<p>bambi_kramer, common sense tells me that no sane adcom (from an university that's worth the trouble that is) would take Israeli foreign policy into account when deciding about an applicant, so don't worry!
You should deffinitely find a way to explain your difficulties in pursuing ECs in your schools. Another thing, are you 100% sure that you don't have any other ECs? I'm sure you read or do sports - sure, everybody does it, but it's always about how you sell it. From my own (quite painful) experience with ECs, adcoms are not swayed by the huge EC list, however impressive it may be on Chances threads. What really gets them going seems to be passion, and passion can be shown through a number of ways.</p>
<p>First of all, thank you for your reply! :) Good luck at Amherst. It's one of my dream colleges.</p>
<p>Second of all, I hope your common sense is right. I'm trying to figure out which colleges would look at my Israeli army service as an advantage (in the field of poli sci, peace & conflict studies, etc., it is bound to fuel class discussions- the downside being that I only want to minor in this field). ECs- the only normal ones I have are a leadership position in MUN (they don't have to know that MUN in Israel is a bit of a joke), several years of piano lessons (discontinued because my teacher fell ill; I've been teaching myself ever since- so I assume that shows passion, dedication, whatever), and voluntary babysitting for a needy family (I've only just started, though, so we'll see how that turns out). No sports. I've done all sorts of things other than that (everything from participating in and providing the soundtrack for a children's play to writing a 40-page independent study paper on original sin in Jewish philosophy). And I have a passion for film (and a portfolio to show for it).</p>
<p>This is all very well, but I really need financial aid. I'm trying to reassure myself that colleges will want me. That I should bother with the process of insane application fees and taking the TOEFL and the SATs and getting my teachers to write recs in English and packing up and moving to another country. </p>
<p>(I'm also an American citizen, which can help me, but it's confusing as hell because I'm as international as they come. I hope the adcoms will know what to do with me. I can't really fill out the FASFA in Israeli currency. So far, the only college app I've seen for international American citizens is Emerson's.)</p>
<p><a href="I'm%20also%20an%20American%20citizen,%20which%20can%20help%20me,%20but%20it's%20confusing%20as%20hell%20because%20I'm%20as%20international%20as%20they%20come.%20I%20hope%20the%20adcoms%20will%20know%20what%20to%20do%20with%20me.%20I%20can't%20really%20fill%20out%20the%20FASFA%20in%20Israeli%20currency.%20So%20far,%20the%20only%20college%20app%20I've%20seen%20for%20international%20American%20citizens%20is%20Emerson's.">quote</a>
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<p>Well, I suppose you'll have to find a way to fill the FAFSA (try finding the Israeli Central Bank's official Schekel/US Dollar rate for the past year and then divide all the figures through this rate - maybe this would be the right way to do it).
From my very limited knowledge, if you're an US citizen then you're in a totally different situation - you are eligible for Federal FinAid, for all I know. The top 25 LACs and Unis are need-blind in admission towards American citizens.Anyway, to make sure, e-mail the financial aid offices and ask about your situation - it's the best thing to do.</p>