EC’s :-
Varsity sports - Badminton and Swimming for 2 and 3 years respectively
Clubs - Debate Team
Founder and Head of Language Club
Drama Club
Over 300+ hours of community service
No Interns - Just Babysitting 3 nights every week ( I get paid or it )
Others:- An aspiring writer - 2 PUBLISHED NOVELS
Mainly , I am a POLYGLOT who can fluently speak and write in 9 languages including English , Arabic , French , Chinese , Hindi , Spanish , Italian , Polish and Russian and am working on learning more…
If I apply , hopefully I will be able to write a good essay and the recommendations will also be good as few teachers are really supportive and will write good recommendations about me…
But the problem is that I have siblings and my parents cannot afford to pay for my education in the US , do I have a chance . Should I even apply and spend my cash on application forms ? I don’t aim just for the Ivies but , do I have strong chances in reputed Uni’s ( as most state -uni’s do not offer scholarships and grants to international students) ?
Here’s the thing - if your parents are going to pay full price then it wouldn’t be a problem. You have good grades and seem like a strong student. The only problem is the financial aid portion. Many schools do not provide financial aid to international students; others will offer merit aid opportunities to all students but not need-based aid. There are a few that meet full demonstrated need for international students but most of those will hold the fact that you do need at all against you – which hurts your chances.
Can your parents pay anything at all towards your education?
No @Madison85 I plan to apply for early descision and @DimitriR , unfortunately we do not have much money . But , I cannot afford to pay for all college application forms , and that is the reason why I have to try all my best at one college . I am quite worried and confused …Which Uni should I apply to ? Which of the ’ Well Reputed ’ ones hold a good shot for me , along with providing aid or scholarship . Even work-study is fine . I pay my high school’s fees by working nights …Please advice where to apply for EA ( the best schools only )…
Thank-You in advance
I don’t understand your reply. So, tell us, what year do you plan to start college? How old are you now? When do you finish high school?
If you can’t afford application fees, how will you pay for health insurance and international airfare, etc. There is not a full ride college scholarship fairy for poor international 17 year olds. Why do you think there is? What about college in your own country? Or scholarships from your government?
When do you plan to apply for admission to college?? When do you plan to enroll?
Early Decision is a binding application process…whereby you apply and agree to attend if accepted. It sounds like financial aid is a VERY significant consideration for you. If you apply ED, you will get one financial aid package…to that school if accepted. It might be a terrific offer, but really you will have no way of knowing whether other offers might be even better.
If finances are a very significant consideration for you…especially as an international students, apply regular decision so that you will be able to compare net costs amongst a number of offers.
You might also consider going to college in your country where there is likely an affordable option. If you can’t gather up the funds to apply…how will you also gather up the funds to send your SAT scores, and the CSS Profile?
Putting all your eggs in one basket only works if you have an affordable option that you are willing to attend if not accepted to this ED school.
You don’t even have an idea of what school to apply to! ED is for students who have a clear favorite, front runner college that they can afford to attend if accepted.
@Madison85 I will finish High School next year . The process is different here in China , I have a secured (full) scholarship for a state college ( in my country) , so that is always an option ; But I am trying for a better future at an University abroad . Though the fact that our situation is tough decreases my chances , I want to try . I have received many scholarships and have a good amount of savings of my own as well , and @thumper1 I have always wanted to attend Harvard / Duke , but was wondering if I have better chances elsewhere as an international student …
So I asked if you are planning to start college fall 2016 but you said no, then later said you graduate high school next year…so when do you start college?
Im very confused as well. You say you are graduating “next year” which would be 2016. And you are taking a gap year until 2018? Two years?
If you are really applying to colleges for 2018, there is a strong likelihood college costs will significantly increase, and financial aid policies could change.
What will you be doing between June 2016 and Fall 2018? If you are working, your income and savings will be part of the equation. Please don’t tell us you plan to attend college there…and then enroll in college here as a freshman.
So…what will the two year “gap year” encompass…and why the two year wait.
Hehe…the ‘gap’ will be for 1 year in which I will earn money by working an internship I have already secured and get my 3rd book published - all these aspects I believe will help me secure better chances ( I believe ) …
You have the time to do the research. Look at the international student threads and the accept threads, the fin aid threads on this site and others Get a good feel for what your chances are of getting into a school with sufficient financial aid to make a go of it. You want to buy a lottery ticket, go right on ahead, which is what is tantamount to what you are planning to do. You can request fee waivers, no harm in trying. But if you have some money at hand, you can afford to pay the app fees, you know. you will also most likely, most certainly, need to have seed money to get to the US and buy the supplies necessary to start school, as well as pay deposits if you should be accepted somewhere. Those are standard expenses that even those who get full ride packages have to come up with.
As an international student, you will have to show how you are going to pay for your expenses for the year of study to get your student visa, so some money will be needed. As you research all of this further, you’ll get a feel for what the cost of this “lottery” ticket will be.
Frankly, your best chance to find a school that will pay your way is to find a school where your numbers will place you as a top student there, and that has some full ride scholarships. Even then, you will have to front some money and most certainly will have some student contribution required. Unless you are some fantastic writer of some renown (in which case you likely would not need the money), it’s doubtful that the top schools here will accept you. Lots of published writers these days, lots of students from China, and your numbers and resume are not anything spectacular to distinguish you at the most selective schools, unless there is some info you are not presenting.
