International Financial Aid: Please help!

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello parents, please help :D</p>

<p>I have submitted most of my applications already (with a Jan. 1 deadline), but I feel nervous. As an international asking for aid, my chances are very slim. Thus, I am applying to even more schools. If anyone could please suggest schools I should apply to?</p>

<p>I am interested in studying engineering, but I would be happy attending a LAC too, with strong science programs. Bio, chem, physics - any will do. I am not picky; I cannot be picky :p I adapt well too! lol.</p>

<p>Country: South East Asia (most colleges don't have students from my country)
SAT: 2360 (760 CR)
SAT 2: didn't take; schools on my list don't require them
GPA: A+ (we don't have GPAs)
Rank: Around 2%
Classes: I took the most rigorous curriculum.
ECs:</p>

<p>Service (9-12) - lots of leadership
Environment (9-12) - 2 leadership positions
Publications (9-12) * - 1 leadership position
*Debate (9-12) - some school awards
Work (10-12) - cashier (summer job)
Athletics: Club (9-12) - just recreational: tennis, martial arts
Music: Instrumental (9-12) - piano, 2 native instruments; I play for church/class
Summer Activities: Language immersion in another country and a science program</p>

<p>That's it!! Sorry if this is so long... but I wanted to provide a complete picture so you can guide me well. Parent contribution around $14-15,000/year</p>

<p>Schools I'm done with the application:
1. Tulane (accepted, I don't know if I got merit aid. I didn't apply for FA here because they won't meet my need anyway, but I applied for merit aid)
2. Lafayette
3. Bucknell
4. Hamilton
5. Notre Dame
6. JHU
7. Northwestern
8. Vandy
9. Stanford
10. Trinity College (CT)
11. Connecticut College
12. Union College</p>

<p>Pending:
13. Oberlin
14. Whitman
15. Dickinson
16. Colgate
17. University of Richmond
18. Brandeis</p>

<p>I know I know, it is long. But I am willing to do the work (I checked out the supplements already for these schools, I can reuse old essays for some). Please understand that I am against great odds here, so I wanted to increase my chances by putting myself out there as much as possible. </p>

<p>So, any words of wisdom? Steer me in the right direction? Which schools should I consider?</p>

2

<p>Sent you a PM…good luck!</p>

3

<p>If you are female, then check out Smith, Mount Holyoke, Wellesley, and Bryn Mawr. You might also consider the seven schools that are need blind and meet full need for international students (Amherst, Dartmouth College, Harvard, MIT, Princeton,Yale, and Cornell). You might find it useful to google “college name” + “common data set” to find out the details about the particular school’s financial aid for international students.</p>

4

<p>bump … anyone else? </p>

<p>I can’t apply to the 7 need-blind schools because I didn’t take the SAT 2 tests. :(</p>

5

<p>kaitlin01, I am confused, in another thread you posted that you had taken SAT 2</p>

<p><a href=“too many schools ... :( - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>too many schools ... :( - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;

<p>Stats:
Rank: Top 5% (class size is around 250)
SAT: 2150
SAT II: Bio - 760, Chem - 740, Math II – 780</p>

6

<p>If you check the date, it says 2009. I have not taken any tests at that time yet, those were estimations on what I think I could get. I was planning on taking SAT 2s at that time (yes, bio, chem and math 2). I was asking for some guidance with a rough estimation of what my stats would look like, etc. so I could be guided well. I was starting early. The stats I post now are the exact ones, NOT estimations anymore.</p>

<p>Hope this clarifies everything. So suggestions please?</p>

7

<p>18 applications is enough! Do not send out any more. If these colleges all refuse you, others probably will, too.</p>

8

<p>I haven’t applied to the last 6 schools yet! I’m asking for some help to guide me in applying to which other 6 schools I should apply to :D. Oh, and the other 6 schools do not necessarily have to come from the ones I listed. I’m looking for some “safety”, or at least a school that offers great aid that I could’ve overlooked.</p>

9

<p>What about a strong public LAC? Geneseo has a very strong science program and Kiplinger ranks Geneseo #7 for in-state value and #2 for out-of-state value</p>

<p>“This small honors school in western New York vies with Binghamton University for best out-of-state value. Its total cost for out-of-staters comes in at $25,803, a bit lower than Binghamton’s, and the admission rate is a competitive 35%. Incoming freshmen keep the brainiac quotient high at Geneseo: SAT scores are among the best on our list.” </p>

<p>[Best</a> College Values](<a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/reports/best-college-values/]Best”>College Rankings | Kiplinger)</p>

<p>[SUNY</a> Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu%5DSUNY”>http://www.geneseo.edu)</p>