How likely am I to get a scholarship?

Paying for College
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<p>My CIE O' level result was as follows:</p>

<p>English - A
Art & Design (igcse) - A
Physics - B
Chemistry - B
Math - B
World History (igcse) - B
Islamiat - B
Urdu - B</p>

<p>My GPA (as per the official grade converter) calculates up to 3.8</p>

<p>Right now, I'm a private AS level student (AKA AP in American language) and should be done by June 2015. </p>

<p>I was the head editor for the editorial board of my school, I have loads of voluntary service hours and right now I'm working for UN's MY World campaign. </p>

<p>My grades do not represent my fullest potential. But a GPA of 3.8 also doesn't sound so bad to me. (NOTE: once i'm done with AS levels subjects, my GPA is likely to rise more than that). I'm also giving my SAT in 2 months, so fingers crossed for that. </p>

<p>How likely am I to get a scholarship at an American University? And to what extent would it cover college costs? My folks are not financially stabled to contribute much.</p>

<p>Thanks, in advance</p>

<p>Cheers</p>

2

<p>‘O-Levels’, eh? It sounds like you are at school outside of the United States.</p>

<p>Are you a US citizen by any chance? If you’re not an American citizen, it is tough to get a scholarship at any American university. </p>

3

<p>We need more info…</p>

<p>What are your test scores? </p>

<p>Are you an int’l or US citizen?</p>

<p>Merit scholarships are awarded by stats, and most US univs will not award them to int’ls. The ones that do give large awards, require high stats (high GPA and high test scores), but the awards may only cover part of a school’s costs. I’ve never seen a merit award for an int’l that covers all or nearly all the cost of education (tuition, room, board, books, fees, travel, personal expenses, insurance.)</p>

<p>Need-based aid is awarded after looking at a family’s ability to pay, but most US univs do not give such aid to int’ls. The few that “meet need” for int’ls are extremely hard to get into. I don’t think your grades are high enough (how are those a 3.8?). And you aren’t listing test scores. </p>

<p>You can try applying to a few schools here, but you need to make plans to go to univ in your own country.</p>

4

<p>I’m an international student and we’re not required to give any test scores. Students coming in from the Cambridge system are only required to submit thier final year grades (mentioned in my previous post) and yes, I got my GPA off the official Cambridge page. (The British Cambridge system is harder than the American education system. That explains how I ended up with a GPA of 3.8 with those grades).</p>

<p>My question is, what else would i be required to get a scholarship? Are all these extra curriculars enough? Or should I spend more time on my ECAs (Extra Curricular Activities). </p>

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<p>From Pakistan. Studied at a British Cambridge school. </p>

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<p>Getting a scholarship as an international student is extremely tough, regardless of if you British or Pakistani. You are ineligible to use the FAFSA and only a few schools offer aid that is not tied in some way to that way. Here is a list of schools that according to eduPass offer financial aid in any amount to international students:</p>

<p><a href=“Schools with Financial Aid for International Students - eduPASS”>http://www.edupass.org/finaid/undergraduate.phtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Bear in mind that these are schools that offer some aid. It does not mean that they will cover most of your costs. </p>

<p>It would be easier to answer your question if you could talk more about which specific American universities you are interested in. There are thousands of universities here; the overwhelming majority of which will not give you any money regardless of your grades or your ECAs. </p>

7

<p>Spend more time on getting a job, if you plan to study in the US, because you wont really be able to afford most of your costs. Padding your resumé, at this point, wont help.</p>

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<p>International students are not allowed to work except for something on campus.</p>

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<p>Um…I think you will need to take the SAT or ACT, and maybe the TOEFL if English is not your primary language.</p>

<p>I hope Happymomof1 sees this thread. She will be able to provide you with information on who to contact to help you with the process of applying to U.S. universities.</p>

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<p>To get a full-tuition scholarship (or more), you typically need to take the ACT or the SAT and score in the top 2% of all test takers.</p>

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<p>Miami(OH) and UMinnesota do offer merit scholarships to internationals, but you’d still have to pay some.</p>

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<p>“My question is, what else would i be required to get a scholarship?”</p>

<p>High, very high SATs or ACTs. You may not have to submit them for consideration for admissions, but they count a whole lot most of the time for a merit scholarship. Schools pay for those high test scores. Simple as that. </p>

<p>Also, your chances of even getting accepted are lower as an international, if you have financial need. Schools that are need blind in admissions for US applicants are sometimes not, for international ones, and those that guarantee to meet full need sometimes, if not often, do not extend that guarantee to internationals.</p>

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<p>You need to read through everything, and I do indeed mean everything, at <a href=“https://www.educationusa.info/”>https://www.educationusa.info/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Then you need to get in contact with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. <a href=“https://www.educationusa.info/centers.php”>https://www.educationusa.info/centers.php&lt;/a&gt; They are expert at helping students from your country find good places to study in the US. They will be able to tell you where students with O levels, and expected A levels like yours have been admitted in recent years.</p>

<p>EducationUSA is a not-for-profit organization. Any fees charged will be small, and will go directly to maintaining that office. If the staff at your office is like the staff where I used to work in South America, you will be in good hands.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>