<p>Ever since I first experienced American education at age of 8, my dream has been to go to a college in the U.S. People around me wondered what's such a big deal about studying in America. But for me, the idea that one day I will find myself studying, surrounded by people from a totally different background -- and therefore whom I'll have so much to learn from -- was always the reason to keep pushing myself to the limit and try to make the most of every opportunity laid in front of me. Now, upon my belated college app process, I face a major problem: financial difficulty. Coming from a middle-class family in Korea, I have to take up the financial responsibility for college with little support from my parents, and to be honest, I'm very much worried. </p>
<p>So, I've been choosing colleges to apply to, and financial aid (merit aid) definitely takes the biggest part in the equation. I looked at all the websites of colleges of my interest, but there was a limit to the information I could get. I hate to limit my choices to the scores I have, and I'm gonna study my butt off and take ACT this december for the last time. But to get the app process started, I need CC members' experiences and opinions! If there's anybody out there who wants to help out this small, daring international student, please do so and contribute to making an 8-year-old girl's dream come true! :) </p>
<p>I'll be so thankful for every comment. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>[PROFILE]</p>
<p>Nationality: Korean (yes. I'll be applying as an international student who needs aid! what a great drag.)
School: a small international school in Malaysia (graduated in 2010)</p>
<p>[ACADEMICS]</p>
<p>GPA uw: 3.99 / w: 4.247
class rank: 1 of 36
Classes taken (senior yr): Media Literacy, AP Economics, AP Calc AB, English, Health, AP Art History, Bible -- all A
ACT: 31 (gotta take it again :))
APs: AP Calc AB, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Psychology -- all 5
AP Statistics -- 4
AP Art History -- 3</p>
<p>[ACHIEVEMENTS]</p>
<p>Valedictorian Scholarship 12
Gold Level for TOEFL 12
National Honor Society 11, 12
Academic Achievement Award 11, 12
High Honor Roll 10, 11, 12
President's Award, Association of Private Secondary School Principals 9
Bronze Medalist, Intramural Science Competition 9
Honor Graduate Award 9
(+ some others like course awards and AP awards)</p>
<p>[ACTIVITIES]</p>
<p>Writer, School Feature Paper 12
Project Representative, Intramural Science Fair 11, 12
Global Book Club 12
People to People International 11, 12
Tutoring, 11, 12
Worship Team 11, 12
Vocal, Religious Week Worship Service 11, 12
School Ambassadors 10
Chess Club 10 </p>
<p>[COMMUNITY SERVICE] - total 240 hrs</p>
<p>Christmas Donation Project 12 (collected gifts worth around $1100)
Student Council Service, 12
Peer Tutoring 11, 12
Teaching Assistant 10, 11, 12
Volunteer, a local hospital & local home for the blind 12
Volunteer, a local orphanage 11
Volunteer, Environmental Protection Service 9
Volunteer, a local subway station & social welfare center, 9</p>
<p>Special talents: Piano-12 years, Word Processing Certificate (Intermediate)</p>
<p>These are the colleges I'm looking at:</p>
<p>Clark University (MA)
Dickinson College (PA)
Hamilton College (NY)
Colorado College (CO)
Furman University (SC)
University of Richmond (VA)
Providence College (RI)
Gettysburg College (PA)
Willamette University (OR)
St. Joseph's University (PA)
Mount Holyoke College (MA)
Smith College (MA)
Brigham Young University (UT)</p>
<p>Every college except BYU is liberal arts college.
If you have any suggestion as to where I could get accepted with a large amount of merit aid, please shoot! :)</p>