Chance me maybe? :)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello Guys!
I’m a senior from Mongolia. And I will be applying to Skidmore, Carleton, Colby, Wesleyan U, ConnColl, Middlebury and Babson.

So as to my school profile:
I go to a public high shcool school named, if translated in English, “High School of Invention”. As you can see the name, our school offers a variety of programs in technology, engineering, and also it offers career based courses, which are quite similar to majors. Every student is required to pick only one major from 7 majors, ranging from fashion design to computer science. I’m a computer science major (since my entrance to this school). Also I take electrical engineering and robotics courses.

GPAs:
Freshman: 3.3
Senior: 4.0
Junior: 4.0
Senior grades are not available for now.

SAT: CR 580 M 620 W 580 (I know it’s relatively low. I’m just not a good test taker :\ )

ECs:

  • I'm a mnemonist (9-12). I use memory techniques (mnemonic devices) to memorize thousands of numbers, words, and other kind of information. It's my hobby to memorize whatever I want; for example, world maps, vocabulary words, and even pi numbers etc etc...
  • Memory athlete (9-11). Since 9th grade I set about myself training in memory sports by using mnemonics. And so far I've competed in 2 national and 5 international competitions in 10 disciplines (random words,number, names and faces, images, and playing cards etc).
  • Morin Khuur or Horse-head fiddle (9-12). It's a traditional instrument of Mongolia, which has a horse head on top of it and two strings that emit the sounds. No notable achievements, but I usually play this instrument in a religious ceremony and national holidays. Moreover, I led an assembly of 10 students in the 40 years anniversary of our school. And my counselor said that she would write it on her recommendation letter.
  • Varsity basketball (12). Second team's shooting guard. I developed a new interest in physical sports. So I started playing basketball as of this year; managed to improve my skills in a short time; got noticed by my school's coach; and got recruited into the team.
  • Movie translator (11). I used to make subtitles on movies by which I improved my English proficiency. I've translated 2 TV shows, 5 films from English to Mongolian. And used to publish them on a blog, which is now closed.

Awards/Honors:
50+ medals, 5 champion trophies in memory sports.
35th (out of 2000+ competitors) in the world memory rankings. (In May, 2014 I was in 15th)
Grandmaster of Memory title
and some other credentials as well…

So, now the most important is financial aid. I’m from a very low-income family. I only live with my grandmother, so the amount of money we can contribute is close to non. Anyways, I’m thinking of applying to Skidmore College for EDII because it is, according to usnews.com, the most generous in terms of giving FA to international applicants. However, yesterday I had an interview with an assistant director of admissions, and she told me that although they meet the full needs of applicants, the amount of financial aid is very limited and very competitive. I don’t know why, I felt somewhat discouraged. Otherwise, the interview went well, I believe.

So guys please chance me for these schools

2

Wow this is the coolest application i’ve seen. I do not see any reason why you will not get into those schools. Your SAT is bringing you down, but honestly as long as colleges see your ECs and your background you should get in. Perhaps you should even apply to other schools that are higher tier and give financial aid really generously!
(PS your “new interest” in physical sports sounds prettty BS lol… don’t try to focus on that too much)

3

Sorry, I have to disagree with @theofrelord I think you stand a chance with some of these schools, but Carleton, Wesleyan and Middlebury are definitely reaches. I’m not saying you shouldn’t apply, but your SAT scores are just well below the average scores at these schools.

4

You should not ED to anywhere. You need to see the offers of aid. International aid is very difficult. Skidmore can’t possibly give the most. That would be Harvard and Yale, I’m sure. Amherst too.

5

Skidmore is a good school but it is not the most generous with financial aid. Not even close.

The five most generous schools for international financial aid are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Amherst and MIT. No other schools guarantee full aid and need-blind admissions to internationals. They are also some of the most difficult schools to get into in the world, unfortunately.

I would look at colleges by endowment. Middlebury and Carleton, for example, have more money per student than the other schools on your list. Talk to them. Your SATs are not great, but you are a fascinating applicant.

Talk to Grinnell - it’s a wealthy school. In fact, here’s a list. Look at all the schools at the top of the list (but realize that some of them are so selective that they are out of reach for now, unless you can improve your SAT scores).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colleges_and_universities_in_the_United_States_by_endowment#Endowments_per_Student