<p>Hello to all :) I have been redirected here from the "Chance me" subforum and I would very much appreciate any piece of advice I can get :)</p>
<p>I received my SAT scores on the 20th. Below I'm going to describe my circumstances in short, and I hope someone is able to give </p>
<p>me a fair answer as to what kind of university I can possibly apply for and if I have any chance at all to receive financial aid (I wouldn't be able to study </p>
<p>at all without a scholarship of some sort) at a place that's suitable for me.</p>
<p>First of all, I am a 22-year-old Bulgarian, and have spent four years at the British and American Studies department in Sofia (our capital) University. I </p>
<p>haven't managed, due to various reasons, to get a degree, and I have missed a few exams. I suppose I am going to need a transcript for the ones I have taken. </p>
<p>One of my questions is, though, what can I do and do I have a chance to start somewhere as a freshman, and not as a transfer student? </p>
<p>And, although the question makes me very uncomfortable: my father passed away in June. Would that be a factor for a particular college if it was to consider </p>
<p>me for need-based financial aid? </p>
<p>I also took the TOEFL exam recently, since international students obviously need that as well. It was the Internet-based version and I got a 117/120. </p>
<p>My SAT results:</p>
<p>Total - 2100 </p>
<p>Critical reading - 790
Math - 650
Writing - 660</p>
<p>Multiple-choice questions: 70
Essay: 7</p>
<p>I am not completely certain as to the exact GPA grade my high-school diploma converts to, but it is in the range of 3.4 - 3.8</p>
<p>Other possibly relevant credentials:</p>
<p>Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
For the last 8 months I've been working in the International Department of one of the big Sofia newspapers.
For the last two years I've been contributing book and movie criticism to one of the biggest online literary fanzines in the country, and have taken </p>
<p>interviews of a few of the big names in the science fiction/fantasy field (it's sort of my department in the magazine)
I have worked as a tour guide at Bulgaria's biggest seaside resort and have communicated extensively with native speakers.
I have written a few short stories in English. (This might possibly be relevant, because I want to study something that has to do with writing)
For two years I have been a freelance translator, and have translated four books of fiction from English.
I also have a smattering of Spanish, Italian and Russian.</p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure how much of this could or should go into a portfolio, so I'm leaving myself at the mercy of your judgement. I hope I can receive some helpful advice here. Thanks in advance ))</p>
<p>P.S. Actually, I do have a certain University in mind - Indiana University in Bloomington, although it's not a first priority, just the only name I have at the moment.</p>