I need to finalize my list - suggestions please, this is urgent

College Search & Selection
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<h2>sorry for posting this twice but I really need suggestions, deadlines are approaching!</h2>

<p>I'm an international student. I know it's hard to predict chances without looking at essays, recommendations and stuffs, but I'd be thankful If you can give me some input based on my stats, because honestly I feel a bit lost and don't know where I stand right now. And it'd be great especially if anyone can help me finalize my school list.</p>

<p>Gender: M
Location: Vietnam
College Class Year: 2013
Will apply for financial aid: Yes (I need a lot of aid actually)</p>

<p>Senior year predicted GPA: 8.8/10</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>SAT I Math: 770
SAT I Critical Reading: 670
SAT I Writing: 770
Total: 1440/2210</p>

<p>My letters of recommendation are great, and I think my essay is good, nothing spectacular.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>An English club - website admin
Class soccer team - Captain
Some community services working with needy/ disabled children - 200 hours in total
Working for a student-run tour guide group in my city
Vietnam Youth Forum</p>

<p>Colleges of Interest (this is NOT the final list)</p>

<p>Washington University in St. Louis (ED)
Berea College
Centre College
Coe College
Colgate University
Connecticut College (considering ED2)
Dickinson College
Lawrence University
Occidental College
Ohio Wesleyan University
Saint Olaf College
Truman State University
Union College
Wittenberg University (EA)</p>

<p>Desired College Characteristics:</p>

<p>Location: rural or suburban preferred, but I'm flexible on this.
Size: anything from 1,000 to 10,000
Major: undecided. I think I like Environmental studies, but I'm not sure. I prefer colleges with a good variety of majors so that I'll have a lot of options to choose from later on. I'm not into sciences and probably engineering though. Academically I like a laid back, or at least not too competitive environment. Students should be friendly and definitely not cliquey. Diversity is important. I don't think I love being surrounded by a lot of really wealthy kids.</p>

<p>A vibrant social life is important, and I'm absolutely not into Greek! I also love schools with lots of study abroad opportunities.</p>

<h2>Please note that I'm pretty flexible on all of these factors.</h2>

<p>I know my ECs are pretty poor. I think that's a little too many reaches there and not enough safeties. Should I remove or add any?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

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<p>I think that all on your list are relative safeties with the exceptions of Wash U and Colgate. You could aim for some more selective schools, but the ones on your list are fine.</p>

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<p>the problem is aid, i think. None of these colleges are need blind, and i dont know if all of them even provide need based aid for intls. that said, if they give merit scholarships, you have a good shot.</p>

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<p>you’re right, abhimanyuk. Please beware everyone that I’m an international student and I need A LOT of aid (my EFC is $10,000 - $15,000 at maximum. I am sure all these schools offer financial aid of some kinds (need-based or merit-based, or both) to internationals. What I don’t know is how generous they really are. </p>

<p>and how about criteria other than aid, do you think those schools sound right for me, based on my (not very specific) desired characteristics listed above? The problem is that unlike american students, I can’t do campus visits, I’ve done ALL the school research through the Internet, and I have trouble “feeling” schools based only on websites and rumours.</p>

<p>edit: hey I have never thought the likes of Dickinson, Connecticut C and Union could be my safeties, are you serious?</p>

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<p>Your SAT CR+M scores are 100-150 points above their medians (esp. for a male), your ECs look interesting, you’d bring some excellent global perspective; I’d don’t know what 8.8/10 translates to in U.S. grades, but I would think you’d be a top candidate for each of them. As noted above, your decision will probably hinge on financial aid.</p>

<p>Here are some selective schools that four years ago (he most recent data I could find) gave aid to over half of their international students:</p>

<p>Connecticut College Dartmouth
Williams Trinity
Amherst Harvey Mudd
Bates Union
Colby Lafayette
Swarthmore Vassar
Occidental Reed
St. Lawrence Gettysburg
Kenyon Hamilton
Colgate U. of the South
MIT Scranton
Middlebury Dickinson
Harvard Cal Tech
Bowdoin DePauw
Pomona Whitman
Princeton </p>

<p>Macalester College in St. Paul. MN is not included in this list, but it is an excellent college renowned for its strong international program and aid to international students, including the Kofi Annan International Scholarship. International students who qualify for aid generally work between 10 – 12 hours per week in an office or department on campus. Other than the Annan scholarship, all their financial aid awards are based on need.</p>

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<p>Sorry, the CC format did not save my tabs - the schools listed above were intended to be in two columns.</p>

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<p>thanks for the list, gadad! anyway can you give me the source?</p>

<p>everyone, more advice and comments on my school choice please. Any other schools similar to Wash U that’s not on my list? (note: what I love most about Wash U is its people)</p>