<p>First, Canadians AND people who live in Canada and have landed immigrant status are treated differently by different US colleges. Some treat them as internationals. However, a fairly large group of colleges treat them exactly the same way as US citizens and green card holders. So, you should check whether or not your D will be considered international at each school that is of interest to her. </p>
<p>The answer to that question doesn’t just impact financial aid-it will also influence how easy it will be for her to get in. Usually, going into the “US” pile makes it a bit easier to get in. Keep that in mind. </p>
<p>Only about a dozen US schools are need blind for all internationals. That includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Williams, and others. It does NOT include Stanford or Brown-unless they have changed their policies in the last 5 years. </p>
<p>The counselor is right in saying that your D will have to have more than scores and grades. However, I think it’s rather doubtful that a blog she puts together now is going to vault her into a top school if she is applying this year.</p>
<p>jonri, That’s a good point about Canadians. Their status as not-quite internationals, not-quite Americans makes it difficult to predict both for admissions and financial aid. Being a non-White International (Canadian or otherwise) puts the OP’s daughter in yet another sub-category. I think she could use it to her advantage at some schools, but maybe not at the big names.</p>
<p>I believe that Williams is no longer need blind for internationals. They do still provide generous need based aid for admitted students, including internationals. The key is to get admitted, and this is where the diversity card can be played.</p>
<p>jonri, I think it depends on the college. Ethnic Indians, like ethnic Chinese, are URMs at some colleges but not at others. Colleges in the Midwest, South and some rural colleges often recruit high achieving international East Asians and South Asians, because Asian-Americans usually choose big names or urban locations.</p>
<p>No one has addressed the counselor’s suggestions on how her daughter can sell herself. Is it really necessary to create a blog to market yourself? It seems like a lot of busywork without real value - she should be able to market herself and her accomplishments within the framework of the application - essays, recommendations, etc. My d had to maintain a blog last year for her AP Lang class - focusing on a theme of personal interest - it was a great experience but it had an academic focus and has nothing to do with her college application process.
I suggest focusing on developing leadership roles in her debate team. Many of the Ivy bound kids I’ve known have been very active in MUN and held leadership roles in the various conferences around the world.<br>
My oldest just graduated from an Ivy - she was the “well rounded” kid of the past instead of the “focused” kid that they keep talking about now. The school that she picked fit her plans for the future perfectly and was the only Ivy she applied to - so my advice is to find the school that fits and “selling yourself” will be very natural…</p>
<p>If it’s organically related to an interest or activity area that she has, fine, but I don’t see the point of a blog just to have a blog. Having a blog is not noteworthy per se - what would be noteworthy and interesting are the topics / activities she would choose to write about, so unless having the blog furthers those interests somehow (you’re a poet and you share your poetry on your blog, etc.), you’re better off spending the time on those topics / activities themselves.</p>