Chances For An International Gap Year Student

Student Lounge International Students
1

I’ve taken 2 gap years and I’m going to apply in Fall 2020. I should mention that I will be needing almost full financial aid and I wish to study Computer Science/Engineering. This is my profile:

Academic:

  1. SAT 1: 1470 (projected)
  2. SAT 2: Math II - 800, Physics - 780 (Already taken)
  3. TOEFL: 110+ (projected)
  4. GPA: We have a really different system in our country, it’d be tedious to explain the whole process here. I got 5.00 out of 5.00 GPA but it's calculated differently than it is in the USA.

ECA:

  1. Started an online clothing business based on Facebook, with my sister. It’s going strong with 6 employees and we plan to establish a physical shop soon.
  2. Interned at a Group of Industries in the position of Software Developer
  3. Interned at an IT company in the position of Web Developer These two internships will speak for my gap years.
  4. Founded Computer Club and English Speaking Club in High School
  5. Patrol Leader in High School Scouts
  6. Student Counselor in High School
  7. Every year, I along with a few of my friends organize underprivileged/poor kids to teach them about computers and smartphones.
  8. Every winter, I along with a few of my friends distribute warm cloths, blankets to homeless people. Additionally, a couple minor ECAs.

Recommendation Letters:

  1. From my counselor who is also my Chemistry teacher
  2. From my ICT teacher
  3. From my English teacher
    I am expecting some excellent letters, I have a very good relationship with them and they like me very much.

Essays:

  1. About the business I mentioned earlier
  2. About a unique scouts camp that I attended in my junior year

As you can see, I have a so so profile and my requirement of financial aid puts me in a disadvantages position. I have my eyes on the Ivy League universities as they are usually need-blind but I don’t think I have any chance at those with this profile.
What do you suggest?

2

I don’t think that international students understand how limited the seats are at the elite schools.

Every valedictorian, from all of the high schools of the US (roughly 35K), apply to these schools. Every international candidate, applies, and wrongfully assumes that he/she has one of those seats.

Most of the seats at the ivies are already taken by:
-star domestic students,
-recruited olympic level athletes,
-children of large donors,
-celebrities or students with international fame status.

Additionally, you need full funding.
Funding for international candidates is very limited.

Plus, you are applying to an impacted major at most universities.

Apply to colleges within your country.
If you apply to US colleges, apply to those that need diversity and see if they will offer you some funding, otherwise you will need to pay full fees.