ACADEMIC GRADES
A College application requires detailed academic information from the applicant, specifically performance from 9–12 grades. Lots of parents and students have a myth that you should have minimum 90% to qualify for the top universities. Its good to have high grades but many top universities in the USA treat 75% & above as 'A' grade (or 4.0 GPA).
SAT/ TOEFL SCORES
Most of the universities require students to report all SAT and SAT 2 Subject Test scores, and should also include any scores for the ACT, TOEFL, IB, or AP exams.The SAT is offered six times a year in India. Most students will take the SAT in 11 or 12 Grade. We recommend saving time to take the SAT twice, as more than half of all students take the SAT again — typically in the middle of 11 Grade and in the beginning of 12 Grade. Most students will improve their score the second time around. For SAT Subject Tests, most students will take them toward the beginning or middle of 12 Grade.
HOLISTIC PROFILE
Indian Applicants are well renowned for their high academic grades and high test scores, but in the eye of admission officers, many profiles look the same. Everybody has a good academic score, everybody loves computers, and everybody has tutored orphans or underprivileged kids at an NGO.
So, the first thing to do is to Apply like an American. It means to get involved – not just in the academics but overall. Get involved with Community Service, Sports, Co-scholastic, take up a research project, do an internship and more. The colleges would like to see you as a PERSON, not just as an academic student. And that too as a UNIQUE Person.
PERFECT APPLICATION
This is the most important factor for an admission. You can consider application as packaging. In today's world, representation is what matters. In the entire process of admission, if a proper application, with well-written essays, LORs etc., is sent it means 90% of the battle is won. An organized, effective and properly presented package can assure great results. When admissions committees have a good idea of who you are, not only as a student, but also outside of the classroom, they can better see if you would be a good fit with their academic programs.