<p>I'm from India and I used to be an international student in the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I've taken a break from the academic setting and haven't been enrolled in any college since the summer of 2009. </p>
<p>I've applied to the following colleges in the US as a transfer student for Fall 2012 for their Neuroscience program:-</p>
<p>Bates College, Maine
College of Wooster, Ohio
Hampshire College, Massachusetts
Colorado College, Colorado
Lake Forest College, Illinois</p>
<p>The reason why I chose these colleges is that they have small classes and provide need-based financial aid for international students. Also I'm very much against any religiously affiliated colleges, so they're out of the list.</p>
<p>I would accept any offer from these colleges that meets my full demonstrated need in a heartbeat. I've contacted some of these colleges and Colorado for example has stated it clearly that my chances as an international student in need of financial aid is very slim. And I reckon it might be the same or near same with the other colleges. I only hope I get into them.</p>
<p>So I'm planning to apply as a transfer student to some Canadian colleges as a backup. Now, this is my first attempt at even thinking this, so I'm not even sure if I CAN transfer from America to Canada.</p>
<p>I have some questions:-</p>
<p>1) I know that Canada has less crime and stuff, but how different is the education system?
2) Are there any liberal arts colleges comparable to the ones I'm applying to? Meaning, do the liberal arts colleges in Canada have small class sizes and offer need-based aid for international students?
3) How different are my chances of getting in those liberal arts colleges from the ones I'm applying to in the US?
4) Can you list out a few colleges that I should be looking for as a backup plan?
5) What would be the typical deadline for some of these colleges?
6) Is it even advisable to take up Neuroscience in Canada? I mean, would there be Canadian Neuroscience programs comparable to my list above?</p>
<p>Finally, can you guys give me a source where I can get a fine tuned search engine for Canadian colleges and also more info on the same?</p>
<p>Note that “college” in Canada usually refers to the equivalent of a community college in the US, while “university” is generally used to describe a school that grants bachelor’s and or higher level degrees.</p>
<p>Your list is poor if you need significant aid. Only Bates even meets need for Americans. I think you’ll find the chance of getting in with much aid very slim at all of them and at Canadian schools.</p>
<p>I have an unweighted GPA of 4.0 on 4.0 at High School and a 3.48 on 4.0 from my first year of University at UAH. I have strong writing skills and entrepreneurial experience in the time I took the break. My parents can pay upto $18000 per year for the entire cost of attendance. So I’ll need the rest of the amount in aid.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why you would call that a poor list because I chose them after having visited their sites and confirming that they provide Need-based aid to international students and I would like to think that I have a strong application. I contacted Hampshire staff and they, for instance, told me that if I’m able to pay $18000, they’ll be able to offer the rest of the amount if I’m admitted.</p>
<p>Anyway, if you’re right about the list being poor, then please do suggest which colleges would be most appropriate for me considering my needs.</p>
<p>Your biggest issue is that the vast majority of aid for intnls is awarded to freshmen. A transfer looking for lots of aid often won’t find it at any school.</p>
<p>I find your list poor because while the give some aid to intnls, most of them give very little, even to freshmen. They are not wealthy schools.</p>
<p>Given a just OK GPA from a non top college it will be very tough to get enough aid at any US school. With what your parents can pay and what you can hopefully borrow, it will make sense to add some schools you can fully afford to your list. Look at Bishops in Canada.</p>
<p>Need-based aid is doubtful, but annual costs (inclusive of tuition) are under $23,000 Canadian for international students. At the current rate of exchange, this is slightly above $20,000 US.</p>
<p>ragavpayne,
You are most welcome. I studied there several years ago. My knowledge may be a bit dated, but feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the university or the city (both of which I liked a great deal). Good luck with your applications and your studies.</p>
<p>There are many fine and strong liberal arts universities in Canada. Here’s a list in no particular order: Acadia, St Francis Xavier, Mount Allison, Trent, Lethbridge…start by looking at these.</p>
<p>There are many fine and strong liberal arts universities in Canada. Here’s a list in no particular order: Acadia, St Francis Xavier, Mount Allison, Trent, Lethbridge…start by looking at these.</p>