<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>So I'm planning to get an undergraduate degree in the US, but the thing is that my family cannot contribute much money, if any, so I definitely need a full ride scholarship or something very close to it. </p>
<p>I think I should briefly describe myself first. </p>
<p>My application should be pretty strong. I have an equivalent of 4.0 GPA (unweighted, I guess), 33 on ACT Plus Writing (E:31, M:32, R:34, S:36) which is in top 1% nationwide, and 106 on TOEFL IBT. The school system of my country doesn't offer AP or IB courses, but my school is one of top 20 high schools in my country and it has very rigorous course work. I also have 800s on SAT II Math 2, Chemistry and World History). </p>
<p>As for EC's I have lots to tell too. I've been a president of my school's engineering and robotics club for 2 years. I've created a device that got me to a national engineering competition and is now in use in several of schools in my city ( the device is automatic bell ringer. In my country this is still being done manually, and my device is a very cheap way to change it). Also, I became a finalist of an extremely selective US Department of State's program called Future Leaders Exchange. Of around 9000 applicants only 176 got selected as finalists. This program allows students to go to the US for 10 moths, to live with an American family and to study in American High school completely for free, it even pays me a scholarship. This is being done to develop a better understanding between our cultures. During my stay I organised quite a few events and presentations dedicated to share about my country, history and culture with the community that I lived in. I also organised a charity event, and did around 80 hours of community service. Technically, each finalist of the program is like an ambassador of his or her country. I think this will be a nice thing to add to my application.</p>
<p>Also, I can fluently speak 4 languages and play piano, guitar and drums (of which I won some awards too), and also there are really few applicants from my country (Ukraine), which can be a good thing as well, I believe.</p>
<p>As for colleges, my top choices are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Dartmouth, and Amherst. All 6 of them are need blind, and students from low income families -like me- don't have to pay anything. However, these schools are ridiculously hard to get in. It's more a matter of luck, and if I don't get in, I would like to have some safety schools to go to. The question is: if I apply to a school where I will be way above average, for example where the average ACT scores are 20-22 and 3.0 GPA, or even lower, should I expect getting a full ride? Or at least something close? </p>
<p>I really really want to go to a good school, but if I don't get in I would like to go at least somewhere. Unfortunately, I can't pay a lot and have to hope for a full ride.</p>
<p>I would really appreciate any help as well as some tips to strengthen my application.</p>