Hi, I am applying to several boarding schools for the postgraduate year. I am an international applicant and I am homeschooled. I am applying for significant financial aid. The schools I am applying to are Exeter, Andover, Choate, Hotchkiss, Loomis, Lawrenceville, Berkshire, Westminster, Taft, Northwood, Northfield Mount hermon, Suffield, Millbrook
TEST SCORES
33 on ACT
GRADES
All A’s throughout high school except 2 b’s in 10th grade. About half my classes are honors courses.
I have taken 6 AP courses this year (12th grade) through the UT Austin High school and am taking 4 dual enrollment courses at GCU.
EXTRACURRICULARS
[x] Gymnastics- 4 years
[x] Coding (creating websites)
[x] Mun
[x] Neuroscience research and internship
[x] Psychiatrist shadowing (internship)
[x] Leader of mental health organization 100+ hours
[x] Tutoring underprivileged girls in STEM 60 hours
[x] Part time job for supporting family as a freelance writer
[x] Taking care of younger siblings, cooking, helping around the house
[x] Created fashion line and runs fashion small business
Achievements
Finalist National Spelling Bee (Ranked in top 10)
State Computer Science Olympiad (Ranked in top 10)
National Science Olympiad (Ranked in top 20)
International English Olympiad (Ranked in top 25 nationally)
20+ awards in state writing competitions
Fluent in four languages (English, Hindi, Urdu, French) and learning fifth (Arabic)
Working part time job to support family through financial difficulties
National Art Competition (Ranked in top 10)
Gymnastics Competitions (5 awards)
Accepted into competitive research program at All India Medical Institute
Your profile is very good (I’m a Lawrenceville senior applying to college right now with an arguably worse one), but being international and needing financial aid will make it really really difficult; I know maybe one international student here who isn’t obscenely wealthy. If you can write good essays and get a top-tier interview, though, I think you have a good shot at some schools—I know personally that Lawrenceville nearly exclusively admits athletic recruits as PGs, but I don’t believe that’s true for all of the schools on your list.
If you have any questions about Lville, feel free to reach out!
As great as your qualifications are, I don’t think an international PG student that isn’t an athletic standout is going to be accepted with the needed financial aid. Why not apply straight to college? Many U.S. colleges are homeschool friendly and you’d be a great applicant.
Hey! So I do have excellent essays, I’m hoping the interviews go well. So basically, paying the full fees would create significant financial hardship for my family— but if it came down to it, we would take loans and manage to pay. Do you think I should mention this when submitting my financial aid documents?
I’m worried that schools will reject me outright if they see I need financial aid. Will schools usually offer admission without financial aid or with partial aid to international students?
I’m scared that schools will reject me based on my family income, since I am applying for financial aid and my income is below 60k so they will believe I won’t be able to afford it
tw: So… I went through some serious mental issues, including a suicide attempt. i was hospitalized for a long time, and then was admitted to a rehab. I continued to do classes while there, but I no longer have the sharpness, the skill, the knowledge that I used to do. I really believe a PG year will help me hone my skills and excel in my talents. I’m not ready for college, because I know I wouldn’t get in anywhere that is really selective. And I know that I’m capable of getting into my dream school, but with a little more time.