<p>I have posted this on another board, but I figured you as parents had perhaps gone through this situation with your children as well. Hopefully you can help me.</p>
<p>So here's my situation, I have been accepted to Cornell University and placed on the waiting list for Harvard University. I am considered an international applicant due to my visa status, but I have lived here in the United States for almost 10 years. I attend a public school in California and since it's just me and my mom, we're not very wealthy. Because of my international status, we don't qualify for in-state fees at the UC's, and most private schools don't give us financial aid. Luckily, Cornell does give financial aid since I am a Mexican Citizen. Still, the amount of fin aid I was offered makes it quite difficult for my mom to pay for my education. This is a major dissapointment, as I really DO like Cornell. Basically, this is where Harvard comes in. Before the decisions came in, I considered Harvard a major reach and a school that I probably would be rejected at. I really do like Harvard though, and not just for the prestige factor. I visited it over the summer, talked to students, had a great interview with an alumnus, and generally fell in love with the school. </p>
<p>Now I know that the chances of getting accepted off the waiting list at Harvard are very, very small. However, the alumnus who interviewed me has spoken with his contact in the admissions office and this leads me to believe that I may have a shot at this. I've written a letter of interest (if anyone would care to proofread it or just read it over that'd be GREATLY appreciated) and one of my teachers offered to write me an additional letter of recommendation. I'm also going to be visiting Cornell next week, and I figured my mom and I could make the drive to Harvard and visit. </p>
<p>For the questions now. What else can I do to maximize my chances of being accepted? Is there any additional stuff I should send in? Where should I send in my letter of interest and the letter of rec (I tried the e-mail on the website, but I only got back an automated response that had nothing to do with my e-mail)? Lastly, during my visit there, should I try to spend the night with a student or speak directly to an admissions officer?</p>
<p>I know this was a long read, but if any of you have any insights into what the best course of action for me is, please let me know. I can post my stats and ec's if that would help, just let me know. Thanks.</p>
<p>Can someone give me some help? The counselors at my school aren't really helpful and since I'm a first-generation college student, nobody from my family knows how the whole process works. I'd really really appreciate any input.</p>
<p>polo1a, if you search the harvard.edu website, you will learn that each year Harvard accepts on average only 10 to 30 students off the waitlist. Considering the fact that you are an international, your chances of getting off the waitlist are remote. I urge you to put your thoughts of Harvard aside and look to other schools to which you have been accepted.</p>
<p>I know that getting accepted off the waitlist is a very long shot, but the problem is that since I'm international, all other schools are looking like they'll be a very big financial burden. The most affordable is Cornell, which I'm extremely happy to have been accepted to, but even there my mom and I would have to go into HUGE debt b/c of the financial aid offer I was given. Because of this, I'm looking into any ways of getting into Harvard off the waitlist, even if it is a long shot. Statistics aside, what is the best way to maximize my chances?</p>
<p>Yeah, getting into Harvard would help the financial aid situation. With their new initiative to basically eliminate contributions from families with incomes below 60,000, I'm almost 100% positive the financial aid would be very generous. Our family income is 50,000, so we fall right in that category.</p>
<p>Also, my school is on the semester system, so I can't send in 3rd quarter grades. However, we do have 6-week progress reports, and on the latest one I got straight A's in all my classes. Should I send these even though they're not "official"?</p>
<p>
[quote]
. Because of my international status, we don't qualify for in-state fees at the UC's, and most private schools don't give us financial aid.
<p>He didn't say, but if he lives in California, graduated from a California high school, and can't afford to attend private colleges out of state, that might be his best option - even if he has to sit out a year, or go to community college and transfer, or choose a CSU. I agree that would be a shame for a kid with the credentials to almost get into Harvard... but its something he should be aware of.</p>
<p>I did apply to UC's, San Diego and Irvine to be exact. And I am aware of the three-year living in California being eligible for in-state fees, but that is only for a certain group of people who qualify under specific immigration status. My mom is a worker for the Mexican government, so we have an A2 visa, which I BELIEVE doesn't qualify us for in-state fees. Plus, even if we WERE eligible for in-state fees, Cornell is cheaper than the UC's, so right now it's Cornell or Harvard if I'm lucky enough to get accepted off the waitlist. At Cornell we'd have to pay about 17,000, which is quite a financial burden for my mom b/c of our income. At the UC's, we'd pay about 22,000, so obviously, because of financial, academic, and "fit" reasons, Cornell is above the UC's on my priority list. Still, I'm hoping I can somehow get lucky and get into Harvard. Here are my stats, if that helps any:</p>
<p>3.981 uw, 4.275w
2110 SAT 1 (690m,690v,730w)
700 math 2c, 720 literature, 740 us history
Pretty rigorous courseload: chem honors, ap us history, literature honors, physics honors, econ ap, english ap, calculus ab ap
ec's: water polo (4 years and captain), swimming (4 years), tutoring for a special AVID program (1 year b/c you can only be involved with the program senior year), and volunteer at animal shelter (3 years, fostered animals and worked adoption fairs)
letters of rec: very, very good
essays: pretty solid, everyone who read liked them
interview: my strongest point i think. really connected with both alumns
i'm hispanic, first person from my family to attend college, male, born in Mexico.</p>
<p>Yeah, pretty much. The 3-year California high-school thing is basically for illegal immigrants. For a legal immigrant like myself who is a dependent of a government worker, the in-state fees don't count.</p>
<p>Does Mexico offer any kind of F/A for the children of their employees who must live outside the country??? After all, you are in the US because they moved you here.</p>
<p>I think Mexico offers financial aid, but most of it is for graduate studies. Also, if you are offered financial aid from Mexico, they basically make you sign a contract that upon completion of your studies, you have to return to Mexico and live there. I'm basically hoping to be able to stay here in the United States, as I've lived here almost 10 years, consider it my home, and feel that the job opportunities and standard of living is MUCH better over here.</p>
<p>Right now I cannot, because I am 17 years old and still a dependent, so I'm still on the A-2 Visa. When I go to college I may stay with the A-2 or switch to an F-1, but once I'm 18 I will try to see what I can do to apply for citizenship. I'm not exactly sure how the naturalization process works, but I do know that it is pretty hard to become a citizen, especially for Mexicans, with all the border issues and what not. Hopefully someone at the college I go to will be able to help me apply for citizenship.</p>
<p>Since you are here legally, I don't think all those political issues apply to you. That issue is concerned with people "jumping ahead in line" by coming here illegally. You are here legally.</p>
<p>jlauer95, thanks for "getting it". I know that I'm in a bit of a unique situation, and I'm just hoping everything works out in the end. I do feel blessed that I was accepted at Cornell, it's just that I don't want to put such a heavy financial burden on my mom. She's getting close to retirement (she's in her mid-50's) and I wouldn't want to put her in a situation where she had to sacrifice her future for my own. Because of that, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things work out in the end, whether that means being accepted to Harvard or perhaps getting some scholarships.</p>
<p>polo. I once got off of a waiting list--in August. You never know.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>What are your strengths? Do you write well? Send in brilliant essays they haven't seen. </p></li>
<li><p>Then, contact Cornell Fin Aid and tell them you cannot come at the numbers they have offered. Beg them, plead with them to look again to see if they can lower your family contribution.</p></li>
<li><p>Then, send a pm to a CC student poster named tlaktan. he got into Georgetown SFS last year--as a korean american student who needed lots of money. He didn't get it from Georgetown but he found HEAPS of extra money through other scholarships. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Go to Cornell. Find a way to pay for it. Take a year off to work. Beg Fin aid every year. Beg other scholarship funds. Become an RA (free room and board). Get a high dollar per hour job. It CAN be done. Millions have done it before you. Keep your eye on the debt and reduce it.</p>
<p>This is the start of you making the impossible happen for yourself. Fantastic adventurous lives always have that drive behind them.</p>