International Applicant: which school?

<p>Hi, I'm an international applicant. My SAT score:
CR: 780
M: 800
W: 730
My family can't contribute much, so I really need some help in choosing schools. Thanks a lot!</p>

<p>What is your GPA?</p>

<p>When you say that your family can’t pay much…what does that mean? $5k? $10k per year?</p>

<p>Are you low income with little assets? </p>

<p>Is it possible that a school will look at your family’s income/assets and expect them to pay more than they can? (FA is based on income/assets).</p>

<p>What country are you from?</p>

<p>What is your major?</p>

<p>If you qualify for lots of need based aid, then your best choices will be the top schools that give full aid to int’ls…like the Ivies and MIT and Stanford…and some of the top LACs. </p>

<p>However, those elites are the VERY HARDEST to get accepted to and some are “need aware.” Very few int’ls get accepted…probably less than 2% of int’l applicants get accepted. </p>

<p>For financial safeties you need to apply to the few schools that give BIG merit scholarships to int’l students. Not many give big merit, but some do. </p>

<p>Not many “match” schools will work for you since they may give you some money …like $10k per year…but that’s not going to make a dent in the $40-50k per year cost.</p>

<p>Frankly, those who come from low-income int’l families who really can’t pay much are not likely able to come to school here unless they are one of the lucky few to get accepted to the top elites who provide full funding.</p>

<p>My GPA is 3.7/4, if conversed to US scale. But I’m in the top 10% of the class.
My family can contribute about $ 10k per year. I haven’t decided my major yet but I really want to study business/ commerce and psychology. I want to attend a LAC, if possible.
About my ECAs:
I have participated in a project that includes working with the children at the National Hospital- 80hrs
I also work as a recording volunteer for the blind- 150 hrs
I also work at a NGO for 2 years
I have a job as an English and Math Tutor - 2 years. 6 hours/ week
Besides, I take 2 dance classes and I play a traditional musical instrument.
So what are my chances? Can you suggest some schools that provide enough aid for international students?</p>

<p>Check past posts on the International Students section of cc</p>