays (which frequently err on the side of presenting an extensive resume of accomplishments, rather than highlighting the unique experiences or perspective of the individual applicant.)<br /><br />Do you have any special groups or facilities for South Asian students or Indian students on campus? Do you have a variety of South Asia-related courses?<br /><br />Founded in 1992, the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) at the University of Pennsylvania is the only research institution in the United States dedicated to the study of contemporary India. The University of Pennsylvania has been at the forefront of area studies since 1942 when Prof W Norman Brown pioneered the study of modern India, a full 15 years before area studies appeared on any other U.S. campus. That legacy continues at the School of Arts and Sciences through the Department of South Asian Studies and its South Asia Center, and the stellar holdings of the South Asian Studies Collection at the Van Pelt Library. <br /><br />Penn Masala, the world’s first and premier Hindi a cappella group, was formed in 1996 by a group of Penn students. After breakthrough performances at Bhangra Blowout in 1998 and SASA 1999, the group drew sellout crowds in the US and abroad.<br />IHT</p>
<p>Here are a few questions about applying to elite American colleges from India. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Admissions officials from the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution that is one of the most prestigious and competitive in the United States, Eric J Furda, dean of admissions, and Patrick Bredehoft, regional director of admissions answer them. <br /><br />To what extent is the process of applying to be an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, and other selective American colleges, similar for applicants from India (and other foreign countries) when compared with the process for American applicants? To what extent is it different?<br /><br />As with other international regions, the most significant differences for students applying from India (as compared with their counterparts in the United States) are likely to be: varying levels of English preparation (particularly academic English, since most Indians get exposed to some of the language in school), inconsistent SAT/test preparation and most of all, limited and even inaccurate information about American schools.<br /><br />Admissions officers also have to be sensitive to cultural context around extracurricular opportunities, grading policies and family expectations as they relate to choices like intended major. <br />Students and families should also be aware of the financial aid policies at the schools to which they are applying. Is the school need-blind? What is the availability of financial aid for international students who are admitted?<br /><br />Is there, in effect, an upper limit for the number of applicants you will accept from India and other countries? If so, how does the figure for India compare with the figure from China?<br /><br />India is typically in the top three for admitted students by school country. Inherent in the college admissions process is a degree of selectivity. Although there is no upper limit from any one country, the class size at Penn is 2,420 students, so that is our enrolment upper limit.<br /><br />How many applicants overall applied to the University of Pennsylvania for the current freshman class, and how many were accepted? How many applied from India, and how many were accepted? <br /><br />Has the percentage of Indian students, and applicants, changed significantly in the past decade?<br />Penn’s applicant has grown by 55 percent over the past five years, and the pool from India by 80 per cent in that same time. For the class of 2015, 31,663 students applied to Penn, and 3,931 were admitted. (That is an admission rate of just over 12 per cent.)<br /><br />From India, 460 students applied, and 42 were admitted, for an admission rate of just under 10 per cent. Still, a growing number of students have been admitted from India, with increasing diversity in terms of geography, number of schools, ethnicity and professional/socio-economic background. <br /><br />Does the University of Pennsylvania provide financial aid for applicants applying from India and other foreign countries, and how is that process different than it might be for American applicants? Are admissions need-blind in both cases? What sort of financial information does the university need to determine a student’s financial need?<br /><br />Although we’re still need-aware for most international students, we have seen growth in the endowed funds available for Indian students, along with the growing availability of financial aid for international students in general. Penn has a strong commitment to fully finance all students who are admitted. This includes a loan-free financial aid package, so students can graduate debt-free. Between $6 million to $8 million per year has been awarded to international students.<br /><br />What advice would you give to applicants from India in particular when applying to the University of Pennsylvania, and other selective private colleges in the US? Is there any common theme you see among Indian applicants and how could a student from India stand out?<br /><br />In general, Indian students tend to put forth strong applications in nearly every respect. The two of the most common issues and areas for improvement are: 1) Recommendations (which often tend to be brief, vague and short on details that help to define the applicant as an individual) and 2) Essays (which frequently err on the side of presenting an extensive resume of accomplishments, rather than highlighting the unique experiences or perspective of the individual applicant.)<br /><br />Do you have any special groups or facilities for South Asian students or Indian students on campus? Do you have a variety of South Asia-related courses?<br /><br />Founded in 1992, the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) at the University of Pennsylvania is the only research institution in the United States dedicated to the study of contemporary India. The University of Pennsylvania has been at the forefront of area studies since 1942 when Prof W Norman Brown pioneered the study of modern India, a full 15 years before area studies appeared on any other U.S. campus. That legacy continues at the School of Arts and Sciences through the Department of South Asian Studies and its South Asia Center, and the stellar holdings of the South Asian Studies Collection at the Van Pelt Library. <br /><br />Penn Masala, the world’s first and premier Hindi a cappella group, was formed in 1996 by a group of Penn students. After breakthrough performances at Bhangra Blowout in 1998 and SASA 1999, the group drew sellout crowds in the US and abroad.<br />IHT</p>
