Do I have ANY safety schools...?!

<p>...as an International (ORM- Indian) student requiring financial aid?</p>

<p>I've got a great SAT (2310), and hopefully have cracked above 700 in my subject tests (Maths I, II and Lit-- results on 24th!). Decent and varied ECs, good academic record. I'm interested in studying humanities after college...economics, literature, something along those lines. Can you guys suggest a few matches and safeties for me? I have no particular specs in terms of size/culture/etc, I'm flexible, and I'd enjoy wherever I get in. I'd only emphasize on three things in particular: a great education, good grad school/job placement and a friendly atmosphere towards internationals.</p>

<p>My list so far is this: HYP + Dartmouth + Williams for sure, because of the need blind financial aid policies, and because they are amazing schools. In addition to this, I'd really like to go to either Wharton, UChicago, or Brown, but since all three have limited financial aid for internationals...should I go for them? All three? Or only one or two? If so, which one/two?</p>

<p>I need more colleges to add to this, matches and a few safeties. I'm open to LACs, big colleges, small colleges-- anyone that can give me aid. I'm especially interested in a strong economics department. My list is reach heavy because my family has made it pretty clear I'm staying in India unless I get a very good school, and enough aid to go to it, in America. Most of my 'safeties' are in India itself.</p>

<p>Help?</p>

<p>Look at Grinnell College.</p>

<p>I can’t understand why you would take both Math I and Math II in the same sitting, but oh well…</p>

<p>For an excellent school with excellent FA, consider Pomona. (I don’t know what their policy re aid for internationals is, though.) I’d pick the U of C out of the three you cited. You might also look at Bowdoin for an international-friendly excellent school that is slightly less reachy. Macalester, also. (Again, no idea about FA policy for internationals these days.)</p>

<p>The problem with safeties is that they are not safe unless you can afford them. If the only way that a school is affordable for you is a full ride or close to it, then you have no choice but to go for “lottery” schools.</p>

<p>A safety isn’t a safety unless you can afford it… how much FA do you need? If only about 1/4 of COA, you might be able to find some safeties in the US; otherwise, apply to places in India as well. If you’re international but currently residing in the US, some states will allow resident intls to pay in-state tuition, or there’s always community college.</p>

<p>Take a look at Pepperdine, Baylor, the University of Maryland and the University of Alabama. there are a lot of schools that would love a 2310, but their FA availablility for FAs varies widely. Take a look at the University of Chicago too.</p>

<p>So how good is U of C’s aid, to the people who’re suggesting it? I’ve heard it’s quite stingy, unfortunately.</p>

<p>I’ll look into the names mentioned, thanks a ton, everyone! Consolation, what are ‘lottery’ schools? </p>

<p>Keliexandra: I’ll be needing a lot of FA, possibly 3/4 COA. That’s why I was wondering if there were any schools which could give me aid with a higher admission rate… don’t worry, I have a pretty strong backup plan in India and one in Singapore, too. But they all bank on one exam, so… everyone’s worried, and Dad wants me to therefore have a backup in the US too.</p>

<p>Keep those suggestions coming!
I’m</p>

<p>There’s no point in applying to any schools that won’t meet financial need for int’ls.</p>

<p>Temple University. Very large international presence, especially Asian.</p>

<p>^^^
Do you know if they give FA to international?</p>

<hr>

<p>To the OP, do you know if you’d qualify for FA?</p>

<p>Need based? Based on family income, I’d definitely demonstrate 80-90% need.</p>

<p>I think Middlebury gives FA to International students.</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Since you think that your family’s income is so low that you’d qualify to have 80-90% of COA to be demonstrated need, then you need to focus on school that give 100% of need to internationals. There aren’t many.</p>

<p>Consider Bates. It’s ranked 25th on the LAC list. My friend went there last year (we’re from the Indian subcontinent) with a 92% scholarship. I read your chances thread and she has nowhere near your stats. Good luck :)</p>

<p>I would argue against Temple in this case. While we are a thriving international school, we don’t give aid to incoming international students. (Although there are many other ways for int’l students to find aid.) In most cases this isn’t a big issue because our tuition is much lower than other schools. In terms of you, however, I don’t know how you’d be able to afford it without significant help from an external entity.</p>