<p>I'm currently a junior, studying in the Netherlands. 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 coucil, school newspaper and 120+ hours of volunteers work and community service.</p>
<p>Ethnicity: Caucasian-Kurdish/Turkish</p>
<p>So what do you think my chances are at:</p>
<p>Columbia
Bryn Mawr
Swarthmore
Vassar
Barnard </p>
<p>Also, advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!</p>
<p>I know that Columbia is need-blind for internationals so don't worry about money.. I don't know about the others though!..
U have a chance as everyone else.. I can't really tell u! but luckily u have a year to improve ur ECs and grades!.. Do ur best!!!</p>
<p>^ No, UPenn practically says "we'll reject most people with need" on their website.</p>
<p>@ OP: I don't like to reply to chances threads, I don't consider myself qualified to, but I think you'd have a fair chance. Admissions are a crapshoot >.<. Although, I think Vassar rejected me because of my need. The fin aid requirement makes things way worse.</p>
<p>Columbia=/=Barnard. They are affiliated and I guess they have a strong connection, but they're not the same. Columbia is a research university and Barnard is a small women's college. They have seperate admission offices, dorms, classrooms etc.</p>
<p>Swarthmore vassar and bryn mawr are much better than Columbia and Barnard by the way if you need aid. I would also say that Swarthmore is more prestigious than Barnard. Overall, your choices are pretty strange. Bryn Mawr is a women's college and so is Barnard. Vassar and Swarthmore are not. Columbia is totally different from all. Why so much variance? I don't see the pattern.</p>
<p>You can add Mount Holyoke to your list I think.</p>
<p>You should actually come to Oberlin. It's very very generous with aid. Awards $39 million a year in aid, and has no separate policies for international students. Is not need blind, though.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I did not mean columbia and barnard are the same school. Just wanted to say that Barnard and Columbia are similar with financial aid.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Oh ok I see. Thanks for the clarification. :)</p>
<p>As for my choices: Columbia has been my first choice ever since I was fourteen or so. The reason I started looking at American colleges was Columbia. Barnard is, like you said, is right across the street and it's a great school. So if I don't get into Columbia, at least I'll be nearby. Though I must say that that isn't the only reason.</p>
<p>I'm applying to Swarthmore because it's a great LAC and to Bryn Mawr, because it's affiliated with Swarthmore and is also a great LAC. Also, after I started researching Barnard, I realised that I really like women's colleges, so I added Wellesley, Bryn Mawr and Vassar, which used to be a women's college and still has more female students than male students (62%-38%, according to college board.)</p>
<p>What my choices also have in common, is great academics, beautiful campus, great location, small classes (Columbia is the largest with a 1000 students in its freshman class) and decent financial aid for int'ls.</p>
<p>I just realised that I forgot to add Wellesley to the list in my OP. Sorry 'bout that :) I will probably add Mount Holyoke and I'll look into Oberlin (I don't know much about it), so thanks for the suggestions! :)</p>
<p>I'm not that familiar with LAC admissions (or for that matter with the Dutch system), part of the reason I haven't responded to this post till date, but I will say that you should ideally apply to at least two safety/match schools; i.e. schools that you feel you'd have a good chance of being accepted to, and that would offer you aid (merit or need-based) (extremely hard for Internationals, but possible :)).</p>
<p>Have you considered Rice? They have at least two merit scholarships (100% tuition and 50% tuition) specifically for internationals, and with your stats you'd stand an excellent chance of admission there (although you haven't mentioned your SAT Subject test scores (likely scores?) and you haven't received an official SAT score either. (2200+ SAT I and 700-750+ SAT II's (depending upon which you take), would increase your chances at Rice for admission and merit aid greatly)</p>
<p>In addition the UC's also offer merit aid to internationals, that equals 100% of need, so if you were awarded the Regents' scholarship at any of these then that would be excellent for you. (Unless you primarily want the LAC atmosphere) Berkeley also has an excellent political science program, as does UCLA</p>
<p>Williams, Middlebury and Amherst are all Need-Blind for internationals, so you could consider applying there (especially since you have a need that'll approach 30-35K)</p>
<p>Wow, thanks! I really considered the UC's, but couldn't apply, because I thought they didn't give ANY financial aid to int'ls. Knowing that helps a lot :D
I'll probably add Amherst to my list, too :) I just feel that Middlebury and Williams are to remote (correct me if I'm wrong). At least Amherst is nearby some other colleges, which is great.</p>