<p>Oh and should i assume Ivys are out of my league ?</p>
<p>I don’t know enough about how your grades correspond to Ivy league and without scores that is hard to say.
As I recall, the colleges in France would cost little for you as a French citizen? This is something to keep in mind as paying full cost for a private college in the US could be about $250K over four years.</p>
<p>Not being a US citizen would make you not eligible for federal aid, and your family’s income would make you ineligible for it anyway. To be eligible for much aid in this country, one would have significant need. The top schools are good with awarding need based aid, but in general do not award merit- since all of their students are highly qualified.</p>
<p>Some lower ranked colleges award merit aid to top students. You might be eligible for some of this. However, you also would need to compare these colleges to what you have in France. Some are still quite good. American University is one of them. Merit aid at many colleges is competitive, and you don’t know if you get it until you apply.</p>
<p>I think now is a good time to discuss the costs with your parents. A great website ( we have to spell it out here on CC as it won’t post ) is Collegeboard dot org. This is the one you use to sign up for SAT, but you can also put in a college name and get the costs as well as other info. Show your parents what these schools will cost, and ask them if they are willing to pay it. </p>
<p>Your situation is not unusual. There are many families who make an income that is above the level that would qualify for aid, yet find the full cost of private college to be too much a stretch for their family. Such students often look at their in state colleges, and also colleges that are likely to award them some merit aid. Some of these colleges are quite good ( and some are very competitive): Tulane, University of Miami, Washington U, Vanderbilt, Emory, U Michigan ( and other state colleges) and more. Your eligibility also depends on your test scores which your don’t have yet. Since many schools like a more diverse student body, your being from France might be a plus in admissions. </p>
<p>It’s a lot more confusing here than in France, because the US is much larger, and education isn’t as standardized and centralized as it is in France. There, students are streamed into which bac to take at an earlier age, and while it is competitive, the competition is at different times. I assume if you pass your bac, you are in college, but here, the entry into college is a big first competitive step. </p>
<p>Well it’s quite different in France, and I’m not used to this system :/, but I am taking tuition and even though my mock exam scores are probably not good enough for Ivies ( ACT 31 ) , I did them not even knowing what a standardized test was. I need to figure this all out in such limited time so this is why I might seem a little nervous, but you’ve already helped me a LOT and I am starting to understand in a broad way how it works here. </p>
<p>It is different here. You might want to take a look at the international student threads here to see what information is there. I think you are in a really good position though. Some international students apply from countries with limited educational options, but students from countries who have good ones have a choice. Also, some families determine what they are willing to pay for, for instance your family might consider a top US college worth the extra expense, but would not be willing to pay for a college that isn’t better than the ones you have in France. </p>
<p>I think a plan is to discuss finances with your parents and then make a list of colleges they are willing to pay for. Depending on your scores, you can see what is realistic and what is not. You can also add some schools with merit awards and see what happens. In any case, you have college in France as one of your choices. </p>
<p>I thought of another idea. Mc Gill University in Quebec is a top notch university. I believe colleges in Canada are less costly than in the US. Since you are on this side of the Atlantic, this might be another choice to add to your list, and Montreal might be a fun city for you. </p>
<p>And it’s kind of bilingual, I have heard of Mc Gill and I’m considering it, it seems like a fun school that I have the level for ( or correct me if I’m wrong, it seems I assume a lot ).</p>
<p>My personal bias is that at your level in the French system, you are probably as advanced (or more) than the top students in the US. If you look at the Mc Gill website, there is a section on minimum requirements for applicants from France. Mc Gill does seems like a great school for a bilingual student. </p>
<p>Also the ACT is an indicator of college readiness, and if you can achieve the same scores as top applicants, then you are at that level as far as readiness for college here is. The problem is that there are more applicants at this level than there are places at top colleges, which makes this a bit unpredictable. However, it is worth a try since you might end up at a college you’d like to go to.</p>
<p>You want to select schools that will have value to you as an international student. A regionally known school here might be excellent for a student who wants to remain in the US, but it may not benefit your career goals. So naturally, the bigger name schools might have more benefit to you. Some, like American University, might be very worthwhile because of their location and strong IR programs.</p>
<p>Exactly I want schools that offer international careers, because I’m bilingual and multicultural and also because I want to major in International Relations, this is why I do not wish to go to schools that are “too regional” or “US centered” and would rather aim for universities that offer wider prospects and that also are accepted and recognized in Europe. 
Then again maybe my expectations are far from what I can possibly achieve and maybe I should lower my goals. But I frankly don’t know where I want to build my future it could be France as well as the US, or even other francophone/anglophone countries, so i don’t want to be picking a university that will close some doors on the “old continent” :)</p>
<p>I think the college application process has to be tailored to a student’s circumstances. The biggest barriers to attending the elite colleges are getting accepted and financing them. There are many good choices of colleges in the US. Most students in the US do not attend an elite college, and many of them do just fine. However, attending an elite college is important to some students, and particularly if they are aiming for certain professions that favor them. </p>
<p>Some of the advice on CC about applying to college may not apply to you. For any US student aiming at an elite college, they have to have other choices since admission isn’t predictable, and also affordable choices for any family ( and that varies), and those choices often include regional colleges and their state flagship. </p>
<p>You are in a different situation as you already have options in France, and for you to get the kind of value you need for your career plans from a college here, it needs to be globally recognized. I also think Mc Gill could be a great match for you as you could continue your bilingual studies there. </p>
<p>You can aim high, because you have an alternative. For now, you can focus on learning about admissions, some colleges, and preparing for ACT and SAT2 tests. Register to take the earliest ones in your senior year- usually Aug- Sept. You have to register about a month in advance. See how you do, and then consider colleges. By then you will also have the guidance of the Lycee here, and they are probably very knowledgeable. </p>
<p>Registration opens on July 1, I can pass the test twice and I already signed in to register. You have been extremely conciliant and helpful and so kind - in addition your pseudo is a Beatle’s song so I couldn’t ask for more- :D. I’ll keep in touch about how everything goes .</p>
<p>Glad to be of help. Yes, return and let us all know how the tests and applying goes. </p>