<p>As I was planning my college application, I realized that I am absolutely sure that I will give it a try at Smith. I hope this is a realistic dream... Coz I want Smith so bad...</p>
<p>Here's my particulars:</p>
<p>4 years studying for O and A levels in Singapore (born in China)
GPA(estimated): 3.8
Ranking: pretty sure I'm the top 10% in the 300-strong graduating class
SAT Reasoning: CR 760 M 800 W 720
SAT Subject Test: Chemistry 800 Physics 800 Math II 800</p>
<p>Academics:
Studying A level English, Economics, Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry
Research experience in the national university (in mechanical engineering)
National medalist in Math and Chemistry
Won a distinction in the American Math Competition
National and intra-school awards in public speaking (Champion in School, bronze award in nationals)</p>
<p>Extra-curriculars(during the last 4 years):
2 years in Drama Club
2 years playing for the orchestra
2 and a half years in the Student Council
(Organised donation drives for the Earthquake in Haiti and the Hurricanes in South East Asia,
organised and participated in giving free music lessons to kids in a family centre,
organised fun activities for the welfare of students...
along with some other school events, which i will not list down here)</p>
<p>Do I have a chance of being noticed among so many other brilliant applicants? As an international student, will applying for FA largely affect my chances? (I need the money)</p>
<p>Well, your stats are certainly good. The hard thing is going to be the financial aid factor. I don’t know whether or not applying for financial aid hurts your chances, but there is a very small pot of money for international students, and there is a very high demand. So just keep that in mind and make sure you’re applying to a wide range of schools, including some that are more affordable then Smith. Have a discussion with your parents about how much they think they can pay, so that you have a realistic idea of your need.</p>
<p>I’m blown away by your ECs! Yes, your scores/stats are great too but I’ve never seen such great ECs before! I’m very impressed. You should add some Ivies to your list too! I don’t know if applying for FA will hurt you though There’s a lot of schools here that have International FA. I think WUSTL and Amherst do. You could research it. Best of luck :D</p>
<p>The FinAid question is indeed key. I’m not familiar with admissions policies for Internationals: do they just not admit students who require aid if they don’t make the FinAid cut? Or do they admit them so that they can come if they can figure out a way to pay?</p>
<p>^ I’m also not sure the answer to that question. I know that financial need is more of a factor in international admissions (after all, no school likes to admit students when they know they can’t afford to come. It’s just cruel). But I don’t know if needing financial aid actually hurts your, or if the problem comes once you’re accepted and realize you can’t afford it because you get only some of your need met.</p>
<p>I believe that financial aid availability may factor into your admissions decision. According to Smith’s financial aid information, “Smith meets the full documented need, as determined by college policy, of all admitted students who apply for aid by the published deadlines. Some admission decisions may include an assessment of the student’s level of need. These need-sensitive evaluations affect approximately 5 percent of all applicants.” This says to me that, if you have a very high level of financial need, it may work against you in admissions decisions, but won’t necessarily exclude you.</p>
<p>Yes, that is is the issue. Since international students aren’t eligible for federal aid, their aid has to come from the institution, and there just isn’t as much institutional aid. Also, the policy about Smith meeting full documented need, as far as I know only applies to U.S. students. Smith doesn’t pledge to meet the full need of international applicants.</p>
<p>Now I don’t want to put a damper on the whole thing, Smith obviously has international students who are on financial aid and have great aid packages. But the challenge of paying for a Smith education is compounded by being an international student, where there is less aid to go around and the cost of attendance is so much higher. Just flying to and from school can be a burden on a lot of families, add to the fact that there are visa costs and other incidentals, then the school fees on top, it can get expensive. </p>
<p>I wish the OP the best of luck, I think she has an excellent shot of being admitted, so the best advice is just to apply. You can’t control in advance the financial aid aspect, so you just have to focus on getting in, and then see how you make out with the money. But just make sure you apply to many places so that you don’t end up with nowhere to go.</p>
<p>One of my D’s best friends at her New York City prep school (she just graduated) was an asian international. Her grades were superb as were her test scores. Her English was as a native USer, and she is a great and outgoing kid. She ended up getting senior academic prizes in many subjects (unfortunately after the admissions process was over, but they indicate her academic performance in high school). She applied to many of the Ivies and some LACs too, about 15 in all, not including one in her country of citizenship. She also needed financial aid. She was rejected by all, except for one LAC. That was a very good LAC, and she will, no doubt be happy and challenged there. (It’s one of the CC Top LACs). She only applied to co-ed schools, so she did not apply to Smith or others (like MHC) that seem to really want internationals. She really should have been accepted all over, but I suspect she was not because she was an international who needed financial aid. The lesson is that you have to do your research thoroughly so that you are not surprised when the decisions are announced in April.</p>
<p>Smith is very selective in the internationals it admits because of the financial aid issue; however, I feel that you will be very competitive within that group. At least in the small amount of information you’ve provided, you look like an impressive applicant.</p>
<p>From what I understand, the US government will not issue student visas to those who can’t pay through a combination of FA package and parental contributions, so most colleges simply don’t accept international students who can’t prove that they will be financially supported for an entire year. There’s no point. In some ways, this is a blessing since, unlike American students, these students don’t suffer from the angst of deciding how much debt is worth it. It’s all or nothing. Of course, Smith may decide that your parents can contribute more than they are willing. </p>
<p>Definitely apply, I think you have a great shot. I’m an international and an overrepresented minority (like you) to boot and Smith was incredibly generous with their financial aid offer, so I’d say it could definitely happen. </p>
<p>thanks to elbeeen too
In fact, I am planning to apply to Amherst too, their International need-blind aid is very attractive. But the admission of international students is certainly more competitive.</p>
<p>And thanks to everyone who pondered over the FA issue.
You guys are right about Smith having limited resources for internationals.
But according to the past year stats, Smith is actually one of the most generous among the international need-base schools. So I’m definitely going to take my shot.
Hope I can be a Smithie someday! :D</p>
There’s a lot of schools here that have International FA. I think WUSTL and Amherst do. You could research it. Best of luck :D</p>