Hello!
I’m an international applicant from India, and my parents can only afford to pay 15k a year. Please tell me about a few colleges with good biology programs where I can get substantial merit aid. I have a SAT score of 2020 and I’m in the top ten percent of my class, with a predicted board percentage of 93%+.
Any input will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware
Check out Trinity, Skidmore, and Dickinson. These 3 are a bit less selective than others in the top half of the above list. Earlham College is not on that list, but it appears to have relatively generous aid to international students (see its Common Data Set, section H6 for details). It is less selective than Trinity, Skidmore, or Dickinson.
http://www.earlham.edu/biology/
@tk21769 thank you! I’ll look into all four 
Bump
http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.html
You’d probably need the “Presidential” scholarship to get down to what your parents can afford, after factoring in travel costs and other expenses. The deadline is coming up soon.
What’s the breakdown on that SAT? The midwestern LACs, like Grinnell and Macalester are generous with internationals (around 13% of the class) and Asians are URMs in that part of the country - but your score may be somewhat low. They might cut you some slack if it’s due to a lower writing score since many internationals don’t get as much writing as part of their curriculum esp. if they are on a math/science track.
I also stumbled on this which might be of interest: https://usm.maine.edu/scholarships/international-student-merit-scholarship
Because bio is such a popular subject, most US colleges do a competent job although I think LACs (small liberal arts colleges) tend to be a good fit for foreign students. LACs are undergrad focused, more nurturing and supportive environments, and provide a strong sense of community that might be lacking at a large university where no one notices if you don’t show up for class or sit alone at lunch. The name ‘liberal arts’ has nothing to do with the politics or art - it refers to all the basic subjects including bio.
I would look at University of Scranton, St. Lawrence, Gettysburg, Siena College and Muhlenberg.
What is your M+CR SAT
You need to QUICKLY apply to Alabama. that is an assured merit scholarship, but you have to apply NOW, and get your transcript and SAT score sent immediately. No delay. The app only takes about 5 minutes…no essays, no LORs. Then submit the scholarship app, which is just a formality, but should be submitted.
Thanks everyone! You’re all positively lovely. I go to a school where not a lot of kids go overseas (I’m willing to bet I’m the first one applying to the states) so my guidance counselor can’t really recommend colleges for me. But everyone on CC has been helpful and I will definitely consider all your suggestions!
@N’s Mom spot on ma’am, writing killed me hahaha
@mom2collegekids the breakdown is M680 CR680 W660 (that too because of the essay. but i have a high toefl score to compensate) so that’s a 1360 M+CR. And I did consider UA very seriously, the only trouble is that they require transcripts of international students to be evaluated by an external agency. If it weren’t for that, my application would be in their hands right now.
Still open to suggestions! Anyone?
@direstraits25 As an international wanting to get to 15k you will have to be flexible where you apply. Your stats are fantastic but they won’t get you a big award unless you apply to lower ranked schools and even then who knows. I highly doubt the schools mentioned in post #1 and #5 will provide much money, let alone accept you. There is no shortage of qualified Indian applicants.
@TurnerT yes, I know it’s hard for an international student out there. And it’s only fair, why would a country invest in an outsider. Keeping that in mind, I have tried to prepare a balanced college list, leaning more towards colleges where my stats are around the 75th percentile mark or higher. Although a few reach colleges won’t hurt. Who can really tell with college admissions 
If it tips the scales in my favor a little bit, it may be relevant to share that I have a toefl score of 119. I heard there are some toefl based scholarships too, does anyone know about those?
At UA, University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, get your application and the info you can send to them now - your CR + M if it is single score sitting is ACT equivalent of 31 - which if you are going to study engineering or CS, would give you enough $$ to be equivalent to full tuition plus $2500/year engineering if your GPA is equal or better than 3.5/4.0 (weighted or unweighted - but needs to be somewhere on your school transcript). Starting in fall 2017, OOS/International will all need to have ACT equivalent of 32 plus the 3.5 GPA for any major at UA.
If you can get your on line UA application in and have electronically transmitted what you can from the school to make it by the scholarship deadline.
Your budget is tight - many, many schools will not be affordable.
You have to make the scholarship deadlines at the schools that will give you the merit to make your budget work. Maybe other suggestions on CC - but you have to look to where your stat placement is high compared to other applicants, so it will not be a big name university for those reasons for the merit you need. You still will get a great education, it is making your budget work.
@direstraits25 Can you share the entire list?
@SOSConcern it IS a single sitting score, first time no less! And I’m hoping to major in biology, far less cutthroat than engineering haha
A lot of people have recommended applying to Alabama but, like i mentioned earlier, I read on UA’s website that transcripts of foreign nationals have to be evaluated by an external agency which will convert them to the US grading system and report them to the school. It’s only this tiny fact that is holding me back from applying. If anyone has evidence that says otherwise then I’ll whip out the application and fill it right now haha
@TurnerT how about I PM it to you? Is that all right?
@direstraits25 your $15,000/year budget is going to be very tough. Majoring in biology, it is 2/3rd tuition and going to be out of your budget. Your CR + M score needed to be 1420 for full tuition scholarship, and that extra $2500/year (automatic scholarship for Eng/CS) would have helped with your budget.
The on-line application is quick and inexpensive. Have you dialoged via email or phone with UA admissions about your transcript issue? Just going by what the website says without the specifics as it applies to you - worth checking. Nov 26 is a Holiday in US, and UA is probably also totally shut down for Holiday Nov 27.
You are running out of time on many school scholarships which are merit based.