Help with college list for an international!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>ok so
Applying for Autumn 2014</p>

<p>I'm Australian (with dual American citizenship) my father is African American so I'm URM I guess</p>

<p>GPA- we don't have GPAs in Australia and our scoring system is completely different. When I took the PSAT the supervisor (who is also my coordinator and knows my grades) said to put A down as my average. </p>

<p>Tiny independent school (waldorf to Year 10, IB diploma program year 11 and 12) there are only 11 people in my class all doing the IB diploma, I'm probably ranked 2 or 3</p>

<p>SAT IIs: Literature-730 (retaking in October) will also take French and Chemistry
SAT I- yet to take
ACT- taking in September and October think I could score anywhere from a 30-33</p>

<p>Ecs
Theatre 9,10,12 lead in senior school musical (Year 9) and play (Year 10) also choreographed the senior school musical. Wrote own play (Year 12)
Gymnastics- 9,10. Competitions and Coached as a part time job
Dance 9,10,11,12- National Pom Team Champion (won bid to world championships- couldn't go due to other commitments- French language exchange) Australia's GotTalent finale show, was also in a music video
Vocal- Choir 9,10 private singing lessons- 11. Part of performance group
UNICEF United Club-11, 12 founder and president raised $2,500 so far hopefully will get $5,000+ by graduation
French Club- 11,12 Co-founder and president- tutoring younger secondary students for exchange preparation and IB exams
School Council- 9,10,11- Founder. Sent to school's state congress as representative
Youth Group- 9,10,11- Volunteering Work mostly
Creative Writing- 9,10,11 personally have entered competitions and such. 12- Literary magazine founder and editor
French Exchange- 3 month language exchange to Paris</p>

<p>The reason I've founded so many groups is that my school didn't have any extracurriculars</p>

<p>I want to study international relations/political science
I definitely prefer an urban environment </p>

<p>This is my list so far any suggestions of places to consider or where to cut (I'm looking to apply to 10-12 schools) are greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>Barnard (ED)
Yale
American
George Washington
Brown
Occidental
Scripps
Emory
Duke
Columbia
Davidson
SLC
Georgetown
Pitt
Dickinson<br>
Miami
Fordham</p>

2

<p>Lots of ‘reaches’ on this list, Yale, Duke, Columbia, Georgetown…Those schools are less likely to accept anyone on any given day. Others are probably all still doable, but you may need to get the higher side of testing.</p>

3

<p>Tufts is home to the oldest IR school in the country and has some of the best IR and study abroad programs in the world, in addition to pretty much being in Boston (it’s technically in Medford/Somerville but it’s on the metro route and super easy to get into the actual city). Seems like a good fit, surprised it wasn’t on your list already.</p>

4

<p>SummerAus -</p>

<p>You are not an international student. You are a US student who has been educated abroad. That makes things very different for you.</p>

<p>Have you been in touch with any of the admissions offices to find out how they will be evaluating your records? Have you met yet with the people at the EducationUSA office, and what did they advise?</p>

<p>Do you have decent back-up universities in Australia in case none of these in the US work out for you, or do you still need some solid safety options here?</p>

5

<p>I have back ups in Australia but I think I have some good safeties on this list, Fordham, American and Pitt?</p>

6

<p>My guess (repeat guess) is that you’ll be accepted by Barnard. If that’s truly your first choice, then good. If you’re curious to know whether the reaches and super reaches on your list will accept you, then don’t apply ED to Barnard.</p>

<p>I believe that Fordham and Scripps are safeties for you. I’m not so sure about American. I don’t know much about Pitt (University of Pittsburgh?). It seems a bit out of place on your list as does Dickinson. Which Miami?</p>

<p>You might also look at Smith, Macalester, Wesleyan. I agree Tufts is a good add, as are other Boston schools like BU, BC and Wellesley. Of these, Smith would be a safety, the others reaches to matches.</p>

<p>You should submit a theater and/or music supplement with your application, even if you intend to major in something totally different.</p>

<p>What is your financial situation? Do you need aid? This will make a big difference in your list.</p>

7

<p>Will you need financial aid? have you run Npc’s and can your family afford its EFC?</p>

8

<p>just want to add (it won’t let me edit)
I didn’t put my course load in because I thought it was sort of implied but I’m doing the full IB diploma
hl chem, history and literature
sl french, maths and environmental systems and societies</p>

9

<p>momrath, thanks for the advice! I’m a little confused, Scripps is much harder to get into than American? I was going to apply to Macalester but honestly there is no way I’d be able to deal with the weather! I am from Australia and I can’t even deal with the cold here. That sort of goes for the Massachusetts schools too, I have been to Boston and I almost died. My Australian cousin who moved there to dance with the Boston ballet ended up switching to a company in New York city because Boston is just too cold for us. </p>

<p>What would you say is the difference between reaches and ‘super reaches’? I would have classed the ivy leagues, Georgetown, Duke and Barnard as reaches, most of the rest as matches and the ones I mentioned as safeties from what I’ve heard/read, would you say that’s about accurate?</p>

<p>I would also worry about the all women’s environment at Smith, I don’t think I could handle that it seems kind of unnatural. At Barnard its different because Columbia is right there and you’re in the middle of a city</p>

10

<p>I have back ups in Australia but I think I have some good safeties on this list, Fordham, American and Pitt?</p>

<p>Fordham, American and Pitt might be safeties if you know for sure that your parents would pay the costs. None of those schools “meet need”. Pitt is an OOS public for you and you may not get much/any aid. </p>

<p>A safety isn’t a safety unless you’re sure all costs are covered. Have you asked your parents how much they’ll pay? You need to know that. </p>

<p>you’re not an int’l since you’re a citizen. You use the app that citizens use. </p>

<p>How did you do on the PSAT?</p>

11

<p>Yes Scrippsis harder to get into than American because of its location, being the top women’s college on the west coast and part of the Claremont consortium. If weather comparable to Australia is a factor look at the south west plus socal. it will be warm and dry in winter, hot and dry in the summer. If you could withstand humid heat look at schools in Virginia and beloww. Many of your schoop will be quite cold with several months in the snow and quite a few weeks below zero Celsius.
One problem with your safeties may admit you but may well be unaffordable. indeed your parents aren’t residents of any state so you will be expected to pay Oos prices at any public.</p>

12

<p>Take Yale off your list. Connecticut is no warmer than Boston, and there isn’t much difference in NYC either. About 4 degrees on average…
[Average</a> Weather for Boston, MA - Temperature and Precipitation](<a href=“http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMA0046]Average”>Ashburn, VA Monthly Weather Forecast - weather.com)
[Average</a> Weather for New York, NY - Temperature and Precipitation](<a href=“Ashburn, VA Monthly Weather Forecast - weather.com”>Ashburn, VA Monthly Weather Forecast - weather.com)</p>

13

<p>Yes, but I visited Yale and I’ve been to NYC multiple times and loved them so much I thought I could bare it, didn’t get that experience in Boston. I will have to go over finances with my family I’m not sure exactly how much they can pay, I do know however that they can afford my safeties here in Australia</p>

14

<p>The Net Price Calculators at each college/university website will give you a general notion of what each place might cost you. Your US parent should be filing a US federal income tax return each year (even if that parent doesn’t owe any taxes), and ought to have those figures available. If your Australia parent has not been included in that tax return, remember to include that parent’s income converted to USD at the exchange of the day. Likewise, figures for the value of bank accounts, real estate etc. will need to be converted to USD at the exchange of the day.</p>

15

<p>You should deal with the financials first. Four years at a private college will cost over $US250,000 not including airfare to Australia. Financial aid is available, but you have to qualify for it. Ask your parents to use an on-line calculator to determine how much NEED based aid you may be eligible for. If that doesn’t work for your family, then you’ll have to switch to colleges that offer MERIT aid. </p>

<p>Not too many of the colleges on your list offer merit, so if you need aid, you will have to re-tailor your list. </p>

<p>Scripps has a 36% admissions rate. I would consider it a safety. Smith is a member of a consortium that includes Amherst & UMass. Smith women have no problem meeting men. </p>

<p>Weather is a whole other issue. Many great colleges are located in the snow/cold zone. New York City winters aren’t as severe as, say Western Massachusetts, but it gets plenty cold. Boston, New Haven and New York are quite similar. If you’re really worried about enduring winter, then concentrate south of New York. </p>

<p>I would say however that kids adjust. Once you’re there, you dress warmly, stay active and don’t think about it. [We live in the tropics and my son went to Williams. Some days the temperature difference between home and school was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit!]</p>

16

<p>Hi! I’m going to be applying to colleges this fall, and right now I’m looking at Middlebury, Macalaster, St.Olaf, Grinnell, and American. I’m planning on majoring in International Relations. I really want to work for an NGO later on in life hopefully focused on aiding young women or would love to be a teacher. I have a 4.63 GPA and currently have a 28 on my ACT. But I am part of the IB program so I’m not sure if that’s REALLY going to help me. I’ve been interning at the museum of contemporary art Chicago for 2 years, and have been an intern at the art institute of chicago for 2 years (simulatanously). I love slam poetry and I am going to be captain this year! I’m Indian as well. I also have been singing and playing piano for 7 years; at school, church etc. I’m also going to be part of National Honor Society this year. The characteristics that matter the most to me are community, the international relations program, diversity, and cost. I’ve always had a very close relationship with my teachers so that’s really important too. I’m most comfortable when I feel like I have a PLACE, and I enjoy being around those who are humble and down to earth. </p>

<p>Could you guys help me, in telling me what my chances are for these colleges, and what other schools I should look at? That are either reach schools or match schools! That would be great. (Also your opinions of these schools)</p>

17

<p>You need to start your own thread otherwise it will get confusing when people try to answer you and the OP (original poster). Go back to the main page of this forum and click on the NEW THREAD button at the top of the list of topics.</p>

<p>oh…never mind, I see you already did that.</p>

18

<p>yeah i realized it too late and couldn’t figure out how to delete it! thanks though</p>

19

<p>Davidson is in a small town. Def. not an urban environment.</p>

20

<p>I agree that your family finances need to be better understood before we can give good advice. International students who require a lot of financial aid generally have a harder time getting accepted to schools. However, if your family can afford to be full pay, it could help you with admissions.</p>