<p>Hey all, I'm an international and want to study in the US. My parents are likely to spend not more than 1.5-2k USD per year. So I'll need sort of a full ride.
Guys please tell me whether SLU will be a good match for me and how are the chances of getting accepted with my expected aid package. Thanks in advance.
My stats:</p>
<p>SAT: CR 460 M 710 W 560
SAT II: Math I 700, Chem 690
(Note that I'm retaking both SATs and scoring 600+ on CR and Writing.)</p>
<p>GPA: All A+ in both lower and higher secondary national exams.</p>
<p>(Our system doesn't calculate a CGPA so 9-12th grade exams aren't that emphasized. I have the lowest of 4.2/5.00 in school's internal exams.)</p>
<p>ECs: Science club founder and president, attended National Programming camp (for IOI and ACM-ICPC contenders), School math team member, filmmaker and organizer of a filmmaking group, two times annual speaker at school day( most impressive student both in academics and extra-curriculars), peer tutor.</p>
<p>Community service: Volunteering in mosque (400+ hrs), for VBD (100+ hrs), for EMK Center(20+ hrs, recently started)</p>
<p>Any suggestion and advice are appreciated :)</p>
<p>Well I don’t know how helpful I’ll be since I’m also an international student applying to SLU for next fall. Anyway, your SAT score could be a bit higher since at the moment it is below the average if I remember correctly but if you increase it on your retake it should be good 
However, remember that SLU does allow you to apply test-optional which would mean you don’t have to send in your scores! If my SAT score doesn’t increase as much as I want it to in my retake I’m not submitting Your SAT IIs are pretty good so no need to worry there. </p>
<p>I know a girl (international) who is currently a Junior and she had pretty good grades, didn’t submit test scores, and was accepted with an amazing aid package. I think in the end she only had to pay like ~$8k which is more than your parents would like but it’s SO much better than the full price! You will by no means get a full ride though sorry…</p>
<p>Just curious, where are you from?</p>
<p>Thanks! Finally someone came to leave a reply.
I liked your idea of not sending scores if they are not satisfactory. I’m taking the October SAT; I wish I could add some hundred points to my verbal scores. Did the girl you mentioned get accepted for her good grades only? Again I’m afraid my ECAs are weak. I don’t have remarkable achievements moreover.
What I found is it’s hard and harsh for a not-so-outstanding student to get awarded huge aid, particularly when he/she is an international kid. I could manage as long as the gap is 4-5k, doing summer jobs and, if I’m lucky enough to get hired as a programmer, earning few more bucks. My parents already have exceeded their ability. I have to make sure that I’m being no burden for them.</p>
<p>Being another Asian, I’m from Bangladesh. :(</p>