Hey guys,
I am an international student who wishes to study abroad in the US. I am a sophomore so I don’t really harbour much to display my stats. I would really appreciate any help concerning the required merits/scores…etc. to enroll to any of the Ivy League (as that has always been my dream). How can I get a decent scholarship too because my family’s annual income is not enough to pay off the exorbitant tuition fees entailed with any of the Ivies ! And Is it possible for an international student to get full scholarship ?
Ivies do not give scholarships, they give need-based aid. I suggest you post in the International thread to get better informed answers to your questions. To have a chance, you need to be at the top of your class in academics, awards and EC’s and there still no guaranteees. You will need expand your college search beyond just the Ivies and look for schools that will give you aid as an International.
http://www.internationalstudent.com/schools_awarding_aid/
You need to do much research and check with an advising center in your country of where applicants have been expected with substantial FA.
I think all or some of the merit aid scholarship are for US citizens and Permanent residents. But private schools give scholarship and,as gumbymom said, need based aid. Most of those schools give money by Standarized tests. Don’t look only for IVY leagues because you will never be sure to get a spot there but you can try and best of luck. Try to have strong EC’s, GPA, Standarized test score, essay.
I feel so uninformed ! And where I live offers little help …
@Gumbymom @Jr12317 What are other well reputable Universities do you suggest ?
TCU, Rice, UofRochester, tufts. I think you can do a search. Everything you want to know is on Google.
You have to realize that each Ivy may only take one or non from your country each year. You have to be the best of the bet. Only about 10 pct of any admits are going to be international students.
Start by reading the info on the EducationUSA website for your country or region.
Are you from Europe, Asia, Africa, Russia and the neighborhing states, Africa (North or Subsaharan), Latin or South America? This will play into your chances.
Keep in mind that there are 3,700 universities in the US. The top 370-380 are in the top 10% (there are various estimations of the last group from 300 on and it varies often). Those would include: Top 40 national universities, top 125 LACs, Honors programs at Top 41-100 universities, top 20 regional universities in each region, plus a few more depending on what you’re looking for.
If your family makes less than 45K a year, you have two choices: colleges that meet the full demonstrated need of international applicants (ie., if they admit you, they’ll make sure you can can pay, but the more money you need, the more difficult it is to get in, with a threshold at about 25K where if you can contribute less it becomes increasingly difficult to make it) and colleges that award scholarships based on test scores (there, you only need to be open-minded and work hard to get good scores.)
You need to have 2-3 “automatic scholarship” universities, then add 5 where you’re in the top 5-10% applicants, then a few more where you’re in the top 25% applicants. Once you have those, you can add “dream schools”.
If you can afford it, buy The Fiske Guide and start reading. You’ll quickly notice that each university has a “personality”. You need to find universities with personalities that “match yours”; this is called “fit” and is very important to admission officers.
Link for top 25 US schools that give financial aid for International students:
@MYOS1634 I have a feeling that the OP is Indian.
@Jr12317 @BrownParent @Gumbymom Thanks a lot …
@MYOS1634 I am from Africa …how will my originality affect my application ?
@DarkEclipse I am not Indian …I just happen to live somewhere where the educational system is totally different and personally unsatisfactory (which is why I seek what I know not much about now).
Being from Africa is a HUGE plus because it’s an under-represented region and students from Africa are actively recruited.
However the fact you need to be the best of the best remains - either you score at merit-aid level, or you have achievements that will be unique and interesting in a pool of thousands of internationals.
@GettingDepressed Shucks. Sorry about that. What MYOS says is correct, being from Africa is a huge plus. Do you currently study in an African country, or are you just African by ethnicity and reside outside Africa?
African would help unless you are white (eg South Africa or middle eastern). That would help less but still is more unusal than from most of Asia.
@MYOS1634 hopefully then my chances will be better …but I am white…does that affect too ?
@SaphireNY @DarkEclipse I am African by ethnicity: I reside outside (in Asia)
African ethnic group, but White “color”?
@GettingDepressed Are you South African by any chance?
@MYOS1634 yes…
@DarkEclipse Why, I am from the Middle East…
Wait, can you clarify… Are you North African -what some in French speaking countries call “Arabe”- or part Black African… Or part something else?
All these questions must seem very intrusive to you but they change your classification for application purpose since some groups are underrepresented on American campuses and thus help fill an institutional need since the college tries to attract students who are highly qualified but under represented 
and so being part of one group will help you if you’re otherwise qualified.
@MYOS1634 Yes …I am North African …Arabian student
Is it in my favour tho ?
@MYOS1634 Do you think my chances are high ?