International with pretty low scores, but high hopes

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm a prospective International student from a small country in eastern Europe and willing to study in the US. However,
I certainly cannot afford the cost of most US colleges and the only ones that offer need-based financial aid are the top-tier ones. I realize how hard it is to get into these and I've been actively searching for colleges with higher acceptance rates, so I can have a few safeties. So far, it's been a really daunting process, but I have found a couple of "safeties" ,if you can say so. Their acceptance rate is around 20-30% , but I'm not sure I can rely on this info since usually there are different stats for internationals.</p>

<p>I have realized the importance of test prepping not too long ago and standardized testing is a fairly new thing to me. I took a couple of SAT diagnostic tests and scored around 1700, which I do realize is pretty low. I took the US History and Literature ones back in January without any preparation and got 570 on the Lit one and US History was really terrible ( in the 400's) Frankly, I'm not even sure why I took it. I only had a semester of US history and that's it. Anyway, I also took the ACT , without much prep either and scored 21. I am taking the SAT in October and SAT II in November and hope that I can improve my scores. I won't choose US History again, I'll probably take World History, Lit, and French.</p>

<p>Aside from testing, my GPA is really hard o translate into the American system. I have around 8,8/10 which might seem a little low at the first sight, but it is considered a good GPA in my country. Still, people from my country that apply to top colleges usually go to schools that are either private or more "prestigious" (emphasis on the quotation marks) and teachers at those schools tend to be more aware of their students' need for high GPA's and tend to bump those grades really high up.</p>

<p>I am hoping to get noticed through my EC's and Essays, which by the way I'm really nervous about. </p>

<p>I won a scholarship and spent a year as a foreign exchange student in the US. While in the US, I have done a lot of EC's. I got into NHS, NEHS, and NFHS.I have over 100 community service hours, been part of the swimming team, was in a bunch of clubs (Photo, Choir, Acadec, Com. Service etc.) Back home, I'm pretty involved too, I'm into debate, done some community service, planning on starting an English Club in my school. I've done a couple of regional contests and got some honorable mentions, but usually those contests are rigged like pretty much everything else in this corrupt country. A simple student like me that doesn't have any ties doesn't stand a chance in this system, but I kept on trying anyway, and I hope my achievements show that.</p>

<p>So, what do you think are my chances at one of these( not the complete list ): HYPS, U of Chicago, UPenn, Amherst, Pomona, Sarah Lawrence, Wellesley, Barnard, NYU, Vassar, Franklin University Switzerland, Bard College Berlin, Soka University of America? </p>

<p>Also, if you have some possible suggestions of colleges that I can consider, please let me know. I would be really grateful.</p>

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<p>Are there college options in your own country?</p>

<p>It’s nice that you would like to come to the US and attend college, but you’ve already stated that you cannot afford it. While your grades look good and you have some interesting ECs, you don’t have the standardized test scores the schools you have listed.</p>

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<p>US is not my only choice, and if I don’t get in into the school of my choice , I can always rely on those in my country. Though, that’s not the outcome I’m hoping for.
I also plan to apply to a couple of colleges in some other countries, so I’ll see where it goes from there. Right now I’m focused on US admissions. I’ll take the SAT in October and SAT II in November, hopefully by then I will have improved scores.</p>

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<p>What’s your budget?</p>

<p>20-30% actually qualifies as reach for almost all applicants except internationally-famous ones.
For a good international applicant, a safety is a school where they’re in the top 10-5% and an admission rate of 50% or more.
(Please note it’s still a school where you’re likely to have a hundred of academic peers and where the facilities, opportunities, and teaching methods are likely much better than in your country, if it’s as riddled with corruption as you say.)</p>

<p>HYPS = impossible
U of Chicago, UPenn= impossible
Amherst, Pomona= near impossible
Sarah Lawrence= lousy financial aid but if they like you, you never know; apply only if your guidance counselor approves the fee waiver on the CommonApp because odds are VERY LOW
Wellesley, Barnard= high reach
NYU= lousy financial aid
Vassar= high reach
Franklin University Switzerland= ?
Bard College Berlin= probably a match but I’m not sure about their financial aid
Soka University of America = odd one out… it’s related to a cult/small religion and it’s kind of weird even though their campus is gorgeous.</p>

<p>For a good education and financial aid, you should be applying to schools such as Gustavus Adolphus, Lawrence, Howard… and compete for merit scholarships.</p>

<p>Right now, you need to devote time EVERY DAY prepping for the SAT. Your scholarship will depend on it. Register for “question of the day” at both the ACT and SAT websites. Read the Sparksnotes website. Regiser with number2.com (it’s free and it tracks your mistakes). Buy one of the basic SAT guides (even used, no problem as long as it’s been published in the past 5 years or so), such as Kaplan’s or Princeton Review Premium, plus the “Real SAT tests” “blue” book. On this forum, go to the “testing” section and look for the pinned thread with the Xiggi method.</p>

<p>Since you speak French, you should look at the Procédure Internationale Sciences Po - depending on which country you live in, you may be better suited for Strasbourg or Dijon (…I think… check). This would be a decent safety and it’d offer pretty good learning conditions too while being quite cheap.</p>

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<p>@MYOS1634‌ , Thanks for your advice, it’s really great o hear someone else’s view on my college list.</p>

<p>My budget is almost nonexistent. I’m applying to HYPS and other far reaches kind of as a joke . I realize my chances are really low as you stated, but there’s always someone with low scores and with not a very outstanding resume that still gets in every year. I figured it doesn’t hurt to apply. At least I’ll get a nice collection of rejection letters :smiley: . </p>

<p>As for Soka, I’ve done some research and it says it’s non-sectarian and people that went there have pretty decent reviews about it. But who knows? I honestly don’t know what to think about it. I am very tempted to apply though. Their financial aid options are so far the best ones ( same level as HYPS, maybe even better). Their endowment is like $ 1 billion. Plus students from there went on after that to some really good grad schools, which makes me think it’s not really that bad after all. What things have you heard about Soka that made you form the previously stated opinion about it? </p>

<p>Anyway, thanks again for all your insight , it is indeed helpful.</p>

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<p>The students with lower scores who get into Top 25 universities or LACs fulfill an institutional need: they overcame great obstacles, they’re legacies, they’re athletes…
An international student with financial need is the opposite of that.</p>

<p>Rather than spending time on universities where your odds are too low, why don’t you look for universities where you legitimately have a shot and could get a scholarship?</p>

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<p>As harsh as it may sound, an international applicant with your scores cannot possibly get into any of the elite schools here in the US. Look at the schools in your country with generous FA and perhaps you can pursue your masters or doctorate here in the US. Best of luck. </p>

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<p>@MYOS1634, In my experience, finding a university that has both a big acceptance rate and good financial aid for international students is nearly impossible. I’ve been searching for quite a while now, and the only options I ended up with are the schools aforementioned. I’m not aiming for the big name as it might seem. As I stated previously, everyone has a chance, if not, then why would it be called a Holistic Admissions Process? </p>

<p>As for the institutional need part, what does " overcoming great obstacles" really mean? Does overcoming financial obstacles not count since you stated that an international student in need of FA is the opposite of that? </p>

<p>@viphan, I appreciate your honest opinion. The admission process in my country is way different than the one in the US. It only requires your GPA and the grades from the final exams, that take place in May, hence the admissions take place during summer. That’s why I’m more focused now on applying to the schools in the US. </p>

<p>Also, if anyone has heard of a school that is easy to get into and has good FA for internationals, I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d let me know about it.</p>

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<p>The only schools to my knowledge that is need-blind to internationals are HYP. </p>

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<p>Dartmouth, Amherst, and MIT are also need blind for internationals @viphan.</p>

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<p>@theanaconda There ya go, thank you.</p>

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<p>@theanaconda, I’m applying to Amherst. </p>

<p>Dartmouth and MIT don’t seem like really good fits for me right now. Dartmouth’s Greek life seems to be a little intimidating and MIT seems more fit to someone interested in math and science rather than a humanities person like me. Plus I have a ton of high reaches on my list already.</p>

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<p>I was talking about merit aid. You’d need to devote a LOT of time improving your SAT or ACT score though.
<a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“VERY LOW COST OOS COA universities......less than $25k COA for everything! - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1651944-very-low-cost-oos-coa-universities-less-than-25k-coa-for-everything-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Pomona is need blind for internationals in the USA, but with 1700 SAT you have no chance. </p>

<p>Also, when you send your scores later, contact the admission office if they accept unofficial score reports-like website copy of your SAT-because some colleges do, and they may require a letter from your GC that the scores are accurate and not forged.</p>

<p>And…U of Alabama has OOS full tuition for 3.5GPA and SAT math+CR 1400+/ACT 32+</p>

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<p>“As I previously stated, everyone has a chance”.<br>
Really? Are you an expert in admissions? Since when does everyone have a chance unless they have good to great scores and money to attend? Where are you getting this information from? </p>

<p>A large number of students from the US don’t have the same chances because they don’t have either the scores, or the money to attend. The university system is difficult to enter. Your being international, with those lower scores, is even less probable and does not make you competitive. You should probably go to school in your country to have the best chance at educating yourself.</p>

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<p>What @"aunt bea"‌ said is pretty much true as harsh as it sounds.</p>

<p>There are already LOTS AND LOTS of American kids who cannot attend great colleges, or even show their potential not only because of money, but also other problems like homelessness, child abuse, debt, etc.
You should be aware that there are hardworking and struggling students in the USA already who study, work for family(and/or deal with un-supportive, drug-addicted, and/or abusive parents or family member), participate in extracurricular activities, and contribute to the society/community all at once.
THAT is the “overcoming struggle”, and I personally know those people-many of whom became Questbridge Finalist.
I m not saying that studying hard while having economic issue is not a big deal, but I have a feeling that you are not working hard enough to ‘overcome’ your obstacle. </p>

<p>1700 SAT? really? That is too low to even consider your situation. Your GPA is not even close to being stellar, your ECs are mediocre(participating in many clubs with no significant achievements is pointless and time consuming).
My friend-whom I met in FB through QB program-got in Brown. He had 1850 SAT but boy, he did BIG thing A LOT.
He once showed me a resume because he wanted to see if his resume was good enough for other scholarships programs that required resumes. I wish I could show it to you, but I seem to have deleted it :pensive:</p>

<p>Sorry if it sounds harsh, but it seems like you are too oblivious to the facts:

  1. that high tier schools already have many great applicants
  2. that there are CITIZEN students who are struggling
  3. there are many International kids who have accomplished way more than you did.</p>
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<p>The sad part is that OP COULD get into some decent colleges if s/he worked on that score and applied to good schools that aren’t well-known in his/her country. If OP got to 1800-1850, a few colleges such as Gustavus Adolphus or Ohio Wesleyan would be in contention. Berea could be considered. All these schools offer unparralleled opportunities compared to a country the OP described as having rigged competitions and thus corruption.</p>

<p>OP: first, you need to bring that score up. See if you can retake, but before you retake, you need to prep. THat means registering with “question of the day” at both the ACT and the SAT (it’s free), number2.com (also free, website asks practice questions and tracks your errors), sparksnotes, khan academy, the youtube videos… Then, try to find old/used books such as “Up your score ACT” (/SAT) or “Black Book ACT” or “Kaplan’s Premium” or “Get your ACT together” or whatever you can find that’s been published after 2008 and is the cheapest. And finally, you need to take actual tests (the “red” book of ACT or the “blue” book of real SATs) then review your errors one by one, do lots of similar questions until you dont get them wrong several times in a row.</p>

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<p>@paul2752 “1700 SAT? really? That is too low to even consider your situation. Your GPA is not even close to being stellar, your ECs are mediocre(participating in many clubs with no significant achievements is pointless and time consuming).” This was excessive. Rather than ridiculing the OP, how about suggesting ways that s/he can improve. </p>

<p>OP, when are you set to graduate?</p>

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<p>@AnnieBeats‌
because @MYOS1634‌ already said what he/she needed. </p>

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<p>Also I didn’t mean to ridicule anyone…just wanted OP to be realistic. </p>

<p>But if there is anything I could add, it might be:</p>

<p>1) If you have time-which I think you should-for SAT or the ACT,
Use 1st and/or 2nd edition bluebook for SAT. These two have several same tests, but the others are different. According Amazon.com, 3rd edition is awful if you already used 2nd edition because it’s barely different from 2nd edition.</p>

<p>For ACT, buy 3rd or latest ones. I used 2nd edition for my first (and last) ACT and it was too easy compared to actual ones. 3rd edition is as difficult as the real test.</p>

<p>2) There are many threads about how to improve the SAT/ACT threads on CC. Read this:
<a href=“How I raised my SAT score by 790 points-My story - SAT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/1637676-how-i-raised-my-sat-score-by-790-points-my-story.html&lt;/a&gt;
By the way, note that new SAT starting from Spring 2016 doesn’t have writing test.</p>

<p>3) Use WordSmart book.2nd edition. It has lots and lots of SAT words. Very helpful.</p>