What is the best way for an international student to pay for fees and get scholarships?
The least expensive way for most international students to attend college is to attend in their own native country. Usually the costs are far less than college in the U.S.
You posted this in the fall.
Did you retake the SAT? What were your CR and Math Scores on the SAT?
What are you doing during your gap year?
What can your parents pay towards college costs? What is their annual income?
In my opinion, the most generous colleges here would be a significant reach for you in terms of acceptance. These are the ones where you might get significant need based aid (but that all depends on family income and assets).
You’re already on a gap year and your SAT is too low for those top schools. UMich gives little/no money to int’ls.
You need to talk to your parents about how much they’ll spend. If they can’t spend much/anything for college in the US, then you really have no options here. There are a gazillion American and Int’l students with stats like yours. Few/none are getting a lot of aid.