I’m an international (European) student, and got rejected from every university I applied to. I really don’t know where I went wrong, if I should reapply and how I could improve any possible applications in the future. All help would be immensely appreciated!
My stats: [ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2180 (650 Math, 770 Reading, 760 Writing)
[</em>] SAT II: 800 (Literature), 760 (French)
[<em>] I was one of my school’s top students, but there was no official ranking
[</em>] Extracurriculars: writing (with a few things published nationally), drama (for 8 years), clasically trained singer and pianist (I often perform locally), book club (founder and president)
[<em>] Ran for and was elected Senior Class President
[</em>] Valedictorian
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: I set up two local charities that gained national attention, volunteered for Oxfam for over 8 years
[</em>] School Type: private religious
[<em>] Income Bracket: very low (I’d need a full ride)
[</em>] First generation to even attend high school, let alone college/university[/ul]
Aside from that, I missed most of my final two years of highschool due to a severe illness. I attended whenever I wasn’t hospitalised and managed to graduate by studying on my own. I’m 22 now, but because of my health I couldn’t apply any earlier.
Would it be of any use to even consider reapplying? And if so, what should I try to work on? I would really appreciate your help/suggestions; to be quite honest, I’m so desperate I’m about to buy help from one of those admissions counsellors…
I applied to Amherst, Harvard, Brown, UChicago and Dartmouth - I didn’t get waitlisted anywhere, just all straight rejections.
I guess I severely overestimated myself in aiming so high, but the problem is that I need a lot of financial aid, and other colleges and universities I’ve looked at don’t seem to be able to afford me sufficient support as an international. I know I applied to too few universities as well, but I simply couldn’t afford applying to more at the time.
I’m currently considering taking part in a summer school, improve my SAT’s, perhaps try to get some work experience - but I just don’t know if that would help me much. Should I just pick radically different universities?
I know a lot of internationals with better stats who got 8 or more rejections. It happens. Mostly because your essays might not have reflected you in the best possible light, and because of the lack of internationally recognized awards.
I’m a little confused as to why you did not apply to places like Duke and Vanderbilt. Yes, they are not need-blind, but they do have huge scholarships for international students. It is unlikely for anyone to get them, chances are low and all, but the likelihood is not way less than of you getting into say…Harvard, which had an RD admit rate of around 3%.
Your age is a major factor at this point. Your situation is unique, so it seems wise to seek individualized advice from a professional, as you indicated at the end of your post you are planning to do.
I didn’t apply to more universities because I couldn’t really afford to applying to as many as I should have - but thanks for the tip, I’ll remember them in case I decide to reapply.
I have applied to a few British universities, even though I’m convinced a US education would suit me a lot better. Same story there; I got rejected from everywhere except one (my safety choice), and after a few visits to that one university I’m pretty sure I don’t want to go there; I added it to get to my five applications, but it was a mistake.
I have considered studying elsewhere in Europe, but as I want to major in English I really want to study in an English speaking country. I’ve done some third-year university courses at a university in my own country, and the level of English taught there is abysmal - so that’s not really an option for me.
Thanks for your reply - and I think you’re right, Griffen. If you or anyone happens to know of any good yet affordable counselling services, I’d be grateful to hear about them
Your profile is not one that would get you into those schools even if you were not an international student. Those are the most difficult schools for admissions in the country. That you wanted to give it a go is fine. I would not have discouraged you from applying because everyone who wants to give a try should so that there are no regrets and “what ifs”. What you should have also done, however, as every single college applicant should do, is find a school likely to take you that you can afford. That is the cornerstone of the college application system. And you did not do that.
The schools that would want your stats and background will include those that are not well known at all. Take a look a the thread in the archives by Momfromtexas on full ride scholarships. Her methodology will likely net you some schools that would fit that description. Being a full need international, non traditional student means that the middle category of schools, those that would be a match to a US citizen coming right out of high schools with your stats, does not exist for you because of the way most schools handle international applications. Your test scores frankly are just not high enough to catch the eyes of the schools that might give a nice financial aid package to a student and are still highly selective.
Your profile is not one that would get you into those schools even if you were not an international student. Those are the most difficult schools for admissions in the country. That you wanted to give it a go is fine. I would not have discouraged you from applying because everyone who wants to give a try should so that there are no regrets and “what ifs”. What you should have also done, however, as every single college applicant should do, is find a school likely to take you that you can afford. That is the cornerstone of the college application system. And you did not do that.
The schools that would want your stats and background will include those that are not well known at all. Take a look a the thread in the archives by Momfromtexas on full ride scholarships. Her methodology will likely net you some schools that would fit that description. Being a full need international, non traditional student means that the middle category of schools, those that would be a match to a US citizen coming right out of high schools with your stats, does not exist for you because of the way most schools handle international applications. Your test scores frankly are just not high enough to catch the eyes of the schools that might give a nice financial aid package to a student and are still highly selective.
Ok i get it now. If you still want to school in the us you can improve your app by retaking the sat and writing essays about your unique situation. Also, you can apply for application fee waivers if money is a problem.
