Help! Choosing Colleges

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>Hey everybody! I'll apply in the end of the year for the fall 2011, but I i'm still not sure where i'll apply to. I mean, I know a couple colleges I'll definitely apply, but I was hoping you could help me add others to my list.
Ok, my profile:</p>

<p>SCHOOL: private, small
SAT: didn't take it yet (will at may 1st, omg I'm so nervous!), but it will probably be around 2100 (it's what my practice tests are indicating)
SATII: didn't take it yet, but will take Math II, literature and spanish
GPA: not calculated
EC:
Theater Club (6 years - bursar)
Class president (all my life, since 5th grade to senior year)
Leader of my volunteering youth group
Vice-president of the Student's Council (freshman year)
Prom Committee
Karate (4 years)
Judo (2 years)
Guitar (3 years)
Piano (2 years)
Bass guitar (1 year)
RECOMMENDATIONS: I believe will be great. I'm very close to the principal and the teacher's I'll ask
SUMMER ACTIVITIES: International Summer Camp in England, and Final Cut Pro classes
OTHERS:
Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and French, reasonable knowledge of German.
Responsible for my high school graduation film (director and editor)
Am producing a Judo promoting short documentary (payed job)
I also have a couple short movies I did during high school and intend on sending as extra material to colleges that accept it.
A bit of financial aid would be welcome.</p>

<p>And I'm a girl from Brazil btw (someone once told me that being an international coming from a 3rd world country not from asia may be helpful, but im not sure it's true)</p>

<p>So, so far I intend on applying to NYU (I know they don't offer international's aid, but Tisch is a dream), Columbia (it may help me there the fact that my grandfather, my step-grandmother and my aunt went there. I heard some schools do care about this things), Boston U, USC, Yale, Rochester Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Chicago.
I know most of these schools are a bit out of my reach, but I've always been a dreamer, and will keep on being one =]
Do you think I should add more safeties? Do you suggest any other schools that match my profile? Do you disagree on my choices? Help for SAT prep? Any other tips or critiques?</p>

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<p>anyone? =&lt;/p>

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<p>I think coming from Brazil is a big plus. So is being able to afford the schools. I think Tisch depends on an audition but I think you’d have no problem otherwise getting into NYU with decent grades and a 2100. Same with BU, CMU, USC and RIT. Ivies are tougher to say, just depends who else is applying from Brazil next year. If Columbia considers grandchildren legacies (many top schools only count parents) that would help lots. Now if you lived in a favela and got a 2100 you’d be in anywhere.</p>

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<p>I figured, but it’s not my case…</p>

5

<p>Hi. There are SO many possibilities. I’m sure everything will work out for you. I work with a lot of students from around the world who have questions like yours. Perhaps I can help. </p>

<p>That said, you need to broaden your list, especially if money is an issue. You need to look for “value” colleges. Also, some of the best education will be from schools that are not on the east or west coast: there is SO much competition for the same list of schools that you have created. I’m not saying you shouldn’t apply, but you need to think long and hard about your priorities. Some of the highest-ranked universities in the United States have higher acceptance rates than the ones you list, but have higher caliber students than those found at the schools you list. In other words, just because a school is “popular” does not mean that it is “high quality.” </p>

<p>In order to really assess your chances, however, I’d need to read your transcript and look at your test scores (good luck!). </p>

<p>Let me know if I can be of further assistance!</p>

<p>Mark Montgomery</p>

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<p>what are some “high quality” but not “popular” schools? :)</p>

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<p>Best “Value Colleges” - SUNY Geneseo would be one of them.</p>

<p>[SUNY</a> Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu%5DSUNY”>http://www.geneseo.edu)</p>

<p>[ISS</a> | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu/iss]ISS”>International Student & Scholar Services | SUNY Geneseo)</p>