Chances and suggestions for a humanities+social sciences nerd :)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So here's a little about me:</p>

<p>I'm will be a senior next year (class of 2008). I'd like to major in either political science or history.
I will be applying for financial aid and I can pay for around 15k.</p>

<p>Stats:
GPA: 9/10 (very high for Dutch standards)</p>

<p>SAT's: I don't know yet, but I've been scoring around 2250 on practice tests.</p>

<p>Class rank: 1-3/116</p>

<p>Classes: I've been doing Gymnasium for the last five years, which is as rigorous and prestigious as its gets. I'm taking the maximum amount of classes and my school is one of the best in the Netherlands.</p>

<p>Ec's: They're ok, but could be better: pre-university college at Leiden university (very selective program for 'gifted students'), MUN (student officer and advocate for the ICJ), class president, reference group for the school board (selective), student council, school newspaper, tutoring and 120+ hours of volunteers work (free trade shop) and community service (hospital).</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Caucasian-Kurdish/Turkish</p>

<p>Languages: Turkish, Dutch, English, French, German, French and Latin. Kurdish is also spoken in my household.</p>

<p>So what do you think my chances are at:</p>

<p>Brown
Amherst
Wellesley
Williams
Middlebury
Vassar
Swarthmore
Wesleyan
Oberlin
Carleton</p>

<p>I know these colleges are all (very) selective and basically, I don't think there are any safeties among my choices. So could anyone please suggest some low matches/safeties?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>P.S.: I do have real safeties in the Netherlands :)</p>

2

<p>woah...talk about diversity hha. I really have no gauge on how academically successful you are since you're in another system, but i think you should apply to Georgetown, which has a really great social studies program. You're a truly "international" student. how do you know so many languages haha?!</p>

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<p>Well, my parents are from Turkey and Turkish is my first language. I live in the Netherlands and go to a Dutch school, so I also speak Dutch. I've been watching English television since I was six, so I picked the language up very easily and developed my skills by reading English books. French, German and Latin are required subjects at my school and since I am actually 75% Kurdish, Kurmanji (=the kind Kurdish spoken in the region I'm from), is a part of my family. I can understand it a little, but I don't actually speak it.
And of course, being a real humanities nerd and having a knack for languages helped :)</p>

<p>Oh BTW, I accidently posted French twice -_- So the list is actually a little shorter than it looks :D Sorry 'bout that.</p>

<p>And I'll definitely look into Georgetown. Does it give good financial aid to international students?</p>

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<p>middlebury's international/language focus would give you a very good shot at getting in.</p>

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<p>Thanks :) (10char)</p>

6

<p>It's really hard to say for internationals, I don't think anyone could give you an accurate picture. But apply to Amherst, I like the Netherlands.</p>

7

<p>For some lower matches, you might want to consider Macalester and Barnard if you like urban living.</p>

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<p>I like Macalester and will add it, but I believe Barnard only gives about three scholarships a year to international students. I had Barnard on my list, but took it off when I found that out. I mean, wouldn't that make it very hard to get in?</p>

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<p>You'd be a really competitive candidate for one of the three scholarships at Barnard. If you don't mind spending the time/money on a Barnard app, you might as well.</p>

10

<p>Yeah, you maybe right. I think I'll look into Barnard's website some more and see what they're really saying about those scholarships. If I won't be throwing away money and time on applications, I will apply. Thanks for the suggestion! :)</p>

<p>Any one else?</p>

11

<p>As others have been saying, since you're an international, it's hard to say exactly what your chances are, but it seems like you're very competitive. That said, I do have some more match and safety suggestions (I have no idea what the aid would be like at these places, but they are some pretty cool LACs that aren't quite as hard to get into). I've listed a bunch, and hopefully you can research and find out if some of them will give you a good shot at financial aid and maybe merit money, if they give that to internationals):</p>

<p>East coast: Skidmore, Colby, Bates, Dickenson, Goucher, Connecticut College</p>

<p>Not east coast: Grinnell (well, not a LOT less competetive, but they have a really high endowment, so maybe good aid?), Oberlin, Reed, Lewis+Clark, the Clermont colleges (Pomona and Claremont McKenna are both really competitive, Smith and Pitzer less so), Occidental</p>

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<p>You have a great profile though it really is hard to determine your chances b/c of your international status. Whether you ask for financial aid may also play a factor. However, make sure to shine through your essays. The colleges will then be able to see your personality! :) Good luck!</p>

13

<p>Thanks! I think Pomona, Reed and Grinnell might be good fits for me, so I'll definitely research those some more. :)</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the replies!</p>

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<p>Randomly, you remind me of that song from 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee ("...I speak six languages...").</p>

<p>Sorry. That probably went right over your head.</p>