International Student Applying to Brown

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I am a Canadian citizen applying to Brown. It is my dream university (that and Harvard) and I think my stats are pretty good. High school valedictorian, wrote a play that's being performed at my school, started high school newspaper, work for the Red Cross.... and the list goes on. So my ECs are stellar and my grades are good but not spectacular. My SAT is 2210. I go to the most competitive CEGEP (grade 12 and 13) in the province and I'm taking THE hardest classes and doing fine (B+ average) overall.</p>

<p>When I was first applying our financial situation was such that my parents told me I didn't need to apply for financial aid. I later found out that my dad, when revising all my apps, checked "yes" on "applying for financial aid". By then I had fallen in love with Brown and I was told by an adcom at the fair that I would be perfect for it (I was basically singled out - there was a group of us talking about our interests and activities and he pointed at me and said: "SHE is exactly what we want!")</p>

<p>Then, my dad's business went down the crapper.</p>

<p>So my imperfect CEGEP grades might be my downfall, but others applying from my school with better grades don't have nearly half the ECs I do. In fact, at my school, it's either superhigh grades and no ECs and above average grades and tons of ECs. You don't have a choice given the curriculum. You even have to write essays for gym. Given my extraordinary ECs (don't mean to brag, but the list is even longer than the one I gave), my governor general's academic medal upon graduating from h.s., am a good fit for the school, but cancelled out by CEGEP grades that are good but not stellar, my counselor said I would be ranked average to slightly below average of those accepted. She thinks that nonetheless I have a shot.</p>

<p>Anyways, I want to know, since Brown is need-aware for internationals, how much will applying for financial aid to brown ruin my chances? And is it even worth it?</p>

2

<p>Not at all. Brown is need blind. <a href=“https://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=58[/url]”>https://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=58&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Applying for financial aid as an international student will hurt your chances. You will never know why you are accepted or rejected to any school, but the only 100% certain path to not attending Brown is to not apply at all. On the bright side, if you are accepted you should be able to afford to go. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>The OP is international so it will be need aware for her. </p>

<p>Sure, if others from your school have been admitted with your grades, it’s worth a shot. Don’t underestimate, however, how important grades are. While your ECs look interesting, in the world of ivy schools extraordinary is national/international level achievements. Adcom (I once was one) say a lot of nice things at fairs to encourage applications, don’t take what one said too seriously unless she had studied your transcript before making the comment. </p>

<p>Brown will probably give aid to a handful of Canadians at most. You face stiff competition.</p>

5

<p>Sorry. I missed the line about internationals aid being considered on the web site.</p>

6

<p>I think I am missing something here. You are the High School Valedictorian so I am not sure you need to worry about your grade being so so.</p>

7

<p>In Quebec we have High school then a 2 year thing called “CEGEP”. In High school I was valedictorian, then I was accepted into the toughest program in the province pretty much for valedictorians only. My grades are good but not amazing for the latter, but in high school I got all mid to high 90’s and 100’s.</p>