<p>Freaking out to-be senior... trying to look at colleges. How does one choose??? Every school boast the same things, so that after hours of looking at colleges, every one of them seems THE SAME! How do you differentiate between these colleges? I have little means to actually go visit them... so how to do so without actually seeing the campus? Is it mainly a "roll the dice and apply to random ones"?</p>
<p>I am going to be an international applicant, looking at schools that are generous with need-based financial aid toward internationals... I have no idea what I want to major in, so I want a school with top-notch programs in just about anything, but including computer science and technology, pre-med, engineering, etc.</p>
<p>My school counselor has suggested schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Rice, MIT, UChicago, WashU, Cornell, CalTech, among others. These are all killer schools with killer admissions... how does one choose which ones to apply to? (do they offer generous aid?)</p>
<p>What would you suggest for safeties? Any help is appreciated! :)</p>
<p>^^you say you’ll be an international applicant (which makes it tough for need-based FA), but your profile lists your location as Nebraska. Are you and/or your parents permanent residents of the US? In other words, have you got a green card? That could make a big difference in whether the colleges regard you as an international student.</p>
<p>Lol, I’ve done quite a bit of research on this. All schools consider me an international student because I don’t have a green card, though I’ve been in the US since grade 2. that’s why my location’s Nebraska–'cause I live here. :)</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0
SAT: 2280 (plan to retake)
ACT: 35</p>
<p>Lots of AP courses next year… but so far:
AP US History: 5
AP Computer Science AB: 5
AP Calculus BC: 5
AP Chemistry: 5
AP Psychology: 5</p>
<p>Treasurer, Math Club, 2008-2009
Club Officer, French Club, 2008-2009
Vice President, Student Forum, 2009-2010
Line Captain, school marching band, 2009-2011
President and Founder, Beta Club 2009-2011
President, French Club 2009-2011
Student Band Board Representative, 2009-2010</p>
<p>It will be harder for you since you are labeled as international and you need financial aid. The schools your counselor listed are the good ones and many of them give generous aid (not all though).
Big difference if you do not need aid at all.</p>
<p>Look at Grinnell and Macalester for starters-midwestern LACs with generous financial and merit aid. Around 12% of their student body are internationals. But if you want engineering, you would need to do a 3/2 program at these (and most other) top LACs.</p>
<p>Come to Vanderbilt! They’ve updated their financial aid packages to be EXCEEDINGLY generous Also, I guarantee that the gorgeous campus / surrounding area will be unlike anything you’ve seen in Nebraska ^.^</p>
Also, I guarantee that the gorgeous campus / surrounding area will be unlike anything you’ve seen in Nebraska ^.^</p>