https://scholarships.ua.edu/faq/ says that “International students are evaluated the same as out-of-state students as long as the student has an ACT or SAT score and meets all requirements by the December 15th deadline.”
However, the top automatic scholarship (requires 36 ACT) is full ride only for the first year, since housing is covered only for the first year, and the one available for 35 ACT does not cover living expenses or all of tuition: https://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.php
My sense is that this student will do better with schools that meet 100% of need than with schools that offer merit.
@mom2adancer’s list is very useful. The schools on the list are very competitive, but the OP has strong stats. The key will be to get on the line to the schools today to get a fee waiver. After that it’s mostly a matter of getting the Common App completed if s/he hasn’t yet done so. Most of the schools on the list have January 1 deadlines.
Thanks. Luckily, I have fee waivers for all my common applications and I can apply to some more colleges (1 or 2) from this list:
-Brown University
-Colgate University
-Columbia University
-Cornell University
-Dartmouth College
-Duke University
-Harvard University
-Johns Hopkins University
-Northwestern University
-Princeton University
-Rice University
-Stanford University
-University of Notre Dame
-University of Pennsylvania
-Washington University in St. Louis
-Yale University
I am thinking of adding MIT as well (for bioengineering, although MIT is done through their own website). I also have Pomona and Boston College on my radar as I know they also meet full need.
I know you are unhappy, but I think you are being overly dramatic. There are schools that meet need that could be options for you, but honestly — you have wasted too much time with all your focus on one school. Now you need to hustle to find schools that will accept you and give you need based aid. UChicago’s aid isn’t significantly better than many other meets need schools, so not sure why you think they are your only option.
Post #18 has a very good list. Dickinson is another school to look at, they have some specific instructions for DACA students on their FA site. They generally meet 99% of need. RD apps due 1/15.
Honestly, @HKimPOSSIBLE, you need some more realistic choices, places with greater than 10% acceptance rates! Dickinson’s a great school. I’d add it to your list if I were you.
I’m rooting for Northwestern as one of my hopeful colleges, though Im not sure how realistic that is
Last year NW accepted 8.2% of students. 91% were in the top 10% of their class. The school is not a match school for anyone.
You can’t just apply to all reaches. At least, not if you want to go to college next fall. You need to hustle because you need your school to send transcripts, too. Identify a half a dozen schools, including some that aren’t T20s, and get going on applications.
With your list in post #22, I am concerned you are potentially setting yourself up for failure. You have just listed the top X schools from you name the rankings. These schools are incredibly different in terms of size, academic focus and geography. As you experienced with U Chic, high stats guarantee nothing. These super selective schools are looking for students that fit what they want for their student body and you need to sell yourself convincingly. You have to add schools that are not single digit/teens admission rates. Posters above have given you good fallback options.
If UChicago was a good fit for you, then Northwestern isn’t. They’re polar opposite in terms of vibe.
Don’t count on Northwestern in any case.
Boston College is the wrong fit for someone whose dream school was UChic and their way of meeting need is… peculiar. Cross it out.
Unless you’re Catholic or Christian, Notre Dame may not be a good fit. It’s a great university for your stats but it’s also proud of its Catholic character. And football is a big deal there. Not quite what matches what I associate with UChic.
You need to apply to less obvious universities, especially LACs, where being Asian AND being male will be pluses for you. 2/3 of your RD list should be LACs.
From your list, I’d pick ONE from HYP + Cornell, Columbia, Rice, Wash U, perhaps Penn, and I’d add Vanderbild. Those I would NOT START now. You need to focus on ALL OTHER colleges with Jan 1, Jan 2, or Jan 5 deadlines, then only on your “reaches for everyone”.
That leaves at least 10 other colleges you need to express interest to (as explained before - hoping you started filling out the Request Info Form for all colleges mentioned on this thread; if you haven’t, spend one hour on it as soon as you’re done reading our replies.
I’m curious though: If UChic was your top choice, how come you have jocky schools like Colgate, Northwestern, Boston College on your list? Why Brown and Columbia (free curriculum/core)?
Plenty of kids with similar stats, not DACA, also got rejected. That said, your stats are excellent. Hopefully,you are applying to a bunch of schools. Sounds like you are from Chicago area, which probably makes Northwestern even harder due to competition locally.
Agree with above post…Colgate and Boston College are very different from UChicago.
Perhaps what would be most helpful to the OP is if other posters could name colleges that are less reachy that do one of these things:
A. Offer full need-based ride for low income DACA or international students, preferably without needing non-custodial parent information.
B. Offer full ride merit scholarships for DACA or international students. (Note: competitive full ride is typically a reach, even if admission to the school is a safety.)
Since the OP is in Illinois, in-state public is probably too expensive, even without the DACA complication (though if anyone knows of a full need-based or merit-based ride at an in-state public for which the OP would be eligible for, it could count under A or B above).
With Northwestern being extremely close to where I live, I think transportation and food/housing would be great. I also am applying for the HPME program at Northwestern (luckily already submitted the preliminary application). Colgate and Boston College are no longer on my list (just went over everything or some suggestions with my College Counselor) as with USC. For Brown and Columbia, I’m extremely interested in Brown’s free curriculum and Columbia’s Core Program which I think puts a different mentality in the undergraduate body to work together (over generalizing but still) than cutthroat.
If location is the best you can do for reasons why UC and NW are your top choices, you have missed the boat in what top colleges are looking for. (And those types of schools aren’t keen on frosh living off campus). Brown and Columbia are uber reaches. You need to look at some of the lower ranked schools suggested that still give good aid. Or you risk getting skunked this admissions season. You want to have choices in the spring.
@HKimPOSSIBLE Also consider Amherst College which is completely need blind even for foreign students and has generous no loan financial aid. It has a history of welcoming DACA applicants. Read this encouraging thread: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1894140-best-thread-ever.html (note Amherst’s new Dean of Admissions comes from MIT). Above all, hang in there – I’m confident you will find your place. I know it’s been said before but college is a match to be made not a prize to be won.
What did your counselor recommend as likely (safety) schools?
I think you missed my main point. UChicago, it wasn’t for location (of course the city is nice). It was for really everything it offered: core, research, their strong bio/biochem program, financial aid, atmosphere, and everything.
Yes, Northwestern isn’t similar to UChicago and the vibe in Evanston (not even downtown Evanston I would say) is completely different that the Hyde Park campus that Chicago has to offer.
Northwestern has been somewhere I have been doing extensive research at as well as published a medical report on which I think would work to my benefit. HPME and the medical program is also a big reason why I am applying there.
You say the aren’t keen on freshman living off campus - I will get full aid for the housing if I do get in…it’s just if I want to visit, go meet people I know, get resources I need, home town is right by.
He recommended me as a match to Tufts (I think it’s a reach), University of Alabama, Boston College, UIUC, UIC, some UC schools (before I told him I couldn’t afford them). He also said Pepperdine, Rhodes, Pittsburgh, and Pitt @Sue22
Columbia’s Core and Brown’s open curriculum come from very different philosophies on how liberal arts education should be approached. The focus is not about collaboration vs competition. You have to understand what these highly selective schools want. This needs to be expressed in the essays and at the same time backed up by your EC’s and LoR’s.
@HKimPOSSIBLE Of the schools recommended for undocumented students at this site, Columbia seems most like U Chicago to me in terms of curriculum and urban location.
http://blog.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/blog/colleges-meet-100-financial-need-undocumented-students/
Less reachy options that are generous with aid for international/DACA and are closer to your home are Macalester (which prides itself on its internationalism/global citizenship, Twin Cities) and Oberlin (near Cleveland).
Farther afield but potentially a good fit as well as an admissions match is Dickinson as @intparent mentioned. Check out the college’s dynamic new president.
You might also check out Case Western (not sure about the financial piece) but the academics and strong pre-med program might appeal. Demonstrated interest is important.
Carleton is a reach but an excellent LAC, 45 minutes south of Twin Cities.
Northwestern is an EXTREMELY tough admit RD; they take much of their freshman class in the ED round. It’s a reach for everybody.
Go ahead and shoot for the moon, but PLEASE have some safeties/matches lined up - both in terms of admission and finances. Also, getting non-custodial waivers may be more difficult or time consuming than you imagine. Please identify some FAFSA only schools that might be affordable to ensure that you have some options this spring.