So, I’m an international and I just took the SAT. I’m expecting around 2150 on it.
No GPA as such, we get a full spectrum of scores. 10th grade was 96%.
ECs - Music. I’ve a diploma from a local university, performed on radio, given some recitals.
Reached the Indian equivalent of the USAMO.
I’m also doing some research in physics under a professor.
Oh, and I taught myself quite a lot of undergrad physics - quantum mechanics, relativity and all that.
My school curriculum is a little heavier than AP Calc, Phys C, Chemistry and Computer Science, so if I take the AP tests I’m confident of getting good scores.
I’ve heard nice things about UCSB and Reed. What others do you suggest?
Can you afford the full cost or do you require aid?
The only matches/safeties for internationals who need financial aid are those where there’s automatic admission or automatic scholarship for specific test scores.
Reed is a reachable reach.
USCB does not have scholarships for internationals.
There are only 6 very selective schools that meet full need for internationals, so it really depends how much aid you require. There is a big difference in your options as an int’l if you require, let’s say, $10K per year versus $30K+. The less aid you require, the greater the chance that you can cover it with merit aid. If you require a lot of aid, you are relying on a school’s ability to cover it with need-based aid, and only the more selective schools have the wealth to cover need-based aid for internationals. A 2150 SAT, however, won’t get the attention of the more selective schools. So again, your options depend on how much aid you require.
Public schools like UCSB are not a good option with a 2150, if you can’t pay full-freight.
Investigate Lawrence in WI. It may not be big enough for you or have enough higher level classes in all subjects, but they have a reputation for Physics. They have some special placements for upper div students interning or researching. They also have a music conservatory. Like Reed it is one of the top 10 undergraduate colleges where Physics PhDs got their start, so they are doing something right. I don’t think Reed can really be considered a safety, I would place it at match. I’m not sure any small schools can really be safeties either. A safety would be a public university where your stats are the driving qualifier and you can afford.
I don’t know much about Illinois Institute of Technology but there is a physics prof from there who posts here and says good things, username is @xraymancs
UCSB is not too likely give you any funds. They are a state university serving CA students. I do know they will give some need aid to OOS students who get federal pell grants but I don’t really know if there is anything for internationals. As for merit aid they only give very small amounts of 2,000 per year if you are one of the few who gets Regents award.
How much are your parents planning to spend, knowing how much aid you need will produce different suggestions.
Take a look at Grinnell and Macalester. Both midwestern LACs have about 12% internationals in their student body and both are very generous with financial and merit aid. Grinnell has especially strong sciences and excellent facilities but is in a small town - a plus for some and a minus for others. Macalester is in Minneapolis, an urban area. Your test scores are a bit low - but if the breakdown reflects a lower CR score because English isn’t your first language, then it might not be an issue. A math score of close to 800 would probably be expected unless you have some other off-setting attribute that makes you highly desirable.