Lack any guide. Help appreciated a lot!

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>I am from south Asia. I am currently preparing for my SAT and have done my A levels already. We didn't have a proper counselor in our college and I am having a really hard time with the process of applying to USA. I don't know what aid forms should I fill for financial aid. I don't even have any idea of which state I want to go to. My brief stats are as follows:</p>

<p>AS level: Maths a, Biology a, general paper b. A2 level: Biology A, Maths B, Physics B, Chemistry A.</p>

<p>SAT: Expecting around 1800 - 2000+ . SAT 2 in bio, chem, maths level2 : Aiming at least 650 + in each</p>

<p>Rank: Top 5 throughout my student life.</p>

<p>Sports: Mixed martial arts, soccer.</p>

<p>EC: Volunteer work in local dental clinic, took part in "The Mahabharata" drama which was played in our city, Volunteer teaching in rural school, Volunteer work at local school, "Palanchowk club" president of high school (social service club), played guitar in local bands, recording a guitar video soon. (Even volunteering here has lots of issues)</p>

<p>Honor: Biology AS level topper of my country (scored 87 percentile).</p>

<p>I cannot afford to pay more than 5000$ including living expenses and rest. I am the first one in my family to even complete high school and first one to go to college. Had many problems in family growing up . I want to study neuroscience and later if I find the passion study medicine. I do not know about the states there. But I do know that I want to study in a sub urban friendly environment.</p>

<p>And the SAT scores are low because I didn't know about these tests until I was in 11th grade and didn't know its importance and I do not know most SAT words and English is weak. We don't have many seats available for these tests in our country so I have to take tests without much preparation. (There is a slim chance that SAT seats may open in November but then I will have to prepare SAT2, SAT1, and TOEFL). Should I register if i get the chance? (BTW TOEFL nov 29 and SAT2 dec 6; 3 subjects in a day)</p>

<p>I am looking for colleges in sub urban areas away from big cities, preferably a 4 year private university or liberal arts college with aid for international student. It would be good if the university includes a college with medicine and good community environment. BTW I am applying for fall 2015 and know that Jan 1 is deadline for many colleges. I am quite flexible with the colleges; just need financial aid, friendly environment, and good science department (Biology, neuroscience, pre med maybe)</p>

<p>I do know about common app and application essays. Would you guys walk me through what I must do and recommend some excellent colleges with generous aid and also some safety colleges. Any help will be appreciated a lot thank you!</p>

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<p>There is no US school that is going to give you enough aid, given your stats and projected SAT’s. Without a real SAT or ACT score, we cannot give you any feedback, and even more so as an international student. There are no forms for you to fill out unless it is for school institutional aid…you are not eligible for the Pell grant or Stafford loans.</p>

<p>In a nutshell, as an International, you need to have TOP scores and EC’s to be able to attend a school in the US with a parental contribution of 5,000. </p>

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<p>International students have very limited options as noted by GA2012Mom ^^^. Financial aid for international students is almost nonexistent, and those schools that do have it, look for the best students from each country. Everything is based on SAT SCORES and grades.</p>

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<p>@GA2012MOM‌ Thanks for the information really appreciate it. I will have to work a lot harder for the scores now. If unable to do so then will have to somehow manage the budget. </p>

<p>@"aunt bea"‌ Ok! Thanks for the information. When I have given my SAT exams and have obtained my scores then will focus on college search. But now just SAT.</p>

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<p>If you are interested in medicine, with your stats and family contribution/affordability you should concentrate on trying to get in to a med school locally, forget come to the USA. As us med schools don’t have any aids to international students and rarely accept international students.
You need to finish your medical education in your country and apply hospital residency in us, if practicing medicine in us is your goal. </p>

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<p>@artloversplus‌ I am not sure about medicine. In our country we are not exposed enough to find our passion. We only got emphasis on Engineering or medicine or maybe business. So I would like to go to US to explore and find my passion first.
Yeah I have researched quite a bit on US medical schools and admission there so I am not taking naive decisions. I have planned my way on how to study medicine if indeed that is my passion (I know it can be hell and maybe even next to impossible if not impossible). Besides these are my high school grades when I was naive and lacked any drive but that has changed a lot in my gap year and I am hoping to prove it if I get the chance again.
Thanks for the caveat though appreciate it! </p>

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<p>hope1097 apply to college anyway. go to your dream. write strong essays. if you don’t have enough money, take loans. Risk. Don’t listen to anyone. Without risk you will never have a chance. there is nothing to loose.</p>

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<p>@Autumn21‌ What you said is VERY dangerous.</p>

<p>What if some unexpected predicament happens so that the OP can’t pay the loan? Or, where will he get some one who will guarantee that he will pay back? Loan isnt’ something that should be handled easily, and assuming he will take out loan that’s as much as 50k per year, he will have to pay back much more than 200k+ by the time his study ends…and beside you yourself is a student.</p>