<p>I just got rejected from Hamilton today. I had applied ED I. Now I can't figure out colleges that match me. I'm an international student and I can -at max-contribute about 5k per year. I'm running out of colleges and can't decide which ones to apply to. My stats are:</p>
<p>SAT(best scores): 610r 710m 700w
GPA: 4(unweighted)
TOEFL: 104
Rank: Top 5% Class size: 617
ECAs:
-organized blood donation programmes
-writing consultant for a website
-have been supporting an orphanage of 12 kids
-taught english to kids at the orphanage
-conducted a donation program to support school kids in a rural village. (donations included food, clothes, books and money)
-i am a guitarist and have been performing in a band since the 10th grade. I've been playing at concerts and am a full time guitarist of a local band.
-i've also volunteered at health posts in and out of the city area</p>
<p>Do I have a shot?Please help me. I promise to chance back!</p>
<p>My opinion, and I am only one voice here, is do RD to 5-10 schools. Based upon the fact that Hamilton denied, I would only have half be like them i.e. Colgate. The others should be good, with a couple “for sures.” Many of the better schools require RD applications in by January 1 or 15. Then you could wait until April for results. Just don’t want to see you scrambling in April. I don’t think you want to be locked into an ED situation again. You tried and it didn’t work out. Time to be very practical. Sorry, keep your head up, everything happens for a reason.</p>
<p>Could you help me with some “for sures” colleges? In my list above which would me my “for sures”, and maybe you could help me with other colleges like that.</p>
<p>There are many good non-denominational relatively small LACs in the Northeast similar to Colgate and Hamilton but a bit less difficult on the admissions front such as Bucknell, Lafayette, Franklin & Marshall, Clark and Union. You may also want to look at College of the Holy Cross.</p>
<p>Maybe you will want to compare what you saw and liked at Hamilton and then evaluate these schools via their websites, the USN&WR, the Princeton Guide etc to see how they compare.</p>
<p>You have very good statistics so I would expect you to gain entrance to a few of these colleges. By all means ensure that you are upbeat and clear in your essays as to why you feel you would like to attend and contribute to the energy of each college.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot Markham and reelman. I reallly appreciate it.
I could get into those colleges but i nead huge financial aid. I can only pay around a total of $5k. I think my financial aid will really bring down my chances at schools. And i’m in this huge dilemma. The only schools that provide enough financial aid are the top ones, and the chances are low. On the other hand, the schools that guarantee my admission don’t provide financial aid. So i’m stuck in this conundrum! But i guess if I apply rd to those colleges, i might get into a few. But the main thing is which college for ED!!</p>
<p>I am not sure I agree with your thought that only the top schools can offer the financial aid you seek. How would you know this? While certain schools are need blind they are clearly not so generous with internationals unless of course they choose to be. </p>
<p>The answer is that each school will make its own determination as to how much aid it will offer each candidate. This will be based on each candidate’s circumstances as well as to how attractive it believes the candidate is to the incoming class- what sets you apart as an individual/how you effectively contribute in a group setting/what diversity the schools desires. Logically then you need to make clear how much you will contribute in terms of enthusiasm to joining the college so that in turn the college can determine how much it will want to offer in aid. Do not assume that colleges with smaller endowments or other measures of being top schools are less willing and able to offer a more attractive package than another school.</p>
<p>As far as which school should receive your EDII application, that’s a good question. What do you have to lose by going ED at your top choice? The challenge is to decide what school you would be happiest to attend (given the little you may know about them at this point) if you were offered good aid. If you get the offer and don’t like it you will then be able to choose from the other schools which may, for all we know, offer more. So in addition to doing the research about programs etc do ensure that you have all of your financial needs defined and make your application as strong as possible with that essay, teacher recommendations etc!!</p>
<p>@markham I totally agree with your decision. However, I’ve sent many emails to just “okay” colleges (as per USnews) and they replied that they couldn’t offer much financial aid, and most of them said that they’d only cover the tuition(that too is very competitive apparently). And talking about public and state universities, i am yet to discover a school that’d make me may less than $10k.</p>
<p>Also, you’re right, and i totally agree that I should ED II to the college i’d be happiest to attend. But what if i don’t get in, and later in rd i dont get into other colleges as well…But i guess this is the risk every single student applying to the states should take…But thanks though. </p>
<p>I might ed ii to Colgate/St. Olaf/Dickinson/Gettysburg/F&M/Occidental (I’ve narrowed it down to these 6)</p>
<p>I totally disagree that only the top schools offer financial aid. Your academics are good, so try applying to schools that are 2nd tier. These schools want students like you. Your
academic record improves their GPA and test score averages, and they will offer you more money as an incentive to go there. Yes, it’s not a Hamilton or a Colgate, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get an excellent education. It’s what you make of your education after you graduate that counts. The name of the college on the diploma isn’t the deciding factor in success.</p>
<p>Just google these colleges with their full names and voila- their websites will be listed. Where are they located? D, F&M are in Pennsylvania, Oxy in Cal., S Olaf in Minn.</p>
<p>Also, and assuming you are now more relaxed, maybe you should do your research and start preparing some applications with the intention of submitting well before the deadlines thereby helping ensure that they are complete by the deadline. I would not go about e-mailing them about financial aid on the basis that it’s most helpful to them- and fair to you- for them to see your data etc. Also, the admissions officers and financial aid offices are very busy now. But once they see your portfolio they will be able to work up the financial aid package.</p>
<p>The schools that Markham mentions in his post are still too high level for you to qualify for a lot of financial aid IMHO. Go to the U.S. News and World Report College Ranking website (Google it). Review the list of private schools that they rank as Tier II. Public colleges and universities are having financial difficulties because most of their state budgets are in the ditch, so check out private schools. You need to do some of this work yourself.</p>
<p>@markham I know where the colleges are. I need to find colleges other than that I listed. But you’re right. i shouldn’t be sending emails regarding fin aid.</p>
<p>@loophole: which colleges do you have in mind?</p>
<p>So, this is a post of 3 years back and i am nt sure you guys still enjoy using CC. But i am just curious to kno where did you finally get in wid the aid u desired.</p>
<p>I am international student2! stats r poor dan yours : CR:620, Maths:740, Writin: 620, 4.00 GPA(unweigted), ECAs jus ok & cannot pay >5K/year. </p>
<p>I have applied to Getysburg ED & am planning to ED2 Colgate if ED1 fails.</p>