College Options (non typical scenario)

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm new to these forums, I've been looking around for a couple of weeks but I registered just now to make this thread.</p>

<p>I'm graduating from high school this year and I have a non typical scenario. I'll try to explain a bit of it.
I'm a US citizen but I'm currently studying in Mexico. My mom works in the US so there will be no problem with the FAFSA income sections and else.</p>

<p>My dad's main business are in Mexico and he wants me to study in Tecnologico de Monterrey (Mexico's best business school) because he wants me to make my networking in Mexico. I'm interested in a Finance major.</p>

<p>I have a 96/100 average in high school.
I've taken the SAT once (honestly did bad).
Based on my first SAT score I estimate that with some effort I can score 700+ on the math section and 550+ on the writing and reading sections.
My most outstanding extracurricular activity is that I'm in the process of opening an online homebroker account in the Mexican Stock Exchange that I will myself manage.</p>

<p>The thing is I actually like the Tecnologico de Monterrey program for Financial Management, but I think a university in the US would be more suitable for graduate school in the US.</p>

<p>I don't want to be arrogant but I'm expecting to work with my dad after I graduate, which is why I'm more interested in the academic part than in the finding a job part. </p>

<p>I have considered some options but I don't know much about the subject and I need opinions. What college would suit me best? I'm looking for a decent but not ivy league acceptance rate (maybe 20-29%) and I've seen some options (more options are accepted):</p>

<p>Berkeley (I'm a california resident)
Boston College
USC
Northwestern</p>

<p>I'm not expecting a 100% scholarship but I do need certain kind of aid to convince my dad that it would be a good deal over Tecnologico de Monterrey. Hope you can help me out!</p>

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<p>For the money issue, you should spend some time in the Financial Aid Forum here.</p>

<p>If your dad hasn’t studied in the US, he might benefit from reading [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.EducationUSA.state.gov%5DEducationUSA”>http://www.EducationUSA.state.gov) and from having a quick chat with one if the counselors at their advising center that is closest to where you live.</p>

<p>If you indeed plan to make your career in Mexico, your dad is correct that a degree from a good Mexican university is probably the best way to start. You could follow that up with an MBA from the US eventually if you want.</p>

<p>All that said, a year or two in the US to perfect your command of high-level English may be worth considering. Your long-term career interests may require fluency and writing skills equivalent to those of a native-speaker who has been educated here. Find out what your dad thinks about that issue. If your business future is truly international, you should also be considering the other language(s) that you will need to master.</p>

3

<p>As for your question about grad school on the US after a foreign first degree, good college grades, recommendations from your profs, several years of solid work experience (minimum of two but preferably more if this would be an MBA), and decent GMAT or GRE scores will get you in a lot of places.</p>