Chance Me- Smith College

Chance Me / Match Me!
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1

Demographics:
International student from Uruguay
Private Catholic pre-college High School in my country-ranked 1 best high school in the country.
Female/White/Latina

Intended Major: Art, Architecture, and Urbanism

GPA: 11.4 out of 12- equals 4.0 on the 4 point scale
no weighted GPA, not submitting test scores.
The school doesn’t officially rank but about the top 5 out of 300 seniors.

Coursework
School doesn’t offer APs or Honors. Students aren’t able to pick their classes, but can pick a concentration. Options for concentrations: Arts, Science, Biology, Humanities. I did Arts.
2 years of Chemistry
3 years of Physics
3 years of Math
4 years of English Language
4 years of Literature
3 years of Philosophy
4 years of drawing
2 years of World History
2 years of Art History
1 year of Astronomy
2 years of Theatre
2 years of Musical education
1 year of Film studies
2 years of Biology
among others.

Awards
Invited to Global Young Leaders Conference to represent my country

Extracurriculars
Founder of an environmental awareness club
Played Handball for 10 years, did Varsity in High School, and was Captain in 11th and 12th.
290hs of community service.
Drama club 10th, 11th and 12th grade
Hobbies: Scrapbooking; around 5hs per week.
Did tutoring during the pandemic for some of my classmates.
Finished High School in December 2021 and took a gap year (currently), I was an Au Pair for three months in the US working 45hs a week. After that I got a full time job in a multinational IT company.

Essay: Common app I think was very strong and unique, if someone wants to read it and give me their opinion I can send it. In the additional essay part I wrote about holding the 2nd highest score in Tetris in the country and how Tetris relates to some aspects of my life.

Budget: My family is low income, I attended private school with a full scholarship as well as my sisters. Will need almost a full ride.

Applying to Smith College ED1

Safeties:
Lehigh University
Fairfield University
Rollins College
Hollins University
Muhlenberg College
Drew University
Adelphi University
Drexel University
Emmanuel College
Capital University
Georgian Court University
Elizabethtown
Hilbert College
Carlow University
Mont Clair State

Targets
Smith
Scripps
Gettysburg
Clark University
Mount Holyoke

Reach
Washington and Lee
Bryn Mawr

Please chance me!

2

Any SAT / ACT ?

Not all these schools will meet need. It does appear smith does. I think you should focus on schools that can get you to your intended cost. Many of these you list will be wasted apps.

It does appear Smith meets need and you certainly have a chance.

You say almost a full ride is needed - so that makes your budget $5k or $10k or $20k a year ?

3

I know most of this school don’t meet need, but they have big merit scholarships and that is what I’m looking for! Honestly, there aren’t many somewhat selective schools that meet need for internationals, so the scholarships are the best way for me!
I’m applying test optional so no SAT or ACT
the budget is around 5k

4

It’s not realistic to get merit and get to a cost of $5k.

You should apply to the schools that meet need or a school like Washington & Lee that has the Johnson Scholarship. I believe international is eligible. You should look at each school on your list to see if they have a full ride and if international is eligible. I don’t think most on your list can get you there.

And hit those 8 or 10 that meet full need.

Don’t forget they determine need so you want to ensure that they would agree that you only qualify for $5k a year.

Good luck.

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5

Based on your interest in studying architecture, you may want to research William Smith.

https://www2.hws.edu/academics/architecture/

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6

I would pare your list down to schools that meet full need and/or have full ride merit scholarships. The rest will be unaffordable.

There are NO safeties or targets in the US for you (even though you have excellent HS stats and achievements), due to the meet full need schools having low acceptance rates, and the long odds to earn any of the competitive full ride merit scholarships at any of the schools that don’t meet full need.

Do you have any affordable safety schools in your home country?

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7

I do have affordable options in my county in case it doesn’t work out for me. I will take your advice! Is there any particular college that you would recommend me?

8

You first need to ensure your need is what you think. Run a net price calculator.

Here’s one source linked below:

The list of seven that I can find guarantee fo meet need are Amherst, Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale.

When I looked up Smith it appeared they meet need but you might ask. They may be need aware meaning if you need too much, they can say no even if they’d want to admit you.

Then you need to find out which colleges have full rides and will consider international.

If you had a test score you would open some opportunities at public schools…so if you took the test it would give you other options if you scored well. They likely wouldn’t get you down to $5k tho.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/universities-that-offer-international-students-the-most-financial-aid

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9

I agree because that is a lot of work to apply and then to not be able to receive funding. These schools are running about $70K+ a year.
That is a LOT of money for a majority of families in the US. That’s what a lot of families earn in one year!
Most university scholarships tend to go to US citizens, since the federal government provides some funding for its students in grants and loans, but the Feds also provide funds to the universities themselves to focus on future research while targeting US professors and students. That’s just the way that it is. During the Pandemic, all of the universities reported financial losses and they have been very strict with their budgets.

I looked at the Lehigh website for the international funding description:

Does Lehigh meet full financial need for non-US citizens?

Lehigh University provides need‐based financial assistance to a limited number of admitted non-US citizens who have applied for financial aid and who have demonstrated financial need.

It is our goal to meet 100% of the demonstrated need (not including travel and personal expenses) for as many admitted students as possible with the limited funds available.

Admissions decisions for non-US citizens are, however, need-aware.

This means that international citizens will be evaluated for admission with consideration of the ability of students, guardians, or sponsors to pay educational costs alongside our holistic admissions process.
Some candidates who apply for financial aid and do not demonstrate need may be admitted without a financial aid offer.
Other candidates whom we would like to admit may be declined because we have exhausted our financial aid budget."
International and Non US Citizens Admissions | Lehigh University

I think, that what you will find on the websites, of most of your targets, will have similar information. At Scripps College “Financial assistance for international applicants is limited.”

Do you have a local architecture firm that will be hiring you when you return home? You should ask about shadowing a local firm and asking them what will be required.

10

@tsbna44 the net price calculators are typically not accurate for international students. This student is an international student.

I think Smith is a good choice for this student. Perhaps the finances will work out.

Yes…many many schools are need aware for international students, but “some” students with full need will be admitted. This student could be one.

Still as suggested, I would trim this list down a bit. Those safeties are only truly safety schools if affordability is guaranteed. It’s not going to be at most of these places.

11

Fair point on NPCs - yes, I like the Smith - but I’m looking at the list below and this is just a sample of some on her list (which is too long). - unless they show full ride scholarships and international is eligible, why would one apply? Why Amherst and Dartmouth may be too “reachy”, at least she could attend if admitted (assuming they agree on the amount of need with her desired need).

Rollins College
Hollins University
Muhlenberg College
Drew University
Adelphi University
Drexel University

12

I already sent out my application to most of these schools, because I’ve been prepping since the common app opened. For some schools, I’ve applied through their website to be able to add to my common app if needed.
I am a selected applicant for Rollins college and they stated that they could offer me a full-ride scholarship if admitted. Drexel offers full rides to a selective group of candidates, Muhlenberg has need-based aid for international students, and so does Drew.
I have to look into Amherst, I never considered Ivy leagues because I’m just not into their vibes.

13

Obviously the schools I mentioned are reaches for all -but would get you to your $$.

it sounds like you picked schools for a purpose, so you’ve done that homework - and that’s great.

Good luck to you.

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14

Dozens of U.S. colleges meet full demonstrated financial need for international students.

15

Exactly…for those accepted, there are many colleges that will meet full need for international students. Some of these are need aware. Some of these accept a limited number of international students.

16

Good to know - I could only find a list of 7 or 8 - but I think they were need blind too.

I hope the OP finds those schools.

Do you have a list for her? Hopefully those she listed are on that list.

17

The need blind colleges that also meet full need for all international students are:

  • Amherst College.
  • Bowdoin College.
  • Dartmouth College.
  • Harvard University.
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • Princeton University.
  • Yale University
18

Yeah - those I listed in message 7 but it does seem like Smith and then W&L via Johnson meet need…so hopefully the OP will find the right one.

19

Unfortunately, I cannot provide a full list. However, it seems worth noting that, for example, Wellesley and Haverford offer greater average aid packages to international students than do Dartmouth and Amherst. Nonetheless, all four of these examples are quite generous.

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20

I am applying to Wellesley as an ED2 applicant too. I forgot to put it in the post,

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