<p>I have a kind of confusing situation: I'm a german exchange student currently enrolled in a Arizona high school as Junior. I will stay there for the hole year, but I won't get credit for my year in germany. So my idea is to try get in a college which don't require a high school diploma. My counselor and I called Caltech yesterday, to make sure they don't require that. And their answer was, that I can apply, even if there is just a tiny chance... </p>
<p>I haven't take the SAT yet, so i will take it in november or december.
Im 16 years old and was a good student in germany but not super-strong. But for a german student I had many ECs and i was involved in a political party. I will try describe my situation as exchange student in the essays. I think this is important, I met a couple of former exchange student and they are just really, really mature kids and have the ability to lead, are highly motivated to learn. They are just a totally different persons after their exchange experience...</p>
<p>Im looking for a college with requires/offers a liberal arts section as part of the education and offers a major in economics. It should be a school up to like 7k-8k students. Its important that the teaching has a liberal character and discussion is a major part in class. It should require living on campus. Im interested in political, journalistic and academic clubs. Id like to live on a campus near the coasts or a major city. </p>
<p>My list of schools, offering these opportunities and not requiring a high school diploma is the following:
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Dartmouth
Cornell
UPenn
Williams College
Amherst College
Swarthmore College
U Chicago
MIT</p>
<p>I know that these colleges are highly competitive, and there's just a tiny chance to get in now, though I think my exchange experience and political background is a huge advantage. If I won't get admitted, its no big deal, I can just continue my german school and try it again in 2 years, but I already have the experience in apply to college, writing the essays and taking the standardized tests. </p>
<p>It would be great if you can help me with my questions: Are there other colleges admitting students without diploma? All the schools in my list are great and offer a great college experience for sure. But where is the difference between these school? When i browsed on Yale and Princetons homepage, it wasn't able to figure out big differences. I have heard the Harvard tends to be more straight-forward while Yale is more laid-back and discussion is a more important part in yale classes. Is that true?
And my last question: Which school fits best for me?</p>
<p>I hope you can understand my situation and help me with my questions.</p>
<p>And as I said, I’m just looking for an opprotunity to get in college earlier, since I have a “13th grade” or 2nd junior year due to my exchange year. That means that colleges have to accept applicants without diploma. And it seems like these most selective schools are the only colleges supporting that.
Do you know any other colleges not requiring a diploma?</p>
<p>Many small LACs will not require a diploma. Some are much easier to get into than the ones you listed. You have to inquire about their policies one at a time, though.</p>
<p>You need to talk with your program sponsors to find out if it is possible for you to stay here after you finish your exchange year. In many cases, exchange students are expected to return home after their year in the US, and they are ineligible for any change of visa sponsorship that would allow them to return (except as a short-term tourist) for a certain period of time.</p>
<p>Anyone can apply to any of those schools on your current list, but that doesn’t mean it is worth their time and money to make the effort. You will be a much stronger candidate applying a year from now, with strong test scores and a full year of grades from an American high school.</p>
<p>We hosted an exchange student last year from Hong Kong. She left in June and returned in August to another boarding school here in the states. She is going to get her American HS diploma and then apply to nursing school. I know she had to get a visa etc…</p>
<p>Honestly, you need to look beyond the big college names that you listed. They accept like 10% or less. What do you want to major in? Also, it is difficult to get aid as an international student.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to sound depressing but you need to be realistic. My exchange student had the same idea as you last year - even the same list of schools. She is a little more realistic this year. ;)</p>
<p>Harvard and Williams, as examples, may not require a hs diploma or the equivalent for US freshmen applicants. You really need to check this out for each school you are interested in. Google helps. Look at the info for intl applicants on each school’s web site. While you’re at it, see who offers adequate financial aid to internationals- and what the academic requirements are. Harvard, eg, recommends that intl hopefuls complete the standard pre-college plan of their home country. Williams states, International students must have completed the final year of secondary or pre-university studies but no higher education at the time of enrollment.</p>
<p>No one would seriously suggest that a US 16 year old, with no standardized tests and an incomplete academic record, should cherry pick a list of most-selective colleges. Plenty would like to start college early, but they must be competitively ready. I have to wonder how seriously your AZ GC is taking this. It does come across as a bit arrogant. And naive.</p>