<p>My friend's daughter is a senior applying to colleges, but her San Juan public school guidance counselor just doesn't seem qualified to help her get into U.S. schools.</p>
<p>The good: Her grades are excellent, almost all As, and she is a very hard worker. Her favorite subject is math (though I don't think she's ready to do engineering). She is from a very, very poor, village background (her mother is a teacher and her grandfather is a community organizer), and for the past 3 years she has volunteered with poor children and is very passionate about helping them. She's an incredibly sunny, sweet girl, a little on the shy side. She's the kind of girl who stays in every night doing homework.</p>
<p>The bad: Her SATs are not good (hovering around 400 in each section), but English is her second language, and she did well on a Puerto Rican aptitude test. I'm hoping that her ESL status will factor in to an interpretation of her scores.</p>
<p>Her mother has high hopes for her, but they have absolutely no idea how to navigate the U.S. college application system.</p>
<p>I wonder where she could get in with those SATs. She would also need financial aid, but she would definitely qualify for need-based aid.</p>
<p>Are there any women's colleges that might be a good match. Any tips on any that are really trying to recruit Latin American young women? Most of the Hispanic programs I'm finding target mainland-U.S. Hispanics, but her background is completely different from that.</p>
<p>Thank you in advance for any advice. It could absolutely change her life.</p>
<p>Smith is test optional and definitely interested in recruiting Latin American students.</p>
<p>Take a look at Mills College in Oakland: They place a pretty high value on diverse perspectives and life experiences of students, and 97% of their students receive financial aid. [Liberal</a> Arts College | Colleges in California | Mills College](<a href=“http://www.mills.edu%5DLiberal”>http://www.mills.edu)</p>
<p>If a religiously affiliated school isn’t out of the question, Mt. St. Mary’s in Los Angeles may be an option. [Home</a> Page - Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles](<a href=“http://www.msmc.la.edu%5DHome”>http://www.msmc.la.edu)</p>
<p>You may also look at Cottey College in Missouri: [Future</a> Students | Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri, US](<a href=“http://www.cottey.edu/]Future”>http://www.cottey.edu/)</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr has a new test-flexible policy that could give her more opportunities to show her talent. For example, she could take the ACT or she could take three SAT Subject tests. After looking over her interests, perhaps one in math and one in Spanish. That would at least eliminate one test in English.
More information is available here: [“Test-Flexible</a>” Policy | Admissions | Bryn Mawr College](<a href=“http://www.brynmawr.edu/admissions/test_policy.shtml]"Test-Flexible”>http://www.brynmawr.edu/admissions/test_policy.shtml) </p>
<p>As with many Liberal Arts Colleges, Admissions look for the overall candidate, not just numbers. Make sure the rest of her application is very strong and highlights all of the great qualities you mentioned. Also be sure to explain why the school she applies to is a great fit for her and what she can bring to that school academically, socially, etc. Also schedule an alumni interview if possible and the deadline hasn’t passed. It might be too late to take many of these tests, but perhaps she could take a gap year to work on boosting her scores while pursuing other forms of community service, etc.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke College is also a test optional school.</p>