International student needs advice

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>First of all sorry for any wrong expression, spelling or grammar. I'm not a native speaker
I'm from Hungary and still not feeling 100% familiar with Common App and the whole college application system. </p>

<p>Attending an american college has been my dream for years now but my parents earn only around 70,000 usd so I need to find a college that offers financial aid for int. students and if possible is also need-blind. Another criteria is a Political Science or International Relations major and a sailing club . So far I have 6 colleges on my list: Amherst, Colby, UChicago, Yale, Wellesley and Harvard. I'm thinking about changing Harvard to Georgetown and maybe adding Princeton to the list. I always say to myself: the worst that could happen is not getting in. Now I'm not sure about Harvard. I've read several threads about the quality of undergrad. education at Harvard and saw that many students here chose another college like Princeton instead at the end. </p>

<p>Do you think it's worth a try? I am in the top 10% in my class and I think I'm well prepared in terms of extra-curriculars, work and volunteering. I've just taken TOEFL and I will take the SAT and 2 Subject Tests this fall. I've heared that Princeton has smaller classes and professors pay more attention to the individual. This would definitely be a plus as I come from an extremly small school (K-12 only 400 students). </p>

<p>Another question: In Europe knowledge is the most important thing if you want to get into a college. So they only focus on grades and do not look at extracurriculars. Apart from telling the truth about myself in a college essay what should I focus on? How should I present myself? I don't know that much about the let's call it "american way of thinking" . What would an admissions officer impress in an intl. application?</p>

<p>Oh I almost forgot: I intend to study Politics or if possible International Relations. I know that these might change but so far that's my plan. I would also appreciate any other advice you can give me.</p>

<p>It’s “worth” a try IF you realize that odds of you getting into any of the top schools with significant financial aid are very, very small. Of the schools you listed only Colby can be described as less-than-super-selective. However, many international students apply there because it supposedly has the reputation of giving financial aid to foreign students. So even there the competition will be very tough. </p>

<p>As to what schools are looking for – most look for young people who are accomplished academically and have a demonstrated passion/accomplishment in some area outside of school. The Ivy Leagues in particular look for students with leadership abilities/accomplishments/potential. They look for students from the point of view “what can this woman/man offer us now, and in the future?”</p>

<p>You’re obviously a female, so you should add Smith and Barnard to your list of schools, and also add smaller schools in the middle of the country, or the south. They attract fewer international applicants and therefore it’s a little easier to get in with financial aid. </p>

<p>BTW, your comments about Harvard are a bit silly. It’s among the best universities on the planet. It’s different in vibe from Princeton. Harvard is more urban and it has professional graduate programs that Princeton doesn’t, like law school or medical school. Princeton is suburban and offers a bit more focus (emphasis on BIT!!) on undergraduates because it has fewer grad students. But saying that one is better is silly, it’s like arguing whether the top-of-the-line Porsche is better than top-of-the-line BMW. You’d be lucky to get into either of these schools, just like you’d be lucky to own either of these cars ;)</p>

<p>Your odds of getting into either Harvard or Princeton are minuscule even if you are truly accomplished. After eliminating many applicants, these schools still have three times too many applicants whom they’d like to admit. As an international, in order to be among those who made the cut, you need to have distinguished yourself nationally (be in the top 5 in your whole country) in something - it can be anything you choose, math, surfing, folk singing, gymnastics, or writing but it has to be amazing and recognized nationally. And even with such an achievement your odds are still one in three.
First, you need to find two schoolswhere you’d like to attend, thatoffer financial aid to internationals, and have acceptance rates over 30% where your stats (GPA+ SAT test scores) place you above 90% admitted students.
Then, you need to find schools where your stats are above 75% admitted students.
Then only, you can apply to as many schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Amherst, or Colby as you like and can afford to.</p>

<p>It’s always worth a try whatever the odds. Only do know that as an international student asking for aid chances for being admitted are minuscule. American schools look for interesting and diverse people, so you should talk about your own culture rather than focus on the “American way of thinking.” You should also apply to a whole lot more safety and match schools. Schools like Colgate give substantial financial aid for internationals (although not need blind), also merit scholarships like those given by St. Mary’s University, Carleton College. Remember that out of the 6 need blind schools for international students, all have acceptance rates in the international pool of less than 7%. If you are looking to get into these need blind schools, you should need around 2100+ SAT score and be in the top of your class, say top 5%, to have a 'decent" chance. From my school, only valedictorians and salutatorians with 2200+ SAT have been accepted to these schools.</p>

<p>agree with eduard97, check Colgate.</p>

<p>Request the names of the 6 schls that are need blind of international students. Also request to know the best way to search for financial aid for international students. The advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you</p>

<p>try seeing cuttocollege.■■■■■■■■■■■■■</p>

<p>[Need-blind</a> admission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission]Need-blind”>Need-blind admission - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>@katliamom - thanks very much thats very helpful.
More adv requested - is there a 101 reading/website on financial aid to dos for international students.
@eduard97 - your bio/achievements at the time of application were most impressive - do you have essay suggestions for kids that are not excelling at that level.
thank you</p>

<p>@whitelillies- It would be very hard to be admitted as an international student without that level of achievement, although I do have heard some apocryphal stories of internationals being accepted into Ivies with 1700 SATs. One way to really stand out would be to have amazing recommendation letters from teachers, in which they would say that you are the smartest, best student they’ve had in years. As for the essay, you should only let your personality shine. So, depending on who you are, you can make it funny, serious, dramatic, intellectual, etc. Also check out other colleges besides the Ivi’s that give aid to internationals (mostly merit aid), such as St. Mary’s University, Richmond University.</p>

<p>What about sailing that makes you choose a college? Are you on a level where you may be recruited? In which case perhaps look at colleges that have sailing as a varsity (recruitable) sport (not Princeton, there it’s a club).</p>

<p>Everybody has a SAT score. I dont have SAT score. I had bachelor degree diploma. But its not so good. From kind of small country diploma. Im currently , living in US. What should i do? I had Toefl score thats all. Please, more advise?</p>

<p>If you are currently living in the United States, start your education (or re-education) at a community college. They will not demand SAT scores. They’re inexpensive. And they will introduce you to the education opportunities/careers in the US.</p>

<p>Thank you for suggestion
Otherwise im pursuing just certificate degree.
I dont know how i can handle it. If i attend certificate degree or training bla bla. Which major will be good or no. Is anybody has some suggestion, please. Computer science or sociology</p>

<p>Definitely computer science!</p>

<p>How does an international student go about getting recruited? My niece is a top age group “football” player in her country and a top student at her small school. How should she get in touch with coaches
in the US? She hopes to go to school like Williams or Bowdin-- a school that doesn’t give athletic scholarships but where real coaches have pull in admissions and academics are the main thing.</p>