LACs and international students

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I believe that it is the perfect time for an international junior to start searching for colleges, and to limit my list, I have chosen liberal arts colleges over 'big universities' believing that the liberal education is the perfect choice for me. </p>

<p>Since I have an excessive ardor for philosophy, I am planning to major in this discipline along with another one to help me get into a decent American law school, but my questions are; what's the best liberal arts college that provides the best program in philosophy? Are Vassar, Wesleyan and Middlebury 'prestigious' enough? Do liberal arts colleges equalize international applicants with native applicants? Do I have to be a super talented to get into these schools? </p>

<p>I made an indeterminate list days ago, and I enumerated Vassar, Middleburry, Wesleyan, Bowdoin, Haverford, Swarthmore and Trinity. But does this list seem rational?</p>

2

<p>So long as you are aware that none of the above mentioned schools are need-blind for international applicants, you should be fine.</p>

3

<p>My country will grant me a scholarship after months of my first semester. But will that affect my application?</p>

4

<p>If you’re not requesting financial aid from the institution, I can’t see how receiving outside government assistance would be a downside; it may even make you a more attractive candidate. However, since most aid from selective East coast colleges is need-based (not to be confused with need-blind) once you are admitted, there is a high likelihood that the college would trim its award by the amount of aid you receive from home.</p>

5

<p>Sounds perfect. </p>

<p>But how superb should I do on the SATs to have a chance with colleges like Vassar? I am worried about my standardized tests’ scores.</p>

6

<p>One more question; will the tuition change if I am a double major?</p>

7

<p>no, tuition does not change by how many majors you have!</p>

8

<p>*My country will grant me a scholarship after months of my first semester. But will that affect my application? *</p>

<p>??? How will you pay for your first semester? You will need to show that you have all the funds for the first entire year before you’ll be given a visa to come here.</p>

<p>And, how much will your country give you ? Will it give you $55k+ or more per year? If not, how much will your parents pay each year?</p>

<p>What are your SAT scores?</p>

<p>What country are you from?
Tuition can change if you take more than a certain number of credits per semester.</p>

<p>* Do liberal arts colleges equalize international applicants with native applicants? *</p>

<p>Are you asking if int’l students are considered equally for admissions? Usually not.</p>

9

<p>Some very relevant issues raised by Momof2collegekids. </p>

<p>The top private LACS are costing close to $60K a year, which means $30K a semester. You gotta show the money to get in here. Few US colleges that meet most need are need blind to internationals. If you apply for admissions without applying for financial need, yes for those need aware schools, you will have a better chance for admissions. How any individual college treats any particular application or their entire batch of international applicants is an individual issue. Certain countries will have some preference. If you come from a school that send loads of kids here, it doesn’t add to any international diversity. </p>

<p>Your test scores and other academic qualification will be very important. So will your financial qualifications in most cases because the US and the school do not want you here if you cannot support yourself. </p>

<p>The schools you listed are among the most selective and gaining admissions to any of them is a tough go for US and international applicants alike. Only those with absolute top academic profiles and usually something special besides tend to get accepted, and even such kids do not make the cut.</p>

<p>Don’t drop your plans if your qualifications put in the running for these schools, but be aware of what you need to have to gain entry in the country and such colleges. Make sure you have some other alternatives that are very possible, because admissions to such schools are akin to lottery tickets.</p>

10

<p>Be aware that American law schools do not care what you major in. If you like philosophy, by all means study it. But you can equally well major in chemistry, anthropology or art. The key determinants will be your grades, your score on the LSAT, your letters of recommendation and your work/volunteer experience (exactly the same criteria for getting into a good liberal arts college, in fact).</p>

<p>You might also want to keep in mind the some of the midwestern liberal arts colleges are equally well regarded by the top law schools, cost somewhat less, and are somewhat less difficult to gain admission to. Look at Oberlin, Grinnell, Macalester and Carleton. Grinnell offers merit aid.</p>

11

<p>How will you pay for your first semester? You will need to show that you have all the funds for the first entire year before you’ll be given a visa to come here.</p>

<p>As I mentioned before, it’s either my government will do pay or my parents. </p>

<p>How much will your country give you ? Will it give you $55k+ or more per year? If not, how much will your parents pay each year? </p>

<p>My country offers only full scholarships, and my parents can offer the whole tuition. </p>

<p>What are your SAT scores?</p>

<p>I haven’t taken the SATs yet, but my GPA and my extracurricular activities (Political activism, culture criticism and many courses on different branches of philosophy) are very good. </p>

<p>What country are you from? </p>

<p>I am from Saudi Arabia.</p>

12

<p>Be aware that American law schools do not care what you major in. If you like philosophy, by all means study it. But you can equally well major in chemistry, anthropology or art. The key determinants will be your grades, your score on the LSAT, your letters of recommendation and your work/volunteer experience (exactly the same criteria for getting into a good liberal arts college, in fact).</p>

<p>You might also want to keep in mind the some of the midwestern liberal arts colleges are equally well regarded by the top law schools, cost somewhat less, and are somewhat less difficult to gain admission to. Look at Oberlin, Grinnell, Macalester and Carleton. Grinnell offers merit aid.</p>

<hr>

<p>The problem is that I prefer the northeastern states, I am more into ‘the European states’. Silly, but that matters to me somehow. </p>

<p>Anyway, what’s more important to me is a decent philosophy program which can be compared to Yale and UChicago’s.</p>

13

<p>All of the top tier LACs send graduates to good law schools, and as advised by others what you major in is not at issue; it’s your grades, rank, and most importantly your law board scores. I don’t know anything about international admissions to US law programs, but I imagine that information is available. I do think, however, you’re getting ahead of yourself by worrying about graduate school.</p>

<p>All of the LACs on your list are “prestigious” in that they offer good academics and their graduates go on to be healthy, wealthy and wise. Your challenge as an international is to get in and as such, I think you need to spread a wider net. If the cost of applications is a problem for you, you can ask for a waiver.</p>

<p>All American colleges and universities use international students to balance their diversity percentages. This is even more apparent at the schools that are located in rural areas or in the midwest, because they have difficulty attracting high achieving non-white Americans. </p>

<p>Therefore, I would strongly agree that you should look at Oberlin, Grinnell, Carleton, Macalester. They would consider you a person of interest and may even provide merit money.</p>

<p>I would also add Williams to your list. Great academics, Eastcoast prestige,excellent law school placement and pretty good philosophy department.</p>

<p>As a Saudi Abrabian (assuming that you are an Arabic Muslim) you will be diversity “hot property” and should present yourself accordingly in your essays, recommendations and interviews. Small colleges are looking for students who will contribute global viewpoints to the campus community, both in and out of class, and your world perspective would be of value right now. A person who wants to philosophize about Islam and the Middle East sounds like just what they’re looking for! :)</p>

<p>Small colleges are holistic in admissions, in that (within reason) life experience can often trump grades and scores and this is doubly true for non-European international students. Good luck and let us know how you do.</p>

14

<p>They are all good and politically liberal schools, but I wish you also consider Williams and Amherst. Sarah Lawrence and Hampshire are good too. And you said you prefer “the European states” but I don’t know Northwestern states are really “European.” Since European started to settle down around New England part, Northeastern would be much more European but it’s my personal opinion. I’m from New York (the city) and I think NYC is much more European than Chicago or especially Western coasts. And since you said you are from Saudi Arabia, I feel like I’m showing my prejudice but just saying–you should know how liberal LACs are, not only academically. All schools people listed above (include Amherst and Williams), they are really opened and gay-friendly. You will find many, many gay folks in the campus and large part of the student bodies are their allies. They support gay rights. It will be hard for you to adapt if you are homophobic but I strongly suggest. You will find what diversity is. For example, there is a big Drag Ball in April in Oberlin.</p>