Chances for some great Liberal Arts Colleges!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey there! I’ll dive straight into it!

Some things to consider. I’m a legal US resident but haven’t received my green card yet. Thus, I’m an international students in a university’s eyes. Sucks, but I’ll deal with it. To put the cherry on the cake, I need financial aid. A lot.
EFC would be about $9000. Income less than 30,000.

With those two bullets loaded, and the revolver aimed at my head, here goes the rest!

OBJECTIVE:

SAT: 2100-2200 range, third time taking them.
SAT Subject Tests – MathII: 750-800 , Biology E: 700-750 , Literature: 700. (Apologies for the estimates)
GPA: In GPA format it would be about 3.8 . No weighted/unweighted in Brazil.

No such thing as AP classes in Brazil, but consider the courseload very strenuous. Unlike in the US, students there are obligated to take ALL subjects, 12 of them, for three years. US rocks.

SUBJECTIVE: Hopefully this is my chance to shine!

**EC’s: **

  • English Language tutoring at my school, 3 years.
  • Three seminars on the importance of language learning, and how to learn effectively. Senior year.
  • One year exchange program in Kursk, Russia. I taught English there for groups of kids and adults alike, whilst learning the Russian language too.
  • 2 month exchange program in Essen, Germany. Sponsored by Evonik, a chemical company, to tour its headquarters in Germany, while having some language classes too. All paid for by them!

Community Service:

  • Educator’s assistant for one week, full time, at a rural town in the state of Amazonas, in Brazil.
  • Anhanguera Park(a very pretty park in São Paulo) volunteer. Me and some colleagues helped the tour guides and park staff. 15 hours over the course of a week.
  • World Cup English initiative. I volunteered at a local school to teach professional English to a group of adults who had intentions of also volunteering, but for the World Cup. Please no 7-1 jokes, it still hurts.

**Work Experience: **

  • Over the past five years (since I was 16) I’ve worked full time, professionally at about 3 different English schools in the state of São Paulo. I had students ranging from ages 5 to 65. Man, what a fun time. You’ve probably noticed a reoccurring them here. And yes, my whole application is about the teaching thing. Yes, I would love to be a teacher. Yes, I’m pretty damn crazy for that hahah

Hooks:

  • A winning smile.
  • Polyglot.
  • URM
  • First generation. Doubt it matters for internationals.
  • Native English speaker. Long story.

**COLLEGE CHOICES: Possible majors in International Studies, Education, or… Wait for it… Theatre! **
Reed College
Vassar College
Hamilton College(I like New York, leave me alone.)
Cornell University(Alright, possibly the last one in NY)
University of Rochester(O.K, THIS is the last one.)
Skidmore College(In Tony Bennett voice New Yooork, NEW YOOOOORKKK~~~)

Now before you pull that trigger, keep in mind I come from a very destitute background. I mean, serious poverty, however I refuse to make my application a pity-fest, but just take it with… A special consideration, if you’d be so kind. I didn’t have all the opportunities to shine academically, but I surely have the potential. Thank you guys. Keep on being awesome.

2

I derp around on the chances board a lot, and I just want to say that your desire to teach is awesome. Sorry for not chancing, though. But keep being great, okay? Teachers are the most important people in the world.

3

@awesomepolyglot Hey man, I really appreciate your message! I learned so much from my students, and I can’t see myself doing much of anything else in the future. I share your opinion, and wish you the best! Take care.

Editing this message so I don’t shamelessly need to bump a few minutes after posting.

As you can see, all of these colleges meet full need as far as I’m aware. They also have early decisions 2!
I’m desperately stuck between EDing Reed or Vassar.
Or Hamilton… Or Skidmore.

Christ this is hard. I know they have all different vibes(Jesus, especially Reed hahah), but I just see myself in all of them. Halp pls. advice pls.

4

I think you have a wonderful personality and approach to this entire process. I think you will get into all of them except Cornell. To put it simply “a winning smile” says a lot about how you write and about you in general (in a positive way). Keep up with what you have done, and you will be well on your way.

5

The international coursework is a bit tricky to judge, but by how you describe it, it seems like you’re working with a very competitive transcript.

Probably the most striking aspect of you application is your work history and study abroad opportunities. 5 years of full-time teaching shows serious work ethic, not to mention extreme commitment to teaching. It sounds like you can pull some really great experiences from your time teaching, which is definitely something liberal arts schools are pushing for. Your study abroad experiences will also put you in a very good light in the eyes of liberal arts schools, as they’re sincerely committed to a diversity of experiences.

I’ve been to a couple of Vassar events and I am positive that they will take definite notice of the types of experiences that you bring to the table. I’m also sure Reed is very interested in that as well.

Honestly, even if your test score estimates are high, you will be seriously considered for all the schools on your list–as long as you make known your unique background.

I’d say, depending on how your stats turn out, these schools are a solid match, bordering on high match (maybe). I wouldn’t be worried though…even without your unique background, you would be seriously considered for these schools. Your work experience and ECs will help tremendously.

Good luck!

6

Hi there! First let me start off by saying that your witty comments are hilarious! Okay here we go: You have pretty good test scores! That’ll probably bring you up. And I like the fact that you’ve been teaching english and have traveled to multiple countries while doing so. That makes you unique. Probably all your schools are matches except Cornell, because lets be honest Cornell is a reach to almost every applicant. But good luck! I’m sure you can get into most of your schools :slight_smile:

7

You sound like a great guy - if that shines through in your essays, I think you’ve got a great shot anywhere.

8

Vassar and Skidmore, with their artsy veneers on top of traditional academics, go together. Rochester and Cornell go together with their university feels. Reed, as you referenced, has its own feel. Hamilton has its own woodsy feel and is balanced academically. Cornell, Vassar and Hamilton are 28th, 33rd and 37th by standardized test scores nationally, respectively, so I don’t see the major selectivity difference between Cornell and the other schools that other posters see. If you can picture yourself in one of these social or academic sub-groups of schools more so than the others, this may help you narrow your choices. Good luck.

9

I deeply appreciate the support guys! Each input here helps a lot. (I got the whole package too! A chancing, supportive comment, and even a “fit” comment above. So awesome, thank thank thank you :slight_smile: )

I just received my SAT score however. I believe I might have been, as they say, “rekt”. 20 points shy of 2000. Further backing up the assertion that I’m really going to have to make an astounding essay and profile. I’m fine with both of those, fortunately.
I’m still on the fence with ED Reed and Vassar, but ultimately I feel as though I will be on Vassars side. It’s definitely not a matter of my SAT score either(since, from what I’ve seen, the average scores between Vassar and Reed are quite similar.) I’ll need to make a compelling case on the essay and “Your Space” components. Hah, wish me luck.

I might need it.